MAX3, 2.4c and GeIL GD3500... whats holding me back?

[Semper Fi]

I can run @ 275fsb 5:4 but any higher and its unstable. I managed to get into Windows @ 284 fsb but it was very unstable. Voltage on the ram is 3.2, and the cpu was at 1.75.

The CPU's watercooled but the NB is using the stock cooler.

Ive tried loosening the ram timings, even dropping the ratio to 3:2, still the same problem. Im assuming its not the ram. Did I just get unlucky with a bad 2.4c?

[x2sandman]

have you tried flashing the bios? It helped me out quite a bit when i upgraded to -12

[Semper Fi]

Its flashed, first thing I did when I got it.

[Major]

What GAT settings are you running ? also have you tried disabling HT ?

I have also seen posts that suggest trying different agp/pci clock settings as a possible solution to getting beyond a wall.

[Semper Fi]

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I haven't tried disabling HT, Ill give that a shot... but will the performance increase on the clock be worth the sacrifice?
I've never heard of changing the agp/pci lock settings from 66/33, what should I try?

Also, what should I set the "N/B Strap CPU as" to? Currently its at "By CPU". The options are PSB400/533/800/667.

[Major]

Those GAT settings should give you the most headroom.

NB strap should be at psb800

I've had a couple P4's that OCed just as well with HT enabled, but some HT being enabled was a major hinderance to OCing. Just depends on the chip.

I don't know what you should try on the agp/pci... just take it off the locked 66/33 and try something else within reason. 70/35 would be a safe bet.

[Semper Fi]

is it safe to leave my vdimm voltage at 3.2?

Im using watercooling, whats the highest I could go on the core?

[Major]

I thought that Geil GD stuff liked low voltages ? I would use the lowest Vdimm necessary to gain stability. If it works at 2.85v why run it at 3.2v ? so I atleast would test it for stablitly at a lower voltage.

Semper Fi, I would also suggest taking the nb hs off, removing the factory TIM and using some AS3 or Ceramique on the nb. (Lapping the nb hs while its off would be nice too)

As far as max Vcore I would think 1.75 would be about as high as your going to be able to run with your water cooling.

[Semper Fi]

Ceramique is on the nb currently. I was thinking about popping on a block there, but those hooks have broken on me before, I dont want to jack this board up.

Doesnt pwr = stability if its not getting hot? The ram is barely even warm after running at 440mhz all day @ 3.2v. Ill try lowering the voltage.

[Semper Fi]

Ive tried every trick I can think of, only thing left is replacing the NB cooler.

Is it my CPU or my NB thats causing this wall?

[Trooper_GR]

I have had the Geil GD 3500 and I got them up to 240 FSB with 7-4-4-2.5 and 3.1V memtest free and windows working fine (even playing games) . Geil is voltage hungry , they need the volt, dont worry about that.

Maybe you have hit the maximum of the board or your CPU. What CPU is it ? Malay, Philippines, Costa Rica ?

[Semper Fi]

How can I find out where its manufactured?

[Trooper_GR]

The FPO number on the box says it. Its either starting with L , 3 or something else...

[Semper Fi]

tossed the box a while back.

I took the NB cooler off, cleaned it and applied Ceramique. It still locks up about 5 seconds after I get into windows, it just sticks. Anything over 275 it doesnt like. I lowered the ram down to 3:2 and put the timings all the way up. Ive gone up to 1.8 in the voltage and down to stock, still same situation.

[Semper Fi]

Something strange is goin on here, I got it to boot into windows @ 280, seems to be running fine at idle, but when I go into CPU-Z and repeatedly hit the Refresh button, the clock speed fluxuates from 3365.7 all the way down to 3320 once after about a minute of clicking, then went back up to 3365.7, then went up to 3.4! It only stays there for a second, then drops back down to 3365.7.

Im using a true control 550 with all the rails turned all the way up.

+12v = 12.05v
+3.3v= 3.26-3.28v
+5v = 5.08v


CPU temp is 39.5c ambient is 27c

[Semper Fi]

why does my voltage/oc flucuate so much?