Epox and XP2100 Rev B

[ProphetXTR]

I just installed my Epox 8rda+ and my 2100xp revB. So far I have most things at default. FSb at 133 and the mutli is 14.5. Hits right at 2.14 ghz (XP2600) stable. Also I have the voltage at default. What more can I do to get more out of it ? Temps are stable as well.


Epox 8RDA+
XP2100 Rev. B
Advantec Aeroflow HSF
512 OCZ Tech PC2700
G4 Ti4600

[BiG MiKeY]

higher the FSB to 166 c if it posts .....

[ProphetXTR]

Ok..I tried to up the FSB to 166 and no post. I changed the memory to 166 though so it is running 333mhz true and stable

[causticVapor]

Lower the multiplier to stock, then elevate FSB.

[AlexGee]

I'll second what CV said. Just put multi back to normal, 13 I think,and then raise FSB. It ought to go up to 166 for starters, above that just try a single mhz at a time. This will allow you to run mem and CPU in 'sync' at 166. Ideally mem and cpu should be set to same FSB.

I do not know how Epox handles the AGP/PCI clock on this board. On VIA boards they have a 1/5 AGP divider kicking in at 166 FSB. (PCI is automatically half of AGP) You may be able to adjust it sperately on the nforce board. You need to be aware that too much FSB may OC your AGP and PCI too much.

If you have not done so already locate your BIOS setting for 'V core'. Feel free to take it up to 1.85. This adds stabilty at higher FSB and should get you more OC. This is pretty much SOP for serious OC'ing. Anything above 1.85 and you start getting into risk zone. 1.95 probably OK if you have good cooling. Just be careful, too much V core and 'poof' goes your chip.

What is your CPU temp at current speed?

[causticVapor]

The EP-8RDA+ has "locked" AGP and PCI busses - they run off a separate clock generator, and so thus are independent of FSB speed.

200MHz operation is a possibility.
With PC2700, 166 should be a given.


Try increasing vdimm and see if that helps. Your benchmark goal should be 202*10.5.

[Neofate]

I have the exact same setup.. so maybe I can be of some help.

First off, the EPoX 8RDA boards are picky, not bad, but picky. They have alot of potential, but simply because it won't do 190x10, doesn't mean it won't do 185x12.. You have to test EVERYTHING. I have manged to get 191x11=2101Mhz Absolutely stable.. Prime95 for days, etc etc. I can post, and boot up at 200x12 or so.. but it has artifacts and other nonsense.

A few tips on overclocking with the 8RDA.

Remove the jumper that sets the default bus speed to 100, or 133/166. (Look in the manual)

Also anytime it doesn't post you can simply press the reboot button while holding down the insert key and tapping the delete key. This will throw bios into a temporary "safe" mode for you to change settings.

As another said, the AGP and PCI are "locked", well it's more like the PCI is locked, and the AGP can be calibrated much like the FSB. I currently have my AGP set at 66mhz.

Personally I found it best to start off with a 10X multiplier and find out how high your FSB can go without being instable. Also, I have found that Prime95 is the most CPU intensive and will find errors faster than anything else (saves alot of time).

It has been discovered that not all of the 8RDA boards are alike! Even from revision 1.0 to 1.1 (and higher). They have steppings much like our processors. Underneath your northbridge (the one that has the round, epox logo'ed, heatsink is a stepping number. It has been found that those with the stepping A3 overclock more reliably than that of the A2 revision. However, that doesn't put the A2 down, I never bothered to pull out my mobo to remove the HS, because regardless of the stepping nothing will change.

The northbridge, and southbridges get hot on these things. You will find a factory Heatsink, as I mentioned earlier, on the Northbridge, but on that of the south you will not. I suggest mounting heatsinks on the Southbridge, and the Mosfets.

I took the liberty of placing a fan on the southbridge sink, and one upon the northbridge, while leaving the mosfets with the heatsinks I created.

Alot of this information is supplied at www.8RDA.com so you might want to check that out as well.

All in all the higher the FSB you can achieve is best. Now achieving a 180FSB at a 6x clock isn't the way to go, but if you had to choose from 133x13 and 170x10, even though the latter is 33mhz slower it is still faster. Got it? hehe, Good!

Oh yeah, if it won't post on some higher bus speeds, or multi's.. Go into the Bios and bump up the Vcore voltage. It should be on default which is in the neighborhood of 1.6-1.65. You can safely bump it up to 1.8, but watch your temperatures like a HAWK. Go as slowly as you can, and I'm sure you'll be fine. (This applies to RAM as well [Vdimm])

Best of luck to you,

[paul0660]

Another thing, 8rda reads cpu temp lower than it should, so while watching temps like a hawk, for sure don't exceed 50-55C. This might be as much as 65-70 on another board!

[Neofate]

Yeah the 8RDA temps are not really reading wrong, it is just they placed the sensors in the wrong places! Doh!

Anyways, I tested this, and the 8RDA has a VERY conservative automatic shutoff die temp. I purposely let my cpu get hotter than it should, and the computer would shutoff at around 45C in the bios reading. Which could be no more than 60C at the die.

No permanent damage done