Please help with this overclock

[archcommus]

My specs:

A7N8X-X Rev 2.xx BIOS 1005
Athlon XP 2100+ Tbred-B
1 GB PC-3500 (PNY and Kingmax)

The previous owner of this equipment (everything except for the Kingmax stick) said he ran it at 200x11 at 1.725V no problem. Oddly enough, I can't get it past 199x11. If I increase the FSB even one more MHz, the system will either not get to Windows, or if it does, will reboot shortly after. I tried raising the Vcore to 1.75V and the vDimm to 2.7V and it did not help. I also tried raising the multi to 11.5 and it couldn't survive more than three tests in 3DMark01, even with 1.75V. So it seems that's my max, but why can't I hit an even 200 FSB? Any suggestions? I currently have my mem timings set to aggressive. I tried optimal and that did not help. Would mem timings be related to my ability to boot into Windows at 200 FSB anyway?

Also, at 199x11 and 1.7V, everything seems fine except 3DMark01 closed on me after about 40 minutes of running. Didn't lock up, didn't reboot, just closed 3DMark (I had it set to loop infinitely). The things I've read to try if this occurs are: disable fastwrites or 8x AGP, raise AGP voltage, and improve northbridge cooling. I currently have the stock heatsink on my NB. Is removing it, applying some AS5, and reapplying it really necessary? Which of the above things do you think I should try to remedy this problem? Or does this simply mean even 199x11 is too high?

Phew, I think that covers it, thanks!

 

[Sylvanas]

pop off the heatsink put on some AS5. raise the voltage to 1.8 and if you can, raise the ram voltage. and some custom cooling would be good, stock just doesnt cut it for overclocking anymore

 

[archcommus]

Oh, sorry, should've mentioned this before.

I do not have the stock heatsink on my CPU, I have a Swiftech MCX-462 on it with AS5 topped with a Thermaltake SmartFan I at full blast (80mm, about 53 cfm). The northbridge is what has stock cooling on it.

I could try 1.8V, but that would really hurt temperatures, and I don't get why I can't achieve the same thing that the previous owner did. Remember, he owned all three parts, not just the CPU. The only thing I added is the Kingmax stick, which I know is not limiting me since it's rated at DDR433 (and I've read it can overclock beyond that anyway).

I have also tried raising the RAM voltage to 2.7V, didn't help.

So I'm trying to get this FSB up, and I'm also trying to figure out what caused 3DMark to crash.

Thanks.

 

[archcommus]

I tried various timings and even raised the Vcore to 1.8. The only thing I can think of is my +5V is dipping too low at those higher FSBs. Would that cause rebooting/crashing? My PSU's an Antec SmartPower 400W. I always thought it was a decent, good, maybe even very good PSU, wasn't really ever sure.

At 199x11 I kept having the 3DMark01 crashes after about 7 or 8, maybe 9 loops. So I put it at 195x11 at 1.7V Vcore and 2.6V vDimm, and it completed over 11 3DMark01 loops, at which point I stopped it. So it seems good there, hopefully it is.

Doesn't seem like I can get any higher, any last suggestions? Could the problem be the PSU?