Why is Windows XP getting corrupted when I overclock ?

[Mixman]

When I push my overclocking a bit far I have to reinstall my Windows XP Pro every time because it gets corrupted beyond repair. I have an Intel 850E setup that I OC. I sometimes push it and get a BSOD, but yet I can just reboot the rig and I am ok. How come with my new setup when I get a BSOD, that's it, I have to totally reinstall ?

Is there something (besides not overclocking) that I can do to prevent this from happening again ? I must be on my fifth reinstall, since I built this new machine.

 

[thilanliyan]

sata ports not locked?

 

[Mixman]

What's the setting in the bios that would lock the SATA drive ?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm pretty sure that on some boards -- mine is an ASUS P4P800 for (for shame!) INtel socket-478 -- it's the AGP/PCI ratio. If you leave it set to "Auto," it will ride up to whatever corresponds to your OC settings, and the Southbridge and SATA drives can't handle it.

I've had mine set to the default of 66/33 for a long time, and thought I'd try and OC my graphics adapter by boosting it up a notch. But that doesn't mean leaving it at "Auto."

 

[aka1nas]

You have an NF4 motherboard. 2 of it's 4 SATA ports are not locked and should not be used while Overclocking. You should get confirmation but I believe it's SATA 1 and 2 that are not locked and should not be used.

 

[Mixman]

I figured it's down to the memory or the SATA hard disk, that's getting corrupted. I know with my Intel 850E system I have pushed that memory and and have never gotten a fatal BSOD. If I do get the BSOD I could always recover. I don'y know why this system is giving me so much trouble ?

 

[aka1nas]

Because 2 of your 4 SATA ports do NOT have a bus lock and anytime you up the FSB on your board they will get overclocked as well. Make sure you are only using SATA ports 3 and 4 and you shouldn't have this problem.

 

[Mixman]

I am going to check this and see, about the harddrives. I just hope it's not my memory though.

 

[Mogadon]

Check this thread , it's the thread on these forums specifically for the DFI board you have, I quote:

All four SATA plugs ARE LOCKED for the purposes of overclocking.

So that probably isn't your problem.

As you are getting OS corruption I imagine it could be your actual hard drive going bad, but you say it only happens when overclock.

Have you checked the memory with memtest recently?

Hopefully someone else with the same board maybe able to help you out.

 

[Aenslead]

yes, you are doing something wrong.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
Check this thread , it's the thread on these forums specifically for the DFI board you have, I quote:

All four SATA plugs ARE LOCKED for the purposes of overclocking.

So that probably isn't your problem.

As you are getting OS corruption I imagine it could be your actual hard drive going bad, but you say it only happens when overclock.

Have you checked the memory with memtest recently?

Hopefully someone else with the same board maybe able to help you out.

So the DFI boad can use all 4 ports while OC'ing? I didn't know any NF3 or 4 boards could manage that. My bad

 

[Mogadon]

I don't have personal experience with the DFI board, but I couldn't imagine that kind of detail, if it was wrong, being able to stay up long on the official thread for the mobo on these forums.