What is the northbridge strap and what purpose does it serve...?

[sxftdeep]

Like the title states. I have an Abit IC7 here and a 2.6C that I'm trying to overclock (apparently it's supposed to do 3.25GHz @ 1.65V, unfortunately I'm not having any luck). Basically, I want to know what purpose the northbridge strap setting in my BIOS serves (options include PSB400, PSB533, PSB667 and PSB800) and which one I should use. The following is my system specifications:

Intel Pentium 4 2.6C
Abit IC7
Geil Golden Dragon PC4000

 

[myocardia]

Can you tell us more? I mean, Golden Dragon is cheap ram that doesn't overclock nearly at all, like Corsair's and Kingston's Value ram. Did you buy some of that PC4000 or 4200 crap, or is it PC3200? What other changes have you made, besides possibly raising your vcore to 1.65, etc., etc.

 

[myocardia]

Okay, THIS time, I read it all. We still need to know more, but since you bought the PC4000, you obviously aren't being limited in your OC by your ram's inability to overclock. Have you made sure that your pci bus is locked at 33mhz and your agp bus is locked at 66mhz? According to Thugsrook, our resident expert of 2 at P4 overclocks, sometimes reducing your "nb strap" (I would swear that he called it by another name) from PSB800 to PSB667 can help to achieve a slightly higher overclock. Hey, now that I think of it, you haven't raised your vdimm (ram voltage), have you? It's not rare for vdimm needing to be raised some to run in dual-channel mode, especially with value ram, even if it isn't being overclocked. Try raising your vdimm to 2.8v, then we'll go from there, okay?

 

[sxftdeep]

DIMM voltage is at 2.8V. I've tried every north bridge strap available.

 

[sxftdeep]

By the way, are there any compatibility issues running Prime95 with a hyper threading CPU?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: sxftdeep
By the way, are there any compatibility issues running Prime95 with a hyper threading CPU?

Nope, you should actually be running two separate Prime 95 processes to stress test a P4 with Hyper-Threading.

 

[sxftdeep]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: sxftdeep
By the way, are there any compatibility issues running Prime95 with a hyper threading CPU?

Nope, you should actually be running two separate Prime 95 processes to stress test a P4 with Hyper-Threading.

So then one instance of Prime95 shouldn't be stressing the CPU? Even when overclocked?

 

[THUGSROOK]

YHPM!

lower NBS = faster northbridge / memory controller

however!.....
if you are running 1:1 you want nbs800 so you can use the GAT settings. (turbo, f1, street racer)
if you are running 5:4 you cant run any GAT!
so the next best thing is to try and run nbs667 5:4.

nbs667 / Auto is like running nbs800 / Turbo.
GAT Auto actually means GAT Off.

HTH

 

[Acanthus]

You could also be limited by power supply.

 

[sxftdeep]

Power supply is an Enermax 365W. Sufficient, yes?

 

[Acanthus]

Actually that one the weak side depending on the number of drives you have etc

My Antec 420w is holding me back with 1GB PC4200, 2.6C, DVD+R, DVD, 2 HD, FX5600, 3 case fans.

I suggest downloading an MBM and watching your voltages during load testing.

 

[myocardia]

Probably not, unless you have a 2-3 year old video card. What else is it running, besides the mobo and the P4? BTW, you haven't once told us what kind of an overclock you've achieved. Are you just trying to get that last 100mhz out of it, or are you stuck right around stock speeds? Plus, you haven't even mentioned what vcore you are running! If you are wanting help, communication has to be both directions... If you are wanting to stay with Enermax (and I would, they really can't be beat for P4's), this one will give you the juice you need: link.

 

[THUGSROOK]

he has a 4 year old 350w PSU ~ i think thats the problem

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: THUGSROOK
he has a 4 year old 350w PSU ~ i think thats the problem

You know, I've always noticed that when somebody doesn't want to give system specs, they just want to know how to overclock their 2.4C to 3.6, it's because they've got something in their system that they don't want to spend the money to replace. As if we're magic, and can just tell their system to overclock, and it will.

 

[sxftdeep]

OK here's some more information on my system specs. I think it might be the PSU holding me back. I'll try picking up another one when I get paid.

Intel Pentium 4 2.6C
Abit IC7 revision 1.1
1024MB (2x512MB) PC4000 Geil Golden Dragon DDR SDRAM
Enermax 365W PSU
ATI Radeon 9800XT

Basically, I can run any FSB on NBS667 or NBS800 up to 230MHz on stock voltage. At 233MHz, I have to up the CPU voltage to 1.6V. 233MHz with 1.6V works fine, but anything higher with any voltage fails Prime95 within the first fifteen minutes. At 250MHz FSB, I was able to run Prime95 for three-and-a-half hours with a CPU voltage of 1.9V. In this situation, I think it was heat causing it to fail.

My power supply is about four years old. The ATX+3.3V, ATX+12V and ATX+5V are usually undervolted anywhere between 0.05V - 0.10V. This could be a problem, yes?

All I'm looking to achieve is a 650MHz overclock here, getting my 2.6C to 3.25GHz. I want to run at a 250MHz FSB with 1:1 ratio.

I hope this is enough information for some more help. If not, let me know what else you need to know.

 

[THUGSROOK]

definately get a new high power PSU & dont run 1.9v ever again!

 

[Acanthus]

Anything over 1.7v can destroy your CPU in under a month, 1.9v youre talking hours before permanent damage...

 

[sxftdeep]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
Anything over 1.7v can destroy your CPU in under a month, 1.9v youre talking hours before permanent damage...

Yeah, don't worry. I don't plan on running it at 1.9V again...