First Post and first OC. Is this a good OC? Abit IS7 and P42.4c HyperX PC3500

[billstuck]

Here is my setup. This is my first overclock ever and I've spent the last 13 hours straight trying to get it perfect.

P4 2.4c
Abit IS7
2x 256 HyperX PC3500

I tried a ton of combinations with the turbo, speedster, F1 on and off and all sorts of FSB combinations. i had to turn these GAT setting off cause the gave errors in memtestx86

The highest I can post at is 265cpu/212mhz memory using the 5:4 ratio = 3180mhz cpu, but as soon as I start Prime95 it craps out on the first test.

The highest I can get so far stable is 260cpu/208mhz memory using the 5:4 rati memtestx86 ran without errors and Prime 95 is only about 2 hours in.

Both of these scenerios are with memory timings of 2-7-3-3.

I'm sort of disappointed because this memory is rated at DDR443 2-7-3-3, but if I run it at anything over DDR417 I get memory errors all over the place and prime95 blows up on the first test.

Isn't this memory supposed to be faster? Anyways since this is my first ever attempt at overclocking I'm wondering if you guys think this is good or if my memory is crappy.

One other thing my cpu is at default voltage so I really think the memory or board is somehow holding me back. I tried to up the memory and CPU voltage, but prime95 actualy crashes with a higher memory voltage so I had to step it down to default.

I do a lot of MPEG1 video encoding which takes hours so I really want to tweak as much as I can out of this especially the memory bus because that really helps when encoding video

Awesome forum thanks guys...hope I posted in the right place

[Shade00]

If your memory isn't rated to run in dual channel at those speeds, then that may be the problem. If you can give the RAM some more juice that may help - try increasing the DIMM voltage and see if that helps stability.

Edit: WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!!!!!!!!!!!

[JaY_III]

try 3:2 and get some more MHz if the RAM is holind you back...
rember every 10% incress in system clock will give you about a 6-8% incress in system speed
every 10% increase in memory will give about a 1% system incress.

[billstuck]

I tried changing from 260fsb at 5:4 to 270fsb at 3:2 and it wouldn't even post, just a loud beep. I reset the CMOS and upped the CPU voltage to 1.6 and the same thing happened.

Does that make sense? The memory speed is way lower at 3:2 and even with higher cpu voltages it wasn't even close to booting. Anyone know what a long beep means?

Also, how do I find out if my memory is rated at those speeds in dual channel mode? I did do some testing earlier and was able to achieve higher memory bus speeds with only one chip installed, but when I put both in and did dual channel mode I couldn't even post a the speeds I was booting to in single channel mode.

Man I thought the HyperX PC3500 was good stuff. I dunno what's going on I'm a n00b :-)

[JaY_III]

1st thing to rember that thier is no such thing as PC3500. All it is, is overclocked PC3200 or PC2700. No spec exists for PC3500.
So no your RAM doesnt support PC3500 in duel chanel offically. What you bought was a pret tested overclocked stick of RAM.... What is the pretested dual channel max speed????? i am not sure, you will have to check the webpage fpr the RAM and seewhat the manufacturer says

As for your board not posting at the 3:2 ratio... do you have the latest BIOS? if you dont, thier is even a chance the RAM timmings you have set are not really even changing. So make sure you have the latest BIOS.

[billstuck]

I just did some searching and found some reviews that said this memory will run at DDR443 in dual channel. The reviews were for other boards...I couldn't find anything on mine.

I also double checked that I do have the latest bios for my Abit IS7 **grumble** humm

[Derivative]

Did you try to increase the voltage for your memory?

[billstuck]

Originally posted by Derivative
Did you try to increase the voltage for your memory?

Yes and oddly enough it crashes in Prime95 if I do with all the other setting remianing the same.

[TWY]

I needed 2.8V to get the HyperX stable on the IS7. Wow. Even when the RAM is not near DDR434 speed.

[batboy]

Try raising the memory voltage and relaxing the RAM timings (larger numbers=relaxing). That RAM uses Winbond BH-6 chips and does well at overclocking, but likes high voltage and hates aggressive settings. At the very least, drop down from CAS 2.0 to 2.5 and see what happens.

[billstuck]

Originally posted by batboy
Try raising the memory voltage and relaxing the RAM timings (larger numbers=relaxing). That RAM uses Winbond BH-6 chips and does well at overclocking, but likes high voltage and hates aggressive settings. At the very least, drop down from CAS 2.0 to 2.5 and see what happens.

I tried all of these combos and it just won't go any higher. I got it to 263fsb, but am not sure if it passes memtest or prime95 yet

[JaY_III]

so what you are saying is:
SLowing you RAM down didnt help, CAS and MHz
More Voltage to the RAM didnt help, it only made things worse.....
and the system will not boot at 3:2 settings.

aside from the 3:2 thing, you RAM may not be the problem here...
Is prime95 the only thing failing?

How hot is your CPU (you said you are running defualt Vcore)?
How hot is your NorthBridge?

Fell around your motherboard for hot Spots, if you find any, they need to be delt with.

Check your Voltage regulators, are the Mofests extremly hot?

[Maaij]

Kingston PC3500 doesnt work above around fsb260
5:4 or 3:2 doesnt matter
I return the Kingston for other ram and it post at fsb 280 using 5:4 :)

[ol' man]

Did you remember to

"disable"

Performence mode
command per clock
Read Delay Adjust

Leave read delay at "auto"
Refresh cycle time at "normal"

These are my settings with exact same setup.

With HT disabled I can run upto 3.4GHz on close to default voltages. With it enabled right now I can only run 3.2.

[ol' man]

Originally posted by Maaij
Kingston PC3500 doesnt work above around fsb260
5:4 or 3:2 doesnt matter
I return the Kingston for other ram and it post at fsb 280 using 5:4 :)

Mine does. Both my generic kingston and hyperX.

[Severian]

Considering the fact that it became unstable at 3:2 instead of 5:4, but at the same FSB, my guess is that the problem is with the Northbridge memory controller, not the memory.

Since the memory is becoming less stressed in 3:2, that would not cause a problem, but it is possible that it places more strain on the northbridge to run at 3:2 than 5:4. I don't know if you can up the vdd, but that might help. Also possibly trying to ventilate your system fan (if you have one) some more might work. Possibly take of the HS, see if it has proper thermal paste underneath it. They often only put a dab on.

But besides all that, it's actually a pretty decent overclock. 280 FSB is the boundry for what I would call an excellent one, but that often requires special cooling. As for a first try, definitely not bad.

[Amino]

I have the EXACT same system man. Yes, you're gonna b stuck around 265. I've gotten lucky with mine I think, cuz I'm getting to 270. I'd say that's a normal/good OC. Don't push it TOO hard. You don't wanna break your computer! :D

Any btw, don't worry about those stupid Mem tests and Prime95 burn in bull crap. That doesn't test your system "stability." It tests your system for its ability to run what is probably equivalent to running every program/game/video you have at the same time. Who the hell is going to do that? No one. If you can run 3DMark2001 like maybe 5 times in a row, you're fine.

[ol' man]

Without HT enabled I hit ~290FSB. I think my wall is my 2GB of ram and the PSU not being able to keep up. The CPU and motherboard are capable for sure. That is just alot of juice getting sucked down by my system.

3.2GHz w/HT, 2 GB of ram, 2 120mm fans, 1 80mm, etc..

I think my 430w true power has finally met its match. Wish I had a 500~600w.

[billstuck]

Thanks guys. To answer everyones questions.

Yes I have the GAT set to Auto, normal, auto, disabled, disabled.

The guy who mentioned the possible northbridge overheating. That is a good idea I'll pull the sink and fan and put some more cooling.

To be honest though the more I am using this system and playing if I did get it any higher I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the temps. I'm hoping this Abit board is giving high temp readings cause my CPU seems pretty darn hot under load.

I agree Prime95 and memtestx86 aren't the end all tell all, but I trust them cause I want a 100% stable system. I do lots of MPEG1 VCD encoding which requires hours of 100% CPU utilization. I can't have my system crapping out in the middle of that especially since it uses all sorts of floating point and other complex number crunching.

One cool thing is that my old 1.8ghz P4 with DDR266 took 4-5 hours to encode 90 minutes of video with AVISynth filters.

My new Rig OC'ed to 3.12 takes 1 hour 45 minutes :) :) :D
I'm happy! But the temps oh the temps....

Sometimes MBM 5 says 68C under load but if I touch the heatsink it isn't even hot. Warm but I figure it would burn my hand.???

[Derivative]

Yeah Abit gives temps higher than they actually are. I idle 45c and load at 55-60, and my hs is only very warm. i can keep my finger on there for a while.

[gabbax]

:D Hello,i have:

Abit IS-7 (moddet NB zink+50mm FAN coold)
P4 2.4C (costa 3317)
Prommy(mach I)
2.256 Twinmos/Win 400

Update to 14 BIOS.

319x12=3837 in Vcore 1.75-1.8
Mem 3:2 2.5-6-3-3
Stable? NOway