ZEBO - great looking guide for A64

[Neos]

Zebo, would you take a look and see if there is some translation you can give me in regard to my bios. Your guide looks great and I would love to try it.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i171/BamaPanda/Misc/Biospage.jpg

Questions like ..which do I use to set CPU multi?
What do I use for SPD?

That will get me started. I think the rest will be pretty clear. Oh, I have a Sempron 64 2800+.

Thanks

 

[BlueWeasel]

Is there another option under Overclock Navigator? None of the options in the BIOS appear to allow multiplier adjustments. It's not really an issue, though, as your 2800+ can only use the 8x multiplier or lower. Since you don't gain anything by using 7x or below, it's fine if the board locks it at 8x.

 

[Neos]

No, when you take it off of manual - it gives options of the bios doing preset increases. I was never able to get the first one to work - so I have been trying to work a good overclock in the manual mode.

I have read Zebo's guide, and others - and the stuff in my bios just does not seem to be in line with the norm - apparently.

I have a feeling this is chip or memory related. When I first got the board and the 2800+ - I had the CPU frequency at 266 x 3X on the HT - if I recall. It was running @startup CPU & memory voltage. I kept trying to get it higher, and somewhere along the way it became unstable and I had to back off. Now I can only get it to what you see on the bios shot.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[inveterate]

Ocing a sempron isn't going to give u pops... the X2 3800+s are belowww 150 ,, GET ONE NOWWW.. and u'll likely get it to 2.4+ghz so that will POP>>

 

[Zebo]

I don't see it on that page maybe scroll down... What board is that?

... also you relise you memory is running at 240Mhz with those settings? May have instabil;ty if you havnt checked that before hand.

As far as SPD load up CPU-Z program and click "SPD" tab... it will tell you.. or alternativly you can "load optimzed defaults" in bios and it will default to them.

 

[Neos]

This is a Biostar T6100 MATX. It is a 754 baord.

Just ran CPU-Z and there is 133,166 & 200 on the SPD timings table. Chart looks like this
133 166 200
CAS# latency 2 3 3
RAS# to CAS# 2 3 3
RAS# Precharge 6 7 8

One more thing I just noted. I thought I had two sticks of Kingston 256. Well, one of them reads out in CPU-Z as Samsung (slot 2) and SPD table for that ram only lists 166 & 200 - all the figures the same as the Kingston.

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[Neos]

Right now I have it at 245 on the CPU freg. & 3X on the HT. I changed the mem timing to 1T, as I read in the guide that 2T was tough on A64's.

So - 245x8 (locked multi)=1960.
I will run it here a spell and run prime tomorrow, and see what happens.

Thanks for any and all help. Really appreciate it.

 

[Neos]

Wife turned the system on this morning, and it was not stable. Went back to the 243 w/ HT of 4 - or 243x8 locked multi=1.94 Gig.

Zebo, you mentioned that my memory was running at 241 (now 243) - but but dosen't this bios lock the memory, i.e. the Memclock Frequency?

I am thinking that in order for me to get it back over 2 Gig. - I will have to get the voltages up a bit - but maybe even more than that - figure out if I have a problem in the memory area.

Any comments? And thanks for the help and suggestions.

 

[zendari]

If I am not mistaken, the memclock frequency gives you the ratio of memory:200 frequency, so right now you are running 1:1 so your memory is at the 243 mark you just gave.

Change it from 200 to 160, so your memory will be running at 4:5 with your HTT (so if you take it up to 250, your memory will still be at 200).

Like zebo said, cpu speed is king, so keep memory speed around 200 through the dividers and you might be able to take cpu even higher.

I'm no expert though, perhaps someone else can chime in.

 

[996GT2]

Yes you need to be running a different RAM divider if your memory really is at 1:1. Most DDR 400 cannot OC past 225 mhz or so, and even the best of the best is usually limited at around 250 mhz. Also you can safely run a 4X HT multiplier as long as HTT is under 255 or 260 mhz. When I first got my computer the thing booted up with 5X HT multi at a 255 HTT. Just make sure the HT speed is under 1.05 GHz or so.

Also can you change the CPU Voltage on that board? If so try 1.45V or even 1.5V, you may be able to go higher with more voltage and your OC will be more stable if it isn't already.

 

[Neos]

This is some of the first info that is really helping. Thanks.

I pulled the Memclock down to 166, and bumped the CPU up to 250. Prime 95 has been holding on it's Torture Test for about 5 minutes so far. Everything else is set to default.

Kewl! Looks like I am at 2.0 - for sure. I am going to try and incorporate some of Zebo's guide into my somewhat askew Bios and see if I can arrive at some max limits.

Thanks again - AND ...ADD anything you want, please - that is relevant and might help. Good to have god help out there.

 

[zendari]

You might be able to push past 250. Try pulling memclock down to 150 and ramping it up further.

Xbit got to 2.6 ghz on their 3100 sempron.

Text

 

[Neos]

This bios has presets at 200, 166, & 133.
Is dropping down to 133 for the mem too low?

 

[zendari]

For now, I'd lower memclock as much as possible (100 or 133 whatever the lowest setting is), then ramp up cpu frequency further as much as possible. Basically zebo's 2nd step.

Now that you have a grasp on the settings, the guide tells you everything.


Good luck, hoping for 300 HTT for you!

 

[Neos]

I did one better - maybe. I set the Memclock to Auto. Right now I am at 255 HT with P95 rock solid.
I imagine when I get it about as high as I can with the Auto setting - that will be the time to start fiddlin with the voltage a bit - maybe the memory timings.

Thanks all for getting me on track.

 

[Zebo]

Auto is 200 meaning 1:1 or same as FSB.. set to 133 and max out CPU..should hit well over 300 HT if you give chipset some volts and CPU a little.

 

[Neos]

This one may be different. I tried 133 - first at 255 (CPU freq) - would not boot. I then went to 250, thinking I could move up a bit at a time from there. It booted, but ran P95 about thirty seconds before it went yellow. Also had some error messages in opening web pages.

Right now it is on Auto and 257 ..that is 2.05 Gig. P95 is rock solid - still going. All this has been leaving everything else at default settings.

EDIT:
Now I am at 263. The auto feature must adjust the Memclock according to what you set set the CPU at. I checked CPUZ and it shows memory running at 131.5. P95 is rock solid.

 

[996GT2]

Hmmm, the auto adjust seems to be a little conservative on the memory if CPU-Z shows the actual speed as 131 MHz. It should be closer to 200 in CPU-Z.

Anyway since you have it solid at 263 HTT give your CPU some more voltage and try 270, 280, and so on. I think you should be able to do 2.3-2.4 GHz pretty easily

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Hmmm, the auto adjust seems to be a little conservative on the memory if CPU-Z shows the actual speed as 131 MHz. It should be closer to 200 in CPU-Z.

Anyway since you have it solid at 263 HTT give your CPU some more voltage and try 270, 280, and so on. I think you should be able to do 2.3-2.4 GHz pretty easily

The auto is setting him at 100, I don't think cpu-z can be wrong. Assuming it isn't, the OP has headroom to push to 300 HTT and beyond.

Something is really wierd with that memory though; given that his memory conked out at 240ish before, his 133 setting seems to be not working when he attempted to run at 255.

 

[Neos]

Originally posted by: zendari

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Hmmm, the auto adjust seems to be a little conservative on the memory if CPU-Z shows the actual speed as 131 MHz. It should be closer to 200 in CPU-Z.

Anyway since you have it solid at 263 HTT give your CPU some more voltage and try 270, 280, and so on. I think you should be able to do 2.3-2.4 GHz pretty easily

The auto is setting him at 100, I don't think cpu-z can be wrong. Assuming it isn't, the OP has headroom to push to 300 HTT and beyond.

Something is really wierd with that memory though; given that his memory conked out at 240ish before, his 133 setting seems to be not working when he attempted to run at 255.

Something is up, for sure. You are right that if running at auto the mem shows up at 132 or so with 255 and above - and then when you do it on manual at 133/255 it won't boot - something is amiss. Had not thought on that.

Why do you say the auto is setting me at 100, and then that CPUZ should not be wrong? Both can't be right - can they?

I wonder if it could have something to do with the fact that both 512 sticks are supposed to Kingston, but one shows up as Samsung in CPUZ. I have the memory set to auto in another bios setting that is separate from the Memclock, so maybe Memclock being on Auto is compensating some way.

Right now I have it on Auto @ 265 - P95 is solid. I had it higher but backed it back down for a spell. I was watching the memory in CPUZ, and it seemed to stay right at 131-133 - pretty close. Makes me wonder why I can't do a manual and get that high. Ideas?

 

[zendari]

Well, I assumed that CPU-Z was correct, so your memory is running at half of FSB, memclock auto has to be setting you at 100 (100/200 * 263 = 131.5). Unless I am missing something.

At 133 memclock, your memory should be at 170ish, well below PC3200 standards. Maybe try removing the samsung stick and find max cpu with just 1 ram stick in?

 

[Neos]

Zen - took your advice and bumped the CPU voltage to 1.45 and I am at 270. Pretty kewl!

Ok, guys. If I am supposed to get a 1:1 ratio using the Memclock and CPU Freq. then why do I get this?
CPU - 255 / Mem (per CPUZ) - 131.5 (Memclock set to Auto)
CPU - 270 / Mem (Per CPUZ) - 134.5 (Memclock - Auto)

With a HIGHER CPU freq. - should not the memory go LOWER to maintain a 1:1?

 

[jgigz]

Question, what is the mem divider ratio you're talking about, how does it affect performance, what does it do and how do you figure it out?

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Neos
Zen - took your advice and bumped the CPU voltage to 1.45 and I am at 270. Pretty kewl!

Ok, guys. If I am supposed to get a 1:1 ratio using the Memclock and CPU Freq. then why do I get this?
CPU - 255 / Mem (per CPUZ) - 131.5 (Memclock set to Auto)
CPU - 270 / Mem (Per CPUZ) - 134.5 (Memclock - Auto)

With a HIGHER CPU freq. - should not the memory go LOWER to maintain a 1:1?

When you set a memory divider, it's set assuming 200 HTT. That is, if you have a 1:1 divider, both FSB and RAM run at 200 MHz. If you have a 1:2 divider, FSB runs at 200 while RAM runs at 100 MHz. Now, factor in the overclocking. When you overclock your HTT, the memory speed must INCREASE to maintain that same ratio. i.e. 1:1 ratio, when your HTT is at 225 your RAM must also work at 225; 1:2 ratio when your HTT is at 250 your RAM must be at 125, etc.

 

[jgigz]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: Neos
Zen - took your advice and bumped the CPU voltage to 1.45 and I am at 270. Pretty kewl!

Ok, guys. If I am supposed to get a 1:1 ratio using the Memclock and CPU Freq. then why do I get this?
CPU - 255 / Mem (per CPUZ) - 131.5 (Memclock set to Auto)
CPU - 270 / Mem (Per CPUZ) - 134.5 (Memclock - Auto)

With a HIGHER CPU freq. - should not the memory go LOWER to maintain a 1:1?

When you set a memory divider, it's set assuming 200 HTT. That is, if you have a 1:1 divider, both FSB and RAM run at 200 MHz. If you have a 1:2 divider, FSB runs at 200 while RAM runs at 100 MHz. Now, factor in the overclocking. When you overclock your HTT, the memory speed must INCREASE to maintain that same ratio. i.e. 1:1 ratio, when your HTT is at 225 your RAM must also work at 225; 1:2 ratio when your HTT is at 250 your RAM must be at 125, etc.

Damn you're good you quoted someone else and answered a few of my questions