Help with diagnosis?

[gallant]

Hello XS!

I just built a new rig (my first AMD in a long time) and I am having some show stopping issues with OC'ing it.

DFI Lan Party UT NF4 Ultra - D
A64 3200+ (Winchester core)
2x512 OCZ pc3500 platinum Limited Edition (BH5)
ATI Radeon X800XL
1x WD 120gb caviar (sata)
1x wd 80gb (pata)
Audigy2
Winxp pro (sp2)

I can't get stability with ANY OC at all. Literally 5mhz on the fsb kills it. Sometimes it won't even make it to windows, ending with an extremely quick BSOD and instant reset.

The most informative failures so far have been several "error loading operating system" errors during POST. When it does make into windows it will usually crash as I open an app.

I am hoping that I'm not the proud owner of a dud CP or mobo.

Could this be HDD related? What steps can I take to increase SATA stability?

It has corrupted the boot sector twice but both have been fixable. I am getting frustrated with this and since I have little AMD experience I figured I'd ask the pros.

Thanks for any hep/advice!

[Onycho]

I'm going to take a wild leaping guess, but if you check the stepping on your winchester you will find the dreaded CBBID.

If this is the case...put EVERYTHING stock. Boot into windows and run it through Prime95 TT and SuperPI. If you get errors, RMA the CPU and hope you get something better.

[gallant]

Stepping - 0
Revision DH8-D0

As reported by cpu-z 1.27.1

Are you wanting me to check the actual CPU casing?

[Onycho]

Yeah, it's printed on the IHS. It's the second line of numbers. There will be the stepping, which is in the format CBBID, CBBHD...so on. This is followed by 4 numbers and 4 letters, indicating the week and lot. Probably you have something like CBBID 050X....They all suck.

[gallant]

Sorry for being a lazy wretch, but is there a software based way to find my stepping? I really don't wanna rip this sucker apart yet again, LOL.

[Onycho]

Nope, sorry. Get off yer lazy butt and get to that chip! :p:

[gallant]

Ok, guess I'll have to get dirty. :banana4:

I'll post about it later. Thanks Onycho!

[gallant]

:mad: :mad: :mad:

ADA3200DIK4BI
CBBID 0502APCW


BAH!

Still, I read that people are getting them to 2.4/2.5ish with some work. That really doesn't explain how this thing would flop like a dying duck at a simple 215 fsb. The memory is superb, the mobo is superb..the CPU should be at least capable of these ultra weak OC's.

Grrrr. :(

[Onycho]

Like I said, put it stock. Run Prime95 TT and SuperPI if you get ANY errors, use it as an excuse to RMA it.

[gallant]

Ok, here's what I have done so far. Slow and small steps..but getting some where is better than no where!! :toast:


So, I moved my SATA drive to SATA 3. Not sure if this has had a positive effect or not but hey, no OS corruption and I can use progys in windows. No crashes yet, but the OC is still very fresh so no counting my eggs just yet.

I moved my X800XL to the lower PCIe slot (#2 I suppose) to free up the air space below the CPU HSF.

Made a few tweaks to the BIOS but just very minor ones.

Now at 225fsb, 9.5 multi, HTT x4.0, vdimm 2.7v, vcore 1.400 (stock), ram 1/1

CPU - 2.138 ghz

It's nothing to write home about, but it is WORLDS better than what I was getting a few hours ago.

[gallant]

Oh yes, one more thing I did..

I had both of my HDD's and my DVD drive drawing power from the same line.

THIS may have been killing my drive and thus causing load errors and occassional corruption.

What do you think about that possibility?? :D


At 234 fsb now, same everything else. 2.223 ghz.


250 fsb all as original except dram at 9/10.

The ram is my new weakness!! :rolleyes: