Asus NCCH-DL

[dav1d]

How good is this board for overclocking? Is it as good as the PC-DL?

I want to overclock the 1.6GHz LV Xeons I just bought, and was wondering about the motherboard.

[shmaa]

How good is this board for overclocking? Is it as good as the PC-DL?

I want to overclock the 1.6GHz LV Xeons I just bought, and was wondering about the motherboard.

I'm pretty sure it has the same potential as the PC-DL, but for the NCCH-DL, you will need a PSU with the SSI 24-pin + 12V 8-pin connectors and ECC memory.

[Helheim]

You don't need ECC memory do you?? I don't think you do.

[shmaa]

You don't need ECC memory do you?? I don't think you do.

maybe not... someone correct me on this... but you do need the different PSU. I was thinking everyone liked the PC-DL's for more than 1 reason.

[dward3]

vdimm caps out @ 2.5v :p:

[dav1d]

2.5V! isn't most memory rated up to 2.8V or something? Will this affect my overclocking, since I'm only going to get budget PC3200 memory anyway?

I've got a Tagan 480W PSU, and I think it will be OK with this board. You don't need ecc memory so that should be fine.

[dward3]

For the ASUS PC_DL ;)

[Frank E. BoNeS]

The NCCH-DL should overclock just as well as the PC DL....might even OC even a tad more since it doesn't use a shared VRM like the PC-DL. I beleive the NCCH-DL has vdimm adjustments up to 2.8 in BIOS...not 100% sure on that tho...

[Beat_Slayer]

^^ You're right!

[[XC] serlv]

I beleive the NCCH-DL has vdimm adjustments up to 2.8 in BIOS

That is true. Up to 2.8 VDimm is what my NCCH-DL does. Don't know about those other PSUs. I'm using the Sparkle FSP550-60PLG and it is rock silis on every rail. 36A on the 12V rail.

[[XC] moddolicous]

That is true. Up to 2.8 VDimm is what my NCCH-DL does. Don't know about those other PSUs. I'm using the Sparkle FSP550-60PLG and it is rock silis on every rail. 36A on the 12V rail.
Do the same mods apply, like the vcore mod?

[Helheim]

The same u-wire trick works.

[[XC] serlv]

The same u-wire trick works.

Soldering irons and me don't agree, so I don't know anything about those kind of VCore mods...
But yeah, the same U-Wire deal. What a friggin pain in the butt they were. My eyes are garbage! Took me forever. Finally got 'em. Maybe for youngsters, like Jeff, they go quicker...

Then I see a thread somewhere, here, where they say only need 1.5V? Not 1.6, so we only need 2 wires instead of the three? Where was that? And we can still get as high of an OC. H ell yes, less wires, less heat, same clock? Where is that post?

[Mr_Slinky]

good question i lost 2 u wires somewhere in my carpet/ bed opps will eventually find them but i shotend all of mine 3 fricken times god i suck not gonna even try to do the vdimm mod anymore

[Jeff]

Soldering irons and me don't agree, so I don't know anything about those kind of VCore mods...
But yeah, the same U-Wire deal. What a friggin pain in the butt they were. My eyes are garbage! Took me forever. Finally got 'em. Maybe for youngsters, like Jeff, they go quicker...

Then I see a thread somewhere, here, where they say only need 1.5V? Not 1.6, so we only need 2 wires instead of the three? Where was that? And we can still get as high of an OC. H ell yes, less wires, less heat, same clock? Where is that post?

:lol: How young is a youngster? :lol:

And the 1.5v u-wire setup is listed in the "Build a Xeon Cruncher" thread. I just didn't take a picture of it. I almost got the same overclock, but it was slightly less. And 1.5v is probably all most of us need to be honest. Yeah, it's nice to get all you can get, but I noticed going to 1.5v lowers the CPU temperatures and VRM temperatures nicely. Not sure if it's enough to keep the IWT fans at low speed 24/7 under full-load, but it's definitely a good drop in temp.

BTW, it's gotten to the point where I can place the u-wires with my 4yr old sitting in my lap. ;) (don't ask how/why I know that) :lol:

[lv_dicedealer]

I am still wondering about the PCH-DL which looks like the same basic layout as the PC-DL, but with 6300ES southy and the added PCI-X slots....
I need to pick up 2 more dually boards, prolly gonna get one of each...
Then I will have PC-DL, PCH-DL, and NCCH-DL with 2 pairs 1.6LVs and one pair 2.4LVs (QYPE or something like that engineering samples)

[[XC] serlv]

:lol: How young is a youngster? :lol:



under 40... :)

[[XC] moddolicous]

I am still wondering about the PCH-DL which looks like the same basic layout as the PC-DL, but with 6300ES southy and the added PCI-X slots....
I need to pick up 2 more dually boards, prolly gonna get one of each...
Then I will have PC-DL, PCH-DL, and NCCH-DL with 2 pairs 1.6LVs and one pair 2.4LVs (QYPE or something like that engineering samples)
We need some info on the 2.4 LV's, so make sure u post results.

[Helheim]

serlv, did your ncch-dl have a heatsink on both VRMs or just one? Does anyone know if you can buy these somewhere? Thanks.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26450&stc=1

From 2cpu.com -
"All NCCH-DL's from december 04 or later should have both heatsinks, at least that is how we are receiving them over here. If you serial number starts with a 4C or 5 then you should have both heatsinks."

[Rodzilla]

Serlv just has the one. Maybe Asus can get you one?

[Jeff]

Was trying to catch up on this board because serlv is having some strange problems and I ran across this post by a trusted member of 2cpu.com...
http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=518198#post518198
Read his last statement... it's kind of sad. :(

I don't know what to think of this board. I was going to give it a try until serlv's problems and now after reading some of that monster thread at 2cpu.com I'm not soo sure. :confused:

[Helheim]

Ya that doesn't sound good. What problems is serlv having? Thanks.

[[XC] moddolicous]

I think the problem serlv has is that it crashes when he starts D2OL

[Jeff]

Yeah... really weird because it seemed to run some other "torture" software fine.

[[XC] serlv]

Yeah... really weird because it seemed to run some other "torture" software fine.

I was trying to decipher some of the error messsage codes, and it seemed to point to "appcompatibily", as it was put in one the .txt messages I read in a tmp folder created during the app crash.

If that is the case, that is probably a good sign. Maybe I need to update Java first, or something along those lines. Maybe I should post, on my problems, at the d2ol forums ( or search, there ).

Also, after talking with RZ for quite a while yesterday, I'm gonna try a few things harrdware wise. To start, Memtest the RAM and see how it does. Also, get nylon washers for the VRM heatsink mounting to increase tension and hold the thing tighter. Either that or elongate, stretch, the springs out a bit. Also, while discussing idle temps, mine appear to be higher by up to 8 or 9 degrees Centrigrade ( 36-38,39 ), even though I'm using big Swiftechs with 50 CFM Sunons. So reseating those is in the picture, but the third thing in my to do list.

[Plum Ugly]

Serlv,I got yer pm-OK. I'm running sp3 on the w2k and had to get sp 2 on the xp systems to make it run.

[[XC] serlv]

Thanks PU, I'm attempting to DL SP2 now. I'll give it a whack.

[[XC] serlv]

Serlv,I got yer pm-OK. I'm running sp3 on the w2k and had to get sp 2 on the xp systems to make it run.

Well, I'm on to XP Pro, now, after having tried both W2K03 and W2K Server.

So, in regards to SP2, are you saying d2ol would not function properly for you prior to installing SP2? Did you actually try it? And if so, exactly what board(s) are you referring to?

BTW, noticed your output jumped at least 200+ candidates yesterday, did you get another dually up? :)

[Jeff]

Wish you and I were located closer to each other serlv because I just can't think on my feet anymore. I need to actually be working on something to understand what's going on. :(

I'm VERY confused though at you running into problems across multiple platforms. :( Especially when your system passed that little stress test yesterday. And that you have problems running even just one or two instances of D2OL. Very strange indeed. :confused:

Are you using the mounting bracket for your heatsink? (the solid metal bracket that goes on the back of the motherboard when connecting some heatsinks?) If so, I think Rod mentioned he told you to insulate it from CPU2. Here's a thread about how/why...
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=688827

[[XC] serlv]

Wish you and I were located closer to each other serlv because I just can't think on my feet anymore. I need to actually be working on something to understand what's going on. :(

I'm VERY confused though at you running into problems across multiple platforms. :( Especially when your system passed that little stress test yesterday. And that you have problems running even just one or two instances of D2OL. Very strange indeed. :confused:

Are you using the mounting bracket for your heatsink? (the solid metal bracket that goes on the back of the motherboard when connecting some heatsinks?) If so, I think Rod mentioned he told you to insulate it from CPU2. Here's a thread about how/why...
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=688827

I remember that thread, I don't think that applies here, not sure. Also, not sure what mounting bracket you are referring to. The board came with support plates that you mount to the motherboard tray - these have bolts that the swiftechs then screw into through the mounting holes; the plates themselves are mounted to the tray with a peel of adhesive. Their is also a rubber "bumper" to support the weight of the socket area.

The Xeons have white plastic adapters that fit over the screws, then fit down through the motherboard mounting holes and then the screws go into the bolts affixed to the support plates.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26514&stc=1

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26515&stc=1

[Helheim]

Did you use these pieces?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26518

[[XC] serlv]

No, though they came with the Swiftech ( either the Nocona adapter or the HS itself ). I used the support plates that came with the board ( as shown ). You definitely couldn't use both. They wouldn't fit, I tried. The support plate, with its' bolts, put the screw holes at the same height as those CEK's, and directly under the screws.

[Helheim]

Ah ic.. I haven't got a case yet but the holes in the motherboard are bigger than the heatsink screw plastic things so I wasn't sure which was better to use. Thanks.

[Plum Ugly]

Well, I'm on to XP Pro, now, after having tried both W2K03 and W2K Server.

So, in regards to SP2, are you saying d2ol would not function properly for you prior to installing SP2? Did you actually try it? And if so, exactly what board(s) are you referring to?

BTW, noticed your output jumped at least 200+ candidates yesterday, did you get another dually up? :)
yeah another one, runnin out of room! :D
Another thing I found w2k doesn't see the second cpu if you installed w2k on a single cpu setup.I used a scsi that was running a amd cpu and it couldn't find the second cpu on the twin xeons.Bout drove me nuts!!Re-installed w2k with sp3 and everything works great.
9 PC-DL boards-3 run great,2 post with 1 cpu showing and 4 dont even post.(yes I have washers under the mb)Calling Monarch and Asus monday.Not real happy with the PC-DL mb at all! I've never seen such a poor setup for the heat sink as the intel xeon setup. :(

[[XC] serlv]

yeah another one, runnin out of room! :D
Another thing I found w2k doesn't see the second cpu if you installed w2k on a single cpu setup.I used a scsi that was running a amd cpu and it couldn't find the second cpu on the twin xeons.Bout drove me nuts!!Re-installed w2k with sp3 and everything works great.
9 PC-DL boards-3 run great,2 post with 1 cpu showing and 4 dont even post.(yes I have washers under the mb)Calling Monarch and Asus monday.Not real happy with the PC-DL mb at all! I've never seen such a poor setup for the heat sink as the intel xeon setup. :(

That is so friggin' hard to imagine; 4 boards out of 9 won't boot! Unreal.

I have a PC-DL, hopefully, winging its' way to RZ for modification tomorrow. Jeez, I hope I don't run into those kind of problems! [NOTE TO RZ!: Please test before modding board!]

Imaged the C: drive to both a different partition, and to two CD's. Then installed XP SP2. Not a problem since, though it has only been less than ah nour. But, usually problems ( errors ) would likely have popped up by now. Maybe that got it! Lets' hope so. That would be awesome. If all is well overnight, I'm gonna start cranking it up from its' present 12 x 200. Also, if SP2 was/is the fix, I'll probably AS Epoxy the VRM heatsink on, or maybe even individual mini-sinks instead. I have read that the height of the MOSFETs is not all the same ( that would account for Intel using that ridiculous blue thermal strip - to try to have contact with all of them.

Still, gonna run MemTest after one of these Agents gets done increasing its' cache from 50 to 1000.

runnin out of room!
Time for a nice, dedicated, well air-conditioned, addition to the homestead? It would be nice to get out of that smallish back bedroom, comfy and snug as it is, eh! :)

[Smurfy]

Hope its all fixed for you.
Got myself a Dual Zeon Rig Of E-bay last night hopefully should have that crunching by the end of the week.

[Jeff]

Wow... that's hard to imagine PU. I've put together ~20-25 Asus PC-DL setups and I've only had one board that went back for RMA. And that was because it couldn't run over 130MHz FSB.

Did you buy them all from the same place? Were they refurbs? 1.05 revisions? Seems like you happened upon a bad batch of PC-DLs. :(

[Disposibleteen]

yeah another one, runnin out of room! :D
Another thing I found w2k doesn't see the second cpu if you installed w2k on a single cpu setup.I used a scsi that was running a amd cpu and it couldn't find the second cpu on the twin xeons.Bout drove me nuts!!Re-installed w2k with sp3 and everything works great.
9 PC-DL boards-3 run great,2 post with 1 cpu showing and 4 dont even post.(yes I have washers under the mb)Calling Monarch and Asus monday.Not real happy with the PC-DL mb at all! I've never seen such a poor setup for the heat sink as the intel xeon setup. :(
Im sorry to hear that, they wont even post at stock speeds? Thats not cool at all, hopefully Asus rma treats you well.

[Rodzilla]

How's it running Serlv?

[Helheim]

Damn I ordered mine from monarch too, hope it doesn't turn out bad.. :(

[[XC] serlv]

How's it running Serlv?

somewhat better, it is producing more candidates.

but, i am still getting some errors, and also some spontaneous reboots.
obviously, something is still very wrong.

Ran MemTest for hours and hours, both at SPD ( 2.5-3-3-8 ) and at 2-2-2-8. Not one error. Pretty safe to say it is not the RAM.

Now, i've got myself thinking. Wonder if there is a new ver. of the mainboard drivers. Something is happening once it is in Windows. Then again, it could be heat ( almost definitely a big part, if not all of it ), once under 100% load.

I stopped at Fry's on the way home from work and picked up nylon screws, nuts and washers. Hopefully I got the right size! Anyway, I'm gonna redo the VRM heatsink and tighten it down. And probably reseat the heatsinks on the CPUs. This think is really irritating me. I want it to be just crunching away, steadily!

Working on it.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to package up that RAM and put it in the box w the CPUs and get that off to you. If I don't get it out tonight, I'll take it work and mail it from there.

[Rodzilla]

somewhat better, it is producing more candidates.

but, i am still getting some errors, and also some spontaneous reboots.
obviously, something is still very wrong.

Ran MemTest for hours and hours, both at SPD ( 2.5-3-3-8 ) and at 2-2-2-8. Not one error. Pretty safe to say it is not the RAM.

Now, i've got myself thinking. Wonder if there is a new ver. of the mainboard drivers. Something is happening once it is in Windows. Then again, it could be heat ( almost definitely a big part, if not all of it ), once under 100% load.

I stopped at Fry's on the way home from work and picked up nylon screws, nuts and washers. Hopefully I got the right size! Anyway, I'm gonna redo the VRM heatsink and tighten it down. And probably reseat the heatsinks on the CPUs. This think is really irritating me. I want it to be just crunching away, steadily!

Working on it.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need to package up that RAM and put it in the box w the CPUs and get that off to you. If I don't get it out tonight, I'll take it work and mail it from there.

If it's not heat then you have some "other" issue... and seeing how we have tried almost everything else... that would only leave a hardware issue... :(

[[XC]thewildblue]

Well Ive ordered the asus NCCH-DL and 2 x xeon 2.8 emt 64 for the server which Im building at work. So hopefully should have D2OL on that. Wont be ocing though as I dont feel quite right doing that on a work rig somehow....new job you see, I am the IT manager, hence why a nice dually Xeon is coming.....hehe.

Should double my daily average hopefully....oh yeah added a stock Xp2000 as well today, which will run hopefully for a month or so.

[Jeff]

Do keep us posted how you make out TWB. Think you'll overclock a small bit just to see what they do? I completely understand not wanting to leave them that way but I'm curious how they run.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Well you never know I might have to play....got 3 gb of ecc coming to put in there which should be nice. I hope that it takes a normal PSU.....Its starting as web server for the moment but will eventually become the companies small business server once I have a website/online store up and running. Either way Im going to try and keep D2OL on there. Any one know much about OScommerce at all, Im a complete newb on PHP pages.....

[NapalmV5]

An update on the 2 x 2.0 lv xeons and ncch-dl mobo,

After 30-40 pin mods and B3 pins removed, have found out that 1.6v is the max, lol, so some time today i'll be working on the vcore vsence mod which looks to be so much easier after so many pin mod tries.

After more testing looks like even @ 1.4v system boots at 233x17=3961mhz.

Well, if i could just get 4.2 outta these.....

Didn't know this would be very bad timing to get the dual xeons but hopefully i'll get it done.

[Helheim]

Are you able to boot at 200Mhz FSB or are you using clockgen?

[NapalmV5]

No clockgen, settings from bios, no hard drive installed yet.

[NapalmV5]

Saw this at the 2cpu.com forums, i think the official ncch-dl thread,

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/6329/fsb5ar.jpg

LOL!

I think that 266 would work if the bios would support it but who knows... gave it a try but no boot.

[Jeff]

After more testing looks like even @ 1.4v system boots at 233x17=3961mhz.

Well, if i could just get 4.2 outta these.....

You are booting with 1.4v at 3961MHz? :confused: Those must be the chips of the century then. What's the sSpec?

[NapalmV5]

SL6XL, actually 1.38v in bios.

I don't know how great these chips are since it's just a boot.....

[Jeff]

Does it get through the memtest in the beginning of the BIOS? Those are D1 stepping so I'm just floored that they are posting so high. I can't get anything to post over 3.6GHz on my PC-DLs... hmmm... I'll be curious how fast you get stable in Windows. If it's over 3.4GHz I'm going to think hard about trying one of those NCCH-DL motherboards. ;)

[NapalmV5]

Oh yeah, goes through the memtest, then i can go into the bios, then reboot, again and again.

Can't go wrong with dual vrms.

[Jeff]

:slobber:



/Jeff sits alone in his basement waiting to hear the outcome of NapalmV5's adventure... ;)

[Rodzilla]

:slobber:



/Jeff sits alone in his basement waiting to hear the outcome of NapalmV5's adventure... ;)

Are you re-thinking the bulk order on the 2.0 LV?

[NapalmV5]

Got the 1.6v pin mod back!....with the help of an Athlon T-Bird :D Ok, vcore mods went ok, waiting for the silicone to cure. It took a bit to find the right resistance since i've started with no pin mods, i'll go more into resistance tomorrow. So, if everthing goes fine i should have it up and running by tomorrow night.

Well, what i can tell u guys right now is that i'm getting 1.70v+ stable in bios. ;)

[Jeff]

Are you re-thinking the bulk order on the 2.0 LV?

Not really. I'm re-thinking trying the NCCH-DL for my water cooled machine. ;)

[[XC]thewildblue]

My memory has arrived 3x1gb ECC, just waiting for the rest.....arrggg.....should be sometime today.

[Helheim]

serlv, if you aren't using that bracket that came with the SwitTech heatsinks how much tension in there on the cpu? Are you just using the really sort metal nuts?

[[XC] serlv]

The shortest set of metal nuts. I have it all taken apart and will be redoing it with a special eye towards good contact. I'm also going to be sinking those MOSFETs individually. We'll see how it goes. Just need some time to work on it.

[[XC]thewildblue]

My board still hasnt come in , bloody overclockers.co.uk decided they didnt have any stock (without telling me) so I have been just waiting for nothing. Ordered one from scan today so hopefully come monday afternoon I will be building ther server.

[Jupiler]

My board still hasnt come in , bloody overclockers.co.uk decided they didnt have any stock (without telling me) so I have been just waiting for nothing. Ordered one from scan today so hopefully come monday afternoon I will be building ther server.

I had the same problem with another store.
Ordered a PC-DL last saturday, thinking the store had them in stock.
Wednesday, nothing yet.
Send a mail and phoned several times. No one picked up and mail wasn't answered.
Cancelled my order today, sending them a "nice" mail.
Found a store in Holland which had the PCH-DL in stock. Called for confirmation, boards were in stock so I ordered 1.
Hoping to get it early next week, so I can finally get my 1.6Ghz LV up and running.

[[XC]thewildblue]

It drives me mad, Im going to stop using overclockers.co.uk as they seem to be getting worse, this lack of contact was with a £2000 order so the board was only a small part of it.

[Helheim]

Well I got my first Xeon rig up and running on a NCCH-DL. So far just 3Ghz at 1.5v.. Seems too easy. :D

[Helheim]

Oh and I read somewhere that the latest version of Speenfan was suppose to work with the NCCH-DL but it does look like it does. Besides the Asus monitor is there anything else that works with the NCCH-DL? Thanks.

[[XC] serlv]

Well I got my first Xeon rig up and running on a NCCH-DL. So far just 3Ghz at 1.5v.. Seems too easy. :DWhat cooling are you using?

[Helheim]

SwiftTech MCX604-V .. I had to go down to 2.8Ghz as running 4 instances of D2OL only lasted about 10mins at 3Ghz. Light use it was fine at 3Ghz. It's been running all night without a crash so far now at 2.8Ghz and 4 instances. I'll have to try increasing the volts to 1.6 and see what happens.

[[XC] serlv]

SwiftTech MCX604-V ..

Which backing plate are you using, the spring type CEK that came with the HSs or the plates that came with the mobo?

[Rodzilla]

SwiftTech MCX604-V .. I had to go down to 2.8Ghz as running 4 instances of D2OL only lasted about 10mins at 3Ghz. Light use it was fine at 3Ghz. It's been running all night without a crash so far now at 2.8Ghz and 4 instances. I'll have to try increasing the volts to 1.6 and see what happens.

2.8GHz ... that's got to be because of the 1.5v Vcore.

[Helheim]

The back plate that came with the mombo, I used the shortest metal nuts and one size bigger for the rubber pad. If it's running under load and I reboot and go into the hardware monitor it's running at 42-43C. So actual is probably a bit more as it’s had a few seconds to cool a bit doing it this way. What are you using to monitor your temps? What temps are you getting?

Rodzilla, you mean 1.5v or are you talking about the vdimm? I'll try 1.55 next then 1.6.

[Rodzilla]

I meant 1.5 Vcore... try more volts...

[enzoR]

I had the same problem with another store.
Ordered a PC-DL last saturday, thinking the store had them in stock.
Wednesday, nothing yet.
Send a mail and phoned several times. No one picked up and mail wasn't answered.
Cancelled my order today, sending them a "nice" mail.
Found a store in Holland which had the PCH-DL in stock. Called for confirmation, boards were in stock so I ordered 1.
Hoping to get it early next week, so I can finally get my 1.6Ghz LV up and running.

alternate.nl? :)

[Jupiler]

alternate.nl? :)

Nope,
http://www.actiecom.nl
Board shipped yesterday, got confirmation. Should have it by tomorrow or thursday.

[[XC]thewildblue]

I have the stuff in now, came in on Monday, but I wasnt there. So I should have it up and running by tomorrow afternoon and at least docking @ stock which is 2.8.

[[XC] serlv]

The back plate that came with the mombo, I used the shortest metal nuts and one size bigger for the rubber pad. If it's running under load and I reboot and go into the hardware monitor it's running at 42-43C. So actual is probably a bit more as it’s had a few seconds to cool a bit doing it this way. What are you using to monitor your temps? What temps are you getting?

Rodzilla, you mean 1.5v or are you talking about the vdimm? I'll try 1.55 next then 1.6.


I have not found a Windows based app that will monitor the temps. :(
There is the AWSM ( or wahtever its' called, that is on the CD, but it is web-based and you need to set up IIS and SNMP. I tried it but botched it, installing it. Didn't feel like messing with it further, so I abandoned it.

At any rate, I just went and checked in the BIOS right after a reboot, went straight to Power>Hardware Monitor and they both said 41C. Then again, I'm only running at 12x200...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm still having major problems with D2OL and this system.

javaw.exe crashes, Launch or GUI Anywhere ( whatever its' called! ) crashes, Dockwin.Exe crashes. It is hard to keep 4 instances running, sometimes it is hard keepin 3, or even 1 or 2 instances running.

I've narrowed it down to 4 things...

the CPUs, the board, the CPU HSs or bad contact with the VRM heatsink. With the VRM heatsink, I removed the "blue bubble gum" and put on a layer of Shin Etsu G751 but I don't believe the screws are keeping it up tight againt the MOSFETs. I just redid the VRM heatsink AND the CPU heatsinks this last weekend. I am dam* near positive I got the friggin CPU sinks winched down right. Those screws will not go any further.

The VRM heatsink is another story. I tried nylon washer, screws and hex nuts that I purchased from Fry's, but they didn't cut it. Hell, they were almost worse than the black screw-spring things that came with the heatsink, stock. So, I went back to the black screw/spring thing. I'm thinking that because the "blue bubble gum" is so thick that whatever I put in its' place will be so thin that no matter what I use in place of it there will be slack. Short of using AS epoxy. I'd do that in a flash if this was some $70 or $80 NFII board, but it is a $245 mobo. What if that don't get fix things, and it was the motherboard itself. If I epoxy, I void the warranty.

Then again, who knows? Maybe it is the CPUs themselves...

I am so frustrated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the good news side, I was able to procure a matched pair of LV D1 2.4 gHz 533 FSB chips. Hmm, might be time to order another PC-DL..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helheim, what did you do with your VRM heatsink, if anything?

[Helheim]

Helheim, what did you do with your VRM heatsink, if anything?

The one that came on the mombo I didn't touch on the other ones I put some BGA ram heat sinks on them. Using a cheap pcr ir thermometer I have they are reading about 45-47C. I still have to up my voltage to 1.55 or 1.6 though sometime.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27144&stc=1

[Helheim]

Update: I switched from Win2003 to Win2000 and it's running at 3Ghz without any crashes now still at 1.5v. I'm still going to try more volts though to get to 3.2Ghz.