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Can't overclock CPU and Video Card

B

Bloodsent

n00b
Joined
Jul 6, 2004
Messages
36
Hello,

I recently put together the system shown in my signature, but seem to be having problems with overclocking. I have been able to get my 3000+ from 2.0 to 2.4 at 1.55v, leaving the RAM running at DDR400 running Prime95 for over 18 hours, CPU seems to idle around 41C and full load at around 54C

Now, the problems begin when I try to overclock my video card at all, specifically from 350/1000 to 400/1100 (Ultra) speeds. The system becomes unstable, blue screens, hangs etc. Now, if I leave the CPU at stock and overclock the video card again, things seem stable. Now, if I take the side panel off, I was able to run tests and play games with both overclocked with crashing. I did not leave this setup like this for a full blown looped 3dmark03 and prime95, but I did for a couple of hours of playing and looping. This leads me to believe that maybe I have a heat problem.

The case has a front 120mm intake and a rear 120mm exhaust. Both fans are running at full 2000rpm (a bit noisy). I feel I have done a good job of getting cables out of the way of airflow paths.

Is there something I can try that I may be missing here, that would allow me to have both overclocked, or is it a heat problem alone? Does anyone have any suggestions that may help me out? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
 
Wow you have the exact same problem I have. My setup is Athlon 64 3200+. It overclocks to 2400mhz (11x218) with 1.55v fine. I've run Prime 95 for 20 hours without a problem. Now if I start 3d games I get freezes after about 1 hour.

If I run cpu at stock it's fine. I can overclock the videocard no problem and everything is stable.

I'm thinking the problem is my power supply. Not enough juice for both the videocard and cpu overclocked I guess?


Specs:

Athlon 64 3200+
MSI Neo Platnium
2x512 XMS 3200LL
BFG 6800 Ultra OC
Antec TruePower 430w
 
Well, the thing that led me to believe it was more of a heat problem than a PSU problem was that I took the side panel off my case and things seemed more stable. Have you tried that yet? I am just trying to isolate it. I don't want to think it is the PSU because I really like this one. :D
 
could be powersupply
could be heat
try memtest and prime 95 to elimate ram and cpu seperately
 
I have run both memtest (test#5) and Prime95 with the CPU overclocked at its current specs without any errors in either. I am pretty confident that the CPU and the Memory are eliminated from the problem.

What types of things can I do to tell if it is the power supply? I had originally begun to suspect heat because of taking off the side panel.
 
Prime95 ran for 20 hours. So ram/cpu should be ok right?

I have a cheap case so the side is always off. To rule out heat I placed one of those room fans (Like 20 inches) about 6 inches away from the case. This brings the temps down insanely. But the problem is still there.

Agp lock seems to be working. If I check clockgen it says 66.7mhz.
 
I've been thinking of buying a 2nd power supply and using both...

Not sure how to mod it so both would power up at the same time?

860watts should be enough :)
 
I believe that the MSI Neo Plat required you to set the AGP speed to 67 for it to properly lock. I am still looking for varification if it is required on the new DFI board. It would definately explain things. btf, try setting the speed to 67 in the BIOS instead of 66.
 
I have tried running at 67 or 68 but it still has the same effect.

The pci/agp lock seems to work even at 66mhz.
 
Bloodsent said:
I believe that the MSI Neo Plat required you to set the AGP speed to 67 for it to properly lock. I am still looking for varification if it is required on the new DFI board. It would definately explain things. btf, try setting the speed to 67 in the BIOS instead of 66.
Click to expand...

Earlier BIOS's of the Neo plat did require 67, newer versions 66 works
 
Ya that makes sense, I'm using bios version 1.3.

1.4 came out not too long ago but is not stable on my setup even with stock settings :mad:
 
Well, I am trying to figure out if it is related to heat, or if it is a power supply issue. Other than removing the side panel, I can't tell any other way if it is a heat related problem. Any suggestions?
 
I don't see how this could be heat related if your case is open.

I'm certainly not an expert but everything is pointing to the power supply.
 
First thing I see is the power supply, double check on yours, as Antec has recently changed their outputs, but the Neo Power 480 only puts out 18a on the 12v rail. That's not quite enough for the A64 with all that hardware. I'm betting with the side of the case open it SEEMS like it's a heat issue, but it's not with video or cpu heat, it's probably with the psu. You're running that 12v rail at almost 100%. It's a wonder it lasts long at all. The newest 480 True Powers from newegg (just bought one 2 weeks ago for the same problem) have 28a on the 12v. Not a guaranteed fix, but it worked for me. ;)
 
True, but the NeoPower has 2 12V rails, one for the CPU and the other for the rest of the 12v devices. So 18A isn't for the entire box....
 
ok, i think it's a heat thing. I have a 64 3500+, neo2 plat mobo, 2x512 corsair xms 3200 ram, neo power 480, pny 6800gt... I'm currently using stock hs/f which sucks on everything until i switch over to water cooling. I was not ocing anything and after a while playinc counter-strike, my comp would just hard freeze. I ended up taking the side panel off and pointing a room ran at the mobo about 2 feet away.

My comp has yet to hard freeze when doing this.

btw.. is this a safe thing to do?
 
I don't see how this can be heat... The fan blowing on the computer could cool down an engine... NB temperature reads 28C after 20 hours of prime 95.
 
What is the Amp rating on the 12V rail of the 430W? 20A? Power may be your issue, but I don't think it is mine. My Neopower 480 has two seperate rails for 12V, one is 18A for the CPU, and the other was 15A for the rest of the stuff.....so I don't think power is my problem, but I posted a link to this thread in the Power Supply forum to ask them...
 
If you really thinks it's heat just monitor the temps. Rivatuner will give you a time graph of the temperature on your 6800. You can do the same for cpu.
 
So I finally changed my power supply. I bought a OCZ 520watt. It's a very nice power supply. Big and heavy though.

I took out my Antec 430. First thing I noticed was the rails were more steady under full load. 12v never moved from 11.87v idle or full load. Vcore used to be .02 lower than what was selected in bios and now it's always exact. Once in a blue moon it will go up by .02 under load which is fine with me. My 430 would drop itstead...

And as I thought I can now overclock both my videocard and cpu at the same time. Cpu overclock is up by 50mhz to 2450@1.55vcore. And I have my 6800 Ultra running with the extreme bios @450/1200.

Benchmarks:
3dmark01: 24000
3dmark03: 13089
3dmark05: 5520

Doom 3:
79.0fps 1600x1200 high quality
92.3fps 1280x1024 high quality
 
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