Need Help With Ocing Xp2700

[boaz632]

Hello all,

I need some help with ocing a xp2700. I have a soyo dragon blk kt400 mobo. If you need anymore info let me know.

[c627627]

Brand of Power Supply.
Type of RAM.
Type of Cooling, retail?


Read mobo manual and this
http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207088

Lot's more help will be on the way.

Your chip averages 2.3 GHz but only if the rest of the components are up to par.

FSB is more important then raw MHz but your mobo is not PCI locked limiting you to high 180s safe FSB max, maybe 190 FSB at the most if you want to stay on this side of safe since all your components will be running out of specs without a PCI locked mobo.

Multiplier should be adjusted accordingly.

If you're using retail cooling heat will be a major problem when you increase voltage and FSB.


Welcome to these forums.

[trinketsummoner]

You can see my sig to see how far ive gotten mine, but i do have a different board than you and it took some time to find the sweet spot :)

Like the post above me states, more info from you = more help :)

[shiyan]

I agree with what the other 2 have already said.

that guide is very good.

what I can say so far is:

highest PCI divider on your board is 5, you don't have PCI lock so the highest fsb you can 100% safely run would be 166fsb. That way you run your PCI at 33Mhz.

if you have your data backed up then you could try for more.

some reviews say that your board has the 1/6 PCI divider but I'm rather skeptical of that. most KT400 motherboard only have up to 1/5, and one reviewer tried the 1/6 divider and the motherboard failed to boot.

I think the 1/6 divider might be something motherboard manufacturers promised but never delivered on.

If you get the 1/6 divider to work, good for you! I'd like to know if you do.

here are a few reviews of your board which might be interesting:
http://www.hexus.net/review.php?review=461
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/soyokt400/
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.html?i=1714
http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2002q3/kt400-dragon/index.x?pg=1
http://www.pureoc.com/soyokt400_1.asp

[boaz632]

I have tried to oc this chip but I just can't do it. I had no problem ocing a xp2400 but I can't do this one. The rest of the my system consist of:

soyo sy kt 400 mb
amd xp2700
pny g*force fx 5200 ultra 128 ddr
p4 300 watt power supply
1G pc2100 ddr

I know I don't have much to work with but I know it can be done. I have read literature and nothing seems to work. I have gotten it to where it works as a xp 2100, 1500, and 960. I want to say to h_ll with it:mad: Somebody in computer land somewhere HELP!!!!!!!!!

[georgelogy]

What is it exactly that doesn't work?

Are you reducing your memory timings and increasing you FSB?
Are you changing your multiplier?

One thing you might try is running you memory asynchronously with your FSB, and see if that helps.

[boaz632]

Originally posted by georgelogy
What is it exactly that doesn't work?

Are you reducing your memory timings and increasing you FSB?
Are you changing your multiplier?

One thing you might try is running you memory asynchronously with your FSB, and see if that helps.

I probably just don't know what I am doing. I tried adjusting just about everything to no avail. I might just put my xp1700 chip back in. I need some detailed instructions or something.

[c627627]

No name power supply may be the source of the problem.

It's not the watts as this 350 W Fortron beats 500 W no namers:
http://www.newegg.com/app/Viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=manufactory&catalog=58&manufactory=1919&description=&srchFor=FSP350-60PN%20atx12v

PC2100 means you have just the /4 divider since can't reach 166 FSB with it, meaning you can do low 150s FSB at the most, probably 140-something FSB, depending on the specific PC2100.

Note that 2700+ is a 166 FSB default CPU that's meant to run with PC2700 RAM at default.

[boaz632]

Originally posted by c627627
No name power supply may be the source of the problem.

It's not the watts as this 350 W Fortron beats 500 W no namers:
http://www.newegg.com/app/Viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=manufactory&catalog=58&manufactory=1919&description=&srchFor=FSP350-60PN%20atx12v

PC2100 means you have just the /4 divider since can't reach 166 FSB with it, meaning you can do low 150s FSB at the most, probably 140-something FSB, depending on the specific PC2100.

Note that 2700+ is a 166 FSB default CPU that's meant to run with PC2700 RAM at default.


So you are saying that I need to change my memory and power supply?

[shiyan]

hmm... if you have PC2100, you might need to run a low FSB, like 133, and a high multiplier. Like 15~17x.

your PC2100 RAM probably won't want to run at 166Mhz. If it does, then good, run it with FSB at 166Mhz, and use the 1/5 PCI divider.

you might have to increase memory voltage to something like 2.7v for that to happen though.

try that first. If that does not work, then it could be due to your power supply.

in that case get a Fortron 350w. good quality but still cheap.

[c627627]

Well you have 1 Gb of pc2100 and the RAM will run only as fast as the slowest stick.

It's highly unlikely you will hit anything in the high 150s FSB with PC2100 RAM.

PC2700 sticks will allow you to run FSB from 166 FSB and up.

A name brand power supply is probably the number one problem component because people think it's about the number of watts on the label.

All major overclocks without exception require name brand PSUs such as:
All Antecs (Channel Well) are good (Antec True Power is better), Fortron (Sparkle), Sirtec (Enlight, Vantec, Thermaltake), or more expensive Herolchi (Heroichi), PC Power and Cooling, or not as good but not dangerous HEC, TTGI, Zalman (Aopen).

What you can do is increase the multiplier and keep the FSB low and see how that goes, but bear in mind that cheap PSUs can take out your hard drives if pushed too far. It happened to me.

[boaz632]

Well, I just change my fsb to 133mhz, pci divider /5, memory volt. 2.7 and multiplier to 71x. My system reads as a AMD XP2266MHZ but my system reads 2.27ghz. I believe we struck gold:D :D :D I believe I do better c627627 keep it coming:eek:

[c627627]

Wait, 133/4 = specs and 166/5= the same thing.

/5 divider usually kicks in with 166 FSB with mobos that do not have PCI locks like yours.

You can probably do 140-something FSB with /4 divider and adjust the multiplier accordingly to equal the MHz you want to shoot for.

Keep the Memory Frequency at 100% if you have that option so your FSB is in sync.

[shiyan]

wo! yeah... don't select 1/5 for 133fsb. use 1/4 for 133fsb. you just want your PCI to be as close to 33Mhz as possible.

sorry if I confused you there.

also at 133FSB you might not need 2.7v for your RAM. Try to see if 2.6v or 2.5v are enough.

2266Mhz on the CPU is very good though!

just make sure it's stable. test stability with Prime 95: http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

select torture test. if it fails it means that you need to have more cooling or more voltage or less speed.

[boaz632]

Okay I got 2304mhz 2.3ghz!!! That's what I am talking about:D
shiyan, c627627 I thank you very much for the help and learning session. I crave for info so I would love to learn more. Bring it on.

[shiyan]

Very nice! What CPU voltage is that at? Got any screenshots?

(to make a screenshot just press the Print Screen key right of F12, and then paste it into a new image in a photo editor.)

and then just stress test to make sure you are stable.

what heatsink + fan are you using? are your temps still okay?

[boaz632]

My cpu voltage is 1.64. What is a screenshot? I press that button but nothing happen. How long should I run the stress test for? I am using the stock AMD heatsink and 2 fans. My temp is 48 degrees C.

[shiyan]

1.64v, nice! you have quite a nice chip then! furthest I can get on 1.65v is 2200Mhz.

when you press that button the screenshot is put into the copy and paste buffer. you then need to open something like Paint, and paste. you can then save that image.

you let that "torture test" program run as long as possible, but if after say a day and it is still going then you are most probably stable with P95 at that particular setting.

[boaz632]

Originally posted by shiyan
1.64v, nice! you have quite a nice chip then! furthest I can get on 1.65v is 2200Mhz.

when you press that button the screenshot is put into the copy and paste buffer. you then need to open something like Paint, and paste. you can then save that image.

you let that "torture test" program run as long as possible, but if after say a day and it is still going then you are most probably stable with P95 at that particular setting.

I ran into some problems when trying to run that program so I increased the voltage to 1.75. Let me know if I did something wrong.

[c627627]

Booting into Windows does not make a stable overclock. Expect between 2200 and 2300 MHz stable overclock with 1.8 or 1.85 Vcore voltage. If you get more, be surprised and happy. There are way too many people at the forums imho who think over 2300 is nothing special. It very much is. Stable overclocks above 2.3 are not in the majority.

Here's what you do:

To test the stability of overclocked CPU, download the latest bug fixed version of Prime95:
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

Double click on PRIME95.EXE to start the program.

Just Stress Testing (if prompted) > OK >
Options > Torture Test > Blend (if prompted) > OK


The program should not give any errors.
It may be necessary to run the program 12-24 hours to make sure an overclocked system is stable (no program errors displayed).


If you get errors only after several hours, this is a result of slight instability because the system is running with little or no margin. It's stable enough to boot and to be moderately stressed, but as soon as the system is under enough load to go over that critical point, it will freeze. To be 100% stable, Prime95 should run 12-24 hours without any errors.

The point of testing is to see if you get errors or not thus testing the stability. The meaning of errors themselves is not as important.


Running Prime95 Torture Test for 5 to 30 minutes is enough to get a feeling about general stability. If it seems to be stable, increase the FSB (with 0.025V Vcore increase if needed), or increase the multiplier by 0.5.

Reboot and run Prime95 Torture Test for 5 to 30 minutes and repeat this until the Program displays errors.
It's then time to back down and repeat the Torture Test until there are no errors for at least 12 hours.

It's OK to use the computer while Prime95 Torture Test is running in the background.

[boaz632]

I have to get up at 500am to go to work so I don't think it is a good idea to leave the cpu on unattended. If my system is stable at this point, I don't think I will go any further in making it faster. I am going to upgrade my memory and power supply soon. Once I master this, I am going to learn how to oc my video card next.

[shiyan]

I agree with all of c627627's last post!

Plus, once you start increasing your voltages, you do have to watch your temperatures because you are using the stock heatsink.

If your temperatures creep into the high 50's (Celsius), then I'd advise you to back off the voltage and decrease your CPU speed. Then once you get a better heatsink you can use the higher voltages and speeds again.

edit:

just saw your post.

good idea.

just make sure you read up a lot beforehand.

[boaz632]

My temp now is staying between 56 & 57 (Celsius). Should I back down?

[shiyan]

It's not in the damaging temperatures yet, but slightly high. If you are using 1.75v, then I'd advise backing down to 1.65v for the time being until you get a better heatsink.

You might still be able to run at around 2200Mhz. You won't see that much of a difference between that and 2300Mhz.

[boaz632]

What heatsink do you recommend?

[shiyan]

Thermalright is the way to go.

If you can still find them for $20, then the SK7 is great.
Otherwise the SLK700, SLK800, SLK900 and SLK947 are all very good heatsinks.

just stick a 80mm Thermaltake Smartfan 2 on one of those (not sure if it fits on the SLK700 though...), and with the adjustable speed control, you can adjust the fan speed to how cool/noisy you want it.

you can have a look at this page for the heatsink performance rankings: http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/

another possibility was the Zalman 7000A-Cu or AlCu, but there's no mention of Soyo motherboards on their motherboard compatibility page, so I can't recommend that cooler. http://www.zalman.co.kr/usa/product/cnps7000a-462_motherboard_list_eng.html

[c627627]

Just read about this:
http://www.svcompucycle.com/thslcl.html
When ordering SLK-900A from svc, try entering this new code
vf900a
you just might get it for $19.99 (!)

I got it for $19.99 last time they had the $10 off code.


Thermalright SK6+ is the cheapest option but it only takes 60 mm fans (unless you mount them irregularly) and is $15 now, used to be $10.

Thermalright SK 7 offers best price to performance ratio and is $20 now, used to be $15.

Then you have the $30 Thermalright SLK900 and Thermalright SLK800, top of the line but surprisingly not all that much better performers than the SK-7.

Thermaltake and most other brands perform worse then Thermalright.

Thermal compound comes with this but you can get new Arctic Silver 5 separately.
Very important to apply it properly, like this:

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_alumina_instructions.htm

Don't forget a fan, although they don't make best heatsinks, thermaltake makes some of the best fans Tt Smart Fan II.


Video Card overclocking:
Click on "I agree" in the middle of this page to download coolbits.reg.

http://download.guru3d.com/pafiledb.php?action=license&id=1&file=201

Double click on it to import it to your Windows registry.

Reboot, then
Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings TAB > Advanced… button > GeForce TAB>
You'll see Clock Frequencies right there.

But then 5200 is not the card to spend your $ on. Here's why:
http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=196482

[boaz632]

Thanks guys but I placed all my settings back to factory (xp2700+ 2.17ghz) until I upgrade my power supply, memory and cooling.