NForce2 & 1700+...

[hp660c]

Hi,
I've got an Epox 8RDA+ and a 1700+. Here's my question, i am able to raise the multipler about the default 11 and it actually works just fine. Right now i am at 12.5 = 2000+. My question is: How high can i take it before it breaks ? What exactly does the multiplier do other than 133x12.5=1662.5? It's not like the FSB where if you increase it too much you could damage some PCI components (on non locking mobos). So what damage can be done by raising the multiplier too high?

Thanks

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

no damage other than computer not posting
which is easily remedied by resetting cmos

only thing it does is change the cpu speed multiplier

however you may not be able to go above 12.5 depending on the board
i believe there is an epox board (cant remember if its kt400 chipset or nforce2) that would automagically enable all mults
try it out and tell us

however raising the frequency yeilds better performance fyi

 

[hp660c]

Whelp, just tried. Can only take it to 12.5. Sooo 12.5x133 = 1.67gHz = 2000+. So, not bad. I'll mess around with upping the FSB later after I verify that the FSB gets locked in at 33.

Another oddity i found. In the BIOS, my RPM monitoring won't work. Nor does the program that came with my 8RDA+. But MBM5 works just fine. So looks like we already need a BIOS update for this ah heck Other than that, it's been smooth sailing. Now i just have to install all my apps again.

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

theres an option to lock the agp bus at 66, and in effect the pci bus is locked at 33
happy fsb upping

 

[hp660c]

Yeah, i saw that in the BIOS. Just wanna get my system up for now. Then i'll get started with OCin

Question, since the FSB and AGP will be locked at their respectable 'norms'. What will be the limiting factor? The quality of the ram? I got (2) Kingston PC2700's.

I bought 2 for the Dual DDR, but my dang case (Antec SLK2600) makes the cdrom go back to far and it hits the first stick. If i move the cd up one, then the dumb cable wont reach So for now i'm not running dual ddr, just normal ddr ;(

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

isnt there 3 slots?

so it can be a combo of either slot1 and 3 and 2 and 3, have you tried 2 and 3 if it hits the ram?

i think buy fsb, you mean pci bus since fsb is what you will be adjusting

the ram and cpu are the only limiting factors i believe
not to mention the mobo (whether it can handle high fsb's well, but since its an nforce2 i dont think mobo willbe a problem)

the ram is good till 166mhz, so until 166 cpu frequency you are ok

 

[hp660c]

Yep, there are 3 slots. But to get Dual DDR you must use Slot 1 and either 2 or 3. If you use Slot 2 & 3 you don't get dual ddr. I did mean pci bus Was a little late last night..heh.

 

[hp660c]

Well, i just ran Prime95 torture test, and it is failing less than a minute into it whenever i have the 1700 @ 12.5x133. So i kicked it back down to 11x133 and it is working fine. So that 12.5 must be stressing SOMETHING in the cpu, just not sure what Mabe I'll bump the memory up to 166 and lower the multiplier and see what happens.

 

[Dbird]

What is your CPU voltage at? You might want to bump it up to at least 1.85 to improve your stability at higher multipliers.

Since you have PC2700 RAM start your overclocking by setting the FSB to 166 and mult to 9 or 9.5. You'll get much better performance by running the CPU at the same speed @ 166 FSB than 133 FSB.

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

that means it was the cpu that was failing

upping the vcore will help most likely, as will upping the Vdimm (ram voltage) to about 2.6 or 2.7

 

[hp660c]

Well, I upped the FSB to 166 and lowered the multiplier to 9.5 and it's been running prime95 for 2 hours without any errors. Will leave it run overnight and if it still is AOK then i'll up the multiplier some more and see how it does.

Question:
1) What is a "safe" level for the DIMM voltage?
2) What is a "safe" level for my 1700+, vcore? The default is 1.5v for mine
3) I've got Kingston PC2700 ram, what should i have the T(RAS), T(RCD), and T(RP) set to? It's CL2.5 ram btw.

I don't really want to up the voltage on anything, i just want to get more out of my 1700+ for less than it would cost to by a 2000+ or whatever i get out of it That's all )

 

[Jeff7181]

I don't know if this is common or not, but I bought PNY PC2100 DDR CL2.5 ram from Best Buy... and I have it running at 333 Mhz and CL2... the 333 Mhz didn't do a whole lot, but changing it from CL2.5 to CL2 increased my RAM score in PCMark by about 400 points.

 

[JBT]

uping the ram to 333 should allow for greater memory bandwith

 

[hp660c]

I just noticed something else. My +3.3v line is only around 2.56v! That is way under specs. In fact, i would think my computer would not work at all if it was that low. Wouldnt you?

This is being taken from MBM5, i havent checked in the BIOS but i would think it would show the same reading as well. I haven't hooked up a multimeter to it either.

What's your input on this?

My case is an Antec 2600 with a 300 watt PS.

 

[Dbird]

Someone else had the same problem in MBM about their 3.3V line reading around 2.5. They found out that the MBM was actually showing their Vdimm voltage under that label instead of their 3.3 rail voltage. It'll probably be fixed in the next MBM release so don't worry (your computer wouldn't even run if your 3.3 rail was putting out 2.5V).