2gig Ballistix, A8n-SLI Prem, X2 - Different Type of OC

[xconcept]

Ok so i have a odd overclocking problem. When i first setup my system, the X2 3800 ran @ 2500mhz with 1.400 volts insynch with the Ballistix @ 250mhz FSB 3-3-3-7 1T. Perfect and exactly what i was looking for. Fast forward a little bit and my Asus A8N-SLI board died and i get a replacement. But the replacement doesn't overclock nearly as well. i'm lucky to get stable @ 2300mhz with 1.488v!

Here are the specs and a screeny of a barely passing 2300mhz @ 2T. I'm at my wits end with tweaking this damn thing. The only thing i can see that is different is the 12v line registers as 11.64 (used to be 11.71), and the vcore fluctuates more. Same rev MB. tried all bioses. 1009-004 seems to be a little better, but not rock solid like the last one. I also think i'm now in the batch of motherboards that has problems with volts between 1.4-1.48, not sure though.

Specs:

Seasonic S12 600
Asus A8N-SLI
AMD X2 3800
Ballistix PC4000
4 Seagate 400gig satas in NVRAID 0 and elastic suspension (don't complain, i'm an A/V guy)
MSI 7800GTX
M-Audio Delta 192
Promise SATA
cooler master stacker
6 Nexus 120mm fans on a lian-li rheobus

http://img430.imageshack.us/img430/4751/capture1028200581856pm6dm.jpg

Here's the CPU maxed out before. The Ballistix couldn't hang around at this speed so i had to slow them down a lot.

maxed (http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/4670/2ndcpumaxed1032005125245pm3si.jpg)

any ideas? the only differences i can think of are the replacement motherboard, 2 or 3 more nexus fans on the system now and the whole thing is in a case (temps seem fine). nothing that should matter. are motherboards just luck of the draw as well? i figured since the memory controller is on the chip itself i wouldn't need to worry about it. but maybe i've got a poor capacitor or voltage regulator somewhere. any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

(anyone else notice this motherboard doesn't like memory dividers? at least with this ram...)

[vapb400]

are they running the same BIOS?

[mad mikee]

And if it doesn't work, RMA w/ statement 'It will not work @ the same settings as the board I had b4' Honest w/o giving them 'unneeded information'

Most MB should do 10 x 250 okay in this day and age. :D
Unless whatever took out the old MB gave you CPU 'minor brain damage, as a result (power surge, etc) :hm::para:

[learners permit]

Bail on the ASUS and get a DFI.

[Haltech]

Bail on the ASUS and get a DFI.

^^ What he said ^^

I stopped using Asus boards back when the socket a Tbirds came out.

[xconcept]

guys: i am leaning towards a dfi. but we can do better than just "buy something else" can't we? if your bmw breaks down do you expect people to tell you to just buy a benz? the thing is that i'm already over on my budget, and i can't really afford to lose the $170+ for the asus. i suppose i could ebay it...

vapb400: yeah. tried all the bioses. check the original post. thanks

mad mikee: good point. maybe the processor is damaged due to whatever made the last board give up. i happen to have an extra X2 so i'll try swapping that and seeing. thanks.

[xconcept]

anybody want to comment on the 11.64 12volt line? i just can't bear to see it so low but i remember reading that Asus boards rarely provide accurate voltage measurements (but they are consistent). Could that be the problem? Maybe this MB is losing more power than the last one and thus creating the instability. like a bad capacitor? ...

[Holst]

First thing id do is test the PSU with a miltimeter.
That 11.6v might be the problem if its accurate (it wont be accurate, those onboard sensors are pap, but its worth checking)

[xconcept]

thanks Holst. bought a multimeter at the local hardware store today. it was only $20.00 US but i trust it will get the job done. i'll report back soon.

as a pre-emptive measure i'm receiving a replacement motherboard from newegg in the mail. i'm going to give it one last try before DFI as it seems the DFI boards are very pick with my S12 600. DFI is going to be for the next machine though. I really wish their new boards were out. (ETA still early 2006?)

i'm also trying a different X2 laying around. it is not as good a chip as 1 core performs poorly, but maybe it will shed some light...

thanks again XS !

[xconcept]

well testing at various points in the line resulted in anywhere from 11.98v to 10.5v, but generally close to 11.95v-11.98v (10.5 was after several extensions and fans. all important components get direct connections). the voltages seem stable.

I'm a little confused about something though...Which connectors coming out of PSU are 12v, 5v, and 3v? i tested the 4 pin molex and a PCIE molex and i got close to a 12v reading. aren't the 4 pin molex connectors on the 5v line? or have i been confused about this for a long time?

[xconcept]

moved this to the xtreme overclocking:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=78715