Stuck at 3.7Ghz and NOT liking it one bit

[ghot]

First...
Win XP SP2 32 bit
AMI 0802 BIOS (latest)

ok here is two settings in my BIOS that have me confused:

FSB Frequency.......... stock = 200......range = 200-600
description: Displays the frequency sent by the clock generator to the system bus and PCI Bus.

CPU/NB frequency.......Stock=auto.....range = 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800....4000
description: this item appears when you set the AI overclocking item to manual and allows selection of the CPU frequency.

CAN ANYONE WITH AN nVIDIA CHIPSET EXPLAIN THESE SETTINGS?? The descriptions are what I don't understand. The "settings" seem to be backwards to me as per the descriptions.

I'm assuming the FSB Frequency is the CPU frequency...but that doesn't explain the description for the CPU/NB frequency.


PROBLEM: When ever I try to go over 3.7Ghz is get BSOD 0x000000A stop error at the Winows XP progress bar loading screen.

Here is link to my best, stable, 3.7Ghz OC: http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/49...hread-193.html...(VERY BOTTOM POST ON THIS PAGE)

[beta]

Some 955s max out at 3700, while some unlocked 550s max out at 4000. It depends on your specific chip / luck.

[Zeus]

Without trying to sound harsh, do some research first. The settings you mention are basic settings for overclocking, if you have no idea what they are or what they do it' s like overclocking blindfolded.

Just try google and type overclocking Phenom II.

The settings you mentioned are not nVidia chipset related, just AMD stuff.

[ghot]

Ok first...here is link to my highest stable overclock so far: http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/49...hread-193.html....the VERY bottom-most post on that page...

Problem: I'm stable as a rock at 3.7ghz, however when i go to 3.8Ghz (CPU multi up to 19.0x) it will most of time boot into Windows XP Pro SP2 32bit....but even if I simply restart computer, I BSOD at the "progress bar" loading screen with a 0X000000A error....EVERY time. In safe mode I can easily boot into 3.9Ghz (19.5x) CPU multi.

I has disabled ALL start up programs and get same problem and my services are shut down to the minimum.

I also have "always on" Verizon FIOS 20/20 connection, which doesn't show in the start up list....I have unhooked the FIOS CAT5e cable and disabled all start up programs...I have even reinstalled Windows (with no MS updates..or internet connection) and am using the nVidia 15.26 chipset drivers and have used BOTH the 186.18 and the 190.38 Display drivers, and am using the latest ASUS AMI BIOS available....same problem.

I realize that with no start up programs running, no internet connected and a fresh un-updated Win XP Pro SP2 install...that this problem I'm having points to a simple BIOS setting. ...as there is also little to NO info on this 0802 AMI BIOS to be found anywhere, I'm somewhat at a loss. I also realize that it could simply be a flaky motherboard or CPU, but as i can get 3.7ghz, rock stable, and i can easily boot into 3.9Ghz in safe mode....I'm more inclined to believe....that either the BIOS is still too immature or the nVidia drivers are not yet quite up to snuff for this nVidia 980a chipset.

P.S Neither the RAM nor the EVGA GTX280 is overclocked at all.

P.P.S. I have successfully passed prime 95 blend for 3+ hours, @ 3.8ghz (with all normal start up programs running) and STILL had the same reboot issue at the progress bar loading screen....0X000000A

I have already talked to ALL the manufacturers...Corsair, Crucial, nVidia, ASUS...and at best I get: we don't support over clocking (translation: we don't have a clue...as this motherboard is still too new). Lastly, in case it helps, here is the link to the original review by Bjorn3D, of this exact motherboard and CPU: http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1565 pageID=6856

I also have numerous posts on some of the best over clocking forums to be found....unfortunately, 99% of the posts are using motherboards with the AMD chipset.

Any ideas or suggestions would be sorely appreciated...thx in advance smile.gif

....and yes I've done my research....3 months before purchase and continually since then. Athough I only have 8 posts on this forum...this is NOT my first or even second over clock. But I am tired and realize that my original question was stupid....and yes, I've read Chews PII X4 Guide, but again...different chipset.

[ghot]

my research...at least what's still in my bookmarks



If I had a digital camera, I show you these BIOS screens...they look like a slapped together, last minute project.

[Zeus]

Can you give some more specific info on voltages and cooling? You might just have hit the limit of your chip with the cooling you're using.

[ghot]

settings for this run:

ASUS M4N82 Deluxe [980a chipset]
AMI BIOS 0802
Win XP Pro 32bit

5-5-5-15-22-2T-2.1v
Dram freq. = 1066mhz
CPU/NB Freq. = 2600Mhz
HT Link Speed = 2.0Ghz
CPU Vcore = 1.425v
CPU/NB Voltage = 1.25v
CPU/VDDA Voltage = Auto
Dram Voltage = 2.10v
HT Voltage = Auto
NB Voltage = 1.2v
nForce 200 Voltage = Auto

Ambient: 21C
Idle Temps: CPU: 26C....MCP: 37C
Load temps: CPU: 37C....MCP: 46C (after 3+ hours of Prime 95.9.4.0/blend)
CPU Rev. = CACYC AC 0915APMW



3.7Ghz VALIDATION: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=636162

and those temps on the black background in the top pic are Everest OSD load temps after 3+ hours prime stable...and they match exactly with Core temp and Speed fan.

I've also tried every voltage up to red line, and even tried Chew's 955 OC guide which sorta works with my BIOS...up to a point. Unfortunatly, 99% of the OCers are using motherboards with AMD/ATI chipsets...so information is VERY sparse.

[ghot]

...however...even though I pass prime 95 /blend for 3 hours...i still have same problem...when I'm done stress testing, etc., I try to reboot into 3.8Ghz and I still get same error...0X000000A

settings for this run:

ASUS M4N82 Deluxe [980a chipset]
AMI BIOS 0802
Win XP Pro 32bit

5-5-5-15-24-2T-2.1v
Dram freq. = 1066mhz
CPU/NB Freq. = 2600Mhz
HT Link Speed = 2.0Ghz
CPU Vcore = 1.45v
CPU/NB Voltage = 1.2125V
CPU/VDDA Voltage = Auto
Dram Voltage = 2.20v
HT Voltage = Auto
NB Voltage = 1.2v
nForce 200 Voltage = Auto

Ambient: 21.6C
Idle Temps: CPU: 27C....MCP: 45C
Load temps: CPU: 41C....MCP: 48C (after 3+ hours of Prime 95/blend)
CPU Rev. = CACYC AC 0915APMW

now..my 3.7Ghz OC reboots fine as seen here at bottom of page: http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/49...193.html....it seems that no matter what voltages I use I can boot to 3.8Ghz once....and it'll pass prime95...but not reboot into 3.8Ghz a 2nd time, w/o the 0A error???

I can also boot into 3.8ghz and NOT run any stress tests and it STILL won't reboot paast the XP progress bar loading screen w/o the 0A error :/

3.8Ghz VALIDATION: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=650647

[MrMojoZ]

I have already talked to ALL the manufacturers...Corsair, Crucial, nVidia, ASUS...and at best I get: we don't support over clocking (translation: we don't have a clue...as this motherboard is still too new). [/B]

Just wondering why you did this?

[ghot]

Just wondering why you did this?

Well as i said above...I assumed...maybe a software issue as I'm still on a Ghost 2003 backup from two OC's ago...just changed to the proper drivers each time....so...I reinstalled XP Pro SP2, fresh with no Inet hooked up, no starting programs, no MS updates and services to a bare minimum...only thing installed was 15.26 chipset and 190.38 display drivers and latest DirectX....same exact problems...

I trying to isolate the cause as I can easily boot 3.9 in safe mode, so I know the CPU and motherboard are ok. I've also used 3 diff sets of RAM....Crucial Ballistix (PC6400), Corsair Dominators (PC6400), and Corsair Dominators (PC8500)...all tested fine in memtest overnight runs....I even tried one stick at a time and both sticks in the 4 possible slot configurations in this board...same problem.

After all that i had to assume software issue..so i tested that..same problem.

In the past, on EOL components...the manufacturers are much more willing to spill the beans concerning OCing...as the products are past warranty :/

[nr4]

Set your CPU/NB Freq to 2000Mhz and try again.
Also use Prime 95 In-place Large FFTs as reference test.

[ghot]

Set your CPU/NB Freq to 2000Mhz and try again.
Also use Prime 95 In-place Large FFTs as reference test.

Well I've already done that as at 1st i did exactly what James Talliferno did in this review of this CPU and mobo: http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1565&pageID=6856

but exactly how large of FFTs are you recommending?

P.S. my temps are accurate bro...I went all out on the air cooling this time

The Coolermaster ATCS 840 full tower case is a beast...i added the 3 optional 120mm Scythe 75CFM fans....the Zalman CNPS Cpu cooler is rated in the top 3 CPU coolers: http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/281...er/index7.html and the Zalman ZM-STG2 Thermal grease is in the top 10 with an "A" rating. 80 Thermal compounds tested: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=150&Itemid=62

THEN...I raised the case 3 inches off the file cabinet it sits on so the bottom of case horizontal Scythe was not starved for air....AND the comp is 4 inches from an 8000 BTU window A/C unit and 4 inches to the left of same unit....so I get a constant cold air stream under the case to be sucked in by the 75CFM Scythe.

[beta]

large ffts = 1024k

according to the review you posted the board has vdroop issues

You can see we had the CPU showing as 1.520v but accounting for vdroop we had it set to 1.55v in BIOS.

[nr4]

Try using these settings:
5-5-5-15-24-2T-2.1v
Dram freq. = 800mhz
CPU/NB Freq. = 2000Mhz
HT Link Speed = 2.0Ghz
CPU Vcore = 1.5v
CPU/NB Voltage = 1.35V
CPU/VDDA Voltage = Auto
Dram Voltage = 2.20v
HT Voltage = Auto
NB Voltage = Auto
nForce 200 Voltage = Auto

Also the VDDA Voltage option is used to eliminate vdroop, so you should try to understand how much impact it has on your voltages when you use it.

[ghot]

Try using these settings:
5-5-5-15-24-2T-2.1v
Dram freq. = 800mhz
CPU/NB Freq. = 2000Mhz
HT Link Speed = 2.0Ghz
CPU Vcore = 1.5v
CPU/NB Voltage = 1.35V
CPU/VDDA Voltage = Auto
Dram Voltage = 2.20v
HT Voltage = Auto
NB Voltage = Auto
nForce 200 Voltage = Auto

Also the VDDA Voltage option is used to eliminate vdroop, so you should try to understand how much impact it has on your voltages when you use it.

I have bro....no amount of voltage will solve this....I've tested every voltage step up to 1.58vcore, 1.4 CPU/NB, and NB voltage from auto to 1.28....with CPU/NB freq from auto to 2000 to 2600 with all stops in between :/

If you're saying that 2600 is too high for 3.8+Ghz....then Ill run another test.....if it's heat you're wondering about...nothing I set in BIOS will push CPU temp over 42C or MCP temp over 51C

I feel the need to repeat this is an nVidia 980a chipset and not an AMD chipset...they don't like voltage at ALL! Niether does the 955 as we all know. If you notice I had to DROP the CPU/NB voltage to even get into 3.8Ghz
At higher voltages I cant even hit 3.7Ghz

But what the hey...I'll do it now even though i know it won't boot at those settings

...and yes i understand you're running me thru Chews isolate the components test backwards

[ghot]

boots into 3.7ghz but we knew that....doesn't boot into 3.8ghz and we knew that also. I appreciate the suggestions but, I HAVE tested all these settings already bro....this is NOT and AMD/ATI chipset...it does NOT behave the same way.

Same exact error btw 0X000000A :/

[Power5]

Get a new CPU or better cooling.

[Jure_5]

I've got same problem with MSI 790FX-GD70. 955 is stuck at 3800MHz 1.5V (watercooled)
Ah well, i hope i'll be lucky next time.

[ghot]

Also the VDDA Voltage option is used to eliminate vdroop, so you should try to understand how much impact it has on your voltages when you use it.

and yes I have read only about 40 articles on CPU VDDA...maybe I should introduce myself....

I'm 52 years old and have degrees in physics and electronics and have spent most of my life working on computers. 7 years in the service as an electronics tech, inventor of the 1st error checking device for internet transmissions...back when there were only 6 websites

I'm not trying to be a smart ass...however, when i say and even post the ONLY working 3.8ghz boot and prime stable run, i have managed in 1.5 months (I'm retired)...its pretty safe to assume that I'm not lying or being lazy. For example...Chews test:

I ran....
206x15.5
214x15
220x14.5 which was the best of the bunch...2200 CPU/NB, 1173 RAM
236x13.5.....fail from here on...after this point..all needed crash free BIOS ...to even get back into the BIOS...and yes i adjusted the divider accordingly P.S. on this BIOS I can NOT unlink CPU/NB and RAM :/
246x13
256x12.5
266x12
276x11.5
290x11
304x10.5
320x10
336x9.5
356x9
376x8.5
400x8
426x7.5
456x7
492x6.5
534x6

I say again...this is a one off motherboard...ONLY ASUS made ONE model with a 980a chipset...no other company made one...well at least to date.

[ghot]

I've got same problem with MSI 790FX-GD70. 955 is stuck at 3800MHz 1.5V (watercooled)
Ah well, i hope i'll be lucky next time.

Well i can give you this link which will help emmensly with your motherboard

http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/49...oc-thread.html

good luck...and Chews test WILL work on your motherboard and truly is the easiest way to go It can be found here:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...&postcount=240

[ghot]

Get a new CPU or better cooling.

at least spend the time to read my 5-7 posts, ON this page, before you make silly comments like this No offense

BTW my M2N32 SLI deluxe / 5000+ BE is at 3.2ghz and has been on 24/7 (no sleep, hibernation) for over 2 years with ZERO BSOD's black screens or lockups...in a POS steel midtower with 5x80mm fans in a 1908 efficiency apt. with no insulation.... I think I understand cooling

...and if the CPU was bad it prolly wouldn't flawlessy boot into 3.9Ghz in safe mode

[Cheeseball]

I'm thinking the 980a is not a very overclocking-friendly chipset. I had a GeForce 8200/8300 (720a) that couldn't overclock my 5000+ Black Edition above 3GHz on any voltage. Once I switched to a 780G/SB710 combination, I can do 3.3GHz easily just on the multiplier.

[ghot]

I'm thinking the 980a is not a very overclocking-friendly chipset. I had a GeForce 8200/8300 (720a) that couldn't overclock my 5000+ Black Edition above 3GHz on any voltage. Once I switched to a 780G/SB710 combination, I can do 3.3GHz easily just on the multiplier.

I'm beginning to feel the same way...however the 780a chipset which is the same chipset...supposedly CAN reach 4Ghz on air...so I'll not give up hope yet

check sopiemans results on the 780a here:

http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/49...oc-thread.html...er the link takes you to the home page so here is a screenshot:

[ghot]

I'm thinking the 980a is not a very overclocking-friendly chipset. I had a GeForce 8200/8300 (720a) that couldn't overclock my 5000+ Black Edition above 3GHz on any voltage. Once I switched to a 780G/SB710 combination, I can do 3.3GHz easily just on the multiplier.

I'm beginning to feel the same way...however the 780a chipset which is the same chipset...supposedly CAN reach 4Ghz on air...so I'll not give up hope yet

If you're curious check out my 5000+ OC on the 590 chipset here...http://www.overclock.net/amd-motherb...i-club-72.html...(very bottom-most post on page) it was tough but...267x12 was the magic number

If the M2N32 SLI deluxe mobo had a PCIE 2.0 slots rather than 1.0, I'd chuck this M4N32 Deluxe and just use the older board...that sucker was the best motherboard I've ever seen....dual gigabyte LAN, SATA II, [RAM and 2x PCIE slots (both x16) parallel to each other] (helped air flow amazingly)...the ONLY reason I bought this new mobo was for the PCIE 2.0 slots.

[Oc-Ghost]

Question: Does it work @3.8, if you have mem´s @800?

I know its different systems, but thats what I found out the hard way. My system works running with overclocked 800 divider, but not non-overclocked 1066 divider.