O/C virgin needs help with P4

[mitor]

Hi guys.
Yup, another newbie thats needs sorting out, I've just tried overclocking my P4 2.4b, I've had it for awhile so none of my components were chosen with O/C in mind....

I've changed to a zalman cooler, added 4 80mm fans and modded the case for air flow, temps dropped from 39¢ªc idle 58¢ªc load to 31¢ªc and 44¢ªc.

Now it will clock up to over 2.9 on base voltage, but even if i increase volt's up to 1.7 I can't run prime (or others) without crashes, everything else is ok.
What I don't understand Is that the temps never hit 50¢ªc load, even at 2.95Ghz with 1.7 vcore, yet not stable.

I've tried stepping down the ram speed to no avail.

Is it my moBo?

Asus P4 S533-E
1GB 2700
Q-Tec 400W dual Fan
Radeon 9700 pro
3 ide devices-no floppy
Hecules Fortismmo III

any advice even just "tough luck" would be appreciated, thanks

[micamica1217]

looks like your memory is holding you back.

mica

[mitor]

THAT was quick!!!
thanks

Not what I wanted to hear tho...just bought the 512Mb

would 3200 be better?

or do I need branded ram?

If it helps, The prime test always fails on a rounding error straight away, and hot cpu tester on a complex matrix error

[glock19owner]

have you tried upping the memory voltage besides just the core voltage?

[cack01]

You could be getting memory errors. Didn't some versions of prime 95 have problems with P4s, in that people were still getting errors even though their system was rock solid.

Besides prime, is your system running stable?

[mitor]

Well, my sytem runs stable (3d mark etc) not tried any games

But i've also tried a program called HOT cpu tester, which also fails, albeit I can iron out some of it's problems up to about 2.8 by increasing voltage.

PC ran at 100 percent load on it yesterday at 2.75 good temps no errors at 1.6 vcore ( but i've now throttled back to 1.525)

On the subject of ram, i've only just bought a 512mb stick, I could return it and get some unbranded 3200, and take out my 2700. would that be better?

Thanks for the help guys

[cack01]

I would first relax your memory timings as far as possible. PC2700 runs at 166Mhz that would give you 2.9Ghz on the CPU I believe. Unless your not running at a 1:1 ratio. So basically your ram is very close to being maxed out, especially if your running it on some fast timings.

In conclusion the 3200 will help, but you should make sure its the 2700 holding your back by increasing the memory voltage and relaxing timings.

[glock19owner]

You do know the core voltage and memory voltage are too different things and you will probably need to raise your memory voltage up to around 2.6 or 2.7 to become stable at those FSB speeds...also have you tried changing your memory timings...the memory timings might be too tight for those FSB speeds...

[mitor]

Yeah, like is said I got to 2.9 ish by going for a 3:4 ratio with the memory, if I tried 1:1 it hangs.

Still got the errors though, Are there any other testers out there? Sandra is ok at 2.9 but doesn't seem a very intensive program.

[glock19owner]

Sorry, didn't see the part about going up to 2.9v's...

here is a better memory tester...

Memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com/memt30.zip)

[mitor]

Thanks.....


Ah, I haven't got a floppy drive!



One of my "cough" friends was testing some 3.5" drives using my PC, one went bang and the floppy has not worked since....

[micamica1217]

well, you could get the pc3200 and see if you can do better.

yet your cpu may only top out at 3.0ghz.
that would be a waste.

is it a SL6RZ???

mica

[mitor]

okay....an sl6rz?


Is that the type of chip, i'm afraid you've lost me...

[micamica1217]

what S CODE do you have on the chip.

if you still have the box, look at it.

mica

and WELCOME TO THE FORUMS.

[batboy]

I don't see how you've gotten that much of an overclock using PC2700 RAM with the 3:4 mem ratio, that's amazing. If you use the 1:1 mem ratio, that will put your RAM back into spec at 2.9 gig. If this is an older CPU, you might be close to the max, but it sure looks like RAM is the bottleneck.

[mitor]

Thanks guys your help is really appreciated, I'm going to take back my 2700 tommorow and change it for a 3200, I'll let you know how I get on.

Shame about going back to 1/2GB ram tho'

:(

[PureBooYah]

you could have a B0 stepping 2.4b and if that's the case, 2.9ghz is as high as you're going to get.

download cpu-z (search google and it should be the first one) and see what stepping it says you have.

[mitor]

Right, got some 3200


Still playing around 2.9 (not stable enough)


CPU-Z

Says Family F Model 2 Stepping 7 Revision C1



What sort of speed should I aim for with the memory?

[batboy]

I would use a lower mem ratio first, maybe your CPU is maxed out. Not sure why you claim the 1:1 won't work, that makes no sense. You have a very nice overclock right now, are you sure that you want to spend mega bucks trying to get a few more MHz of speed (like most of us obsessively do here). Overclocking can became an expensive addiction you know.

[mitor]

If I could get 2.9 to be ROCK stable, I'd be happy...


but, I don't want to have to increase voltage too much.


I'ts mainly for gaming (looking towards HL2) and a little bit obsessive :)


Thanks for your help tho' guys