Can't overclock in Windows SP SP2? Try this!

[Jimbo Mahoney]

OK, I am posting this at various forums so apologies if you've already seen it, but it could be the key for AMD64 users to get higher clocks in XP SP2. (It may be a Venice issue, it may be a DFI NF4 issue, or it may be all AMD64s).

Originally in this thread:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/show...3&page=1&pp=15

Solution here:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/show...098#post121098

Story:

Basically, no matter what I did, I could not get the same clock in XP SP2 as I could in Win2k or WinXP SP1a. It (SP2) was OK in Safe Mode, just not normal mode.

In 2k and XP SP1 I could clock up to 9 x 324 (2.9 Ghz)

In XP SP2, I could barely hit 9 x 300 (2.7 Ghz) and that was with a different HAL.

Turning off DEP solved this for me:

Edit the Boot.ini and change the switch:

/noexecute=OptIn

to

/noexecute=AlwaysOff

(watch capitilzation).


Many thanks to the people in that DFI Street thread!!! (I named them in my post over there).

HTH others

Jimbo

[TheMeatFrog]

I also noticed a lower max OC in SP2. Thanks a lot for this I'm going to try it now!

[REDKEN]

Thanks for sharing the info!
I'll be sure to give it a try if I find any problems O/C'ing my A64 system.

Any idea on what DEP does to get in the way of the O/C?

[eva2000]

thanks for sharing .. will try

[CD 1986]

Looks interesting, will give it a try! Anyone else tried it yet and got an improved OC?

[eva2000]

so you did all 12 steps

Disabling DEP system-wide using boot.ini

1. Click Start, and then click ControlPanel.

2. Under Pickacategory, click PerformanceandMaintenance.

3. Under or Pick a Control Panel icon, click System.

4. Click the Advanced tab, and in the Startup and Recovery area, click Settings.

5. In the SystemStartup area, click Edit.

6. In Notepad, click Edit and then click Find.

7. In the Findwhat field, type /noexecute and then click FindNext.

8. In the Find dialog box click Cancel.

9. Replace the policy_level (for example, "OptIn" default) with "AlwaysOff” (without the quotes).

WARNING: Be sure to enter the text carefully.

Note: Your boot.ini file switch should now read:

/noexecute=AlwaysOff

10. In Notepad, click File and then click Save.

11. Click OK to close StartupandRecovery.

12. Click OK to close SystemProperties and then restart your computer.

???

[PTK]

I think the 12 steps actually do exactly the same as changing the boot.ini file manually.

PTK

[jlccarv]

Isn't that a reasonably important sercurity feature?

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Isn't that a reasonably important sercurity feature?

No.

I wouldn't say so. It's not in 2kPro or SP1.

When have you seen DEP asking you whether you want to run something or not?

I'd rather have a 2.9 Ghz CPU and DEP disabled than a 2.6 - 2.7 Ghz CPU with it on.

Anyway, is this XtremeSystems or what?

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Isn't that a reasonably important sercurity feature?

No.

I wouldn't say so. It's not in 2kPro or SP1.

When have you seen DEP asking you whether you want to run something or not?

I'd rather have a 2.9 Ghz CPU and DEP disabled than a 2.6 - 2.7 Ghz CPU with it on.

so you did all 12 steps



???

PTK is correct.

Just edit the boot.ini file

[Turok]

Isn't that a reasonably important sercurity feature?

What does it do?
If the command change just decreases the security of Windows Firewall, then ts worth it
You can just get a better one from Zone Alarm, but you have to pay tho

Turok

[totensiebush]

If it is somehow getting a lower OC with it on, doesn't that mean that it may be unstable at other things at the higher OC?

[Walrusbonzo]

I just disabled it on Win XP 64 bit, see if it helps me at all

[TekXoID]

No results with this yet I see. Well, I've always considered myself a beta tester to the
most extreme degree...I'll see if my CPU walls at the same speed, with DEP disabled.

[TekXoID]

I'll be damned. It worked. I'm no longer walled. Best PI ever, so far.
This is by no means the limit, I'm still pushing it.

[Walrusbonzo]

hmm, I guess I better get pushing then :P

[jrw]

What is DEP anyways? Anyone care to explain?

[TekXoID]

Max prime/gaming/pi/bench stable so far: 9x311 (2799MHz)

What is DEP anyways? Anyone care to explain?

Data Execution Prevention. It's a piece of code in Windows that takes advantage of DEP enabled hardware such as A64 processors to provide the system (Windows) with the ability to prevent known malicious code from being executed. This protection also blocks against many older and more primitive viruses.

[ettis]

Max prime/gaming/pi/bench stable so far: 9x311 (2799MHz)


Data Execution Prevention. It's a piece of code in Windows that takes advantage of DEP enabled hardware such as A64 processors to provide the system (Windows) with the ability to prevent known malicious code from being executed. This protection also blocks against many older and more primitive viruses.

I think a good antivirus will do the same trick

[TekXoID]

I think a good antivirus will do the same trick

Yeah, but it's more like a resident malicious code execution prevention that was intended to have no effect on the processor,
but obviously it taxes something inside the CPU if we are all pulling out an additional 50-150MHz by disabling it.

[[XC] serlv]

What is DEP anyways? Anyone care to explain?

After googling, I found this info on DEP...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../sp2mempr.mspx

and

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sec.../depcnfxp.mspx

In this latter section MS says "The default configuration of DEP is designed to protect your computer with minimal impact to application compatibility. However, depending on your DEP configuration, it is possible that some programs might not run correctly. You can use the tasks described in this document to configure DEP on your computer:

• Enable DEP for all programs on your computer

• Add programs to the DEP exception list

• Disable DEP for your entire computer"

When they refer to some programs not running properly ( possibly ); I'm wondering if that same hindrance gets in the way of an OC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, where the article speaks of hardware NX or data execution prevention, is it desirable and/or even possible to turn that off in the processor?

~~~~
edit - also here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...prevention.asp

another site's info on DEP - http://antionline.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=266741

and the google search results for "DEP":
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...f&q=DEP+%2B+XP /edit

[Jimbo Mahoney]

I'll be damned. It worked. I'm no longer walled. Best PI ever, so far.
This is by no means the limit, I'm still pushing it.

Yay!

You too have a 3000+ venice and DFI NF4......

Hmm, I wonder if it's a Venice or DFI thing then........

[xenolith]

I turned it off and saw no o/c improvement. Still stuck @ 2.9GHz.

FYI, to confirm DEP has been turned off:

• right click My Computer and select Properties

• under the Advanced tab select the Performance Settings button

• under the Data Execution Prevention tab the options will be grayed out

[jiff]

Did nothing for me 2.9ghz still my chip max, cancel that Im now NOT stable @ 2.9ghz. turning that back on

[scrible88]

Sticky!