Problems with OC

[DKMOC]

Alright I think I need some help on finding my error. Here is everything I know on my pc that will help. If someone with a close system or knows these could help that would be great. I saw a thread on google where a guy with the same system some how got it up to 298 FSB and ran well. When I hit 245 3dmark just shuts down. I went step by step with him.

AMD Sempron 3100+ Lan Party UT Nf3 250gb ATI 9600SE 128mb
Core speed 2052
Multiplier x9
FSB 228

Memory is Corsair 1 gb 3200 400mhz
Frequency 228
cas# latency 3 clocks
Ras # to Cas# Delay 3 clocks
Ras# Precharge 3 clocks
Cycle Time 8 clocks
Bank Cycle Time 13 Clocks
DRAM idle Timer 16 clocks

The case is a nzxt Nemesis with one side sucker fan and 2 rear blowers.
Speedfan has my temp @ about 41'C.

Let me know if you see any problems or what ever.

DKM

Added a picture of CPU z and 3dmark

[GrahamGarside]

It's likely either the HT bus ratio or memory divider, with it topping out so low I figure the HT bus ratio isn't yet the problem, it's more around 250mhz you hit that wall, so I figure your memory speed is too high

Try setting the HT ratio to 3x, the fsb to 266 and the DDR speed to 300 or 150 depending on what the bios lists

And also I'd set the cpu muliplyer lower as well to ensure the bus and memory are stable, then bring up the multiplyer, start off at 7X then see if it will handle 9x

[DKMOC]

I don't understand what you mean my HT ratio. my memory only goes up to 200 mhz so I guess put it at 150. Also if I put the multiplier at 7x and the fsb at 266 I am only at 1800 and change which this pc runs at 1800 factory. I willl post the 3dmarks then let me know if you could where I am at.

Thanks

[GrahamGarside]

Thats just to test that the bus speed is stable, once you know it is you can increase it again giving you 2.4ghz

The HT bus ratio is the multiple of the fsb that the HT bus runs at, by default it's 4x200 and you want it to be 3x266 giving the same bandwidth and keeping it stable
It will be called something like HT bus ratio or multiplier, or perhaps just HT bus speed, in which case you don't set the ratio but set it to 600mhz

The DDR clock speed you set is right, 150 which is 300DDR and with the 1/3rd bus overclock will be put back at 400mhz

[DKMOC]

Alright, well no success. I set the bus frequency ratio to 3x, fsb to 266, multiplier at 7x, and memory at 150 started up ran 3dmark and within 5 sec the cpu froze. Now last night I had the settings at 270 fsb muliplier of 8x and mem at 166 and ran pretty good on hl2 mod. So basically I am really lost on why this machine is giving me such a prob. I mean I have above average equipment and many people have posted their success with these same configs (reaching close to 2.8 mhz) but mine is bugging out on me????

DKM

[GrahamGarside]

Yeah those boards should be able to reach over a 300mhz bus.
It's probably down to memory timmings, theres a chance if you still have it set to spd rather than manual that it's setting the timings it's capable of at DDR333 speeds which are tighter than DDR400 because the bios isn't intelligent enough to detect that the bus clock puts the memory back up to 400mhz.
Alter all the memory timings to the rated settings for DDR400, which is likely 3-3-3-8 and perhaps increase the DDR voltage and HT voltage up a notch

[GrahamGarside]

Your cpu is probably capable of between 2.4-2.6ghz by the way, I'd take a guess at around 2.5ghz

[DKMOC]

So what should I do. I don't know what the spd is. and how do I set the ddr@333. I have it at 7x 266 right now just over 1800 and the memory at 150 and it is stable. In cpu-z under spd it shows the max bandwidth at 200mhz? does this mean I can't out it at 333? Thank you we are getting there.

DKM

[GrahamGarside]

CPUZ will list the timings for 400mhz, but with you having the memory speed limitted to 300mhz it will probably use DDR333 spd settings, this is presuming that it has differant SPD settings for differant speeds.
With the FSB overclock the memory is still running at 400mhz, it's just asychronus to the FSB, but this isn't important as the memory bus is independant of the HT bus.

So with the 266mhz bus overclock and cpu multiplyer of 7 things are stable? If thats the case then it's time to start increasing the cpu multiplyer, start with 8, check it can run a prime95 torture test for an hour or so (it's in the files section) once you know it's stable increase again to 9x and retest. If at any point prime95 throws up a hardware fault error increase the vcore 0.025V at a time until you regain stability, but don't go crazy with it, if it isn't stable with up to 1.65V then check back here and I'll sort out a temp monitor app for you to see if you are ok going higher

[DKMOC]

Ok I will work on it. I have a pic of my memory, spd, and system info see what you think. I brought the cas latencey down to 2 clocks and is stable. I was not able to find anything in the bios for SPD maybe it is called something else in the LanParty bois. What temp should my board be running at 41 and in game at about 48? is this ok.

Thanks again

DKM

[GrahamGarside]

It probably won't mention SPD, thats the little chip on the dimm containing all the timings info, in the bios it will probably just be set to auto for the differant memory timings, the trick is to just set them to what cpuz lists for 400mhz, once you are sure that is stable then you can begin bringing down the timings. If you have already established CAS2 is stable then thats a good thing, the other settings don't have much impact on performance really, not to any noticable degree, the CAS setting has the biggest impact

[DKMOC]

Ok well if you look at my CPU-z it doesn't show anything about 400mhz just says 200? Also I have it at 2500 right now and ran 3dmark2001 at 8000. Is a little skippy not much and the temp is at 46-50. I have the memory at 150 cpu ratio at 3x and the multiplier at 9x. the volts are at the max 4.5 doesn't go any higher then that??? you mentioned something about 6v. So do you think there is a way to get it at 2700? That is my goal. I feel the temp will be the problem what is a good system out there for the NZXT nemesis. Let me know you have been great help.

I am really concerned about the cpu-z only showing 200mhz though??

DKM

[GrahamGarside]

That cpuz reading is correct, it's 200mhz which equals 400mhz DDR

I think 2.5ghz is a decent overclock for a paris core, I doubt very much it would reach 2.7ghz

What do you have set to 4.5v? If thats your memory bring it down to around 2.7V pronto
Have you found the vcore setting? and what do you have that set to?

[DKMOC]

i have the vcore set at 4.5 which seems to be my max? The Memory is at 2.8. I ran into the problem yesterday at around 2450 I was loosing websites and while playing poker the game would just crash and close. I have feeling this has to do with the memory not catching up!? I have it right now at 2304 which is 256fsb 9x and memory is at 192 mhz which from what you say equals 384? not sure on that one. but I still have it set at 150 3:4 and the cas latency at 2 which is down one. I can not find the SPD setting for Manual anywhere in bios? any suggestions on what it might be called in Award bios by lan party.

Thank you much. I think 2.5 right would be great if the memory would hold up (memory is Corsair 1gb TwinX XMS)

DKM

[GrahamGarside]

It probably won't mention anything of spd in the bios, I meant the memory timings like cas to ras etc... they are probably all on auto, except for cas latency which you say you have set to 2, have you tried this on 2.5 or 3 as a lot of standard DDR400 won't handle cas latencys of 2 at 400mhz