overclocking question with AMD XP2800+ Barton

[lorinser75]

Hi guys,
I need a quick advise from all the OC guru out there. For the record, this will be my first OC experience so please take it easy on me

Currently, I have an AMD XP2800+ barton CPU with MSI KT4 Ultra & Crucial Memory PC2700.

My plan is to buy a new Nforce2 Ultra mobo either Asus, MSI or ABIT, (bec. it seems to me these brands are very popular among the OCers), good performance, not value, PC3200 Memory and also a good HSF for the cpu (zalman, vantec or thermaltake).

With those components, I am planning to OC the 2800+ barton from 12.5x166 to 12.5x200.
This sounds pretty easy, that's why I have doubt about it. I know my CPU is not unlocked, so I'm not sure if it will take 200 FSB, even by increasing the voltage. what do you think I should do? do you think this plan is good enough? any recommendation?

any comments or help will be really appreciated.

Thanks guys

 

[o1die]

If I recall, nforce2 boards do not have "ratios" for overclocking memory, so you're limited to 166 fsb with pc2700 at a 1:1 ratio, which is fixed. Correct me if I'm wrong. I would suggest you sell your pc2700 memory, and get some pc3500 or higher memory for overclocking. Or you can try a multiplier setting higher than 12.5, but some boards won't permit it. You'll just have to try it. Your cpu should do 2200 easily.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: lorinser75 My plan is to buy a new Nforce2 Ultra mobo either Asus, MSI or ABIT, (bec. it seems to me these brands are very popular among the OCers), good performance, not value, PC3200 Memory and also a good HSF for the cpu (zalman, vantec or thermaltake).

With those components, I am planning to OC the 2800+ barton from 12.5x166 to 12.5x200. This sounds pretty easy, that's why I have doubt about it. I know my CPU is not unlocked, so I'm not sure if it will take 200 FSB, even by increasing the voltage. what do you think I should do? do you think this plan is good enough?

The "Guru" crowd is still watching the late news or something. I'm merely a Barton 2800 owner and have very limited OC experience, but with my Abit NF7-S, and PNY's base level ddr400 ram, I couldn't get the fsb to go past 186, as I recall. Funny thing happened on the way to an OC, though. With mine, after the BIOS was flashed to the latest version, I couldn't even get 166 any more! I'm giving up on Abit.


:disgust:

 

[BlueWeasel]

Check out the OC Database and see how others are doing

 

[lorinser75]

I guess some of the gurus are busy preparing turkey or something

Well thanks for taking time to respond guys, I really appreciate it.

and that was a pretty good database Blue weasel thanks

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: o1die
If I recall, nforce2 boards do not have "ratios" for overclocking memory, so you're limited to 166 fsb with pc2700 at a 1:1 ratio, which is fixed. Correct me if I'm wrong. I would suggest you sell your pc2700 memory, and get some pc3500 or higher memory for overclocking. Or you can try a multiplier setting higher than 12.5, but some boards won't permit it. You'll just have to try it. Your cpu should do 2200 easily.

If I understand you, well NF2 mobo's DO have ram dividers or "ratios" so that you can run your ram and cpu at different speeds. That is, you're not limited to a ratio of only 1:1 by these mobo's. However, as the AMD XP systems do NOT perform as well in asynch mode (ram/cpu at different speeds) you do want to keep your ratio at 1:1 (or 5:5, 6:6 etc).

Fern

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: lorinser75
Hi guys,
I need a quick advise from all the OC guru out there. For the record, this will be my first OC experience so please take it easy on me

Currently, I have an AMD XP2800+ barton CPU with MSI KT4 Ultra & Crucial Memory PC2700.

My plan is to buy a new Nforce2 Ultra mobo either Asus, MSI or ABIT, (bec. it seems to me these brands are very popular among the OCers), good performance, not value, PC3200 Memory and also a good HSF for the cpu (zalman, vantec or thermaltake).

With those components, I am planning to OC the 2800+ barton from 12.5x166 to 12.5x200.
This sounds pretty easy, that's why I have doubt about it. I know my CPU is not unlocked, so I'm not sure if it will take 200 FSB, even by increasing the voltage. what do you think I should do? do you think this plan is good enough? any recommendation?

any comments or help will be really appreciated.

Thanks guys

Well, in general the only thing really wrong with this plan is getting that cpu to run at 2500mhz. I just have major doubts about that.

Not familiar with the MSI KT4 mobo, but I'll assume for the sake of discussion it has a PCI/AGP lock and it's BIOS has an option for increamental FSB adjustments above 166/333 and voltage increases for vcore. vdimm and the chipset. If so, I would first try OCing the CPU/ram/mobo before blowing a bunch of $ on an XP system. Before buying the parts you list, I would rather sell the 2800+ and get a 64bit AMD system.

If you really wanna play around OCing an XP system, maybe get the good ram (you can use it later in a 64bit ystem anyway) and a Shuttle AN35N-Ultra for about $55. I proilly wouldn't buy the ram right away cuz I think the PC2700 ram will OC (FSB-wise) about as much as that CPU will. If I found the ram holding me back (memtest86 would reveal this) then I would get the newer/faster ram.

If the MSI has increamental FSB adjustments of say 167-190, I'd just try OCing it too. Here again, I think the mobo will OC as far as that CPU. Anyway w/b interesting to see.

To sum it up, IMHO that CPU with it's relatively high multi is possibly going to be the OC bottleneck. Lets say you get a 20mhz FSB OC on the mobo and ram, the CPU w/b running at 2325mhz, not a great OC, but faster than a 3200+ Barton. Lets say the CPU did that easily (no vcore adj needed), well maybe it's a great OCer so then I go for the NF2 mobo and ram and push it further.

Fern