Trouble overclocking an ABIT AI7

S

shocksta

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
77
hey everyone,

Just got this system up and running a few days ago.

P4 2.4C SL6Z3
Abit AI7 mobo
2x256 Mushkin Lvl2 PC3500 BH-5
Modded Radeon 9800 PRO

I bought this memory at the AAT forums and it was confirmed to run 2-2-2-5 @ 260Mhz 1:1 ratio with 3.15vdimm. A screenshot was attached that proved it. So I go into BIOS and change the FSB to 240, ratio to 1:1, timings to 2-2-2-5, vcore to 1.625, and vdimm to 3.2v. Reboot - nothing. Go back and set the ratio to 5:4 - reboot - starts up fine.

Upon going into windows, I notice that MBM5 is reporting the vdimm to be running at 2.98v instead of 3.2v. So I start up the ABIT EQ app that shows voltages and the same thing - 2.98v. WTF? I'm wondering if this is my board or my PSU. The 3.3V rail on my PSU does sag down to around 3.1v but I was under the impression that this wouldnt affect much since the 3.3v rail was not used much. I have an X-Superalien case with a 500w power supply. My 12V and 5V lines are spot on and Vcore is registering dead-on as well. The problem is not heat since I have a total of 8 fans running on this badboy and the sys temp is registering 33'c idle.

Does anyone have any experience with the vdimm on this board?? Is this normal on the AI7 or do I just have a bad board? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
have you tried the same board with different memory?

Here's my experience with the AI7 and my ram.

I have Geil Ultra Platinum PC4000. Timings aren't that great. 2.5-4-4-7 @ 250Mhz.

At any FSB above 230, I have to run my timings at 2.5-4-3-6. @ 3.0v
The highest FSB I've had this ram at was 280fsb, 2.5-4-4-7 GAT = Auto, NBstrap 800 @ 3.2v
FSB < 230, 2-4-3-6 @ 3.0v NBstrap 667 (enables full PAT)
FSB < 220 2-3-3-6 @ 3.0v and I can enable GAT = T-A-A-A-A w/NB strap 667
All at 1:1...I've never used any other ratio.

Try your RAM in the second set of slots. They are reported by MANY people (including myself) to be able to clock higher for some reason. See what your voltages are there also.
On my system, when RAM is set to 3.2V, I get slightly more @ 3.22-3.25v. The voltages on my AI7 are generally right on with what the BIOS says with exception of the NB/AGP voltage and VCore (which NB/AGP is about .5v higher than Bios and VCore is about .3v lower than Bios).

Try a different powersupply?
I have an Enermax 450 and it works perfectly...but I doubt it's your PS.

Check your NBstrap and GAT settings. Set both to Auto then start raising the clock. Once you find your max that way, start over at stock speeds and change NBstrap to 667 and see how high you can go with it that way (enables full PAT). Then do it all over with GAT settings. Keep records of your benches at the various speeds and see what gives the best result. a general rule I've found on my system is that it takes about 20FSB gain to make up for the performance loss of disabling PAT.

good luck, and I hope I offered some help.
 
Thanks for the reply.... found out the problem.

Gotta get a new PSU. I hooked my Antec 400w PSU (spare PSU) to the mobo while my current PSU was running all the drives and stuff. Fired em up - went into bios and set vdimm to 3.2v. Booted to XP - MBM5 reports 3.22v. Exactly what you said - a slight overvolt. Time to get a new PSU. Thanks for the reply bud!
 
n/p. Guess I was wrong when I initially thought it wouldn't have been your PS. I've never had an issue like that with a PS.

Looks like a nice shiny new PS for you!

:EDIT: btw, I'm jealous of your ram! Looks like you got some kickass stuff!
 
Definately... Ive already hit 250 @ 2-2-2-5 1:1 ratio - even with this shoddy vdimm. Just imagine what I can hit with a solid vdimm and 3.3v rail.. :)
 
shocksta said:
Definately... Ive already hit 250 @ 2-2-2-5 1:1 ratio - even with this shoddy vdimm. Just imagine what I can hit with a solid vdimm and 3.3v rail.. :)
Click to expand...

you make me sick :p


I bet with 3.2vdimm you may be able to hit 270fsb with those. I've seen people on Xtremesystems.org hitting higher than that...close to the 300fsb range...but they're also running with 5v rail mod w/pot to the vdimm.

man...wish I could afford some sticks like that. By the time I save enough to replace what I have, some other cool new stuff will be out that I'll want :rolleyes:
 
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