Just got my Ballistix from Newegg (2x1GB) Athlon X2 3800+ (results)

[Rieper]

Well, I just got my components yesterday. I'm running stable @ 250MHz FSB. Here is a screenshot:







AMD Athlon X2 3800+
Leadtek 7800GTX
2xWESTERN RAPTORS 74GB RAID0
CRUCIAL Ballistix 2x1GB
DFI SLI with BigToe BIOS 7-4
OCZ Modstream PSU

By the way, the CPU-Z is reporting the CPU Voltage as 1.392v but I have 1.425v in the BIOS. ???

Anyway, my next bump is 280 FSB. I'll pretty much stay there, for the time being anyway...

I love this 3800+ X2 dual-core. Coming from regular Athlon64 core, I find multi-tasking between photoshop-outlook-internet explorer a lot simpler. Less laggy too.

[[XC] moddolicous]

Your mobo is undervolting, something most mobo's do. Nice setup. Can u run 3d01 on that comp. U should do pretty well, especially with your 7800gtx. BTW, can u post an a64 screenshot.

[Rieper]

Your mobo is undervolting, something most mobo's do. Nice setup. Can u run 3d01 on that comp. U should do pretty well, especially with your 7800gtx. BTW, can u post an a64 screenshot.

Here is 3dmark01 (per request):


And A64 Tweaker (assuming v0.5 is latest):

[ZeroX]

A64 tweaker screenshot..

That ballistix can go higher... try to lowering multi if the CPU doens't OC as much as the ram

Regards

[Rieper]

A64 tweaker screenshot..

That ballistix can go higher... try to lowering multi if the CPU doens't OC as much as the ram

Regards

Instead of lowering the multi, shouldn't I increase the CPU voltage incrementally until 280MHz FSB is stable in Prime/SuperPi? Right now I'm running my CPU at 4.25v (CPU-Z reports 1.392v actually). I'm having a reboot issue right after post, when trying to boot @ 280MHz FSB. I'm thinking of raising the CPU voltage to 1.45v and then 1.475. Am I on the right path? I definitely don't want to fry my new CPU...

Thanks in advance.

[EMC2]

To sort your system out, do it one piece at a time

Lower the multi by 2, that way the CPU is out of the picture as a limiting factor. Then see what the limit of the RAM is. Then lower the speed back down, put your multi back up, and see what the CPU will do.

On the X2s, watch your temps closely when raising Vcore, they climb much faster than single cores.

Peace

[Poki]

Despite the fact that your current results won't impress all the MHz junkies all that much i would like to give you a thumbs up for your system
Nice gear and design
I hope you're enjoying it and get everything to run a bit further stabily

[Rieper]

To sort your system out, do it one piece at a time

Lower the multi by 2, that way the CPU is out of the picture as a limiting factor. Then see what the limit of the RAM is. Then lower the speed back down, put your multi back up, and see what the CPU will do.

On the X2s, watch your temps closely when raising Vcore, they climb much faster than single cores.

Peace

I dropped the multi to 9x, and raised the CPU voltage to 1.425v. Thanks for the tip. It worked out rather well.

[EnJoY]

Your chipset is about 13c hotter than mine, and I'm still using stock tim under mine and with 1.6v as opposed to your 1.5.

[Rieper]

Your chipset is about 13c hotter than mine, and I'm still using stock tim under mine and with 1.6v as opposed to your 1.5.

A couple of questions for you:

1) How come CPU-Z reports my voltage, but in the 2x1GB OC database, CPU-Z voltage report is greyed out? I'd like to know what others are running their X2 CPUs voltage at. I saw one guy running their FX CPU at 1.696! I'm at 1.45v and would like to go higher if its commonly done. My CPU temp is rather stable right now.

2) I'm at 280MHz FSB, and I'd like to hit 290-295MHz. Should I increase the Memory voltage from stock 2.8v to 2.9v or stick with upping the CPU voltage to 1.5v?

I'm talking 15MHz more to the FSB. I'm pretty sure I can make it to 195MHz if I tweak the right BIOS setting.

[Repoman]

I'm running the same setup as you... 2GB ballistix with a 3800+.

To answer some of your questions, you're safe up to 1.6v on air cooling. You probably won't be able to take your chip that far because load temps would be in the mid 60's... my max voltage (for now) is around 1.52- even then my temps are 55-57. BTW I hit 2.65ghz at 1.52v, not good, not bad.

BUT the one way to take your chip voltage farther with better temps is to throw your warranty out the window, risk the life if your chip, and remove the IHS. I'm not gonna say any more about that, reason being I don't want to be responsible if you kill your chip. Though if you're interested ask

[ozzimark]

A couple of questions for you:

1) How come CPU-Z reports my voltage, but in the 2x1GB OC database, CPU-Z voltage report is greyed out? I'd like to know what others are running their X2 CPUs voltage at. I saw one guy running their FX CPU at 1.696! I'm at 1.45v and would like to go higher if its commonly done. My CPU temp is rather stable right now.

2) I'm at 280MHz FSB, and I'd like to hit 290-295MHz. Should I increase the Memory voltage from stock 2.8v to 2.9v or stick with upping the CPU voltage to 1.5v?

I'm talking 15MHz more to the FSB. I'm pretty sure I can make it to 195MHz if I tweak the right BIOS setting.

1) because that is the validation site. a few mobo's don't report the correct voltage, so voltage isn't included

2) depends on what's holding you back. if there's more left in the cpu, bump up ram voltage a notch

[Rieper]

1) because that is the validation site. a few mobo's don't report the correct voltage, so voltage isn't included

2) depends on what's holding you back. if there's more left in the cpu, bump up ram voltage a notch

Okay, fair enough. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

One last question: Should I install this AMD CPU driver I keep hearing about, or is it bad for overclocking?

[ozzimark]

One last question: Should I install this AMD CPU driver I keep hearing about, or is it bad for overclocking?

as far as i can tell, it's really only used for cool and quiet.

[Rieper]

Getting better...

I changed my BIOS setting to CPU 1.45v and %113 = 1.6v @ 170MHz HTT (10x multi)

Stable for now, will try 180Mhz HTT soon:

http://img194.imageshack.us/my.php?image=superpi7xs.jpg



Thanks to njkid32 for giving me advice on CPU voltage. We both have the Athlon64 X2 3800+.

[iboomalot]

Rieper what BIOS are you running??

[Rieper]

Rieper what BIOS are you running??

BigToe 704-2 BIOS.

Updated my SuperPi 32M score. Shaved off another 8 seconds, and lowered the CPU voltage a little.

[fallguy]

Not to highjack your thread, but I thought I would post my results so far too, so we dont have the same thread. I just got my 2nd stick in today, and have done some limited testing.

So I tried 3-3-3-8-1T, seems to be stable at 265 as well. All other settings are the same.



1920x1200; http://home.comcast.net/~denverspict...stix-265-3.JPG

Its a lot slower in these synthetic benches than my Redlines were. Everest I was at 36ns I think, about 10ns lower than these Ballistix, with the Redline at just 260. Sisoft is about 1000 points slower with these Ballistix, again with the Redlines at just 260. I dont care too much about the tests though, as they dont often reflect game performance, at least for me.

For hardware, Im on a DFI NF4-D/623-2 bios/yellow slots, 3700+ SD, 2x1gig Ballistix PC4000, PC P&C 510 SLI.

I ran a Farcry benchmark looped a few times, seems stable to me. Havent run memtest, guess Ill do that later. Ive got great active cooling on the ram, maybe thats helping me. I may try for more later, but Im pretty happy where I am at. I wanted to be at FX-55 speed, and so far Im above that a little. So far these sticks are going beyond my expectations.

[situman]

got my ballistix today. Very nice memory. 2gig kit. Running at 233 @2.5-2-2-5 timings. Nice!

[situman]

well the lower benchmarks is probably cause of the timings. With the redlines, ur probably running 2225 timings, while on the ballistix ur running 3448 or 2.5-3-3-8.

[Rieper]

Updated my SuperPi 32M score. Shaved off another 29 seconds. CPU voltage remained the same, only HTT increased +5MHz to 275MHz. Still using 3-3-3-8-1T timings and default 10x multi for Athlon64 X2 3800+.

[fallguy]

well the lower benchmarks is probably cause of the timings. With the redlines, ur probably running 2225 timings, while on the ballistix ur running 3448 or 2.5-3-3-8.

Yeah I know why they Redlines are faster. Just was a little sad to see them 1000+ points faster. But as I said, synthetic tests dont always mean faster game frames. So Im still very happy.

only HTT increased +5MHz to 275MHz. Still using 3-3-3-8-1T timings and default 10x multi for Athlon64 X2 3800+.

Do you mind me posting in here? I dont want to act like Im a trying to take over. Just thought it would be easier, than two of the same threads? Ill stop if you do.

I tried 275 just now as well, still at 3-3-3-8-1T, 2.8v. Dropped my multi down to 9 (didnt even try 10), as I am trying to find the limit of this ram. Ill try for more later, and post pics (if you dont mind).

[Rieper]

Do you mind me posting in here? I dont want to act like Im a trying to take over. Just thought it would be easier, than two of the same threads? Ill stop if you do.

I tried 275 just now as well, still at 3-3-3-8-1T, 2.8v. Dropped my multi down to 9 (didnt even try 10), as I am trying to find the limit of this ram. Ill try for more later, and post pics (if you dont mind).

Heck yeah, post away man! I have been keeping tabs on other X2 CPU users to compare with mine. Its a definite help to others.

I don't know, but I think PWM IC temps are holding me back. I can actually do 1.71v CPU VCORE comfortably on my air cooling (58-60c) max temps under load (SuperPi 32M). Its not my proc or Ballistix. I need active cooling (read: fan) on my PWM IC. Otherwise my other temps fall in line.

[fallguy]

Ok great! Im on a 3700+ SD though, not a X2.

So I tried 280, and it booted up fine. Ran the synthetic benches fine too. Ran 3dmark, and the it froze on the first test. So I assume thats the end of the road for my ram, at least at 3-3-3-8. I didnt try 3-4-4-8, I would rather stay at 3-3-3-8. So I backed it down to 275 again, it ran 3dmark just fine, a few times even.

So then I got a little brave, and decided to try 10x275, instead of 9x275. It booted right up, and ran 3dmark a few times too, seems to be stable. Even ran a Farcry benchmark, ran fine. So it appears Im as high as I am going to go, at least with staying at 3-3-3-8. One day when I get some time, perhaps Ill try 3-4-4-8 to see if the ram will go higher or not.



1920x1200; http://home.comcast.net/~denverspict...stix10x275.JPG

p.s. dont pay attention to the 3dmark score. I dont care what the score is, I just use it to stress the system. I leave the drivers at High Quality.

[Xiode]

I don't know, but I think PWM IC temps are holding me back. I can actually do 1.71v CPU VCORE comfortably on my air cooling (58-60c) max temps under load (SuperPi 32M). Its not my proc or Ballistix. I need active cooling (read: fan) on my PWM IC. Otherwise my other temps fall in line.

You definately DON'T want to do that. Anything over 1.6v is basically death to even extreme air cooling setups. SuperPi isn't a good indication of load temps. Try running dual prime, and that will give you a better idea of load temps.

For instance, I would consider my air cooling as "extreme". I have a 92mm Tornado, which puts out something like 120CFM, on an XP-90. Currently I'm running 1.54v on a X2 3800+, and full load on dual prime temps are around 57C. Even dual SuperPi 32M barely gets my temps to 50C.