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New to A64's need help OC'ing

S

Shinare

Gawd
Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
582
OK, so I read the overclocking FAQ sticky (well, actually skimmed). I'm not new to overclocking, and understand the fundamentals but now that I am in a new arena, so to say, with the A64 I need some help understanding things.

Heres what I have:
K8T Neo2 FIR
s939 3000+ A64 .90nm
512MB PC4000 Kingston HyperX memory (1x512MB)
Stock Cooling
9600Pro (I know , I just havent upgraded yet :) )

Ok, I've been able to get my proc up to 2.0GHz by upping the FSB to 222 (x9=2.0). It boots, runs Prime95 endlessly flawlessly. Heat is not an issue. Problem is when I loadup 3DMark2001 it will lockup durring the first "demo". Memtest is fine too. SiSoft Sandra benchies everything fine too.

At first I thought it was my AGP getting set too fast (becasue thats when it locked up, when I loaded up the 3D game stuff) so I made sure the AGP lock was enabled (it is). I tried a plethora of BIOS settings to no avail.

Then I found this: Heres the deal, if I lower "HT Frequency" in the BIOS from 1000MHz to 800MHz then it runs stable. 3DMark is fine, UT2004 is fine, HL2 is fine, etc etc etc. I have ye tto push the overclock any further (no time with kids and Christmas coming).

This may sound like a stupid question (It probably is) but I need someone to explain to me what "HT" is in the BIOS and, more importantly, why would lowering this cause it to run more stable?

Also, is it better to run at 2.0GHz with 800MHz "HT" or run at stock with 1000MHz "HT"

Also, I am thinking of getting the Neo2 Platinum. Would this be better for OC'ing the 939 A64 and why?

AND last thing, (thanks for reading down this far) I have that single PC4000 HyperX memory module in there. If I get another HyperX PC4000 512MB module, will it run in Dual Channel mode?

Thanks again,
Shin
 
Okay,
HT is Hypertransport. It is the physical frequency of data transfer between the CPU and the northbridge/chipset. It's speed is not very essential to performance. In fact, in many cases, 800mhz outruns 1ghz... don't know why. Stability-wise, when you bump up your FSB to 222, you effectively bump up your HT to 1110mhz. (HT=5 X FSB). If you go with a 4x multiplier, you will get lower HT speeds, but that has very little relevance with performance. Experiment.

If you get a second stick, yes, it will run in Dual Channel. Just plug that stick into the same-collored slot as your current one.

Hope that helped.
 
Thanks Krizzle. I remember seeing something like that in the FAQ about HTT being the same as saying FSB but I was confused why there would be two settings for it in the BIOS if your talking about the same deal. One FSB setting (from 200MHz on up) and one "HT Frequency" setting (which I can pick from 1000MHz, 800MHz, 600MHz, and 400MHz if I remember correctly).

I guess these are actually two diferent things then.

Thanks again for your explination, it makes sence now that I realize that the HTT was not actually always running at 1000MHz (as the BIOS would lead you to believe) but was actually scaling up with your FSB increases. I'm starting to wonder if the AGP lock works the way I was thinking it does. You have the options of AUTO, 33MHz, and 66MHz (IIRC). I've been setting it to 66MHz thinking that means that it is forcing it to run at that speed. I bet that its actually scaling UP from that point so I really should set it on 33MHz if I want to OC further.
 
What chipset do you have?
I know with via K8T800pro, locks are worthless. Any lock allows you to run windows, but absolutely NO 3d apps will work, even if you underclock the processor.

In A64 terms, they call what is the traditional FSB the HTT. I don't use that HTT nomenclature. FSB is nice and classic, and I don't see why they switched to a new name.
 
It is the K8T800pro and I am relitivly positive that this is the case precluding any further overclocks. I'm just gonna go ahead and get a Neo2 Platinum. I really wanted the NF3 Ultra anyway.
 
i have an asus a8v deluxe with that via chipset and the locks work fine in all 3d apps but only in the revision 2 boards which everyone should be selling by now,just thought id fill you in cos its a great board ive got 2 of them,really stable ocing my 3000+
 
Ah ha! This could be the key to my overclocking woes~

I had tried everything but the HT Frequency, i figured it said 1000, and would not exceed that value. guess not.

Also I wanted to say that the K8T NEO2 actually has correct colors for the ram. Unlike the K8N, which you use the same colors.

If you get a second stick, yes, it will run in Dual Channel. Just plug that stick into the same-collored slot as your current one.
Click to expand...

So if you have dual sided ram, then you would put one in dimm2(green), and one in dimm4(purple)
 
No, to run in Dual Channel you put two seperate physical sticks of ram in two different slots. Most dual-channel enabled motherboards have four mem slots, two of one color and two of another. And similar colored slots are not next to each other. The colors indicate memory controlers.. one "purple" slot is one controler, and another is a seperate controller.

To run Dual Channel you must put one stick in one color and the second stick in the same color slot. This would usually leave a gap between your ram sticks of one more memory slot.

[] | [] | <-- Dual Channel
[] [] | | <-- Single Channel.
 
I don't understand what you are saying. you say that purple is one memory controller, and green is another, so why would I put them both in the same color?

I have one in green, and one in purple now, and CPUZ indicates dual channel.

MS-6702E.jpg


MSI K8T-FIR

This MB has the colors next to each other.

Anyway I was able to get a solid overclock @ 9x250, by turning down the HT frequency to 800MHz.

occjan53qj.jpg
ocmjan56jb.jpg
 
I really wish mine could get over 222fsb. It cant be the proc or the memory. I just dont understand my OC bad luck... oh well. 250fsb would be a dream for me.

A64 s939 3000+ @222x9 800HTT stock vc stock cooling
MSI Neo2-FIR
1x512MB Kingston HyperX PC4000 in slot #3 (wont post in any other)
ThermalTake SilentPurePower 420W
9600pro
Latest BIOS from website

This motherboard has some pretty fsked up readings in the BIOS. CPU temp is like 19C and my voltages are all wrong. dunno if this mobo is holding me back or something else.
 
Shinare said:
I really wish mine could get over 222fsb. It cant be the proc or the memory. I just dont understand my OC bad luck... oh well. 250fsb would be a dream for me.

A64 s939 3000+ @222x9 800HTT stock vc stock cooling
MSI Neo2-FIR
1x512MB Kingston HyperX PC4000 in slot #3 (wont post in any other)
ThermalTake SilentPurePower 420W
9600pro
Latest BIOS from website

This motherboard has some pretty fsked up readings in the BIOS. CPU temp is like 19C and my voltages are all wrong. dunno if this mobo is holding me back or something else.
Click to expand...

drop the HTT multi from whatever to 2x, then proceed to go 250FSB
 
i have a abit av8 and a 3000+, and 2 sticks of 512 mbs of crap ram. I have gotten it to post at 267x9 and with the htt at 3. I keep it at 250x9, htt at 4 and the voltage at 4, and my cooling is a Zalman CNPS7000B-Cu. I run the ram at 333 (CL 2.5-2-2-7 and its stable and there is no performance loss, and my 3dmark01 score is 25000 with my x800 pro at 550/565 and in 3dmark2003 i get almost 13000. my card is running with 12 pipes.(I voltmoded it and it has a ati silencer 4)

You dont really need to overclock with that processor, especially with a 9600p, if you had a 6800 gt or an x800 or higher, that might be different
 
ScHpAnKy said:
drop the HTT multi from whatever to 2x, then proceed to go 250FSB
Click to expand...

hey, how do you like that gigabyte board, i had it and i returned it because it didnt work very welll, i read it had a lot of problems too. it looks mad cool though
 
Shinare said:
I really wish mine could get over 222fsb. It cant be the proc or the memory. I just dont understand my OC bad luck... oh well. 250fsb would be a dream for me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, make sure your HTT is actually down. Also I would play with your voltage settings... on my MSI board (yours may be similar) I have no luck when the voltage is set to Auto. If I manually set it to around 1.45-1.5, then it will actually give my chip ~1.4 like it is suppose to. So you don't necessarily have to raise it from stock but make sure it is at least at stock.
 
ubern00b15 said:
hey, how do you like that gigabyte board, i had it and i returned it because it didnt work very welll, i read it had a lot of problems too. it looks mad cool though
Click to expand...

it's great :) alot better from the neo2 I upgraded from... it glows blue too!
It actually breaks the 265FSB barrier the neo2 held against me... plus, at the time I got the Gigabyte cheaper than the Neo2 Plat, so I was pretty amped for that.
 
Thats weird Shinare, we have very close hardware, seems like you should be able to hit 250MHz. Most of your components are better!

Athlon 64 3000+ (s939) @ 2250MHz
MSI K8T Neo2-FIR
2x512 PC3200 Kingston Value Ram
Radeon 9800 PRO
FortronSource FSP400-60PFN - 400 Watt PS

It originally detected my ram as 256MB, and would not POST in dual channel mode. I got the 3.2 bios and then was able to run in dual channel, and it identified the size of my ram correctly. Per the MSI webpage, slot 2 is the only slot that will work, if you only have one stick of RAM. Also, before I flashed my bios, it was telling me my CPU temp was 118C!
Now even at 250MHz, my temp is a cool 44C, with stock cooling.

Here are my bios settings if it helps:

Dram clock mode: Manual , Memclock value: 333

2.5-3-3-7

Cool and Quiet: Dissabled
HT Frequency: 800MHz
9x250
CPU voltage +3.3%
Memory Voltage @ 2.60
AGP locked @ 66

Everything else default.

Hope this helps...
 
krizzle said:
What chipset do you have?
I know with via K8T800pro, locks are worthless. Any lock allows you to run windows, but absolutely NO 3d apps will work, even if you underclock the processor.

In A64 terms, they call what is the traditional FSB the HTT. I don't use that HTT nomenclature. FSB is nice and classic, and I don't see why they switched to a new name.
Click to expand...

Actually the K8T800 pro locks are NOT worthless. They work great on almost every board they are on as long as you don't have an original revision of the board. The problem was never with the VIA chip, it was with how they told the board designers to implement the locking system in conjunction with the chip.

The lock is also VITAL to overclocking these boards. You need to make sure the lock is turned on in the bios, and make sure it stays on (which is where Abit's Uguru utility is nice to have.. but need an Abit board for that). I have no idea how to check it on an MSI, though any system reporting utility that tells you your AGP speed (66mhz, 67mhz, etc.) will answer the question for you.

Since the lock directly impact the videocard and any PCI cards you have, and your problems are when running 3D game stuff (which uses AGP for video and PCI for sound) it seems most likely that it is the lock at fault, not HTT. HTT is a general part of the system, and if it's not working right chances are you would see problems at many different times, not just in games.

Anyway, make sure the AGP/PCI lock is working and turn your HTT down so you can push your OC higher before HTT becomes an issue, and you sould be alright.
 
Would you happen to have 'Fast Writes' turned-on in the BIOS, chipset driver or the video driver? That setting can hamper your overclocking efforts.
 
I have fast writes on, and a similar video card. For me the big problem was the HT Frequency.

Did you try 2x or 3x?
 
Sorry about my misleading dual-channel comments... i had a different experience... but I hope you get the point.
 
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