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Why Is OCing So Hard?

K

Kitt2003

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
441
My system specs are...

AMD AthlonXP 2500+ (1.87Ghz)
DFI Ultra Infinity
1x512MB Mushkin 3200

I REALLY want to OC my CPU FSB to 200MHz, but I can't get it stable for shit. I just want to get my CPU to 3200 speeds and for my RAM to get used to it's full potential.

Even after upping the FSB only 10Mhz, my system gets blue screens and crashed. I upped the voltage a little bit (about 0.05) but that didn't help.

I've never OCed before by the way.

Thanks in advance.
 
Why is it so hard? Because if it was easy, everyone would do it. Go find some OC articles and educate yourself first.
 
hmmm ocing is hard? im playing with a 2+ year old mb and still got almost a 400mhz overclock my first time out. but i did do a lot of reading before hand.
 
its hard because there are so many variables and possible sources of error. not all hardware is made the same so your results can't always be as good as those of someone else.
 
Originally posted by orvil01
but i did do a lot of reading before hand.
Click to expand...

And there it is. The truth is that Overclocking, like many things, is one of those "five minutes to learn, a lifetime to master" kind of things.

Your problems do seem especially rough, though. Do you have some heat issues, perhaps? If not, see if you can up the voltage a little more. If so, then address that issue first.

Something seems fishy to have problems with that small of an overclock.
 
The thing is, my system has been unstable from the start. I know it sounds stupid to OC on an unstable system, but I wanted to see if I could at least hit the 2.0Ghz mark without any problems.

I don't think the unstability is a heat issue. I'm getting around 58C tops full load, which is high for me, but apparently, not a problem.

I really wish I knew why my system is so unstable. I ran MemTest86 for 15 hours with no errors at all. I don't think it's the mobo or CPU (maybe it is, I wouldn't know how to detect it). I heard it might be my sound card (SB Live! X-Gamer) drivers, but I updated those and I still get BSOD's.

The errors I usually get are IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL_TO, which I'm pretty sure is a memory problem, but MemTest didn't catch anything.

I'm soooo lost on what the problem is. Maybe it's not the OC that's making my computer unstable (more unstable - yes).

I don't even know where to start. My problem is all over the place.
 
maybe its your cas settings for your ram. though it's not uncommon for ppl to get 2500's that can't hit 3200 speeds.
 
IRQ errors are usually from something out of spec, make sure the AGP/PCI is locked. and 58C seems a little warm to me.
 
OK, tomorrow after school I'm going to take out my sound card (only PCI card) and run my computer for a few days without it and I'll see how that goes.

DJDishwateR, what do you mean "make sure the AGP/PCI is locked"? How would I know if it's locked and how do I make it locked? Could this be the cause of the BSODs?
 
Step 1 has to be get a stable system before you start OCing, otherwise you're just wasting your time.
 
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error can also be software driver errors.
I would look into updateing all your drivers.

Luck.......:D
 
Alright I took ouit my soundcard and now I'm using onboard.

I OCed a little bit (2.0Ghz) but the computer would freeze or restart at that, so I upped the voltage 0.025 so now it's at 1.675 and I'm happy to say it's been stable since.

I don't know why the soundcard was the problem (it was my only PCI card). I'd like to have it back in and still have a stable system. I think it sounds better than the onboard, but hey, if it means a stable system then it's out.
 
sometimes its just the PCI slot that the card is in.

try your sound card on the bottom pci slot, or next to bottom. if you want.
 
depending on what you are using, the onboard is better, for digital( on ur infinity, cuz it has sound storm)...what slot did u have it in?( in reference to agp, so A P P P S P (agp=a, p=pci, s= sound card)
 
I had it set up like this.

A P P S P P P

The sound card I was using before was a SB Live! X-Gamer (Value - same thing really).

Is onboard still better?
 
Alright I'm using my 4 speaker setup (Creative Labs FPS2000 4.1) with my onboard using analog (the onboard doesn't) cables. One 1/8' for the front speakers and another for the rear. One goes into the line in and the other goes into the line out. That's just how the Soundstorm speaker wizard said to plug it in.

So you think the onboard is better for analog?
 
just listen. if you cant tell, then definately yes, its better. using onboard sound might eat 5-10% of your CPU time though.
 
funny I'm getting that same 58C at load temp, but I have my fsb to 200...then again I'm running a small watercooling unit...
 
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