Is this a decent overclock?

kent

kent

2[H]4U
Joined
Apr 8, 2001
Messages
2,603
Biostar NF325-A7 (Socket 754, nForce3 250)
A64 Venice 3400+ (Stock 2.4GHz/1.4v)
1GB (2x512) Mushkin Basic DDR400 (CAS 2.5)
Antec TruePower 550w

I figure those are the only overclock sensitive parts.

Anyways, this board sucks. It's the "free" newegg board with the $100 A64 CPU.

- It has no userselectable RAM dividers (I can only choose 100/133/166/200, 200 is CPU/12 and 166 is CPU/15)
- It has voltage control, but only in %

So far my settings are:

HTT: 4x (836)
RAM: CPU/12 (changed CAS to 3.0, there was a random instability at 2.5)
FSB: 200
VID: +1.7% (results in 1.44-1.45v)

Temps: 30-31C idle before 2PM, 32-33C idle 2PM-8PM; 42C load before 2PM, 45C load 2PM-8PM (Load temps with Prime95 are higher than load temps with Doom3, odd..)


Results in 2507MHz with DDR418 at 3-3-3-8 2T (this is just basic RAM with a good name)

It will Prime for 12 hours (stopped it) and I played some Doom3 earlier with my asstastic 9000 Pro (My BBA x850 Pro was DOA and I got an RMA from ATI, I like acronyms!!)

The system is very stable and it's unfortunate that this motherboard sucks because I feel since this is a 65w CPU it should do 2.7 on air with some decent RAM, but why spend money on a decent S754 motherboard + expensive DDR RAM for said obsolete system...


Thanks for the input
 
First off, the...
(My BBA x850 Pro was DOA and I got an RMA from ATI, I like acronyms!!)
Click to expand...
Made me Lol. So lets take a look at what you're getting.


First of all, you say that your board has "No user selectable dividers" yet you go on to list that you have "100/133/166/200" available. That's Normal!! The 166 divider is equal to the 5:6 divider... Probably the one you'll want to use.

Here's what I'd do, throw on the 5:6 divider (166 in your case) and up your FSB to about 240. Does it post? It should. If not, get back to me. The 240 FSB with the 166mhz divider will allow your Ram to run at 199mhz (DDR398) and your CPU at about 2640. With your Ram running 1mhz under spec, you SHOULD be able to throw on the stock timings (especially CAS 2.5).

So what if it doesn't post? Throw up your Vcore option a few %. PERSONALLY, I like the % based boards as it allows finer tuning over your Vcore. For example, my computer will post at 2.6ghz at 1.45v, yet it will post at 2.58ghz at 1.4v... I probably only need like 2% extra Vcore to get the other 20mhz, but it wont let me select that... I have to go up by 0.05v. Not a huge deal, but it's extra stress on the CPU.

I'm having some difficulty figuring out what your FSB is set to to get you to 2507mhz... You stated 200, but that's totally impossible... I'm guessing it's 209mhz (as your HTT link speed is 836 / 4 = 209). Is this right?

HTT: 4x (836)
RAM: CPU/12 (changed CAS to 3.0, there was a random instability at 2.5)
FSB: 200
VID: +1.7% (results in 1.44-1.45v)
QUOTE]

Sound good?
Click to expand...
 
I believe my CPU is hard locked at the 12x multipler.

I am at 225MHz FSB right now sitting at 2.7GHz at about 36C idle. I doubt this is going to be stable. I could get 230FSB to POST, but no boot Windows.

Also, my RAM is only running at 180MHz right now, so if I back it down to say 217 my RAM will be running even slower.


I am starting to think that 2507MHz may be the highest stable overclock, due to lack of BIOS options on this free motherboard.

Thoughts?
 
Your CPU multiplier has a max multiplier of 12x but you can reduce it.
If 2.7GHz gets you into windows at default CPU voltage, boost Vcore and see if its stable.

You can use whatever voltage lets you stay at or below 55C when under load.
You can go higher but it isnt recommended.

I use Stress Prime 2004 to test for stabiity
http://sp2004.fre3.com/
 
My BIOS gives me no option to lower my CPU multiplier...
 
Its possible that:
1) your BIOS simply isnt going to let you tweak your system much further

2) the BIOS may have a hidden menu for overclocking. My old Gigabyte NForce3 board needed a key combo to be pressed while in the BIOS to get some of the overclocking options.

3) There may be a BIOS setting that is set to Auto that needs to be set to Manual, which then allows you to change settings like the multiplier, HTT etc.

If you are stuck with option 1) you might have some more luck using ClockGen in Windows to overclock. You may also be able to raise VCore a little further with it once you have raised it in the CMOS.
 
For the crapy motherboard that your using looks good to me.... now go get a real motherboard ;) .
 
Yeah, I believe 2.507GHz is the best I'll get out of this board.

Still, not bad for $100
 
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