Problems with OC

[Tiamat]

Has anyone have problems with this setup?

DLT3C 1800+
ABIT NF7-S ver2.0
Mushkin PC3500 Level 2 (2x512MB)

It works rock solid (SuperPI, Memtest86 v3.0, FFXI Bench tested many times) at FSB 200mhz. However, when I run Memtest at 216FSB, i get errors. Mushkin thinks its because i am OCing too much and that the Northbridge is sending incorrect data between the RAM and the Processor.

I dont have a great understanding of the Northbridge and how it functions outside of the fact that it is the "middle-man" between the Ram and processor. I tried raising the voltage by 0.1V (the most i could with this board) and nothing happened.

I have the default BIOS that the mobo comes with. Will flashing to ABITs newest version do anything?
Do I have to get a better Northbridge cooler?

Thanks for any help that can be offered!

Note, when I overclocked higher than FSB 200, I lowered the CPU's multiplier down to 8 just to be safe.

 

[bdjohnson]

upgrading the bios cant hurt, but i doubt its your problem. sounds like your mem just isnt stable at the higher fsb. find the highest possible stable fsb for your ram and then stard upping the multiplier on your cpu.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Well, I don't know much about how lowering the multipliers helps with high FSB speeds, but maybe you've reached the limit of your CPU? What Vcore voltage are you running at? If it's not already maxed out, I'd raise it 0.05v or 0.1v and see if that improves stability.

I'd give the latest BIOS a try, but I wouldn't get my hopes up about that being the problem.

I am not sure what kind of NB cooler is on the Abit boards, but replacing it may be something to consider if you know that the limit is not cause by other components (ie, CPU, RAM, power supply, etc.).

I just replaced my stock NB cooler on my 8RDA with the large, blue passive heatsink from Zalman that I got at SVC. It's just a large HS with no fan, but that may or may not be adequate for what you need. I never used one, but several have recommended the Vantec Iceberg cooler (see SVC) which has a fan.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Well, I don't know much about how lowering the multipliers helps with high FSB speeds, but maybe you've reached the limit of your CPU? What Vcore voltage are you running at? If it's not already maxed out, I'd raise it 0.05v or 0.1v and see if that improves stability.

Hmm, stock voltage on the Processor is 1.5V. That is what it is now. I didnt increase it because it was memtest that failed. My memory voltage is 2.75V right now.

I guess perhaps I will try to increase my cpu voltage - maybe its the processor that is sending the Ram errors, and not the Ram generating errors.

Also, I have a Antec TrueBlue 480 as my power supply.

 

[Duvie]

I don't think so!!! Stock voltage on an tbred I believe is 1.6 or 1.65v....You are running lower then stock...

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Duvie
I don't think so!!! Stock voltage on an tbred I believe is 1.6 or 1.65v....You are running lower then stock...

For a typical Tbred B you are correct. However, specifically, the DLT3C has a stock voltage of 1.5V. This specific stock of processors probably came from the inner section of the silicon wafer and thus, can run normally under a less voltage requirement.

 

[CarpeDiem99]

Yes DLT3C is 1.5V stock
one of my processors is the 1800 dlt3c jixib running @ 2594mhz 225x11.5

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: CarpeDiem99
Yes DLT3C is 1.5V stock
one of my processors is the 1800 dlt3c jixib running @ 2594mhz 225x11.5

Have you tried 215x12.0? I dont think i would be able to hit 225fsb with my ram, but my goal is a 1.0ghz OC. Obviously, since im still in the beginning stages of gettting a stable overclock, I have not been able to try the aforementioned timing yet (but was wondering if that was somethign plausible )

 

[CarpeDiem99]

why would 12x215 be a problem?

 

[CarpeDiem99]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Has anyone have problems with this setup?

DLT3C 1800+
ABIT NF7-S ver2.0
Mushkin PC3500 Level 2 (2x512MB)

It works rock solid (SuperPI, Memtest86 v3.0, FFXI Bench tested many times) at FSB 200mhz. However, when I run Memtest at 216FSB, i get errors. Mushkin thinks its because i am OCing too much and that the Northbridge is sending incorrect data between the RAM and the Processor.

I dont have a great understanding of the Northbridge and how it functions outside of the fact that it is the "middle-man" between the Ram and processor. I tried raising the voltage by 0.1V (the most i could with this board) and nothing happened.

I have the default BIOS that the mobo comes with. Will flashing to ABITs newest version do anything?
Do I have to get a better Northbridge cooler?

Thanks for any help that can be offered!

Note, when I overclocked higher than FSB 200, I lowered the CPU's multiplier down to 8 just to be safe.

I belive you have the same problems as I do with my OCZ Platinum pc3500 Ltd Edition which supposadly should run @ high fsb with tight timings but I couldn't run it higher than 216 fsb with 11-2-2-2 timings @ 2.9V with 1.7V on the chipset in dual channel
Single Channel I went up to 228 fsb with 11-2-2-2 before I got errors in memtest86 which is more respectable
I'm thinking its a NF7-S problem, wish I had DFI Lanparty Ultra B to test
Anyways, see what single channel gets you, then post back

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: CarpeDiem99
I belive you have the same problems as I do with my OCZ Platinum pc3500 Ltd Edition which supposadly should run @ high fsb with tight timings but I couldn't run it higher than 216 fsb with 11-2-2-2 timings @ 2.9V with 1.7V on the chipset in dual channel
Single Channel I went up to 228 fsb with 11-2-2-2 before I got errors in memtest86 which is more respectable
I'm thinking its a NF7-S problem, wish I had DFI Lanparty Ultra B to test
Anyways, see what single channel gets you, then post back

I dont want to sound like a 'tard, but i think NF7-S is automatically in Dual Channel mode. THere is no BIOS setting for Dual vs single channel mode... unless you mean to separate my RAM and populate DIMM 1 and 3? I am presently conversing with Mushkin about this. They have not failed me yet in solving a problem. Perhaps it is ABIT's fault, but im not totally sure. I think i should be able to hit at least 216 without fail with this board. Also, raising my CPU voltage from 1.5V to 1.7V during my testing did absolutely nothing, so I can say (perhaps prematurely) that my CPU is not at fault here. I also tested using a memory ratio of 4:6 and keeping the CPU at FSB 133 - FSB 144 (Mem 400 - Mem 433) and still had the same problems the second the Ram hit "420mhz."

Hopefully Mushkin will be able to address this issue... So far, I am running 10x200 1:1 mem ratio and its running smoothly, however, I would really like to see FSB 216.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Tiamat

Originally posted by: CarpeDiem99
I belive you have the same problems as I do with my OCZ Platinum pc3500 Ltd Edition which supposadly should run @ high fsb with tight timings but I couldn't run it higher than 216 fsb with 11-2-2-2 timings @ 2.9V with 1.7V on the chipset in dual channel
Single Channel I went up to 228 fsb with 11-2-2-2 before I got errors in memtest86 which is more respectable
I'm thinking its a NF7-S problem, wish I had DFI Lanparty Ultra B to test
Anyways, see what single channel gets you, then post back

I dont want to sound like a 'tard, but i think NF7-S is automatically in Dual Channel mode. THere is no BIOS setting for Dual vs single channel mode... unless you mean to separate my RAM and populate DIMM 1 and 3? I am presently conversing with Mushkin about this. They have not failed me yet in solving a problem. Perhaps it is ABIT's fault, but im not totally sure. I think i should be able to hit at least 216 without fail with this board. Also, raising my CPU voltage from 1.5V to 1.7V during my testing did absolutely nothing, so I can say (perhaps prematurely) that my CPU is not at fault here. I also tested using a memory ratio of 4:6 and keeping the CPU at FSB 133 - FSB 144 (Mem 400 - Mem 433) and still had the same problems the second the Ram hit "420mhz."

Hopefully Mushkin will be able to address this issue... So far, I am running 10x200 1:1 mem ratio and its running smoothly, however, I would really like to see FSB 216.

Yes, you'll need to change one stick of ram to the blank socket to not run it in dual-channel mode (assuming it IS running dual-channel now). And really, what's wrong with 11x215, or even better, 11.5x215. That's higher than most people are running their XP2500's. I wish my motherboard would let me run at 215.