Need some help getting to 2.8GHz with my A64 x2 4800. [Archive]

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rHy0

01-30-07, 04:24 PM

Hi, I have so far gotten to 2.70GHz stable but not really content with that at all, so I would like (correction, love to!!) get to 2.8!! However everything I have tried so far I have failed to pass prime at even 2.75GHz :(

What I have tried: From 2.7GHz I had (have) default chipset voltage, default ram voltage, ram at 333Mhz (and timings set at 3-3-3-8 1t). The usual HT multi setting (x4). 11x CPU multi, FSB - 246. vcore - at 1.43v in bios (1.45/47v in cpu-z)

When I had a go at 2.75 I set my memory voltage right up to 2.9v. Increased the chipset voltage up to 1.6v, which is highest possible, and then of course set the FSB to 250. I also cranked the vcore up to 1.46 (1.5 in cpuz...).

And what happens?.... I fail prime95 in under an hour...

I really expected to pass there, what am i doing wrong? Any suggestions to get me to at least 2.75? Thanks.

SlieTheSecond

01-30-07, 05:54 PM

Bman212121

01-30-07, 05:56 PM

If you can, I would try dropping the memory divider and the HTT multiplier. You can put them below the rated settings aka HTT under 1000, and ram under whatever they are. So if ram is pc3200, make sure it is at least 400 or below. This will take the bottleneck off of these components, and will help to test to make sure that they aren't contributing.

It might be that you CPU simply can't do over 2.7, no matter what you try. I can't get my FX-60 over 2.9 stable, even with max voltage on the processor.

rHy0

01-30-07, 06:32 PM

2.9v for your ram?? Whats your ram suppose to be running at. 2.9v seems like a lot unless DDR ram runs off high voltages.

Try Lowering your HT to 3x, try increasing your ram latencies. Try setting ram to
2t instead of 1t. Try lowering your ram speed.

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

About the ram voltages, yeah might seem a bit much to be putting it to 2.9v but i did it gradually cause i was trying to get prime stable. I think the stock voltage for my ram is 2.6. I have no need to reduce the HT multi cause when hitting 2.75GHz the ht bus is just on the 1000 mark, so i don't think that would cause instability... Unless you think so?

Havent really tried much at lowering the ram speed (timings) but have set it at 3-4-4-12 2t before with my A 3700+ and didnt do much. Do you have timings you suggest i try?

If you can, I would try dropping the memory divider and the HTT multiplier. You can put them below the rated settings aka HTT under 1000, and ram under whatever they are. So if ram is pc3200, make sure it is at least 400 or below. This will take the bottleneck off of these components, and will help to test to make sure that they aren't contributing.

It might be that you CPU simply can't do over 2.7, no matter what you try. I can't get my FX-60 over 2.9 stable, even with max voltage on the processor.
My ram is under 200Mhz at the moment according to CPU-Z. It's at 184Mhz. Would i need to lower it? I just don't want to slow my ram down to a crawl. I have it at ddr333 now. Should i try 266?

I really hope this isnt the limit! I have seen so much more potential with the 4800, why can't i get to 2.8 like everyone else :( Hopefully i will!!

Bman212121

01-30-07, 07:15 PM

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

About the ram voltages, yeah might seem a bit much to be putting it to 2.9v but i did it gradually cause i was trying to get prime stable. I think the stock voltage for my ram is 2.6. I have no need to reduce the HT multi cause when hitting 2.75GHz the ht bus is just on the 1000 mark, so i don't think that would cause instability... Unless you think so?

Havent really tried much at lowering the ram speed (timings) but have set it at 3-4-4-12 2t before with my A 3700+ and didnt do much. Do you have timings you suggest i try?

My ram is under 200Mhz at the moment according to CPU-Z. It's at 184Mhz. Would i need to lower it? I just don't want to slow my ram down to a crawl. I have it at ddr333 now. Should i try 266?

I really hope this isnt the limit! I have seen so much more potential with the 4800, why can't i get to 2.8 like everyone else :( Hopefully i will!!

the HTT should be fine as long as it is at 1k or below which it is, so that isn't the problem. The ram should also be fine since it is already below spec. The timings shouldn't matter as long as they worked before with a lower cpu clock. I think you've gotten rid of all of the other possible bottlenecks, so I'm guessing the cpu itself simply can't run any higher. There is always a wide variance between chips, and some just simply can't go as high as others.

You shouldn't need to give the ram any more volts than stock simply because it is underclocked and not overclocked.

Someone else might have some ideas, but I don't think you'll be able to get it much higher than it is now.

rHy0

01-30-07, 07:31 PM

Hmm alright I guess i've hit the wall then... God it's hard to accept:(

SlieTheSecond

01-30-07, 07:45 PM

Even still it doesn't hurt to try lowering the HT. I remember with my 3700+ I had to run it at 3x. I am not 100% sure if i could do 4x with a 250fsb tho.
When I hit a wall I had to lower my ram from 333 to 266 to be stable.

Ok 2.9v doesn't seem that high now for your ram if it is rated at 2.6.
I was wondering because my DDR2 runs at 850mhz off of 2.1v. But it's been a while since I played with DDR1 voltages so I was unsure.

If you are running ram faster than the default speed you can try upping the timings by 1 each.
Instead of 3-4-4-12 do 4-5-5-15. If that works slowly lower them again to find the tightest timings that are stable.

rHy0

01-30-07, 08:06 PM

Yeah i'll still give some things a go.

I am gonna do the following.. RAM voltage up 2.9v again, chipset to 1.6v, up with the CPU vcore, and down with the HT (multi). I'll see what happens but i am doubtful that the lower HT will make a difference, but i don't know much:)

Bman212121

01-30-07, 08:18 PM

SlieTheSecond

01-30-07, 09:51 PM

I tried and tried to get my cpu stable at 3.5ghz. I just couldn't. Prime95 would fail in under 10 minutes. It maxed out at 3.4ghz. Then I left it for a while and went back the other day and I managed to get 3.5Ghz prime95 for 4 hours stable. But then my temps hit 62c which is too warm for my taste.
I couldn't tell you exactly what setting let me get it this time that didn't last time. But it just goes to show, it could end up being one stupid setting that you would never think of. Because I tried everything I could possibly think of the first time.

rHy0

01-30-07, 10:28 PM

Right well it failed prime in 20mins guys :( I really think i have tried everything... I will gladly try out any more suggestions though.

rHy0

01-30-07, 10:56 PM

Actually I have never touched the HT voltage... Would raising it do much? Will I give it a go?

SlieTheSecond

01-30-07, 11:52 PM

It very well could. Won't know till you try it :)

Plus do you have the latest bios? Sometimes a bios update can help. "Sometimes"

$n][pErMan

01-31-07, 12:27 AM

All this work to go from 2.75Ghz to 2.8Ghz? A small 1% difference in speed? Id keep my memory at the faster speeds and my voltages slightly above stock and call it what it is. Not work risking it for such a trivial difference IMO. I love overclocking but just like drinking.. you gotta know when enough is enough :) You probably just hit your limit. Any good overclocker knows... you reach the point where its unstable and your system is at its max and take it down just slightly.

rHy0

01-31-07, 11:57 AM

Bman212121

01-31-07, 01:23 PM

Well actually im at 2.7GHz and i want 2.8. I can't even get stable at 2.75...

Would you say I got a bad CPU? I though I had a good stepping - CCBWE...

Sile, yes i am pretty sure i have the latest official BIOS (v1009), I wouldnt wanna risk a beta.

I'd say you have a decent CPU if you can get 2.7GHZ. Always remember that anything you get from an overclock is a bonus. You bought the chip expecting to see stock speeds, and anything else is a bonus. It doesn't make any sense to buy a slower chip a expect it to clock as high as any others. Your processor might not even overclock at all, and the one that was made right after it might hit 3.0GHZ. As long as it reaches stock speeds, then it is a good cpu.

Saintster

02-01-07, 12:19 PM

I'd say you have a decent CPU if you can get 2.7GHZ. Always remember that anything you get from an overclock is a bonus. You bought the chip expecting to see stock speeds, and anything else is a bonus. It doesn't make any sense to buy a slower chip a expect it to clock as high as any others. Your processor might not even overclock at all, and the one that was made right after it might hit 3.0GHZ. As long as it reaches stock speeds, then it is a good cpu.

Very true. A good example is we both have the same cpu. Yours runs stable at 2.8 with 1.5. Mine runs stable at 2.912 with 1.4. It's all a mixed bag.

rHy0

02-01-07, 04:46 PM

HEY GUY'S!! Good news (for me)! It's not my CPU that can't go further, it's my ram! I just tried dropping my ram down to ddr266 (giving me only 160Mhz) and i passed prime with a cpu clock that i could not pass before. Is there a way i can tweak my memory (voltage increase..etc) so that it can run back to speed and still let me go higher?? I getn excited now! Plz advice!

rHy0

02-04-07, 02:07 PM

hydr0

02-10-07, 04:09 AM

Folks sorry for resurrecting this thread, but I need some critical advice. I am closing in on 2.8GHz (already sable at 2.75) and in order to have it stable I will require more cpu voltage. Now right now the i have it at 1.5v (fluctuates to 1.53) according to cpu-z, although oddly i set it to 1.47 in bios.

Can I increase the vcore more from 1.5v safely? Temps are not an issue as i only hit 45C at the mo.

I run my x2 at 1.53v currently. I've had it as high as 1.57v with no problems. I have been trying to hit 2.9ghz for 3 months now. I was 16 hours prime stable at 2.75ghz @ 1.51v. These chips seem to hit their max around the 1.5v area. Anything much more is a point of diminishing returns. I'm sorry to tell you but pushing it any farther with raised voltage is undue stress man.

You could probably run 1.6v through it but I wouldn't go any higher than that on air. I just installed a watercooling system in my PC and refuse to go over 1.55v. My idle temp is 29C and my load temp is 37C with my system at 2.8ghz. In order to hit 2.85ghz it requires 1.59v and to even get into windows at 2.9 it requires 1.67v. Unless you've got money to burn you've likely reached the max of your chip.

But to answer your question as you intended. You can likely increase your vid up to 1.55-1.65 safely as long as temps are managed. Not guaranteed though.

Baronvonimel

02-19-07, 04:32 PM

rHy0 - you should check out this site: www.diy-street.com - specifically take a look at the overclocking guide. Looks like you are about to find your max CPU but once you do, you need to try and find your max overclock on your ram. I am still puzzling this out myself (working on a 4200+ x2 AM2) but I have gotten my cpu stable at 2.7 and my ram should stabilize around 384Mhz according to what I have seen so far (still working on the ram). Give that guide a shot, it is pretty comprehensive.

SlieTheSecond

02-19-07, 06:23 PM

Use memtest86 when overclocking your ram.

It'll tell you if it is stable or not :)