Has potential, but can't OC much!

V

Volume

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
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I am running the following:
Pentium4 2.6C
ABIT IC7-MAX3 Motherboard (Updated BIOS)
ATI Radeon 9800
512MB DDR400 Corsair XMS PRO latency: 2-3-3-6 (default)
Good air cooling (Thermaltake) Max load at 42c
Case temp 27c max.
***you can see full specs in my profile

Now, the problem is that I heard people running this setup at 3.2ghz without a sweat. When I tried this at 3.2 ghz with 5:4 dividers (so my RAM was actually under its default 200mhz), my system lasted about 5-10 minutes at max load, though temp stayed at approx. 42c. By the way, I set AGP frequency for FIXED.

What should I do? :confused:
 
The MAX3! has got to be the worst i875 mobo out there for memory compatibility (or lack thereof). the MAX3's "wall" is typically about 255FSB or so. Going beyond the boards "wall" will either cause it to simply not boot up, or cause serious problems once started up and in windows. It's entirely possible that (even though you've got Corsair ram) the motherboard just isn't liking your particular ram and cant hold a steady ~250FSB. Have to tested it to see if it does the same things at 200FSB??? This sure sounds like a memory compatibility to me, from what I experienced with MY max3.....but who knows.
 
go to the abit website forum and start reading if i were you......you'll find the answer that your looking for....just be careful what your doing though when your overclocking.



goodluck
 
Originally posted by henesseynalert
go to the abit website forum and start reading if i were you......you'll find the answer that your looking for....just be careful what your doing though when your overclocking.



goodluck
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Yeah, best bet is to learn from people in the same boat as you. Don't be scared when you see the numbers of people having issues.....it's like that with almost ANY manufacturer. Give 'em a Tech Support forum and they'll flock to it like mad.

Nobodies perfect afterall, some are just better at covering it up. ;)
 
Well, I'm talking about frequencies lower than 250, running 5:4 dividers.
 
Originally posted by Volume
Well, I'm talking about frequencies lower than 250, running 5:4 dividers.
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It doesn't matter what speed the ram is running at, a lot of the time it's simply questionable just BEING at 250-255FSB.....ram dividors don't matter.

I know that this is probly what you're doing/talking about already but I just thought I'd make sure.
 
Originally posted by MemoryInAGarden
You could sell the MAX-3 and get an IC7 or P4C800-E.
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I absolutely love my P4C800-E DLX.....best i875 board out there, bar none.
 
Buying the MAX3, I was under the impression from others that it was an overclock-friendly board. :mad:
 
GOOD NEWS

I solved my problem by incresing RAM latency a bit. I am now running 3.2ghz stable as ever and at a max load temp of about 42. or so it tells me... :cool: :cool: :cool:
 
Originally posted by Volume
GOOD NEWS

I solved my problem by incresing RAM latency a bit. I am now running 3.2ghz stable as ever and at a max load temp of about 42. or so it tells me... :cool: :cool: :cool:
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Good stuff, glad you got it working.

Yeah, I never did trust the temps out of my MAX3 a whole lot.....yet my buddies actually reports insanely close to his manually placed sensor. I dunno, whatever. :rolleyes:
 
Actually, my motherboard monitor software says that it's 49 but my thermal sensor on the harcano reports 33 ***idle temps.
 
Originally posted by Volume
Actually, my motherboard monitor software says that it's 49 but my thermal sensor on the harcano reports 33 ***idle temps.
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Where EXACTLY is your sensor placed???

I wouldn't doubt it if the MAX3 was reporting THAT off key, 'cus I've seen it before. One just has to be carefull when placing sensors. ;) :D
 
My Hardcano sensor is placed on the copper heatsink, right next to the cpu. I know the temp may be a little lower than it really is, but I just don't believe my cpu being 49deg idle, given the 6000rpm fan on it.

Also, copper soaks in heat well, making the temp just a bit toward the accurate spot. The sensor is taped exatcly next to the cpu, as close as it can safely be, on the bottom side.
 
Originally posted by Volume
My Hardcano sensor is placed on the copper heatsink, right next to the cpu. I know the temp may be a little lower than it really is, but I just don't believe my cpu being 49deg idle, given the 6000rpm fan on it.

Also, copper soaks in heat well, making the temp just a bit toward the accurate spot. The sensor is taped exatcly next to the cpu, as close as it can safely be, on the bottom side.
Click to expand...

I really don't agree with what you've done/said here. Yes, the temp you're getting IS going to be lower then what it actually is.....but why do you find it so hard to believe that your CPU is idling at 49 degrees? The Spark7 isn't a high performance cooler, and you can't go simply by fan RPM. What is your room temp like, case temp, and what thermal compound are you using??? All these will/do play just as much of a role in the temps. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't feel comfortable going by what my sensor said if I KNEW that it was wrong, just 'cus I didn't like what the other reading was telling me.

Plz do not take this as a personal bash or flame, I'm just trying to make sure that you know exactly what's going on here and that your sensor isn't really any more reliable then the mobo in this case.
 
dude for real. i was going to buy the max3 too. should i not if i plan to overclock? what are the best overclocking intel boards? A standard IC7 and a P4C800-E? What about ram, should I get mushkin or hyperx?
 
Cornelious, you have good reason to say that, and I'm not going by the Hardcano reading 100%, so I have Motherboard Monitor installed. I just find it hard to believe because my room temperature is low (window open, around 50 degrees outside), and my case temperature is around 27. The Spark+ is actually very good at cooling my CPU, it's just that I think my diode is being read 5 to even 10 degrees hotter. I am using Arctic Silver 5 compound, as you wanted to know.

As for the guy above me, you should go for the MAX3. All I had to do was loosed the memory timings a bit, and I see no noticeable drop in memory performance. That could even be the memory's fault, who knows. I think it's safe to say that the MAX3 is helping keep my case cooler with its fan over the capacitators.

Well, I'm off to run Prime95 now to see if my new 3.2 overclock is stable...
 
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