8K3A+ BIOS Setting to get 166/166

[glee46]

I have a need for speed yet I am clueless to how to get into overclocking. I know there are a ton of web sites that deal with overclocking, but I would like to just get the facts on my 8K3A+. I know that the 1st thing I need to do is get rid of the retail AMD heatsink & fan. I am between the Alpha PAL 8045 & the Swiftech mcx 462. I know that to get the memory scores higher I need to get the board to run Synchronous at 166/166. At one web site I read a review where the board was running 166/166 and the Sandra results were 2535/2336 at 166/166(333/333)


So after I get a good cooling device, what should my setting be set to? Can someone point me in the right direction? Or does anyone have a copy of their BIOS to get their board to run 166/166.

Thanks for any input or info.

Glee

[Holst]

Unfortunately things are never as simple as you expect.

Running 166/166 means that your CPU and memory are both running at 166fsb.

This means you will be overclocking your CPU.

The speed your CPU runs at is FSB X CPU multiplyer.

The multiplyer on your chip is 11.5, so it normally runs at 11.5x133 = 1533mhz.

If you increase the FSB to 166 you chip will have to run at 166 x 11.5 = 1933mhz
Unless you buy yourself watercooling your chip wont clock that far.

But, as allways there is a solution.
You can modify your CPU to allow multiplyer ajustment. But its a bit awquard and you loose your warranty.
The best place to find out how to do it is here

http://www6.tomshardware.com/column/...124/index.html

Theres even a video to explain.

Once your CPU is unlocked you have allot more freedom in how you overclock, you can drop the multiplyer and increase your FSB untill your memory is at its maximum then increase the multiplyer back up again to overclock the CPU.

Im currently running my XP-1700 (11xmulti) at 9.5x170, the highest fsb I could run before I unlocked was 150.

[UpAllNight]

i unlocked mine useing the thermal grease then if something goes wrong u can just whip it off and start over heres a link to it with detailed instructions on how to use it

http://www.highspeedpc.com/index.htm?item106.htm

once u get over the fear of it its easy...i can now unlock one in 5 min.

[glee46]

I downloaded the video of Tom's Hardware guide to unlocking and all it plays is music. No video at all. Anyone know why?

Thanks
glee

[Darkhorse]

You need to make sure you have the divx codec from http://www.divx.com

[EPoX Tech]

Alternatively purchase an Athlon MP

[Alexandrus]

I would advise you aquire more experience before overclocking because you could damage something and I am sure you don't want that. Is 1800+ not fast enough for you ?

[glee46]

I guess I need to download the divx codec again. I had the newest just a few days ago. hmm.

I do plan on spending a great deal of time learning how to overclock before I make any changes to my cpu or system.

My last rig was a K-6 III 450+. The speed difference is more then I expected. It is great. However, in reply to your question, "Is 1800+ not fast enough for you ?" I will borrow this quote from another web site as to why people overclock, " Enough is never Enough". Thanks for all of the input and info.

Thanks
Glee

[Alexandrus]

Usualy, when users don't have experience overclocking, it is safer that they do not try to experience on their own PC but rather learn from others(and their mistakes). That way you can't damage your PC and still get some experience.
Anyway, if you deicde to overclock, good luck and be carefull.

[glee46]

I agree with you that it would be better to work on a cpu other then my own. However, not many are offering up there cpu for me to practice on. I have spend the night reading about 20 reviews on unlocking. I plan on spending time reading each one over a few more times. I will keep ya posted on how things turn out.

Glee

[Alexandrus]

I didn't say to ask someone to let you practice on their CPU, but if you have a friend with more experience, just spend some time with him and learn. As far as unlocking goes, I have also read a lot of reviews but still I had no success with mine so I had to go have it unlocked at a jewelry store.

[Holst]

I practiced the glue part of the unlocking on a bare bit of the CPU before I did it over the bridges.

The masking is the most difficult part a little practice is very usefull.

If you have read everything and looked at the videos then you should have a problem.

Good luck.

[glee46]

Well I got it unlocked. I won't go into what it took to get it done. So now I need some setting. I want to try running the board Synchronous at 166/166. Could someone give me some setting in the BIOS or point me in the right direction.

Thanks
Glee

[Holst]

first to into your the Dram timings menu and choose "normal" and by SPD

Then go to the Speed/Voltage menu in the bios and set the Fsb to 166 and the CPU multiplyer to 9.5.

That shouldt be overclocking your CPU or memory, run a few games and benchmarks like that to be sure all is ok.

Once you happy running at 166 you can make your memory timings more agressive and try for higher speeds than 166mhz.
once you have found the fastest speed your memory can go you can try overclocking your FSB.

[Pinky]

Originally posted by glee46
However, in reply to your question, "Is 1800+ not fast enough for you ?" I will borrow this quote from another web site as to why people overclock, " Enough is never Enough".

Hell ya, that's the bank breaking spirit!!

"If it's aint broken, fix it until it is!!"

[mookydooky]

Originally posted by Pinky
"If it's aint broken, fix it until it is!!"

Come on Pinky, Get the OCer's motto correct, it should be:

"If it ain't broke, OC it 'til it is!"

[EUPHORiA]

ATM i am on a swiftech and i have my Epox on a swiftech too!

What CPU do u have? and is it unlocked?

[glee46]

I tried the
"Dram timings menu and choose "normal" and by SPD
Then go to the Speed/Voltage menu in the bios and set the Fsb to 166 and the CPU multiplyer to 9.5."

It was a no go.. I guess I need to play around with it to see if I can it oc'ed by other method.

Thanks
Glee

[glee46]

It seems like every time that I shutdown and start the computer, the multiplier goes to 11 which turns my XP 1800+ into a XP1700+. Any ideas why this is happening?

Thanks
Glee

[glee46]

Of course once I posted the last message it stops dropping the speed down and now is working fine...