P3 550E OC to 733?!

[Rick G]

OK...I've been all over the Overclockers Forum and CPU database. Everything I read suggests that I should be able to OC to 733 with my current config. There are several folks who have replied to my previous posts, who are in the same boat as I am; but numerous entries on the CPU database suggesting 733 with no problems - specifically with my mobo and similar components. Here's my basic config:

P550E@616
Abit BH6 v. 1.01
Micron PC133 CL2 SDRAM
Visiontek Xtasy GeForce 32
Win XP

I've gone through every hole I can think of, including the NVTweak for video card frequency changes. Haven't been able to figure out how to change the mobo AGP 2X transfer rate to 4X, but don't think it has any bearing on getting a boot up at 733. i.e. I've been able to boot up at 682, but with resulting video artifacts.

If there's anyone out there with the same mobo, I would love to get all of your bios settings (cpu, chipset, pci, cmos, etc.).

If there weren't so many testimonials to the 733 OC I would have given up and gone for another mobo/cpu combo. I'm sure there's a 733Mhz treasure here, and I feel bound and determined to find the key.

Any help from you fellow treasure hunters would be greatly appreciated, Rick

[funnyperson1]

those people got to 733 because they were extremely lucky...im sorry but i doubt anything short of a new cpu can get you to that speed.....say a 700MHZ PIII goes to like 933-1GHZ.........now thats nice,.....

[Rick G]

FunnyPerson,
Looks like you've been pretty lucky with over a 40% gain. I feel like a pauper with a mere 12% increase. Any tips on a config with good overclocking potential?

[batboy]

I used to have one of those BH6 mobos, fine board in it's day and still makes a good platform for older Celerons, BUT it does not have the 1/4 PCI/AGP divider needed to run 133 FSB. Also, you can't get it to run at 4X AGP because the board only supports up to 2X AGP. My guess, even with good cooling and a boast in voltage, you'll never be stable above about 115 FSB with your current system.

[funnyperson1]

like i said my secret is luck, you unfortunately have a katmai core which was only designed to go up to 600, thats why the coppermines came out after that, soi that they could bump up the speed, as for a good config, i like my mobo, because unlike the famed bxes it officially supports 133mhz......the p3 700s are legendary overclockers getting at least to 933, and most go higher.....i just happened upon a good chip....also if you dont wanna upgrade your system get a nice cooler, i can vouch for the VGS08H....should be enough for a decent oc, or if youve got the money go for a Vos32, or a P3125.....cooling is the key, but i really think youve reached your chips limit, i suggest you buy a new cpu and if you have good quality pci cards, you should be fine......if it does come down to upgrading your mobo i suggest you go amd because the price/performance is much better.....also a good choice are the Cellly 800s as these are almost always getting to 1.1GHZ.....

[Rick G]

My thanks to all of you folks that responded to my query...Your answers are bittersweet. On the one hand, I trust - based on your insights - that I'll not be able to achieve the results I was hoping for, on the other hand I'll be able to let go of my frustrating search for the pot of gold.

My only regret is having to give up to luck that Sisoft Sandra tells me that my cpu has a Coppermine core, which I thought would be capable of more; and that the Overclockers database entries (not to mention the cpu/mobo's previous owner) suggested same board & cpu with solid 733 performance in spite of the lack of 1/4 options.

Could probably just go for a gig+ cpu and mobo, but am having a blast squeezing every last drop out of the intermediate processors. Your shared experiences really help...an outstanding source of knowledge.

Thanks again, Rick

[Yodums]

Ugh if you had a Katmai core then you wouldn't be able to go much higher.. You'll need something like a ca2 stepping or the early cB0 ones I believe to have a good chance of hitting 733..

Its most likely the old systems with the Katmai core crap out with a 50-100mhz increase... Good Luck Though

I've only been able to go from 500 Katmai to a 575 I can go as high as 620 but my L2 Cache Lat is being forced to be set high and it won't detect the L2 anymore in windows so I was forced to go back to 575 where the L2 Cache was 1 and where it detected!

[funnyperson1]

wait intels charts say that there are lenty of coppermines at that speed, hey tell me what the default voltage is on that chip, if its 1.65, then you have a great chance of getting like 800 with good cooling....it the default is 2.00V then you dont have much ocing room...

[Yodums]

If your default is 2v means you have a katmai the 1.6 are the Coppermine

[Rick G]

FunnyPerson,
The default voltage is 1.65. Is hope still alive? Don't toy with me...

[funnyperson1]

yes....you really have a coppermine :)....now make sure you have some good ram and some high quality pci cards and your ready to roll :)....

[Yodums]

What fan are you using the stock one(Hope you change that soon if you are using a stock fan)? .. Start cranking up the FSB slowly and see what you can reach at when it becomes unstable you should crank up the voltages bits by bits..

But with the stock cooling if you are using it currently then don't go too far until you get a far better cooler.

[Rick G]

The PCI cards include a Soundblaster Live, 3Com 10/100, and Adaptec 2940UW SCSI.

Started the FSB at 100, went to 112 with no problems. When I go to 124, I get video artifacts, but am able to keep it hanging on; therefore my attempt to play with the video clock. When I go to 133, I never get to the Windows startup and get a black screen after the SCSI device discoveries (just before the bios settings display)...it locks hard requiring a power off. My next move (at 133) was to up the core voltage in increments of .05. Went all the way to 1.85 before deciding the voltage was not going to help.

Think I should start eliminating PCI cards to see if I can past the lock up?

[Rick G]

Forgot to mention that I have a side panel removed. Sensors indicate cpu at 87-89 degrees.

[funnyperson1]

first i suggest you get some good cooling, i had thought my video card was holding me back and then i got a new heatsink/fan comboa and gained from 780-852 highest spped.....i suggested some good ones in my previous post....

[Rick G]

OK...I'm back in the quest. What kind of temps should I be trying to acheive? I didn't think 89 degrees was all that inhibiting.

[Yodums]

Are posting are you actually going into Windows or..?

Monitor your tempertures don't go too far until you get a far better cooler?

You have Slot 1 Correct?

[funnyperson1]

it depends on whether your mobo supports the intel internal diode, and make sure that temp is in Fahrenheit otherwise YOU REALLY NEED BETTER COOLING.......if that temp is in celcius, youre lucky your chip hasnt died yet.....if you mobo has an external temp sensor its probably very off......

[Rick G]

Yodums...at FSB 124 and below I get into Win XP. At 133 I get through mem check and SCSI discovery but lock up before getting to the bios display or Windows startup.

[Rick G]

Must be getting tired...Forgot to answer the Slot 1 question. Answer = yes.

[funnyperson1]

do us a favor, boot into windows at fsb 112 and report the temps by MBM5.1.....thatll help us a lot, also make sure to say if its in Celcius or Fahrenheit...

[Rick G]

MBM is what I used for the reported temps. Temps were reported in Farenheit. 87 degrees at 112. A minor increase to 89 degrees at 124. But all this is happening in a few minutes. I've never really left it at 124 for more than a few minutes.

[batboy]

Those Abit BH6 mobos do not have a CPU thermister, only a system probe. To have any chance of success, you have to work on cooling. Like several others have told you, you need better cooling. Also, at 124 FSB you're running the PCI bus at over 41 MHz, that's way out of spec. Sounds like your vid card is very unhappy at that speed too. I thought that mobo had a setting in between 112 and 124? I've scrambled a harddrive once at 40 FSB. It's tough to get a system to run stable at those speeds.

[Rick G]

Hey...I just noticed that MBM has two different board sensor settings...LM79 and LM79 Tekram Probe. Each reports a different termperature 91 and 132 degrees, respectively. Does anyone know what Tekram Probe is?

[funnyperson1]

the 132 is probably much more accurate a temp....

[Yodums]

The BH6 have a 1/4 divider?

[Rick G]

Ufortunately, the only dividers are 1/3. I have the Abit BH6 version 1.01 board. I'm not sure, but I think the 1.1 boards provided for the 1/4. FSB increments are 100, 112, 124 and 133. Since the cpu is Intel, the multiplier and signal are locked down.