Odd 5200+ Overclocking

[gmofftarki]

I've got the MSI K9-A2 Neo2-Digital motherboard, and an AMD 5200+ motherboard. So, obviously, to get the most out of my low priced system, I attempt to overclock it.

The CPU voltage is not adjustable, any way that I've found.

The RAM voltage is not adjustable through the BIOS, but the MSI utility seems as though it's able to increase the RAM voltage from within the OS, and given that my OCZ RAM (2GB, DDR2800, 5-5-5-12-2T) is supposedly able to accept increased voltages I thought that perhaps I might try increasing the RAM voltage to 2.00 or 2.05.

Even doing so, though, if I go above a 224FSB (12% overclock) Prime95 only runs for 4 minutes before deciding that it hates life.

I've got a THERMALTAKE TMG A2 CL-P0373 AMD CPU Cooler Retail for my CPU's cooler, and a Coolermaster Centurion for the case, with an Antec Truepower 650 as the PSU.

CPU temperatures generally stay below 40C even while overclocking extensively and under load.

Does anyone have any idea why I'm experiencing this issue? Are there any known resolutions? And help provided would be most useful, thank you.


EDIT: as a side note, I strongly recommend against getting that particular CPU cooler... biggest PITA install I've ever seen in my life.

 

[gmofftarki]

As an update: I've determined anecdotally that the MSI "Dual-CoreCenter" utility does increase memory voltage.

Running 3DMark05, it would not go past the second or third step, until I increased RAM voltage. When I did so, it successfully completed the benchmark.

 

[myocardia]

Depending on which model of 5200 you have, that's either 2.9 Ghz or 3.0 Ghz. I'm surprised that it will even run at either of those speeds, on stock voltage. BTW, are you lowering the HT multiplier, before trying to overclock it?

 

[gmofftarki]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Depending on which model of 5200 you have, that's either 2.9 Ghz or 3.0 Ghz. I'm surprised that it will even run at either of those speeds, on stock voltage. BTW, are you lowering the HT multiplier, before trying to overclock it?

I haven't lowered the HT multiplier, it's set to Auto though, so it might do it itself.

This is screencap of CPU-Z:
http://i205.photobucket.com/al...33/gmofftarki/CPUZ.jpg

[e] Guess you guys don't like embedded imaging

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: gmofftarki
I haven't lowered the HT multiplier, it's set to Auto though, so it might do it itself.

This is screencap of CPU-Z:
http://i205.photobucket.com/al...33/gmofftarki/CPUZ.jpg

[e] Guess you guys don't like embedded imaging

No, you're overclocking your HT link too far. Here's how to overclock an Athlon 64. Everything in that link applies to your system, except vdimm and RAM timings.

 

[gmofftarki]

Originally posted by: myocardia
No, you're overclocking your HT link too far. Here's how to overclock an Athlon 64. Everything in that link applies to your system, except vdimm and RAM timings.

It ran PRIME95 torture test beautifully last night for more than 5 hours, so I'm not sure if I'm actually showing stability issues (this was after I had discovered how to adjust the CPU voltage and set it to 1.325) at 228.

Unfortunately, my motherboard doesn't seem to have an HTT multiplier option, solely "CPU speed and CPU multiplier", as well as a bunch of RAM timing and voltage options (see link here: http://www.pcstats.com/article...?articleid=2172&page=4 )

Set back to stock for the meantime, and order a new motherboard with which to play around?

 

[gmofftarki]

So now I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile, for now, to upgrade my motherboard to something like one of these, to unlock more overclocking options:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813130048

Obviously, I'd rather hold off on upgrading to another AMD motherboard, and if I were to upgrade I'd prefer to get one with AM2+ rather than just AM2.

That said, though: How big a problem is the fact that my HTT is overclocked to that level? As I said, 5 hours of PRIME95 stress-testing. Granted, I've only got the standard Prime95, so it might only be stressing one core, thus leaving the HTT as a minimal issue, but the only weird instability I've seen has been WoW crashing to the desktop without an error message after 5-6 hours of playtime.

Anyone have any other thoughts, or should I just go back to stock since I experience acceptable performance in most programs at stock levels (Crysis CPU benchmark gained like 5-10 FPS on these settings, but I'd rather do whatever is 'best performance/stability/unlikelihood to brick my new 8800GT' ratio.

 

[gmofftarki]

Anyone have any insight? The lack of an obvious HTT multiplier setting has been annoying me, so I went back to stock, but it seems like a waste of a good CPU cooler and good RAM rated for higher voltages.

 

[TC91]

i would say it depends on whether or not you are getting good enough performance out of your system. if you are, then save some money and get a more worthwhile upgrade (wait for a better version of the phenom or get a 45nm quad or wait for nehalem). try oc'ing that gt too if you re gaming if you havent already done so. the x2 5200+ is still a pretty good cpu, its exactly the same as the fx-60 in specs, except for the unlocked multi. for the htt issue, i would do a 24hr dual prime 95 small fft's test to verify its stability at oc'ed settings if you want to oc it a bit. remember, most manufacturers always like to leave a little headroom for their components, just in case so a small oc should not do too much harm to it.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: gmofftarki
Anyone have any insight? The lack of an obvious HTT multiplier setting has been annoying me, so I went back to stock, but it seems like a waste of a good CPU cooler and good RAM rated for higher voltages.

HT, not HTT, multipliers can be called different things. Some BIOS's call it the HT multiplier, some call it the IDT multiplier, and others call it something strange, like NB to SB ratio. Find the manual for your motherboard, and it will tell you which it calls it.

 

[Regalk]

Review your bios carefully - it is a setting that allows you to change the HTlink from 1 through 5 or perhaps 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000. So at 200 FSB use 1000 (or AUTO ) at 201 to 250 use 800 (or 4), 251-333 use 3 or 600. Each manufacturer just calls it something different depending on what they are smoking.

I see that you have a AMD 690G board with HDMi etc. I have the Gigabyte version and it gives me the option (HT Link Width and HT Link frequency) but it appears that your MSI does not. Did you update to the latest BIOS perhaps a newer bios will provide the option. This is too basic a feature for an AMD MB not to have.

 

[gmofftarki]

Originally posted by: Regalk
Review your bios carefully - it is a setting that allows you to change the HTlink from 1 through 5 or perhaps 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000. So at 200 FSB use 1000 (or AUTO ) at 201 to 250 use 800 (or 4), 251-333 use 3 or 600. Each manufacturer just calls it something different depending on what they are smoking.

I see that you have a AMD 690G board with HDMi etc. I have the Gigabyte version and it gives me the option (HT Link Width and HT Link frequency) but it appears that your MSI does not. Did you update to the latest BIOS perhaps a newer bios will provide the option. This is too basic a feature for an AMD MB not to have.

I've got the most recent BIOS, according to LiveUpdate. No feature shown either in the manual or in the BIOS.

Suggestion is update motherboard anyway, because that would seem to suggest other oversights?

EDIT: I had been pondering getting another motherboard anyway, as my current one doesn't support PCIE2.0 unless I'm mistaken. Any recommendations on a new one? One that has plenty of space to install the HSF would be preferred.

 

[Regalk]

You have an integrated board (sound, lan, video, HDMI etc)- what are you looking for - something similar or different? Assume you are staying AMD
Non-integrated on in my sig I really like - Biostar 570SLI <-- one of the better AMD overclocking boards out there.
Integrated gigabyte MA690G-S2H or -S3H - either of those two are fine.
There is the new AMD790G cjipset which I have not looked at and some say they are excellent.

 

[gmofftarki]

Originally posted by: Regalk
You have an integrated board (sound, lan, video, HDMI etc)- what are you looking for - something similar or different? Assume you are staying AMD
Non-integrated on in my sig I really like - Biostar 570SLI <-- one of the better AMD overclocking boards out there.
Integrated gigabyte MA690G-S2H or -S3H - either of those two are fine.
There is the new AMD790G cjipset which I have not looked at and some say they are excellent.

Going to head over to COMPUSA to see what the firesale looks like. If I can pick up an ASUS nVidia 570 based board for less than a buck fifty, I'm probably going to go for it.

 

[gmofftarki]

COMPUSA firesale doesn't start for another 4 days, and it's only 10% then, so went online and looked at what they had there.

Ended up going with the Biostar 590SLI one. Read some reviews, looked at screenshots of the BIOS, etc, and it seems like it behaves itself pretty well, as well as the fact that it's only 30 dollars more (including mail-in rebate) for the more full-featured chipset, with AMD continuing the K8 architecture so the non-AM2+-ness of it being a minor concern.

Also got myself a new case though. Debated between the Aerocool Extreme (liked the fan controllers), the RAIDMAX Smilodon (liked the fold-out motherboard tray) and the Antec 900 (plenty of room in the case) and the Antec won. Let's see how this works out.

 

[Regalk]

That is an excellent board - I would have bought that myself but prefer to keep the cost down. Considering my X2 3600+ is at 3040 and amaaazing memory speeds, I am not complaining.
Good choice (onboard sound is quite good)