What are the benefits of connecting L7s instead of adjusting in BIOS?

[Quad]

??
i heard someone say that you'll have more success overclocking by making voltage adjustments with the L7s. Any truth to that? why not just use the bios?

thanks

 

[CecilSaxon]

BUMP!
Cause I wanna Know too!

 

[DaddyG]

The benefit to connecting the L7s is that this directly over-rides the V-core. When the over-ride is done in the BIOS, the cpu has to read and execute BIOS values. In an overclocked system, its better to get the Vcore higher at the soonest possible time. ALL BIOS options are saved in CMOS memory, the only way these values can be used is that the cpu must read the memory values and usually, store them in special hardware registers.

 

[RayH]

The theory is that some motherboards like the MSI Pro2a initially power on the processor using the L7 voltage settings and then later in the boot process switches to the voltage settings saved in the bios.

My Duron 600 would not reliably boot at 950 (motherboard powers on but no video) but when it did it was rock stable. After pencilling the L7's it has boot everytime.

 

[eeut]

did it to my TB800 and now its stable @1050 b4 only reaches 1030.

 

[kimber]

funny thing though,is this just when using jumperfree?i had same problem with a7v133 so tried using jumpers instead and bam,problem gone.it seems when you use jumpers(and dips) the bios boots from that and not the processor defaults.daddyg?

 

[WaldoTFC]

I also had trouble getting my Duron 700 past 900, after I connected the L7, I am at 960 101X9.5 stable on my Soyo MB. On my board in the bios boot screen shows the temp and volts. and it only says 1.76v???? even after I penciled in the L7. But hay, I'm up to 960 and I am looking to go to 1gig.

 

[DaddyG]

Kimber, when you use jumpers or dips, these directly over-ride the Bridge settings. The default settings are never seen by the cpu. John Carrs site shows this very clearly in the case of the mods for the early ASUS A7V. As I posted, ANY BIOS over-ride option must first be read from CMOS memory by the CPU and then stored in a hardware register. The cpu must use the default voltage for these operations.

 

[steven185]

ok please correct me if I am wrong but from what I have read here
If I connect the L7s on my t-bird 650 my MSI k7pro2a might be able
to run this thing at 8x multiplier or better ?
Currently it runs perfectly stable at 7.5x 104fsb but 8x gives me
blank screen and requires me to clear CMOS and start over.
is this because its not getting enough voltage at post?

 

[DaddyG]

Steven, its quite possible that the extra voltage 'kick' is all that you need. In all honesty its difficult to predict BUT I would recommend something other than the Chrome ORB for cooling. The ORBS are really all show and not much go. I'd recommend the TAISOL CGK742092.

 

[bigpow]

I'm now so sure about the pencil tricks anymore.

I tried it and burned my duron! :|

 

[steven185]

DaddyG I dont think the cpu is getting to hot the case is open and even
after playing 2 hours of vampire the orb is still cool to the touch
pc alart111 says cup temp 104f my voodoo 3 on the otherhand is quite hot
to the touch. im thinking I just might need the little extra juice when it first powers on

 

[DaddyG]

Steve, even though the ORB is not warm to the touch, its still suspect. The ORB simply doesn't conduct the heat away from the cpu core thru the rest of the HSF. Soemthing in the ORB design seems to cool the mobo so the under die thermistor reads reasonable but the core temperatures for ORBs are way higher. MikeWarrior has all the details. You really need a better hsf when Ocing and kicking up the Vcore.

 

[johncar]

We and others have experimented with changing various settings in "real time". We found that Multiplier settings do not respond to changes after boot, which is consistant with the "one time interrogation" of HI/LO signals described in AMD cpu datasheets.

Vcore, however is different, the voltage regulator modules responded immediately in real time/after boot to changes in dipswitch settings.
Tested with multimeter on Vcore pins on mobo. Which confirms what DaddyG suggests...if you want "your setting" at and during system initialization, before bios kicks in, do it somehow with hardware.

(Which also suggests the possibility of "reducing" Vcore after boot with dipsw's led to external case panel).

(Same results in SS7 and Socket A chips).
Le Vieux

 

[steven185]

OK DaddyG ya got me convinced im gonna get the TAISOL CGK742092.

with the delta 38cfm fan not sure from who yet though dont wanna get killed on shipping.
any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[DaddyG]

I'm not real sure who has the TAISOLS in stock. Nerdsbyte had them and sold out, think they are back in but the price was higher. Nerdsbyte will configer the Taisol with about 4 different fans including the 37cfm Delta jet engine.

John, I think it's possible to lower Vcore in the BIOS after setting the L7s and still have a stable system. During that critical cold boot, the Power Supply and regulators get loaded just that bit more and once the cpu is stable from the higher default, the BIOS can kick in and lower the Vcore.

Vcore settings with the ASUS A7V133 don't seem to function properly, thankfully, ASUS included dips.

 

[zzzz]

now can anyobe point me to a guide to connect the L7s? Should I connect them all as in L1?
I have a duron 600@1050 but I want to see if I can push it more!!

 

[JustStarting]

get the taisol from nerdsbyte.com- got mine w/ 25mm YSTech hsf for $28. not overbearing on the noise either.

 

[johncar]

zzzz,
http://members.nbci.com/candjac/index.htm Duron OC article has all details of all bridges including the Vcore L7s. Enjoy.
John C.