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Thread: New to overclocking.. XP2500/ A78NX

  1. #1
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    New to overclocking.. XP2500/ A78NX

    Hey folks... this is my first time overclocking:
    System: A78NX-dlx rev1.04, XP2500, Corsair 2x256 PC3200 dual channel kit, 1007 Bios, Thermaltake Silent Boost, Windows 2000, MBM5, timings at 7/3/3/2T, 450W PSU

    Step1) After reading the various forums I decided to take the plunge.. Given some of the success folks mentioned using my setup (board/memory/chip) I figured I'd shoot for the stars and immediately try for the FSB=200 x 11 , with aggressive cpu/memory settings.. result= system would not POST

    then here's what i tried next:
    2) FSB=180, with optimal settings, timings at 8,3,3,2.5T system boots fine
    3) FSB=185, aggessive, 7/3/3/2.5T also ok
    4) FSB=190, system post's.. but would not go into Windows
    5) backed off to FSB=187, and was able to post and enter windows...
    6)Then tried going from 1007 to 1006 bios after reading that folks seem to have better luck getting to FSB=200 with both 1004 & 1006.... Tried using FSB=190, with timings going to 8,3,3,2.5T... with no problems
    7) tried upping the multiplier from the 11 to 12.. just for the heck of it.. System did boot and go into windows.. But when I looked at the CPU info in WPCUID it showed the multiplier still as 11 ??? So I figured this is due to instability ?? and backed off to 190 again..
    Then tried Sandra benchmarks . and system rebooted...
    8) raised voltage of cpucore from 1.65 to 1.675.. got past Sandra , and ran PRIME95.. benchmark ran fine, but received SOMOUT errors during early stages of stress testing...
    9) backed off to FSB=185 and system seems to be running ok now...

    Any suggestions on what to try next ? I was hoping to get closer to FSB of 200.. does that seem acheivable given the above ? Not clear if memory timing should be altered... Up to this point I've let the system manage those based on what I entered...

    Temps all seem fine.. using MBM... diode never higher than 38 and CPU never higher than 36 during these tests..

    Looking forward to your suggestions/comments...

  2. #2
    Ultimate Member Direct1's Avatar
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    Try raising your Vcore to 1.75. Some have to go to 1.85 to get it stable. Shouldn't be a problem, just keep an eye on your temps. Good luck!

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    thanks for the quick response...

    I'll give that a go ....

    1) Is there a particular cpu temp that I should try to keep under ? I thought I read something along the lines of mid/high 50's for the CPU socket and/or diode?

    2) just used Prime95 for the first time.. do I simply run the torture test for a couple of hours and if no errors show up can I basically assume I am good to go ?

  4. #4
    Ultimate Member Direct1's Avatar
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    1). Around 55C is okay. Maybe even 60C but that is pushing it.

    2). Yes

    Good luck!

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    i'd try to keep max temp less than 50 if possible. You wont have any major issues up until 60ish though the cooler it runs the better..

  6. #6
    Senior Member Happy Joe's Avatar
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    Your multi reads 11 because your chip probably has locked multipliers. It looks like you're on the right track. I like to rase my CPU voltage in steps so that I can stay with the lowest stable voltage for best processor life and somewhat lower heat.
    Good luck
    Enjoy!

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    hey guys... I did some more playing last night....

    by gradually increasing vcore, I was able to post as high as FSB=196 with vcore =1.75 & ddr at 2.7v... but wouldn't go into windows ("blue screen of death")...
    reduced FSB to 192, vcore=1.75v & ddr=2.6v and booted fine.. sandra mem, arithmetic, multimedia tests ok.. Prime95 benchmark ok.. but then it froze during the stress test...
    then tried fsb=190, with 1.75 and 2.7v for vcore and ddr... timings were shown to be 8/3/3/2.5T... temps never exceeding 42c for cpu.. Ran stress test through night with no errors.. Wife then started doing some scanning/cd burning, etc.. while stress test was running.. and system rebooted... SO I backed down to FSB=187... and left it at that so she can do here thing... without interuption...

    Q1) I should be able to run the stress test in the backround and doe these other type tasks in a stable system , correct?
    q2) I'm a little leary of the vcore increases beyond 1.75... Is the heat the only concern when raising vcore ?
    q3) I'm unclear about how the DDR voltages & memory timings factor into this equation. What drives one to increase the DDR voltage ? and Do I ever need to overide the memory timings manually ?

    Thanks

  8. #8
    Ultimate Member bblqj78's Avatar
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    corsair is pretty good stuff....if it is XMS...set the timings to 7,3,3,2 or even safer 7,3,3,2.5 and a FSB ratio of 1:1 leave at that for now. You can alter these for better performance later.
    I would raise the Vcore to 1.8V....this will be OK as your temperatures are pretty cool...42C full load is good. You will be OK up to 1.85V as long as your temps are good. Set FSB at 200...multiplier at 11 and see if it boots (run memeory at 400Mhz). If it boots...run some tests for stability. If it dont boot....back down 5 of the FSB and try again.
    Watch your temps...allthough i'm runing an XP2800+ with TT Silent Boost also and its all good at 1.8V.

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    thanks for the advise...

    I'll try as you and others suggested with the vcore .

    P.S. ... yes the memory is XMS Extreme Twinx 3200C2pT

  10. #10
    Senior Member Logan[TeamX]'s Avatar
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    Some of the late issue NForce2 Ultra 400 chipsets appear to be delivering less-than-stellar overclocking for some reason.

    I returned a Soltek 75FRN2-L for that express reason... I couldn't run reliably 30Mhz faster than my current overclock on a KT400a chipset (week 33 AQXEA Barton 2500+).

    Sometimes you're lucky, and sometimes you're not...

  11. #11
    Hired Geek fishybawb's Avatar
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    As a side note, you should be aiming for 11, 2, 2, 2.0 timings for nForce2 boards for the best performance

  12. #12
    Ultimate Member bblqj78's Avatar
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    P.S. ... yes the memory is XMS Extreme Twinx 3200C2pT
    I wouldnt worry about the memory at all.....will run easily at Cas2...and probably a minimum of 420Mhz.

  13. #13
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    My system

    XP 2500 at 3200 Spec (200MHz FSB)
    512MB Hynix PC3200 7-3-3-2.5T
    ASUS A7N8X
    Thermaltake Volcano 9 Cooler at 5300RPM
    Default voltage

    Temp: 40C - 45C (Wont Touch 50C)

    And I'm not using any of my 4 case fans.

  14. #14
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    I've got an a7n8x non deluxe that for some reason wont run stable at overclocked speeds when I update the bios. Its really weird but for a while I was running at 2.3ghz@1.75vcore on 1004 and flashed to 1007, I had to raise the vcore to 1.85 just to get the thing to run at 2.2ghz. Flashed back to 1004 and the problem was solved. You might try flashing to an older bios and see if it works.

    Make sure you backup 1007 before trying an older / new (if available) version though.

  15. #15
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    If the stock bios was 1004 it may be an older revision.. thus overclocking would be different

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