NF7-S v 2.0 / Athlon XP 2500+ Mobile/Crsr XMS DDR3500

[Ruroni]

NF7-S v2.0 BIOS build Date 12/01/2003 (version: 6a61ba1bc-21)

I can't get more than 202 FSB on my Athlon XP 2500+ Mobile. I have 2x 512MB Corsair XMS DDR 3500

Right now it's running 202 x 12.5 (2525) (1.7volts)

But I would like to see if I can do more than 202FSB

 

[Shimmishim]

you should be able to do more than 202....

try a new bios... like 25 or 24

 

[Ruroni]

Updated the BIOS to NF7-S v2.0 BIOS build Date 02/06/2004 (version: 6a61ba1bc-25)


But I would like to see if I can do more than 202FSB it's running 202 x 12.5 (2525), and when I try to go 203FSB it pretends to work but it's really not, it's still only doing 404 instead of 406.


Could I maybe NOT have corsair XMS DDR3500? I mean, I bought it from Spartan Technologies and it has a sticker that reads CXMS512-3500C2 XMS3500v1.1 and a S/N, but maybe it's a fake or something?

Or is there something else I am not doing? Or is there something I'm not mentioning, that could help figure out what's wrong?

 

[cuti7399]

I would try

1. Lower your multiplier
2. Up your voltage, maybe 1.725 because nf7-s undervolt cpu
3. Try L12 mod, just do a search on google

I have the same thing running @ 218X11.5 1.725v after doing L12 mod, could not go past 205 before L12 mod

 

[Avalon]

Perhaps you got a lousy board. I've heard that some of the NF7-S boards lately have been pretty lousy as far as overclocking. Might you have another board lying around/that you could borrow to try and see? I'm pretty sure it's not the CPU.

BTW, just out of curiousity. Are you sure it's an NF7-S v2 and not an NF7-S2? It seems from some places you buy from, it's hard to differentiate between the two on first glance, but you notice right away after you start using it because the S2 sucks

 

[INGlewood78]

what are you ram timings? is the ram rated to to do PC3500 at the timings that you have now?

 

[Mik3y]

temps?

 

[maluckey]

Reseat HS/Fan, reset BIOS, Reload windows with APIC disabled for starters. This got me stable at 215 x 11.5, and a max FSB of 228 x 10.

If you are hitting 202 x 12.5 at only 1.7 volts then the CPU isn't the issue here. Your RAM I do beleive is BH-5, and as such should be able to run well past 220 Mhz FSB with 2-2-2-11 timings, so it shouldn't be an issue. That leaves the OS, PSU and the mobo as the main suspects here.

 

[DaNorthface]

I read the NF7-S2 can't even multiplier overclock, so i think you're safe there.. Your board seems okay, my board can't overclock to some fsb's as well. Also, put some more voltage in for overclocking

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Ruroni
NF7-S v2.0 BIOS build Date 12/01/2003 (version: 6a61ba1bc-21)

I can't get more than 202 FSB on my Athlon XP 2500+ Mobile. I have 2x 512MB Corsair XMS DDR 3500

Right now it's running 202 x 12.5 (2525) (1.7volts)

But I would like to see if I can do more than 202FSB

Not sure if this will help, but max out the Chipset voltage?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: cuti7399
I would try

1. Lower your multiplier
2. Up your voltage, maybe 1.725 because nf7-s undervolt cpu
3. Try L12 mod, just do a search on google

I have the same thing running @ 218X11.5 1.725v after doing L12 mod, could not go past 205 before L12 mod

(1) Lower multi YES! 2500+mhz is already good for 2500+ mobile. Tale it back to *10* and then try to up the FSB. That worked for me, I got to FSB 220.

L12 mod may be helpful. You can it two ways: (1) wire trick or (2) use BIOS modded by tictac, has the L12 built-in so no need to pull the cpu and mess with wires or conductive ink etc.

EDIT: Go here and look for tictac's modded BIOS LINK to ABIT FORUMS

Go here to read about the L12 mod (look under OC topic on left of site/page) LINK to LVcoyote's Site

 

[Ruroni]

I have tried lowering the Multiplier as low as 5, just to see what's the most FSB I can get, and it just doesn't go beyond 209 right now It's at 209x12 = 2508 volt = 1.8 the RAM volt I have set to 2.8 the chipset volt is at default cause I really don't know what's safe, and I don't want my system to over heat...

Right now the CPU is idling @ 44C when Burn Tested it goes up to 50C. If I give it more juice then it idles at 50C. That is why I'm scared to do chipset volt increments...

I have not tried doing the L12 mod, or moded BIOS yet... Would that modded BIOS conflict with the FlahsMenu BIOS updater or something else?

Myabe I'll look into these next...

My memory timings I really don't know much about that but I have it @:
6
2
2
2

Is this bad? Should I change the top number to 11?

I very much appreciate the support guys. I'll keep tweakin until I hit 217 @ least.

 

[Ruroni]

Okay I played with it some more...

Now I have:

When booting POST reads:
2530 MHz Mem Freq. 440MHz

In BIOS:
221 x 11.5 (this doesn't match with the POST)

CPU Core Volt = 1.85v
DDR volt = 2.9v
Chipset volt = 1.7v
AGP = 1.5v (Default)


Memory Timings (which i really have no idea what they mean; I looked it up once, but I couldn't really get the meaning, except for lower in most numbers is better, especially in CAS which is why I got the RAM I have cause it's spz 2 b CAS 2.0):

Row Active Delay = 11
Ras 2 Cas = 2
Row Precharge = 2
CAS Latency time = 2.0

Winbond reports the CPU temp is 46C +or- 1 degree at idle. I haven't really stressed the CPU enough to go beyond 50C but I'm sure it will get hotter

In any event, I am content with the APPARENT results I'm getting. My question now becomes, is this safe or am I about to start a fire, or cause my system to die on me in less than one year?

I guess at this point there really isn't anything I can do to this system in terms of upgrade huh?
From what I read, a new VidCard would be bottlenecked by the system itself. Is this correct?

Thanks again, I very much appreciate the help and information provided by the Anandtech forumites.

 

[Ymeister19]

sounds like your high timings might be whats holding back ur FSB, whats your rams timings by spd? have you prime 95 tested it?