PIII800E trying to reach 1Gz

[otto]

I have an Abit BE6
PC133 cas2 SDRAM
PIII800E CPU
The best I can seem to do is 950Mhz
120/3 @ 1.8V - running 78 degree F
The next step up on the mobo is 124/4 which is what I'd like to reach.
The highest Voltage the mobo will let me set is 1.85V.
The computer won't boot at those settings.
Any suggestions on what I can try?
I do have a GlobalWin VOS32 fan coming.
Is this all my BE6 can do?

[Target]

Its possible that is the best your PIII 800e is able to do.....not so much the motherboard. It could however be something totally different as well.

The P3 cores max out near the 1Ghz mark, and the 800 is probably close to its limit when running at 950.

However, some of the same common things we do to achieve a successful overclock might still do the trick for you as well.

Set voltage to 1.85, and make sure you have good cooling. Slow down your memory timing to CAS 3, and the 6/8 setting....regardless of what its rated at. Use the (124 4:4:1) setting for the FSB. Try disabling the video bios and motherboard bios caching. Make sure all of your drivers are updated as well, including the latest Intel chipset INF files.

You may want to try a motherboard bios flash as well.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

[otto]

Thanks Target,
I am not familiar with the Intel chipset .inf file. Where do I get it or confirm the version I have. I'm running Windows ME. I assume it is in the WINDOWS directory?
What is the implication of disabling the video bios and motherboard bios caching?

[Target]

The implication of disabling the caches is that your system may perform slightly slower than with them enabled. I doubt that you would notice any difference though.

I have had some experiences where I was able to acheive a more stable overclock with those settings disabled. It may or may not work for you, and in this case, its not too likely, but worth a shot. I suspect that your issues are more with getting it to work first, and then moving on with stability.

As for the INF file, you should be able to find it on the Intel web site. I tried to access it and get the URL for you, but on dial-up right now, and it keeps crashing my browser (sorry). Give it a look and see if you can find it. Its called Intel INF update I believe.

Anyway, give those a try, along with your VOS32 and see if they work out for you.

[otto]

Target,
I'll try your suggestions!
Roy,
I get 2 different responses:
1) at times I believe it is not posting? The PC just hangs on boot and I can't get to the introductory display screens. If I restart the PC with the insert key held down I get back to the bios setup and then reset or adjust the settings.
2) the other situation is when windows begins to load but it seems that just before the Windows desktop begins to display it hangs with a black screen.

I'm home now and ready to play. I'll let you know what happens. I won't have the VOS32 for a couple of days yet so I'll see how far I can get.

[Roy]

My system doesn't like to load W98 above about 950, but it will run above 1000 if I use SoftFSB to kick it when Windows is running.

There are some current threads about getting SoftFSB to work with other boards than those listed (BE6 is not). Maybe that's your answer.

[otto]

I tried everything * except softFSB *
No GO! I was a blink away from my desktop but it would not go.

Your right Roy, 950MHz is not bad. It is a new CPU. I've heard of them running faster after they have burned in for a while. I think I'll work with the 950 for a bit.

Besides it's my kid's computer and they would not like it if I totally crashed it.
I will look into the softFSB though and continue to read the posts.

Thanks a lot for your attention, that means anybody who responds to posts like mine, a stranger entering another world.

[Roy]

Take a look on the mobo. The Clock Generator is near a little shiny metal "can" (clock crystal). Let me know what the generator chip is and I'll try to walk you through the SoftFSB setup. I have a PIII-800/100 that makes it to 1008, so there's a fair chance yours will also.

[Roy]

When you say "computer won't boot" do you mean no POST or that it won't load Windows?

"me" is known to be less stable/reliable than W98SE, that could be another problem.

If 950 turns out to be the best you can get, take a look at the price of 933 processors and be happy with your free 20% OC. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[otto]

NOW I'M CONFUSED!

I installed the GlobalWin VOS32 Cooler.
( a little tricky figuring out how to remove the stock fan from the PIII retail CPU)

I inserted the CPU into the mobo.
It just misses or maybe just touch's my SDRAM. ( actually I had to remove the fan screws at the bottom of the fans due to interference. I was able to install new screws through the inside wall of the fan.

My case also has a case fan in a shroud that directs the air from the back onto the CPU.
The shroud to the top of the CPU is a tight fit.

I attempted to reboot my PC.

At first it recognized the processor as a 950 MHz CPU (my last bios settings of 120/3)
Saw the SDRAM but hung after listing the drives.
I rebooted and then it hung right after recognizing the CPU @ 950 MHz. Did not see the SDRAM.

I Wiggled the SDRAM around, checked all my connections, rebooted, did this a couple of times and it saw the SDRAM and the hung a little farther into the boot process.

I then loosened my case fan to relieve the little bit of pressure it was placing on the CPU and the system booted and let me get into the bios.

The best I could do was 115/3 (920MHZ) @ 1.85V.
I rebooted and tried to bring it back to the 120/3 setting I was at before. It would not boot.
Then I tried to bring it back to the 115/3 setting and 'no go'.
I finally had to drop it to 112/3 (996MHz)@ 1.75V.

I tried every different clock and voltage combination but now the best I can do is 112/3.

WHAT HAPPENED?

My first suspicion is the mobo. For the last few months it was only recognizing 2 of the 3 128Mb SDRAM sticks in the PC.
Then one day, after I had installed a new CDROM drive it saw them all. I must have moved the SDRAM. (by the way, this was with the PC100 I had in there earlier)
So that leads me to believe a faulty SDRAM socket.
Could this cause some strange things in my overclocking attempts?

It was also interesting that when I Released the pressure the fan shroud had placed on the CPU the system freed up.

I realize I need a new, larger case. (Of course once I do that I'm on my way to building another PC. I've done it before.)

So here I am with more cooling and a slower processor?????

I think I got the number off the clock generator. Assuming it is a chip, I located it near the SDRAM and near a small elongated silver can with H1431849 on the can.
The numbers on the chip are: W14H over B058193FD if I could read them right. They were very small.

I am also game for a new mobo If it sounds like I could have a faulty board.

That being said I am open for recommendations.
It should support my PC133 SDRAM; PIII800E CPU; my ATA 66 hard drives;an AGP graphics card; and be a good overclocker.

Hows that for a mouthfull. Any help will be appreciated.
OTTO

[This message has been edited by otto (edited 01-11-2001).]

[This message has been edited by otto (edited 01-11-2001).]

[ResearchMonkey]

CPU Boost for the BE6-II

This operates exactly like Soft FSB. You boot to Windows, run the program, and crank up your FSB!

CPU Boost for the BE6-II (http://www.wheelan.com/OCN/seti/cpu_boost.exe)

YoGoOTTo http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

One-Gig
One-Gig
One-Gig

[otto]

How does CPU_Boost compare to SoftFSB?
I have a BE6 not BE6-II. Any problem?

[ResearchMonkey]

BE6 .vs BE6-2 ???

[Roy]

YAY! Reaching 1GHz is a nice feeling!

I took a look at CPU_BOOST. It is simpler than SoftFSB. The machine I'm on right now is not supported so I could not really explore it. It does not appear to support automatic speed change upon loading, SoftFSB does.

The chip probably is the generator, but the number W14H seems not quite correct. Some other Abit boards use Cypress/IC-Works generators, their numbers usually are W###x, where "x" is a revision letter. So maybe you could look again and see if the "H" is a number or if there's a third number you missed.

I'm totally courageous about trying things. I wouldn't hesitate to run SoftFSB and select Target Clock Generator. Then, scroll down to a number that is close ~ W14#x ~ and give it a try. I've done this and nothing more than a frozen system needing rebooting resulted.

If the chip number is not in the SoftFSB list, either you or I could go to the Cypress site and look at the specs. I know some of the chips are close enough to 'alike' to allow SoftFSB to be fooled. My mobo was working fine with W204x when I finally got around to discovering the actual part was W196H!

[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 01-12-2001).]

[otto]

I got my clock generator number right W1442.
There was a setting in softFSB. I gives me almost the same amount of and type of options I have with Abit's softmenu.

I was able to up the speed to 115/3 (920 MHz). Above that, like to 120/3, the PC would lock up.

It appears that softmenu only ups the Frequency while I'm logged into the current session. When I reboot it reverts to the settings in my bios. I also notice that MMB does not recognize the increased speed.?

CPU_Boost would not recognize my clock-generator so it would not work.

After a few attempts I finally got my PC to boot at 115/20 @ 1.80V. (916MHz according to MMB). It seems stable. I have not not done a lot with my PC yet though.
UPDATE: PC locked up! Seems the best I do is 112/3 (896 MHz).

Any idea's as to why I was able to reach 120/3 (960 MHz) when I first installed the processor and then only 112/3 after doing nothing but upgrading my fan? Could I have damaged something in the process? Could my motherboard be a problem, especially in light of my memory problems?



[This message has been edited by otto (edited 01-13-2001).]

[Roy]

It sounds like a thermal problem. Have you tried going back to the old setup? (I'm assuming you did everything right ... thermal goo etc.)

I'm on a different system right now, tried to get SoftFSB to do some checking, H.Oda has cut us off! I stumbled around Cypress to look at clock generators ... their info on W196 and W204, both of which give me 32 FSB speeds, says they are more restrictive than the W144. Take a look at softfsb.dat. If the genny for MSI MS-6163 is the W144, then go ahead and try the W196. That's what worked for me ~ 32 choices. Then proceed as previously discussed. Once you've "created" settings for your mobo, then you can boot at whatever speed and bump it automatically to the fastest stable setting after the OS loads.

I'll check back when I get home to my system.

[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 01-14-2001).]

[Roy]

Update ~ I found a place to download SoftFSB. The .dat file shows W164 for the MS-6163. Another visit to Cypress shows it's nothing like the others. However, SoftFSB doesn't see it that way and the W196 selection works in place of the W164 just fine! Go figure! I'd give it a try!

[MickMitani]

This may be a shot in the dark but -

Perhaps your new fan draws more power than the old one did and your MB or PS was already maxed at a particular voltage. I noticed you mentioned hard drives, (plural) and 3 sticks of 128meg PC133 SDRAM. While you think you may not be anywhere near the total rating of the power supply, remember that the rating is created from adding the wattage for each of the different voltages generated. For instance, I have a spare 230 watt AT PS sitting on my workbench. It provides +5V DC at 23 Amps max - 5x23 = 115 watts, +12V DC at 8.5A = 102 watts, -5V DC at 0.5A = 2.5 watts, and -12V DC at 0.5A = 6 watts = 235.5 watts max. From that, the motherboard creates the 3.3v and 1.8v and so on that it needs for proper operation. Each of these have limits as well, though you would have to work out each MB based on what parts went into it, unless your MB maker was nice enough to provide the values. Depending on the quality of the motherboard and of the power supply, you may find that the max numbers are not even attainable.

People are cramming more and more into PC cases without even thinking about power requirements. Some Name Brand PCs have tiny power supplies unable to support full DIMMs sockets or multiple hard drives or even video cards with more than 16meg on them!

Even if you think "well I have a 300 Watt PS, power is not a problem and it is only a stinking little fan I've added", you may find that new item maxed out one of your source voltages and now your hard drive is unreliable, or your fans rev up and down and cooling is uneven, or that great new game is prone to lock up when you go hi-res and you know it works on your bud's 'puter and he hasn't got as hot a system as you.