NF7-S 2.0 Cant run over 228mhz FSB! Please help!

[Malecky]

I have a problem with my NF7-S. It seems to be a bottleneck and I dont know where. I can run 220mhz FSB at 1.5V Vdd but cant get over 228 with 2.1V Vdd.

The RAM I use is PC2700 Kingston an PC3200 winbond...the alll crap out at the same speed! Doesnt matter what voltage doesnt mater what timingst all stops at 228mhz not even Single channel takes me higher.

I use the onboard sound and stuff like that and a R9500 from sapphire.

What can I do? I have a system that can do 240mhz FSB no problem but just cant...

Can the CPU only take so much? I can use multiple Tbread but none of them cut it. Is it the multiplayer? I use 9,9.5. and maybe 10!

Please help guys...I have so much RAM and voltmods but something else is holding me back

[CCW]

how is the mobo being cooled?

[Malecky]

Its stock in a cold cold place....the 13°C air is blowing thru the case by 120mm fans...

Its not even warm!

even if it is overheating...why oh why cant it at least boot at 235mhz with 2V on the chipset? It cant be it coes I can run 225mhz stable with 1.5V Vdd.

The RAM is stable with 2.8V and doesnt do better with 3.05V....The same the PC2700.

Argghhhh I even turned of the onboard sound and everthing...still no go! Cant boot at 232mhz

What can I do...? I dont have a single ace in my pocket...no ideas whatsoever...

[CCW]

perhaps its as far as your board will go? is SB being passively cooled? what about mosfets?

Craig

[JCviggen]

it might just be the board although usually its the 3rd memory slot which holds you back. You can have a good north bridge, great mem, but still not able to crack 230 because the board itself doesnt handle it ...

My NF7 1.2 does about 222-223 MHz cas2 DC maximum. By totally relaxing the timings I can hit 250 DC though. However this memory hit 237 3-2-2-2 on the 8RDA. Think I need another one...

[Malecky]

Tryed to cool down again.... I have so many fans now that the ambient is 11°C...no better...the Vdd does not matter...

I still cant believe this is all this board has!

DC 228mhz CAS2 6/3/3
DC 228mhz CAS3 10/6/6
SC 228mhz CAS2 6/3/3
SC 228mhz CAS3 10/6/6

ant the voltages the same...weird...

JC Its hard to believe your bank 3 theory becouse single channel FSB is the same...228 and not a mhz more...

I'm gonna get a cold here...and I aint stoppin...still need all the help I can get...

[WxChaser]

Stuck in the same boat here with my 1.2...although I increased the I/O voltage to 3.58-3.60 and that helps somewhat (adjustable pot on my 510W Turbocool PSU helped).

Just got done reapplying TIM to my 9800 to see if that helps my scores...be back soon. Good luck & let me know what you find, I have another thread that is virtually the same.

Tried single channel in every dimm slot, no difference in how high I could clock, different memory, you name it.

It's a crapshoot in my opinion, no similar quality board to board to board.

[Malecky]

Originally posted by WxChaser
Stuck in the same boat here with my 1.2...although I increased the I/O voltage to 3.58-3.60 and that helps somewhat (adjustable pot on my 510W Turbocool PSU helped).

Just got done reapplying TIM to my 9800 to see if that helps my scores...be back soon. Good luck & let me know what you find, I have another thread that is virtually the same.

Tried single channel in every dimm slot, no difference in how high I could clock, different memory, you name it.

It's a crapshoot in my opinion, no similar quality board to board to board.

Interesting... looks like I will get another NF7-S tomorow...well I realy like FSB...I relay realy like FSB and nothing is gonna stop me sure not a weird Abit board.

I even switched the IDE cable as seen in another thread....

I'm dead...new ram, voltmod...nothing...dissapointed..

[WxChaser]

I like/want the high FSB's too, that's why I'm so disappointed I can only run at 200-205 no matter what the vdd is, vcore, etc.

Haven't tried the IDE cable trick but think that will make no difference in my case. I have very good shielded CoolerMaster rounded IDE cables to my HDD's and it even has a ground wire, I know that isn't my problem. It's down to one of 2 things...the chipset from Abit or the Barton (I doubt it's the Barton 2800 either, since I can O/C it up to 2300-2400 easily on air, just not stable on this mobo).

[Malecky]

did you set it to 133mhz operation? "unlocked it"?

That was the problem with 166mhz CPUs they just cant handle the high FSB...I think the barton can...but what do I know I'm stuck at 228

[CCW]

Originally posted by Malecky
That was the problem with 166mhz CPUs they just cant handle the high FSB...I think the barton can...but what do I know I'm stuck at 228

most people from what ive read would say the opposite about the barton, it apparently does not like high FSBs, the only things that have changed though from thoroughbred to barton are cache and the size of the core?

cache runs at full speed so most wouldnt say it was that
size of the core will improve heat dissipation - more surface area so that should allow the chip to run cooler

Craig

[Malecky]

Nothing runs cooler if it has 256kb extra of high freq. 0.13micron CACHE right beside it.

The Barton is much more power hungry and hot...the extra surface helps...but keep in mind that the extra size( CACHE) Also produces a lot of heat.

This is not a FSB factor aniway... I still cant say if it likes FSB or not I have never owned one.

[spaceboy]

tried different videocard ?

[Malecky]

Originally posted by spaceboy
tried different videocard ?

Have only a 3.3V ATI 3D charger4MB:p

I thought of it...but why? The AGP is locked at 66mhz or 70...I also tryed 70mhz.

Will try to get a new GFX card...damn this is intence...

[spaceboy]

i'd give it a try

[Malecky]

OK guys I'm back...

I got another Abit NF7-S 2.0 shoved some AS2 on the chipset and started...gues what.... stops at 228mhz AGAIN!

I just can not belive it...

I switched RAM, PSU, GFX Card, unplugged everything there is and I hit a brick wall...230 is just bootable not mather if the Vddr is 2.6V or 2.9V, doestn matter if Vdd is 1.5 or 1.7V everything is the same...wall at 228mhz.

I didnt flash the bios....Could this be it? Its the same on both boards but dont know why it doesnt go further than 228....this is realy killing me so please help.

Can the CPU be out of FSB? 1700+ Tbread B doesnt matter which multiplayer...I find this highly unlikely...

[CCW]

well, it looks like it wasnt the last moibo, somehting else in ur system, i doubt very much its the processor though

[Malecky]

Getting another NF7-S aniway..but...

What is the newest BIOS for the NF7-S ver 2.0. The bios file on Abit.com is not the right one for the 2.0 rev....

Which one is?

[Malecky]

where can I get the bioses that are not on abit.com.tw?

[vector7]

Originally posted by Malecky
I have a problem with my NF7-S. It seems to be a bottleneck and I dont know where. I can run 220mhz FSB at 1.5V Vdd but cant get over 228 with 2.1V Vdd.

The RAM I use is PC2700 Kingston an PC3200 winbond...the alll crap out at the same speed! Doesnt matter what voltage doesnt mater what timingst all stops at 228mhz not even Single channel takes me higher.

I use the onboard sound and stuff like that and a R9500 from sapphire.

What can I do? I have a system that can do 240mhz FSB no problem but just cant...

Can the CPU only take so much? I can use multiple Tbread but none of them cut it. Is it the multiplayer? I use 9,9.5. and maybe 10!

Please help guys...I have so much RAM and voltmods but something else is holding me back

I have the same issue.
Looking at different ram to solve this problem. Really kind of dissappointed cause the Kingston Hyper X PC3500 I just bought is exceptional ram and worked very well on the v1.2.
Check here.

[Malecky]

Dont you think my problem is just a bit different?

I cant run one stick any faster...DC does not have a impact...still 228mhz and thats it...

I'm off to try SC in bank 3....

Can someone please upload a bios for a rev. 2.0...?

[vector7]

DC has a huge difference. I can only run 215FSB at SC with the Hyperx PC3500 but at 228FSB-DC I get blue screens...really anything past 225-SC or DC. Although it will post past 240FSB I just can't get it stable at higher FSB.
This board should be able to take us to +238FSB with out issue. I am hearing that it just takes better or "conflict free ram" on the v2.0. Right now I am looking at TwinMOS PC3700 to do 238FSB DC with 2.1VDD. I ordered 2 sticks should be here today...I hope.
Reveiw link.

[Spec3]

I'm having the same problem as you guys. I can run single channel upto 231Mhz fine but 1MH more than that at any timings craps out on me

Steve

[MrIcee]

It could also be the CPU.

My Rev 1.0 volt modded right now tops at benching 3DMark at 222Mhz FSB.

BUT....it will run that at 5x to 7x multipliers. 8x thru 10.5X at any FSB from 193Mhz and up and it will freeze at the "loading Win2000 bar" no matter what. My XP2700 with cut bridge ran 200Mhz+ at any multiplier. I thought I was stuck at 1559Mhz until last night..when I increased the multiplier and reduced the FSB to find it will run at 2100Mhz(not great on air...but better than nothing) There is definitely some correlation between some T-breds and the ability to run high FSB at certain multipliers.

Anyone else experienced the anomalie I'm going thru??

Randi

EDIT Forgot to mention the problems with FSB and multi's I'm having are with a 1700+...the 2700+ worked fine

[Malecky]

not getting me farther...

vector7: you did not quite understand me.

I can run DC at 228mhz all day with 1.6V Vdd and 2.7V on the ram...if I increase the Vdd to 2.1V and Vddr to 2.9V I do not benefit a single stable mhz...not ONE.

SC is the same...228 is all like there is a limit on the board and nothing else...I cant run CAS3 any higher than 228.

A funny thing also is that I cant run 5/2/2/2 with 2.9V and 175mhz FSB no mather what I do...why? Its twinmoss with windond chips..BH-5 and the Kingston PC2700 does the same.

It cant be anything in my sys I changed everything except the CPU which I will switch soon.

MrIcee: I cant run higher than 2400mhz and thats why I cant play with all the multiplayers...I have tryed 9,8.5,9.5,5..and there was no difference always 228mhz...