Overclocking problem

[grimzkunk]

My spec :

Abit NF7 2.0 ( bios updated with Abit Flashmenu )
Athlon Tbred A 2200+ 1.8ghz (13.5x133) + Thermaltake Volcano Silent Boost/Generic Compound
Kingston 512mb PC2700 DDR333 2.5ns
Antec TruePower 480W
Sapphire Radeon 9500PRO 128mb
1 x Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM 8MB ATA (NTFS)
1 x Maxtor 20gb 5400RPM 2MB ATA (FAT32)
Creative Audigy ES
Case Open

Currently, my CPU is at stock speed
13.5x133
Vcore @ 1.65
Temp taking Under XP with MBM: Case = 35C CPU = 50
In the BIOS its telling me CPU = 52C.........so I suppose this is the real CPUTEMP

I find these temp very high since the Core is .13 and i'm only running the vcore at 1.65

So, tell me if i'm wrong, but with my Kingston DDR333, I should be able to get a FSB of 166mhz following my cpu. But whenever I try to get something around a 2ghz overclock, my system stop responding with many way ( can be one of those 3 )

1- System boot, blue screen of death telling me that the system is preventing hardware damage ( telling me to change Bios Cache option )
2- System won't boot ( have to clear the CMOS..... )
3- System boot, when Winxp Logo appears, there's no "loading bar" and it freeze.

For #2 , I'm pretty sure it's due to lack of power, so increasing voltage should help
For #1&2 , I really don't know what can cause this.....voltage too high? voltage too low? FSB too high? Multiplier too high? Some hardware not responding to a higher FSB? Heat?

We all agree that my PSU is a very good one for overclocking?
We all agree that my CPU should't be that hot?
We all agree that my RAM should be overclockable?
We all agree that my board is a good one for overclocking?

I heard some people saying they were getting a 2ghz overclock with the 2200+ on a NF7 with stock cooling........I really, really don't understand how they do that!

I can't even get a 13.5x145, even when I raise voltage, even when I lower memory timing.

I'm really open to any kind of help, commentary or feedbacks from you guys!

Here what I'm gonna do next :

1- I'll try the stock HSF to see if my SilentBoost is the problem
2- I'll check the CPU to see if there's any dammage on it

 

[Tiamat]

Unfortunately you have a Tbred-A. These guys dont OC very well. You need to get a Tbred-B

 

[Fern]

Welcome to Forums grimzkunk!

PSU looks to be a good one. You can check your psu rails in bios or with mbm5.

MBM5 uses the same temp reading as the mobo, so there really s/n be a diff between the two.

What do you have "CPU FSB/Dram Ratio" set to in BIOS (under Soft Menu III)? I assume that its 6:6 or equivilent, but

If it's set to "auto", IIRC that will mean you're running out of synch with cpu @ 133 and ram @166, so increasing FSB will raise both and maybe ram can't go past 166.

If its set to 6:6 etc, may want to try running out of synch, just to ensure that ram will handle its rated speed of 166. "Auto" should do it (cpu fsb/dram ratio) or a divider.

About the temps - I don't have a tbred, so don't know how hot they normally run. But does seem a bit a high at stock vcore, even the system temp seems a bit high. But nothing that would cause damage IMHO. Can you take off the side panel and put a fan or something on it to test if its a temp problem?

Check your vcore with MBM5, my abit's tend to undervolt vcore. It's kinda hard to OC while undervolting vcore.

Fern

 

[grimzkunk]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Unfortunately you have a Tbred-A. These guys dont OC very well. You need to get a Tbred-B

Fortunately my next CPU is gonna be a Mobile Barton 2500+

Thx for the info about Tbred A&B difference!

 

[grimzkunk]

Fern

Here are my voltage under MBM at stock speed :

Vcore : 1.63v and 1.65v
+3.3 : 3.26v and 3.3v
+5 : 4.92v and 4.95v
+12 : 1.8v and 11.86v

The temp is 1C or 2C higher in my bios for both case&cpu ( weird but not really annoying )
My "CPU FSB/Dram Ratio" is set to "Auto" at stock.
While overclocking, I mostly try any divider that could give me something near 333mhz, as I just don't really understand the difference between two divider that gives my ram the same speed. I've also try the "SPD" that didnt really change something during all these waisted hours trying to get a stable overclock.

 

[grimzkunk]

I just gave a try to me stock HSF and it does a better job with cooling but is also noisy
MBM now indicate CPU@45C and CASE@33C

EDIT: I'm currently at 12.5x160 ( 2ghz )
I only raise the Vcore @ 1.8
Divider is on Auto
Bus speed is 320mhz

CPU @ 51C
Case @ 36C

Pretty happy with that! But i'm not done ( didnt even test stability.......i only loaded winxp )

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: grimzkunk
I just gave a try to me stock HSF and it does a better job with cooling but is also noisy
MBM now indicate CPU@45C and CASE@33C

EDIT: I'm currently at 12.5x160 ( 2ghz )
I only raise the Vcore @ 1.8
Divider is on Auto
Bus speed is 320mhz

CPU @ 51C
Case @ 36C

Pretty happy with that! But i'm not done ( didnt even test stability.......i only loaded winxp )

Thats a lot of progress, looks like the temps were causing instability. I've heard some peeps say they were unstable with cpu temps above 50c.

I guess I'm confused, I was thinking with cpu fsb/dram ratio set to *auto* you'd end up with the cpu running at 133 and the ram at 166. Seems that's is what happened for me at that setting with a desktop Barton (166mhz) and pc3200 ram (200 mhz). Can't duplicate it now cuz I'm using a mobile.

You've got me curious. Lets say *auto* does run your ram at 166, if so, when you bump the cpu from 133 to something higher does that also bump the ram speed? I'll try to find out how that works and post back.

Voltage looks OK too.

I just don't really understand the difference between two divider that gives my ram the same speed.

Not sure what you mean? Is it the choice of 1:1, 2:2 etc all the way up to 6:6?

I've also try the "SPD" that didnt really change something during all these waisted hours trying to get a stable overclock.

"SPD" and "Optimal" provide the same ram timings on my setup. "Turbo" tightened up the timings, but I wouldn't go there if I were you. Not yet anyway.

Fern

 

[grimzkunk]

"SPD" and "Optimal" provide the same ram timings on my setup. "Turbo" tightened up the timings, but I wouldn't go there if I were you. Not yet anyway.

Yeah all my timing are at default ( SPD ) most of the time........for now theres too much things to analyze when something's not stable on my overclock But when I said that i've tried "SPD", it was concerning the "fsb/dram ratio" ...

You've got me curious. Lets say *auto* does run your ram at 166, if so, when you bump the cpu from 133 to something higher does that also bump the ram speed? I'll try to find out how that works and post back.

Maybe your're right........I don't remember seeing "auto" setting it to default dram speed. I think it's "SPD" that always wanna set it to DDR333 on my machine. I think "auto" try to keep commercial number, like 133, 166, 200, ect...

I'll check that tomorrow, since there, i'm waiting ur answer! Nice to speak with u!

*** Sorry for my "must be" bad english. Don't pay attention to mistake, or words that don't even exist I'm from Québec!


EDIT: Just added this " http://store.yahoo.com/dotcoms/wech18oscris.html " on the right of my open case. Very, very.....very noisy!
Under XP, MBM CPU:47C Case:30C
This fan is very useful for me...It made me realised something : case fan = overclock

 

[Fern]

Well, sorry to say no progress on my part about what happens when "CPU FSB/Dram Ratio" is set to "auto" in BIOS (when cpu and ram have different stock speeds).

I went ahead and tried on my rig last night, but nothing changed. It stayed the same, as if it were set to 1:1 etc. It may be because my cpu is unrecognizable, the mobo doesn't know what to do. OR, I remembered wrong.

My father has a desktop Barton in his NF7, I had him play with it while we were on the phone. But he's 60 yrs old and the post screen flies by too fast for him to read.

Good Luck with your OC, nice effort so far.


Fern