Help - any ideas before I give up on my NF7-S v2.0?

[megatron]

I had an epox 8RDA+ running @ 200Mhz with stock vdd rock solid. I upgraded to an NF7-S and got a board which did 215FSB with the same components and using the *10 multiplier. The socket latch was broken when I recieved it with some pins bent but I RMAed it when I corrupted the bios using flash menu (I used flash menu and should have not reset when the OS became unresponsive).

I got a replacement and I am struggling to reach 200FSB! I set the vdd to 1.9v and it won't even start 3dmark2001. I have watercooling on the NB and just added a vanteq iceberg to the southbridge.

Obviously the board is at fault since the first one could do 215fsb with all the same components. I did the underside L12 mod to 166fsb with my xp1800+. I have not tried a 200FSB default chip or 133 (default for 1800+).

Any help?:confused:

[Major]

I would test each of the dimm's with one stick of your memory to see where each of them top out fsb wise. It could be that one is not OCing as well as the other two. If they all perform equally then maybe up the Vdd alittle to see if it gains you any headroom.

[RacerX]

First of all your NF7 should do 400mhz right out of the box with default vdd voltage. I would leave it at that for now. Also make sure your chipset waterblock is making good contact. My dteck one was barely cooling the surface. I had to lapp both the block and chipset.

What bios are u running now? What multipliers have u tried? Just need alittle more info.

[megatron]

Just before posting I did the pencil mod and at 1.6v in the bios the multimeter is reading 1.9v vdd. I have tried bios 1.4, 1.8, 1.7, 1.4, 1.0, 1.8 in that order before doing the pencil vdd mod. Currently using bios 1.8.

I have made one succesful 3dmark attempt, 15xxx with stock 9700pro 200 * 10. It seems adding the 1.9vdd has prevented me from doing another run, however I would need to double check that since I believe I tried a 3dmark at 210fsb directly after the vdd mod.

I have used my chipset waterblock to go from 204Mhz on 8RDA+ to 99% stable 210fsb. I took my time putting the block on and don't think that is going to be a problem. I made sure that I had an imprint with artidc silver ceramic before I tightened it down.

Before using the various bioses I did try moving slots whilst remaining in dual channel but the results where identical. Unless the slot out on its own is the weak dimm slot. I will test this now. Thx.

Anything specific you want to know that I have missed out?

[RacerX]

Can you post your bios settings? maybe a couple of screen shots, one of CPU Soft Menu and Advanced Chipset Features.

thanks

[megatron]

I just run out of dual channel and got 14923 3dmark 2k1 200* 10.
http://service.futuremark.com/servlet/Index?pageid=/orb/projectdetails&projectType=6&projectId=6925433

http://www.doomiii.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/p_bios_1st_screen.jpg
http://www.doomiii.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/p_bios_advanced.jpg
http://www.doomiii.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/p_post_screen.jpg

[megatron]

Not dual channel - cpu interface enabled:
http://service.futuremark.com/servlet/Index?pageid=/orb/projectdetails&projectType=6&projectId=6925581

Its for sure the dimm slot. I have not been able to use cpu interface enabled even at 166fsb but now not in dual channel I can use it at 200FSB. Bumping vdd to 1.9v did not have any effect when still in dual channel.

I will see how much further I can take the FSB not using dual channel:

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6925630
220FSB 15955 3D marks
Stock 9700pro 220 * 9 ( I heard about 10 and 10.5 troubles).

[VoXie]

Megatron, why do you have your row active delay under memory timings set for 11? It's seems way too loose to me...

[saaya]

11 and 9 are the best settings on nf2 boards most people say... it gives the best bandwidth results.

[megatron]

Originally posted by VoXie
Megatron, why do you have your row active delay under memory timings set for 11? It's seems way too loose to me...
http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19005
Not to put too fine a point on it.

I clocked my gfx card up to 396/337 but the score was unpublishable, the cpu speed varied apparently. I will try again with bios 1.0 later.:toast:

Still thinking of shifting this board...

[RacerX]

Your score seems low cause you have cpu interfaced disabled. This is a huge drop in performance. Leave this enabled, trust me.


How high can your chip go?

The NF7-S 2.0 has a strange problem with when putting your multiplier at 10 or 10.5 above a certain FSB. For me that would be 210fsb where I loose those multipliers. This happens with all the bios's except for the first 10d.

Leave cpu interface enabled and try something like 9.5x220fsb with 2.8v to the vdimm. Up the vdd also to 1.7.

LMK

[Swiftdeathz]

Originally posted by megatron
http://www.aoaforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19005
Not to put too fine a point on it.

I clocked my gfx card up to 396/337 but the score was unpublishable, the cpu speed varied apparently. I will try again with bios 1.0 later.:toast:

Still thinking of shifting this board...

Hey I made that post.... :D :banana:

[megatron]

My cpu likes high volts but my cooling can't take it anymore since the hot weather (i.e. summer) + I added a northblock and a gpu block to the cooling loop. I tried to offset this by using 3/4" tubing along the longer lengths.

This latest score was the highest combined FSB/CPU score that could be published, the gpu clock seems uneffected. This was at 3.04 Vdimm 1.9-2.0v vdd and 1.9vcore. I dropped the vdd back to 1.7v (lowest setting in bios due to pencil vdd mod) and the same test was run again flawlessly.
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6928153

So I am definately not held back by lack of vdd. I have twinmos BH-5 so they should be up to the job. Apparently they like volts and don't get too hot either. I can only attribute the performance limitation to something to do with the NF7-S v2.0 dimm slots/dimm circuitry.

Any further suggestions? :D