Overclocking Newbie

[Drmark]

Ok I have never done this before but an interested intrying.
I have the following
ASUS A7N8X Mb with an Amd 2400xp Retail version so it came with a heatsink and fan.

Is there a guide that can help me out?

 

[KingofFah]

I am not 100% sure, but I think your board is KT400. If that is so, then you have all the multipliers available to you. Go into BIOS and up the multiplier. If you crash, up the vcore and see if it will boot. Do not up the vcore too high (from what I have heard 1.7v is max safe). Other than that, I am not sure whether you can up the FSB too much with the retail HSF, but go ahead and try it (upping slowly). The rev b runs much cooler. You can definitely expect 2400 to 2700, since that only requires a change in multiplier via BIOS.

Correct me if I am wrong, never done any overclocking on tbreds, only palminos.

 

[Drmark]

My chipset is the nvidia nforce 2
If there is a guide that someone has please post it.
I couldn't find anything.

 

[KingofFah]

I just saw the 8x and took a guess. Someone will have to confirm this, but the nforce2 should also have access to all the multipliers.

If you just hit the del key when you boot up and find your way into the clock speed and voltages control area, see if you are allowed to change the multipliers.

 

[Drmark]

I have access to everything but what do I need to set to what?
Like I said I am a super newbie

 

[KingofFah]

Can you distinguish what the multiplier is in that list. It should be at 14.5, see if you can get up to 15.5 (try 15 first then completely boot up, restart, set it to 15.5, boot up run some programs for awhile (games are good, if you do not have prime95). On boot up it will start registering as something different and in windows. You have a rev b tbred, which is awesome for overclocking. I would say spend the extra money for a better HSF, drop the multiplier to 13, and set the FSB to 166. If you crash at whatever multiplier you set, you can slowly up the vcore (try adding .025 at a time, but remember that the retail HSF cannot keep that CPU cool at higher vcores). I doubt you will have to up the vcore if you just change the multiplier to 15 or 15.5. but if you do get a better HSF and start running 166+ FSB at 13+ multipliers, you probably will have to start increasing the vcore.

 

[yhelothar]

the cpu is locked, so you can't adjsut the mutliplier
luckly, the 2400+ is very simple to unlock,
but i'd start off with just adjusting the front side bus, which should be 133 stock... the nforce2 is very good for adjusting the front side bus because it has a PCI frequency lock.
your PCI bus is the frequency your PCI communicates with your soutbridge which is supposed to be 33MHz, any higher can cause PCI cards to fail, and most frequently, your hard drive.

To calculate your CPU operating frequency, multiply the multiplier with the FSB, 2400+ uses a multiplier of 15 (15×133(FSB) = 2000MHz(CPU Freq.)), so depending on what your RAM can handle(PC2700 ram is much better for overclocking), you can increase your FSB.. i'd start off by trying 140MHz FSB which would result in 2100MHz.
You basically have to play around with it. Just try different speeds, try the highest one before your system becomes unstable. Increasing CPU voltage will increase stability at higher clockspeeds, but will increase temperatures.
once you played around with that, look for articles on how to unlock the multiplier.

 

[Drmark]

Thankyou all for the help.
I am gonna purchase a new HSF and give it a shot.

 

[KingofFah]

Ummm, huh?

the cpu is locked, so you can't adjsut the mutliplier
luckly, the 2400+ is very simple to unlock,
but i'd start off with just adjusting the front side bus, which should be 133 stock... the nforce2 is very good for adjusting the front side bus because it has a PCI frequency lock.
your PCI bus is the frequency your PCI communicates with your soutbridge which is supposed to be 33MHz, any higher can cause PCI cards to fail, and most frequently, your hard drive.

To calculate your CPU operating frequency, multiply the multiplier with the FSB, 2400+ uses a multiplier of 15 (15×133(FSB) = 2000MHz(CPU Freq.)), so depending on what your RAM can handle(PC2700 ram is much better for overclocking), you can increase your FSB.. i'd start off by trying 140MHz FSB which would result in 2100MHz.
You basically have to play around with it. Just try different speeds, try the highest one before your system becomes unstable. Increasing CPU voltage will increase stability at higher clockspeeds, but will increase temperatures.
once you played around with that, look for articles on how to unlock the multiplier.

As far as the speed I honestly do not know if it is 2ghz (it is listed on as either 1.93 or 2.0ghz), so someone will have to verify that. In general the nforce2 chipset allows the tbred(tbreds by default allow the multipliers to be changed as long as the mobo does, unlocked is a bad word for it, i know.) to be manipulated. Unless the a7n8x does not allow this, he can change multipliers at will (does someone have this board and can verify that it allows changes to be made?). It is better if he drops the mult down and up the FSB, since he can reach a higher throughput of memory.
Drmark, what kind of memory do you have? If you have 2700 DDR, then you can do 166FSBX13 (from what I have heard, a rev b will easily be able to do this) to match the 2700. If you do have 2700, definitely get a better HSF and overclock the FSB with a lowered multiplier.

 

[Drmark]

I have pc2700
also the cpu reads at 2004mhz

 

[JackHomer]

His cpu should be unlocked because he has a new board and a tbred. I dont know if this is true for the nforce2 boards but i know i can do it with my kt400 chipset mobo. If you are gonna overclock very much i would recommend getting a better heatsink and fan than the stock one. You definitely have the right mobo and cpu to overclock though.

 

[SharkyTM]

what kind of power supply are you using?
RAM?

 

[Drmark]

340 watt antec PS
512 Samsaung pc2700 ddr

 

[yhelothar]

hmmm thanks for the insight.. i read in some places that certain boards can auto unlock locked cpus...
well i'd do what kingoffah says to lower the multiplier and use 166FSB

 

[KingofFah]

BAH, NO UNLOCK. I hate that term, they are not unlocked. Unlocking is something different. It just so happens that the nforce2 and kt400 boards have access to the multipliers. Even the KT333 has access to 12.5 and lower multipliers. In order to have acess to all the multipliers you would actually have to unlock the CPU.

Thanks Drmark for clearing that up. I hate it when sites list CPUs incorrectly.

Drmark, as far as overclocking goes, it really depends on what you want to do. Here are the basic options.
Keep HSF, change multiplier in BIOS to a higher one for a simple overclock, no changes to the FSB.
New HSF, slowly push up the FSB as high as you can go, limiting factor will probably be the CPU in this case at 15x mult.
New HSF, drop mult to 13, push FSB to 166 and slowly go higher, limiting factor will probably be RAM, but I was actually having a debate with someone on whether or not this memory is good for overclocking. They say you have to burn it in first, and since I have never tried it on samsung, you might wanna go that way and see what results you yeild.
- you could also drop the multiplier to a lower setting and up the FSB more, this will be more demanding on the RAM.
- you could also increase the multiplier and settle at 166 FSB.

When you decide on what you want to do or have more questions about it, post on it. People here can give you good advice on a lot of stuff (e.g. what vcore to use vdimm to use).

 

[Drmark]

KingofFah Thankyou for the info along with everyone else.
I have ordered a new HSF Thermaltake Volcano 7+
Once I get it i will attempt to play around.
Thanks again.

 

[unrealw]

Drmark, what is your default multiplier?

I am asking because i have your exact setup (2400+ and asus A7NX8 mobo) and for some reason it says my default multiplier is 6.5. Strange thing is, it functions at 15. Right now i have it at 143mhz bus and default (6.5) multiplier for a system clock of 2148mhz. I would like to lower the multiplier and raise the fsb, but only the 6.5 multiplier will allow the system to post. Is yours the same?

 

[Drmark]

Originally posted by: unrealw
Drmark, what is your default multiplier?

I am asking because i have your exact setup (2400+ and asus A7NX8 mobo) and for some reason it says my default multiplier is 6.5. Strange thing is, it functions at 15. Right now i have it at 143mhz bus and default (6.5) multiplier for a system clock of 2148mhz. I would like to lower the multiplier and raise the fsb, but only the 6.5 multiplier will allow the system to post. Is yours the same?

If we are on the same page I have it set to 12

 

[unrealw]

what was it stock? and why do you think mine says 6.5, functions at 15, and wont let me use the actual 15 ( or anything besides 6.5 for that matter)? sorry i'm not being helpful to you but this is a very weird thing and you're the only other person i've found with the same setup.

 

[Drmark]

I am not too sure.
For the most part except for the AGP speed it's all befault.
I also got the retail version if that helps ya?

 

[unrealw]

hmm well good luck with the OCing. You're sure to have more luck than me; i cant even change the multiplier.

 

[Drmark]

I will do some research for ya to see if i can help.
Is there a way to send private messages here?

 

[unrealw]

not that i know of, though i could set up aim if you want me to...

 

[Drmark]

visit this site and post in the Hardware section.
My name is WHOCARES
www.gamemecca.net

 

[unrealw]

i signed up there but it says i "dont have permission to reply" in your threads. it doesnt matter; no one knows whats going on with my motherboard.