Here's my system:
MSI K8N Neo Platinum (nforce3 ultra) [With latest 1.4 BIOS]
A64 3200+ (130nm)
2x512 3500 Mushkin (rated 2-3-3, 2.75V)
160GB SATA Caviar
9800 Pro AIW [doesn't really come into play here, but I figured it should be included as part of the specs]
Zalman CNPS7000A-Copper HSF
This is a system I built for my family at the end of the summer, and I'm home for break now and have a chance to tweak around with it.
So I tested my max RAM o/c; dropped the HT to 2x, multiplier to 6, and the RAM maxed out [prime/superPI stable] (either at rated 2-3-3 or 3-3-3) at 230 MHz, in 1:1 (RAM is rated to 2.75V, running at 2.75). Not quite as high as I was hoping it'd go, but whatever; I can be happy with that.
Next, I went to max out the processor. Dropped the RAM into 1:2, multiplier back up to 10x, left the HT alone at 2. Stable at 2.2GHz; overvolting doesn't increase anything except temps, so I leave that alone. Not too bad. Under load, CPU and case temps are both under 45C
So then I go to combine the settings so to speak. I figure 8x multiplier, 5:6 RAM divider and ~270 FSB will give me close to what I want with no problem (those settings would put me at 225MHz for the ram and 2160MHz CPU. Dropped HT to 3x) . So I start working up to it, starting from 200, going in 5MHz increments and taking a boot as a success (I figured at least until I get above 250 or so).
It boots fine and is stable up to about 230 FSB (this is WITH the lowered multiplier, etc), but anything above that and the BIOS goes into "safe mode", which seems to be "failed OC mode", and drops the FSB back down to 200.
I thought, okay, maybe the hypertransport is getting upset. Even though 270 * 3 would only be 810MHz and should have been fine, I tried dropping to to 2x. It still dropped into safe mode above 230! At that speed with the dividers in place, that was only 1840MHz CPU (~200 MHz UNDERclock), 191 MHz RAM (25 MHz below rated speed), and 460 MHz HT (default is 800).
What's going on?! This just doesn't make any sense at all to me. Anyone have any insight or ideas as to what might be causing this?
On another note, the system doesn't seem to like to reboot when running at anything except 10x200 [even LOWER speeds]. If I reboot by any means (shutdown>reboot in Windows, ctrl-alt-del, or the reboot button) it just hangs after verifying the RAM and says "Detecting IDE Devices..." or some such. However, if I power down the system and cold boot, it boots fine every time. On the other hand, it works fine every time when running at stock 10x200.
Anyway, hope I can get something resolved here. Thanks in advance!
Nick
MSI K8N Neo Platinum (nforce3 ultra) [With latest 1.4 BIOS]
A64 3200+ (130nm)
2x512 3500 Mushkin (rated 2-3-3, 2.75V)
160GB SATA Caviar
9800 Pro AIW [doesn't really come into play here, but I figured it should be included as part of the specs]
Zalman CNPS7000A-Copper HSF
This is a system I built for my family at the end of the summer, and I'm home for break now and have a chance to tweak around with it.
So I tested my max RAM o/c; dropped the HT to 2x, multiplier to 6, and the RAM maxed out [prime/superPI stable] (either at rated 2-3-3 or 3-3-3) at 230 MHz, in 1:1 (RAM is rated to 2.75V, running at 2.75). Not quite as high as I was hoping it'd go, but whatever; I can be happy with that.
Next, I went to max out the processor. Dropped the RAM into 1:2, multiplier back up to 10x, left the HT alone at 2. Stable at 2.2GHz; overvolting doesn't increase anything except temps, so I leave that alone. Not too bad. Under load, CPU and case temps are both under 45C
So then I go to combine the settings so to speak. I figure 8x multiplier, 5:6 RAM divider and ~270 FSB will give me close to what I want with no problem (those settings would put me at 225MHz for the ram and 2160MHz CPU. Dropped HT to 3x) . So I start working up to it, starting from 200, going in 5MHz increments and taking a boot as a success (I figured at least until I get above 250 or so).
It boots fine and is stable up to about 230 FSB (this is WITH the lowered multiplier, etc), but anything above that and the BIOS goes into "safe mode", which seems to be "failed OC mode", and drops the FSB back down to 200.
I thought, okay, maybe the hypertransport is getting upset. Even though 270 * 3 would only be 810MHz and should have been fine, I tried dropping to to 2x. It still dropped into safe mode above 230! At that speed with the dividers in place, that was only 1840MHz CPU (~200 MHz UNDERclock), 191 MHz RAM (25 MHz below rated speed), and 460 MHz HT (default is 800).
What's going on?! This just doesn't make any sense at all to me. Anyone have any insight or ideas as to what might be causing this?
On another note, the system doesn't seem to like to reboot when running at anything except 10x200 [even LOWER speeds]. If I reboot by any means (shutdown>reboot in Windows, ctrl-alt-del, or the reboot button) it just hangs after verifying the RAM and says "Detecting IDE Devices..." or some such. However, if I power down the system and cold boot, it boots fine every time. On the other hand, it works fine every time when running at stock 10x200.
Anyway, hope I can get something resolved here. Thanks in advance!
Nick
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