To start: System Specs:
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (Nforce 3)
A64 3000+ Venice core
BFG 6800GT OC AGP 8x ( Stock settings, haven't touched anything with video voltages, clocks, etc).
Memory: 2gb (2x1gb) G.Skill DDR500. Listed Timings 3-4-4-7, SPD 3-5-5-10.
***Power Supply*** (Which I kinda suspect as the issue.)
Rosewill 400w (Came with the case). Model: LC-B400ATX
Product Links (Newegg mostly):
Memory:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021
Power Supply/Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147001#DetailSpecs
I'm especially suspicious of the power supply being the problem due to the seeming cap on my CPU voltage (via CPU-Z) at 1.6v, where my settings should be putting it at 1.7v. Also, many reviews cite this powersupply being DOA for many, or otherwise dieing. I haven't observed any problems with mine before, however.
CPU-Z Screenshots link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/FireFiend/untitled.jpg
Note: At current stable setup of 2.4ghz, not 2.7.
Cooling: Arctic Freezer 64 HS/F, Arctic Silver thermal paste.
For more specifics, see my CPU-Z Screens above.
Alrighty. Previously, I was running my proc at 2.4ghz (266x9) with 1gb of mushkin enhanced memory at a 166 divider. I just got this new memory, figuring I could do more overlcoking, and possibly 1:1 with the CPU.
At reccomended CPU voltage (1.55v) my proc reaches 2.4ghz, which was why I ended up at 2.4 previously. I did a lot of research on overclocking via these forums, HardOCP, Overclockers.com, etc, and decided to venture into increasing the voltages. When I did that, my proc would reach 2.7ghz (300x9), and probably a bit further, but 2.7 was my goal, so I stopped there.
Isolating the FSB, I found the max post was 335 HTT, and probably 300 and under plenty stable.
Isolating the memory, I was able to overclock it to 280mhz (DDR560) with memtest86 showing it stable (though I didn't run any extensive tests, just 1 basic run through, with particular regard to tests 5 and 6, which I read are most important when overclocking memory).
So... putting it all together, I decided on 2.7ghz (300x9) with a 166 divider, effectively clocking my memory to 250mhz, or stock. I increased voltages to about 1.7v... The thing about this mobo/BIOS is that it gives me the option of CPU VID Voltage (1.55v max) with an additional option to add voltage to the CPU up to 10% over VID. However, in CPU-Z, the voltage always peaks at 1.600v, and doesnt go an inch over that.
However, this setup was unstable. The main error that comes up when I try to do a burn-in with Prime 95 is the rounding error... Recieved .5, expected less than .4, or recieved .499585885, expected less than .4. Occasionally I'd get system freezes, but I've tried a LOT of different configs, trying to lower voltages, etc, and that may have been a result of voltage being too low. largely the only problem I run into when testing is the rounding error.
Looking up some guides, I found that this error usually indicates a problem with the memory. I was a bit puzzled, since I was running at largely stock settings, even a bit under in fact. Voltage was at 2.8v, with the memory being rated for 2.6-2.8v. When I nuked the memory HTT // put the divider at 100, I still recieve the same error. Strangely enough, when I reduced the memory timings to 3-5-5-10 (which I discovered were the SPD settings), my system was stable for a full hour of stressing in prime95, up from 5-15 minutes previously.
So, continuing to try to find a stable setup, I could only get it stable when I clocked back to 2.4ghz with the stock voltage on the CPU. I'm a little bit puzzled as to why my setup isn't stable beyond that. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue... my temps on load never go beyond 50c on full load. I'm open to opinions on this though, because I'm not 100% confident my sensors are reporting correctly since I've got a non-stock CPU HSF. It seems like the memory couldn't be an issue, since it was stable at DDR560, let alone DDR495 or so which is where it ended up. It seems like whenever I venture beyond 1.55v and 2.4ghz , I just can't get it stable, and the only error I get suggests memory =\. As I alluded to before, this is why I suspect the power supply, but I'd like another opinion.
If you're still reading, thanks for taking time out to help a beginning overclocker
Thanks,
FireFiend
I
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum (Nforce 3)
A64 3000+ Venice core
BFG 6800GT OC AGP 8x ( Stock settings, haven't touched anything with video voltages, clocks, etc).
Memory: 2gb (2x1gb) G.Skill DDR500. Listed Timings 3-4-4-7, SPD 3-5-5-10.
***Power Supply*** (Which I kinda suspect as the issue.)
Rosewill 400w (Came with the case). Model: LC-B400ATX
Product Links (Newegg mostly):
Memory:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021
Power Supply/Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147001#DetailSpecs
I'm especially suspicious of the power supply being the problem due to the seeming cap on my CPU voltage (via CPU-Z) at 1.6v, where my settings should be putting it at 1.7v. Also, many reviews cite this powersupply being DOA for many, or otherwise dieing. I haven't observed any problems with mine before, however.
CPU-Z Screenshots link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/FireFiend/untitled.jpg
Note: At current stable setup of 2.4ghz, not 2.7.
Cooling: Arctic Freezer 64 HS/F, Arctic Silver thermal paste.
For more specifics, see my CPU-Z Screens above.
Alrighty. Previously, I was running my proc at 2.4ghz (266x9) with 1gb of mushkin enhanced memory at a 166 divider. I just got this new memory, figuring I could do more overlcoking, and possibly 1:1 with the CPU.
At reccomended CPU voltage (1.55v) my proc reaches 2.4ghz, which was why I ended up at 2.4 previously. I did a lot of research on overclocking via these forums, HardOCP, Overclockers.com, etc, and decided to venture into increasing the voltages. When I did that, my proc would reach 2.7ghz (300x9), and probably a bit further, but 2.7 was my goal, so I stopped there.
Isolating the FSB, I found the max post was 335 HTT, and probably 300 and under plenty stable.
Isolating the memory, I was able to overclock it to 280mhz (DDR560) with memtest86 showing it stable (though I didn't run any extensive tests, just 1 basic run through, with particular regard to tests 5 and 6, which I read are most important when overclocking memory).
So... putting it all together, I decided on 2.7ghz (300x9) with a 166 divider, effectively clocking my memory to 250mhz, or stock. I increased voltages to about 1.7v... The thing about this mobo/BIOS is that it gives me the option of CPU VID Voltage (1.55v max) with an additional option to add voltage to the CPU up to 10% over VID. However, in CPU-Z, the voltage always peaks at 1.600v, and doesnt go an inch over that.
However, this setup was unstable. The main error that comes up when I try to do a burn-in with Prime 95 is the rounding error... Recieved .5, expected less than .4, or recieved .499585885, expected less than .4. Occasionally I'd get system freezes, but I've tried a LOT of different configs, trying to lower voltages, etc, and that may have been a result of voltage being too low. largely the only problem I run into when testing is the rounding error.
Looking up some guides, I found that this error usually indicates a problem with the memory. I was a bit puzzled, since I was running at largely stock settings, even a bit under in fact. Voltage was at 2.8v, with the memory being rated for 2.6-2.8v. When I nuked the memory HTT // put the divider at 100, I still recieve the same error. Strangely enough, when I reduced the memory timings to 3-5-5-10 (which I discovered were the SPD settings), my system was stable for a full hour of stressing in prime95, up from 5-15 minutes previously.
So, continuing to try to find a stable setup, I could only get it stable when I clocked back to 2.4ghz with the stock voltage on the CPU. I'm a little bit puzzled as to why my setup isn't stable beyond that. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue... my temps on load never go beyond 50c on full load. I'm open to opinions on this though, because I'm not 100% confident my sensors are reporting correctly since I've got a non-stock CPU HSF. It seems like the memory couldn't be an issue, since it was stable at DDR560, let alone DDR495 or so which is where it ended up. It seems like whenever I venture beyond 1.55v and 2.4ghz , I just can't get it stable, and the only error I get suggests memory =\. As I alluded to before, this is why I suspect the power supply, but I'd like another opinion.
If you're still reading, thanks for taking time out to help a beginning overclocker
Thanks,
FireFiend
I