Quick and dirty A64 clocking guide **UPDATE** X2 OC information!

[virtualrain]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I asked it to be taken down.. served it's time.

Here is a better one with some "borrowed" points from Z. but much more detail and better written. You can apply most of the DFI information to all A64 boards.

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20823

I agree that the DFI street article is more comprehensive and very well written - a must read for any serious overclocker - but nothing beats the original post in this thread for a quick and dirty intro to how it's done!

 

[ozias1]

Here's a question I haven't seen anywhere.

Why does my memory go from 1T to 2T when I go over 310 HTT/FSB??

I have an Epox 9NPA+Sli, and am trying to find my max HTT/FSB. The wierd thing is I have been able to POST all the way up to the boards max of 450mhz, with a 3x mutli. My CPU multi is at 6x, and the memory is at SPD 100.

I know Zebo says to make sure you can POST, but mine is posting all the way to the boards max, and thats with default voltage.

If I stay below 310 with either a 3x or 4x multi, my memory will stay at the 1T command rate.

I have overclocked before, just not with the A64. My XP 1700 1.4ghz overclocked to 2.1ghz, on an Epox 8RDA+, now belongs to my daughter, replacing her old AMD K6 500mhz system.

If anyone has any ideas as to why the memory is going from 1T to 2T by upping the HTT/FSB, Please let me know the reason.

Thanks,
John

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: ozias1
Here's a question I haven't seen anywhere.

Why does my memory go from 1T to 2T when I go over 310 HTT/FSB??

I have an Epox 9NPA+Sli, and am trying to find my max HTT/FSB. The wierd thing is I have been able to POST all the way up to the boards max of 450mhz, with a 3x mutli. My CPU multi is at 6x, and the memory is at SPD 100.

I know Zebo says to make sure you can POST, but mine is posting all the way to the boards max, and thats with default voltage.

If I stay below 310 with either a 3x or 4x multi, my memory will stay at the 1T command rate.

I have overclocked before, just not with the A64. My XP 1700 1.4ghz overclocked to 2.1ghz, on an Epox 8RDA+, now belongs to my daughter, replacing her old AMD K6 500mhz system.

If anyone has any ideas as to why the memory is going from 1T to 2T by upping the HTT/FSB, Please let me know the reason.

Thanks,
John

It's memory controller in CPU can't handle high HTT like that.. all chips are different too. I did'nt really talk about this because it's rarly an issue unless you have a crappy multi great clocking chip and clock higher than 300HTT.

 

[Losty]

I'm still baffled about something in my oc'ing experience.

I'm running my memory @ 133 , 8x290 ...
When running it @ 8x293 I had to move the memory timings from 2.5-3-3-10 to 2.5-4-4-10 or else my mobo will go into safe mode (still don't know what this means ... and when it does it) ... 8x293 doens't even run my memory @ 200 yet... so it should do 2.5-3-3-10 @ <200mhz... how come i have to slack off the timing to run this?

max cpu speed is about 2380
fsb goes 300+
trying to keep my corsair vs ram @ 200

TIA!

-Losty

Ok i just updated my bios and now the memory timing is 2T ... i can't get it to 1T because the motherboard just keeps beeping and I have to clear the cmos with the jumpers...to get it to work again. There's also 2 others in the categor: Read preample set @ 6ns and async latency @ 7ns ... maybe i have to change those...

Anyone know what i'm talking about?

Man, I can't set my settings to what they were before. I could hit over 300fsb and now it doesn't post on 195 .. then it post 194 and 193 and 192 and i went to 194 and it didn't and 180 didn't and 175 didn't ... i don't know what's going on... i used winflash to flash it... ugghhh

if anyone could help me out... i'd appreciate it
thanks!

-Losty

 

[gozulin]

Please make this thread a sticky, it has been requested by countless users. thanks!

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: Zebo
I asked it to be taken down.. served it's time.

Here is a better one with some "borrowed" points from Z. but much more detail and better written. You can apply most of the DFI information to all A64 boards.

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20823

 

[phaxmohdem]

Um would somebody re-sticky this or at least explain wy it is unsticky?

 

[GML3G0]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Um would somebody re-sticky this or at least explain wy it is unsticky?

:thumbsup:

 

[ssvegeta1010]

ReStick according to the entire thread dedicated to resticking this.

 

[Accipiter22]

 

[Accipiter22]

I really have no clue what the memory section is talking about:

"It depends what you want and type of mem you chose, LL or Bandwidth but must keep 1T (command rate) because A64 suffers big time with 2T.

-For high bandwidth set mem setting to 200 and 2.5-4-3-7 1 T and give it boards max volts, or for LL set mem setting to 200 and 2-2-2-7 1 T and give it boards max volts. (up to 2.9Vdimm is safe with all ram) ( Caution DFI/ABIT users -- do not exceed 3.0V unless you know what you are doing!!!)
-Set CPUs multi to 6-7, again to take it out of equation.
-Raise HTT up to boards max or until you start failing memtest86 test 5 and 6 http://www.memtest86.com/
-When you start failing memtest86 test 5 and 6, back down 5%, (HTT * 0.95), thats your max MEM speed. "

1. I have corsair value ram is that LL or Bandwidth?
2. How do I change my memory settings? I Have an asus a8v deluxe with bios 1.014
3. If those aren't my natural timings for my RAM, after I'm done finding my memories max should I put my memory back to it's native timings??

 

[ITPaladin]

I would like to know about the KN8 memory section of the BIOS:

1. Max HTT/FSB should be first ..*only works if motherboard has locks. Most A64 boards do today. Sata 1 and 2 are not locked on some nforce mobos use 3 and 4. -set CPU multi to 6 or 7, this will take CPU out of equation -set memory to SPD and 100, this will take memory out of equation -Increase HTT/FSB up until you fail to boot or there abouts, back down 5%, (HTT * 0.95), this is your max safe HTT.

Is there something in the BIOS that says "lock"? I can set SPD but what is this "100"?
Is that the RAM speed like 400 Mhz down to 100? The lowest it will go is 200.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
I would like to know about the KN8 memory section of the BIOS:

1. Max HTT/FSB should be first ..*only works if motherboard has locks. Most A64 boards do today. Sata 1 and 2 are not locked on some nforce mobos use 3 and 4. -set CPU multi to 6 or 7, this will take CPU out of equation -set memory to SPD and 100, this will take memory out of equation -Increase HTT/FSB up until you fail to boot or there abouts, back down 5%, (HTT * 0.95), this is your max safe HTT.

Is there something in the BIOS that says "lock"? I can set SPD but what is this "100"?
Is that the RAM speed like 400 Mhz down to 100? The lowest it will go is 200.

"Locking" in this case refers to running your PCI/PCIe bus at spec while upping the speed of the HTT. For this purpose there's some kind of option in most BIOSes to run the bus asynchronously. As the OP implies, this can get really important if you're using your SATA controllers - they can get unstable in a hurry.

Running your RAM at 100 MHz is the same as runnign it at DDR200. Usually the lowest setting will be 133MHz/DDR266, which is fine. The point is to set it to some ridiculously slow speed so that you are free to up your CPU speed and find its max without your RAM crashing you.

 

[ITPaladin]

ok so since I use a sata drive I should look for something that says run that bus asynchonously? My KN8 has 4 channels.
Due to the lack of proper sentence structure there ....is he saying to plug my cable into channel 3 or 4?

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
ok so since I use a sata drive I should look for something that says run that bus asynchonously? My KN8 has 4 channels.
Due to the lack of proper sentence structure there ....is he saying to plug my cable into channel 3 or 4?

Yes, exactly. it'll say HTT async or lock or something.

 

[ITPaladin]

I am confused on this new terminology of HTT / FSB.

I have FSB in the Soft Menu. In the Advanced Chipset section there is an HT Frequency setting where you have Auto, and 1x through 5x.

I haven't found anything on locking yet...

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Well for our purposes the HTT is the FSB.

the HT Freq multiplier sets the speed of the Hypertransport link. You wan tthis to be around 1GHz, but not much higher since it won't give you perf increases and may cause instability. So as soon as you strart OC'ing I would drop the multi to 4, then once you exceed ~260 HTT, drop it down to 3. There are differing opinions though on what a good HT multi is to run, I'm running HTT 270 on my setup so I have to choose betw. a link speed of 1080 MHZ and 810 MHz. Not real important but something to know.

Re your orig question. Maybe the KN8 automatically locks the bus at its speed...

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
I really have no clue what the memory section is talking about:

"It depends what you want and type of mem you chose, LL or Bandwidth but must keep 1T (command rate) because A64 suffers big time with 2T.

-For high bandwidth set mem setting to 200 and 2.5-4-3-7 1 T and give it boards max volts, or for LL set mem setting to 200 and 2-2-2-7 1 T and give it boards max volts. (up to 2.9Vdimm is safe with all ram) ( Caution DFI/ABIT users -- do not exceed 3.0V unless you know what you are doing!!!)
-Set CPUs multi to 6-7, again to take it out of equation.
-Raise HTT up to boards max or until you start failing memtest86 test 5 and 6 http://www.memtest86.com/
-When you start failing memtest86 test 5 and 6, back down 5%, (HTT * 0.95), thats your max MEM speed. "

1. I have corsair value ram is that LL or Bandwidth?
2. How do I change my memory settings? I Have an asus a8v deluxe with bios 1.014
3. If those aren't my natural timings for my RAM, after I'm done finding my memories max should I put my memory back to it's native timings??

1)Corsair Value isn't low-latency or high-speed, it's value ram.
2)Look in your user manual. Delete or F2 usually gets you into the BIOS.
3)Run your memory at its rated timings, and just clock it up until you fail memtest, to find your max.

 

[ITPaladin]

Originally posted by: OvErHeAtInG
Well for our purposes the HTT is the FSB.

the HT Freq multiplier sets the speed of the Hypertransport link. You wan tthis to be around 1GHz, but not much higher since it won't give you perf increases and may cause instability. So as soon as you strart OC'ing I would drop the multi to 4, then once you exceed ~260 HTT, drop it down to 3. There are differing opinions though on what a good HT multi is to run, I'm running HTT 270 on my setup so I have to choose betw. a link speed of 1080 MHZ and 810 MHz. Not real important but something to know.

Re your orig question. Maybe the KN8 automatically locks the bus at its speed...

That is still confusing.

Do I do anything to that 1x through 5x or auto option, or do I just go to the SoftMenu and drop the multi to 6 and raise the FSB from 200 default up til no boot to start?

I think a little explanation of these things before explaining how to overclock needs to be done.

VERY IMPORTANT to keep in mind at all times is hypertransport needs to be around 1000, meaning LDT x HTT (aka FSB) ~1000 or less.

No idea what LDT is...

So far what I have been doing is I have the HT Frequency at Auto. I have the multi at 6 while upping the FSB from 200 to test the "Max HTT / FSB" section of this guide.

The memory is at 100 since you can't set SPD and 100 seperately. If you set SPD then everything else is not selectable. You have to choose manual in order to set mhz to 100.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Yes set it to 4x or just leave it auto.
The thing is that everything I've been telling you I've figured out by screwing around with my own motherboard. And I'm not that smart.

Have you looked through this thread?

 

[ITPaladin]

Something must be wrong. I just tried to start the second set of tests by having 100 RAM, x10 for max multi, and setting FSB to 205.
It would not boot to windows with that small increase.

The KN8 thread is not a very long read. There is nothing there.

When people talk about HTT 320 I have no real idea if they are talking 320 FSB set in the BIOS or some number that comes from calculating some other numbers.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

HTT320 means most likely they are running a multi of 9 on a really good OC'ing chip, or an even lower multi. And most certainly running a divider on their RAM. Have you upped the voltage on your CPU?

 

[ITPaladin]

It would not do it with the RAM set at 200. When I set it to SPD, and the settings would become unavailable, then it would boot.
I am not sure if I am doing this correctly.
I have voltage a default rather than upping it in step 2 since I figure why up the voltage if you don't have to.
So far I have it at x10 and 216 FSB. Is this max of x10 a limitation of the chip or the BIOS of the KN8?

I don't know anything about dividers either. I have not seen that word in the BIOS anywhere.

Life was simple on an XP.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: ITPaladin
It would not do it with the RAM set at 200. When I set it to SPD, and the settings would become unavailable, then it would boot.
I am not sure if I am doing this correctly.
I have voltage a default rather than upping it in step 2 since I figure why up the voltage if you don't have to.
So far I have it at x10 and 216 FSB. Is this max of x10 a limitation of the chip or the BIOS of the KN8?

I don't know anything about dividers either. I have not seen that word in the BIOS anywhere.

Life was simple on an XP.

Well I"m coming from a P4 Northwood, which has relatively complex things; this is way different but pretty comprehensible by comparison

So your RAM was what it was not allowing you to boot. It didn't like going above 200, obviously. That's good, leave it at SPD, slowly push up your HTT to see how fast your CPU will go on stock voltage.

The limitation of 10 CPU multiplier is a limitation of your CPU. I'm guessing you have a 3200+? I'm limited to multi of 9, because I'm running an Opteron 165. (BTW, you CAN turn down your multiplier, and probably have to when you want to see how high your RAM will go. You will end up running it at 10, however, when you want to go). So you set your RAM to SPD, that's good, just fire up CPU-z in Winodws to see what the BIOS set the timings and MHz to. I just manually set my RAM to 133, 2.0-2-2-7. Then after overclocking, my RAM ends up at 174 or something. That works well for what I have; yoru RAM might be able to go higher/be set at 166, but maybe with slower (i.e. higher) timings.

 

[jenny9580]

I'm having a serious brain fart and I don't want to dedicate a new thread to this.

I have an A64 3000+ (Winchester, 939). I've tried to find the default voltage for it, but for some reason I'm finding both 1.4 and 1.5 on various vendor sites. In the bios, "auto" doesn't tell you the value, and CPU-Z fluctuates too much. Which one is correct? I have it set at 1.5125 (something like that) for my current OC, and I'd like to lower it a little.

Thanks for any help!