Where to find Athlon XP Frequency and Multiplier settings?

[yacoub]

It's currently running 175MHz and 12x multiplier, putting it at just over 2700+ speeds, and the BIOS sees it as a 2700+.
Just compressed-air dusted the case (while it was off) and the temps are around 44C in Windows right now.

I want to try for the 3200+ speeds to see if it can handle it. What settings would that require and what about voltage?

Also would like to know if multiplier affects AGP/PCI speeds or if the Frequency is what affects that.

Thanks.

 

[JohnAn2112]

3200+ speeds would be 200 FSB x 11 multiplier. Try 1.7v to see if that will get you there. Also, the AGP should be locked at 66 and the PCI locked at 33.

 

[yacoub]

IIRC, I never had stability at much over 180MHz on the Frequency. Can I up the multiplier? Does Multiplier ONLY affect the CPU, where as Frequency affects everthing? Or do I have that backwards?

Thanks.

Btw, nice rig! Planning to upgrade soon but want to see if I can push this puppy a little farther.

 

[JohnAn2112]

Which motherboard are you using?

 

[yacoub]

Asus A7N8X Deluxe 2.0 (It's in my sig link).

Btw my RAM is Kingston KHX3200K2/1G (2x512MB) rated for "2-2-2-6-1T @ +2.6V" but I noticed in the BIOS it's been running at 2-2-6-2.5T @ +2.6V I can probably lower that T setting and gain some performance, right?

edit - I just went ahead and set memory to Optimal and will test to see if it's stable at whatever the 'board says is Optimal.
I wish there was a way in Windows to see the RAM's actual settings since the BIOS doesn't really list them AFAIK.

 

[yacoub]

Hmm okay I just lost 4 points in 3DMark2005, even though I took the time to close extra programs and have the memory set to Optimal.
Went from 2490 to 2486. Clearly Optimal didn't improve memory performance. =P

Anyway running out for a couple hours. When I get back I plan to start messing with Freq and Mult once I understand better what other parts are affected by changing each. Would appreciate help there - does Mult only affect the processor? If so I will try to use that first before trying more Freq MHz since I know I don't have much headroom there.

 

[sangyup81]

don't use sig links, just copy paste the actual specs

even if you won't be stable at 185, you'll be ok at 200 because 200 is "official" while the stuff between 166 and 200 is not

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: yacoub
Hmm okay I just lost 4 points in 3DMark2005, even though I took the time to close extra programs and have the memory set to Optimal.
Went from 2490 to 2486. Clearly Optimal didn't improve memory performance. =P

Anyway running out for a couple hours. When I get back I plan to start messing with Freq and Mult once I understand better what other parts are affected by changing each. Would appreciate help there - does Mult only affect the processor? If so I will try to use that first before trying more Freq MHz since I know I don't have much headroom there.

lol, a four point loss is insignificant.

Try running the benchmark more than once (preferable more than twice) before making a change and taking the average of the runs. Then when you make the change run it the same number of times.

Compare the two averages to get a somewhat more meaningful representation of how the change affected your system.

Hell, a four point difference could be caused by anything, an undetectably small tremor in the earth, solar activity, the speed and direction of the wind...well maybe not that, but do you get my point?

If you run the bench twice without making any changes AT ALL to your system configuration it's likely that you'll see a four point or more difference between the two scores.

Edit: Also, the clock multiplier (multi) pretty much only affects the processor.

Aren't all Athlon XPs (other than Athlon XP mobile) multiplier locked though?

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: yacoub
Hmm okay I just lost 4 points in 3DMark2005, even though I took the time to close extra programs and have the memory set to Optimal.
Went from 2490 to 2486. Clearly Optimal didn't improve memory performance. =P

Anyway running out for a couple hours. When I get back I plan to start messing with Freq and Mult once I understand better what other parts are affected by changing each. Would appreciate help there - does Mult only affect the processor? If so I will try to use that first before trying more Freq MHz since I know I don't have much headroom there.

lol, a four point loss is insignificant.

Try running the benchmark more than once (preferable more than twice) before making a change and taking the average of the runs. Then when you make the change run it the same number of times.

Compare the two averages to get a somewhat more meaningful representation of how the change affected your system.

Hell, a four point difference could be caused by anything, an undetectably small tremor in the earth, solar activity, the speed and direction of the wind...well maybe not that, but do you get my point?

If you run the bench twice without making any changes AT ALL to your system configuration it's likely that you'll see a four point or more difference between the two scores.

Edit: Also, the clock multiplier (multi) pretty much only affects the processor.

Aren't all Athlon XPs (other than Athlon XP mobile) multiplier locked though?

No, only later model Bartons were multiplier locked

 

[yacoub]

Correct, mine is unlocked. Well I messed with it a bit and 200MHz Freq just isn't stable. BSODs while loading startup programs in WinXP (I get to the desktop and then in a few seconds it hoses itself.) I'm about 90% sure it's a RAM issue as I remember having massive RAM headaches with this board when I first got it. Wasted a lot of money on nice Mushkin RAM (even RMA'd it) and nothing worked to fix the issues even with their nice tech support. Dropped MORE loot for the Kingston and at least it ran stable at up to around 180MHz so I stuck with it.

Anyway so I just went back to 175MHz where I started but bumped the Mult up to 12.5x from 12.0x so it's 2193MHz now up from 2103MHz, and 2800+ when it was formerly recognized as a 2700+. Meh. I might try pushing a bit farther tomorrow morning if this stays stable overnight.

Was nice to see the 3200+ recognized in BIOS though when I had it 11x200MHz. =\

Motherboard temps are a nice cool 44C, but I just tried to run Prime95 and even the Benchmark test crashed Prime95 on the fourth item. wtf. oh well.

 

[JohnAn2112]

You can always run a divider on your memory to see if you can clock the CPU itself higher.

 

[yacoub]

Good point, I'll give that a shot.

Btw, how much coreV is safe for a Barton 2500+?

 

[yacoub]

I'm running 1.675V for vcore as is. If it's unstable should I push that higher, or might it be the heat from that level already is pushing it too hard?

 

[Vegitto]

Depends what cooling you have on it. But, sure, go ahead. A little more voltage won't hurt at all.

 

[dug777]

i'm running 1.775v through my tbred-b (2.1ghz, originally at 1.6ghz) and its fine (have been doing so for maybe 6months, with stock hsf) so i'd say that you'll be safe with a bit more juice, just keep an eye on the temps...(mine hits 68'c regularly, which i don't mind, but most people probably would (it's designed to take more than that )

 

[yacoub]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Depends what cooling you have on it. But, sure, go ahead. A little more voltage won't hurt at all.

I've got some copper Thermaltake cooler on it that was supposed to be great back when I got it. My temps are warm in the case because there isn't a WHOLE lot of airflow but I run around 45C idling and maybe hit 52C under high load (gaming).

Oddly enough I can't even stay stable bumping up from 12x175MHz to 12.5x175MHz. Not sure what that shows to be the weak link BSOD'ing me in windows when all I'm upping with the Multiplier is the CPU right?

Maybe I will throw more voltage at it and see if that keeps it stable... I'm at vcore 1.675 so maybe if I run 1.75 it'll be stable. Might try that but honestly, for just a LITTLE more MHz I don't know if it's worth it. =\