From toasted xp2200 to SUCCESS!!

[fireandsmoke]

:banana: :toast: :D

WOW!
I love this stuff! Latest update...reinstalled everything after testing cpu in another mobo, and voila! I'm surfing now on a modest 12x - 150mhz = 1800mhz oc'd machine!
However I say modest because its no faster than stock...yet.
Needed some advice from the guru's before I make the next step...here's my info
unlocked xp2200
gigabyte ga -7vrxp mobo
volcanoe 7+ hs/f
512mb pc3200
geforce 2
and these
vcore - 1.640
+3.3 - 3.390
+5 - 5.020
+12 - 12.350
+5vsb - 5.130
temp 51C and
from Bios
Top Perf - Disabled
Fast Command - Norm
Config sdram by spd - Enabled
sdram freq 333
cas lat 2
sdram command rate 2T command
etc
etc
Everything runs fine...when i cranked the fsb to 166, it shut down... The temp seems marginal even with that darn noisy 6ooo rpm fan screaming at me!! How do I take it to the next step boys??????
F&S

[NoStra]

Get better cooling, crank up the voltage and then try to raise the FSB even higher...
First set the DDR RAM settings at their slowest and try to find the max clockspeed of your cpu when you raise the FSB. If you have that, then you can play with the memory settings in combination with the FSB. Pick the combination that will get you the highest memory score...
At the end you will have a pretty fast system :) Much faster as your default machine..

[IFMU]

Excellent there fire!
Ill have to say that NoStra there pretty much covers it rather well. Thats about the best route to go at it and find your best settings.

[fireandsmoke]

As far as Vcore, my mobo will only give me +5%, +7.5% and +10%
Slow the mem down...you mean set it to 266 or set the cls to 2.5 or give different command rates? BTW, what is a good op temp, and where is danger? Any other ideas? And also my mobo seems a bit awkward for oc'ing, what do you hear about the new Epox 8k5a3??? Or do you guys like the kx7-333R??? Water cooloing is my next step, either a Koolance tower or I'll use a Innovatek kit...
Please keep the ideas coming guys.
F&S

[TheDude]

If you water cool..consider swiftey QP tower over koolance...or replace koolance blocks with swiftey as JBELL did.

[Hardass]

Originally posted by fireandsmoke
As far as Vcore, my mobo will only give me +5%, +7.5% and +10%
Slow the mem down...you mean set it to 266 or set the cls to 2.5 or give different command rates? BTW, what is a good op temp, and where is danger? Any other ideas? And also my mobo seems a bit awkward for oc'ing, what do you hear about the new Epox 8k5a3??? Or do you guys like the kx7-333R??? Water cooloing is my next step, either a Koolance tower or I'll use a Innovatek kit...
Please keep the ideas coming guys.
F&S
Good work on getting it going. First if your at 51c now is that idle? you put a load on that rig say like start folding and your going to be pushing 60c to high. Get some better cooling, if your going with a new mobo and don,t want to have to volt mod it go with the epox even the 8K3A+ is a good mobo. First get some cooling.

[fireandsmoke]

Thanks all,
OK, the arctic silver must have "broken in" or something, with the cases side panel removed the cpu runs at 44C while surfing net.
BTW, what is folding??!?? Can someone give specific ideas about what memory settings to use or what is a good vcore voltage for me, like should I disable "Config sdram by spd"?? (BTW what is SPD?) My ram says it's cas 2.5 but it runs fine at 2, Is there any performance software? You know maybe something that will test your rig's perf on certain things and give recommendations for tuning? What is "Top Peformance" and "Fast Command" in BIOS??
What do you guys like and dislike about the koolance tower? I like the look, the way it's integrated and neat. Are the coolers weak? or the pumps? tubing size? What is something on Windows that will put a load on the pc? About vcore, I hear some people running 2.0 or whatever, when do you need this, what's it do? How much is good?
I'm going to attempt 12.0X - 155...I'll be back.
F&S

[Hardass]

I was trying to tell you that you should put a load on your system before overclocking to make sure your cooling system is enough. Surfing is not a load. First download MBM5, thats motherboard monitor and install so you can monitor your temps while running a program. Folding is a program that uses all the spare cpu cycles that your computer doesn,t use to fold human proteins in a serch for cancer. It,s Folding@Home. Here is a to Stanfords Home Page if you would like to join the F@H team just let me know and I will help you install.Link (http://folding.stanford.edu/) You need to get prime 95 or another program to put a load on that system.

[fireandsmoke]

HA,
Ok i've got a monitor setup with onscreen hardware info (Gigabyte EasyTune III) and I'll go look for Prime 95...
thanks
F&S

[fireandsmoke]

Also,
I've ran win95 for a few hours and yes it's got the temp up to 47C, and the rig is now at 12x - 157mhz, 1884mhz. Anyone have a link for Sisoftware Sandra? What's next guys?
thanks
F&S

[fireandsmoke]

OK,
Ran prime95 for about 4 or 5 hours...temp never got above 47C
Tried increasing fsb to 161 and all was good until I entered microsoft internet explorer, when I started locking up. Any ideas?
Vcore? Mem timing? Lower multiplier? I'm going to keep trying until I hit the air cooled limits of my pathetic and noisy volcano 7+.
Still at 12x - 157 (1884mhz) Mem is ocz pc3200 512mb BTW.
thanks
F&S

[Hardass]

Raise Vcore slightly, I don,t know that mobo. But after you raise Vcore run Prime to see if it locks up. If not raise FSB by 2, Prime, If it locks Raise Vcore. Only raise vcore untill you can run at full load and temp is not to high. Now I don,t know that memory. Run it at 2-4-2-5-2 for a start. You don,t want to go wild with the ram until you get you fsb, and Vcore about where you want them, then try diff settings for ram, to see if you can get alittle more out of her. Remember you want it to be able to run at full load and have good safe temps.

[fireandsmoke]

excellent, thanks. And check out my thread about aquarium chillers...
Jon

[Bulldog]

It seems like you are new to the Sickness of Overclocking...;) ..in that case I would tell you to read the guide thats posted on 3d01 tweaking... also proceed slowly because if you change to many things at once you won't know which worked and which didn't...the fastest and quickest 3d01 scores come from high FSB, if I had your rig I would leave volts at default , lower the mutipler and raise the fsb...until it maxed out (usually won't go into windows) then I would lower the bus 2-5 pts and run prime or toast to "burn" in ram and check for stability and TEMPS....then I would raise v-core volts and memory volts .25 each and push FSB higher and repeat above process...you'll hit a max speed , and thats when I know system was stable at 10x190 at 2.5 I'll go in and adjust ram timings to try and optimze that (1 step at a time) until I got it really cooking....btw most of your ??s are in your mobo's book...if ya wanna get good at this you really have to know your mobo and its bios inside out....here's a great link for all your downloads, MMM5, Toast,Prime etc....LINK (http://www.majorgeeks.com/) Hope it helped and good luck

[fireandsmoke]

Bulldog,
I'll try getting in there again... but at 8.0X i still couldn't get it past 160 fsb??? Why I'm not sure. And the Gigabyte manual is really weak! I'll try the downloads and try your tips. Thanks and I'll keep you posted!
F&S

[fireandsmoke]

Bulldog,
I'll try getting in there again... but at 8.0X i still couldn't get it past 160 fsb??? Why I'm not sure. And the Gigabyte manual is really weak! I'll try the downloads and try your tips. Thanks and I'll keep you posted!
F&S

[Bulldog]

Are you useing your gigabyte "easy tune" if so try to disable it and do the fsb changes in Bio's instead....if unlocked correctly you should have zero problems running at 166 x10... which is slower than default if it won't do it something else is wrong...to do above ( and your new at this) use bio's safe settings for ram etc, with your setup 166x10 should be a piece of cake...what bio's are you useing and what do others claim with this mobo( I have no personal exp with it)

[fireandsmoke]

Bulldog,
Well I set the mult at 10.5X and tried 165fsb, and it worked at 1732mhz... tried 169fsb and it reset to 133...
So what's faster? A lower multiplier like 10 with a fsb of 165 (1732) or a higher mult like 12X and 165fsb (1980mhz)
thanks F&S

[Bulldog]

the 1980 would be faster as your still at 165fsb with both mutiplers....is that mobo a 333 mobo? cripes it supposed to run at 166 if so...if you use all fail safe defaults what does it set mutipler and fsb at what ram timings..IMO something basic is incorrect..or you got a really :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty stick of ram, can you switch ram with anybody or have them run yours on a setup that is already proven to run 166+

[fireandsmoke]

Bulldog,
Oddly enough in the mobo manual it explains the fsb dipswitch on the board saying default (100mhz) is for 100-132mhz and 133mhz setting is for 133-161mhz. Yes it's a VIA KT333 mobo, top awards on all the sites. But maybe not for o'cing...
Defaults
It boots at 5.5X and 133mhz
Auto detects ram and cpu. cas2 command 2T
Top Performance disabled
The ram is OCZ pc3200, cas 2.5 supposed to be good for 400+
The cpu is unlocked at the 5th bridge of L3, ala deerhunter.
I'll keep experimenting. i'm thinking about that brand new epox k5+3 (or whatever it is...) How do I add an attachment to a post??
Thanks
F&S
thanks

[Bulldog]

Add a picture by hitting browse or IMG and adding URL...Not to be a naysayer but a lot MIGHT have to do with your choice of ram...OCZ has a rep for not delivereing product as advertised...lots of ram reviews bring this out ...if you know of anyone you can run your ram in their system and see what happens...also your mobo is limited to 161 fsb in bio's ...at least that is my understanding...THINK Abit...and XTREME DDR I have both and love them I know at least Shadco on forums has that ram also and is happy...hope it helped

[TheDude]

I also suspect your ram...I tried a stick of OCZ because I read a review that said it was best and it sucked. RMAed and got Mushkin and confirmed that it was the OCZ that was holding me back. Can't really go too wrong with Muskin, Corsair or Sammy.:D

[Bulldog]

F&S do you have this jumper on your mobo??? if so set way picture is to get 166+fsb...LINK (http://www.vr-zone.com/previews/7VAXP/page4.htm)

[fireandsmoke]

Bulldog,
No not on my mobo...what do you think of that new ga 7axp?
F&S

[Bulldog]

Wait for a known o/c mobo Abit, Epox, Asus in that order IMO, you should know better than ask me that your mobo now won't do what it supposed to 333mobo should run 166fsb no problem what makes ya think their kt400 mobo will run at 200fsb...not past exp:eek: