[adrift]

Hi, I'm a newbie at ocing and could use some help.

I've been reading threads and know that prime95 is THE stability test. I'm not trying to oc too much just 200 x 11 on a barton 2500+ and nf7-s 2.0 bios 20

My volts are:
vcore: 1.7
vdim: 2.6
vchipset: 1.7
agp: 1.5

corsair xms 11-3-3-2 (probably ch-5, not sure)

I read that with this increment of oc, 1.7 vcore should be enough, that 1.7 vdd is probably good (couldn't boot windows without it), and I'm not sure about the vdimm, I read here that ch-5 doesn't like high volts so I left it as is. Also, I tried 11-2-2-2 and windows won't boot.

Prime95 gives errors after like a minute. All I want is 200x11, its not even that high, dang it.

Oh, and according to mmb, +3 = 3.39, +5 = 5, +12 = 11.92, -12 = -12.27, and -5 = -5.24

I noticed that it says my vcore is 1.66 so it may be undervolting it, do I need 1.7 "real" volts? And core1 is 2.83, is that the vdimm?

I'd appreciate any help

[glock19owner]

sounds like you need to add more voltage to either the core or memory or both and you can try relaxing the timings of your ram also...and if adding voltage to either or does not correct the error issue and relaxing the memory timing do not help either...then you probably ran into your CPU's OC wall...

and yes core 1 should be your VDIMM...you sure you have your memory set at 2.6?

Also Prime95 is just ONE stability test...just becasue it is prime95 stable does not mean it will be 3d grahpic stable...this is why people run both prime95 and either 3d mark 2001 or 03...run 3d marks in a loop or 10+ after you find the prime95 stability Mhz for your CPU...if 3d marks crashes, even though prime95 was stable...it is still not 100% stable...

[adrift]

thanks glock!
It seems to have work so far, at least 1/2 hr in, much better than the minute.

I upped the vcore to 1.75 and vdimm to 2.7. I also relaxed the timing to 11-3-3-2.5

But shouldn't the corsair xms be able to hit 11-2-2-2? I mean I'm happy that its more stable and I don't plan to up the fsb anytime soon, but shouldn't the ram expected to perform better?

Thanks for the 3dmark tip, I'll definitely do that next.

If you could help me figure out how to tweak the ram, that'd be the best.

[glock19owner]

I can't really help on the Corsair since I am a Kingston and OCZ person...but if you have si sandra...run a memory benchmark and see where you stand...my kingston says it will run a 6-2-2-2, but I get better memory bandwidth at 8-4-4-2...go figure...

one thing though...I thought the XMS had the BH-5 chips like the kingstons do...also...are you running in dual channel and if so...have you tested each stick by themselves to make sure both sticks will run at the same timings at the same FSB?...your memory will only run as fast as the weakest stick when running in DC...

[adrift]

I have no idea about whether its bh-5 or ch-5, also, I'm only running 1 stick and it passed memtest so it should be ok. How can I find out which type of chip it is? I do have sandra and will run that benchmark.

prime95 just failed, much better than before but obviously not enough, I'll try bumping up the vdimm then the vcore.

thanks for the help, I guess all I can do it keep toying with the volts and see which is best. Could you tell me maybe what's the max I should have to go for my setup? I mean its not that high an overclock is it? Also, I'm air cooling and around 42C at load.

I appreciate the help

[adrift]

sandra gives 2819 / 2571 for int / float

that's lower than the reference for cl2.5 3200 by a bit.

Does raising the vdimm increase cpu stability if the timings are fairly relaxed?

[glock19owner]

raising the VDIMM should help increase the memory timings stability...wont have anything to do with the core (CPU) stability...just the memory stability...and if you have the heatspreaders on (which you should since they it is the XMS)...you should be able to reach around 3.1v without any problems...just keep an eye on your CPU temps when upping the core voltage...

Now if upping the core and memory voltage still fails...then you might of reached your CPU OC wall...and don't feel too bad if this happens...I have had CPU's that wouldnt OC past 100Mhz over default...no matter how much voltage I gave the CPU or memory...including relaxing the timings...

[adrift]

hmm, I was doing 166 x 12.5 before and it was fine, so I'll try 200x10 which is almost the same mhz and see. Thanks for the help, for my first oc attempt, it was fun and strangely addicting. I'm in the bios more than the OS sometimes. You gave me a lot of options, I guess I keep tinkering and see what I end up with.

[glock19owner]

Originally posted by adrift
strangely addicting

Thats a serious understatement...lol...got bit by the OC bug...and just becareful becasue that bug can get expensive feeding at times

Good luck on this and your future OC's...you know there will be future OC's now ...

[Dave65]

Originally posted by adrift
Hi, I'm a newbie at ocing and could use some help.

I've been reading threads and know that prime95 is THE stability test. I'm not trying to oc too much just 200 x 11 on a barton 2500+ and nf7-s 2.0 bios 20

My volts are:
vcore: 1.7
vdim: 2.6
vchipset: 1.7
agp: 1.5

corsair xms 11-3-3-2 (probably ch-5, not sure)

I read that with this increment of oc, 1.7 vcore should be enough, that 1.7 vdd is probably good (couldn't boot windows without it), and I'm not sure about the vdimm, I read here that ch-5 doesn't like high volts so I left it as is. Also, I tried 11-2-2-2 and windows won't boot.

Prime95 gives errors after like a minute. All I want is 200x11, its not even that high, dang it.

Oh, and according to mmb, +3 = 3.39, +5 = 5, +12 = 11.92, -12 = -12.27, and -5 = -5.24

I noticed that it says my vcore is 1.66 so it may be undervolting it, do I need 1.7 "real" volts? And core1 is 2.83, is that the vdimm?

I'd appreciate any help

The only wat I could get 200X11 is with timings 7-3-3-2 and 1.85 on VCORE.
This is my second NF7 the first has USB problems it was rev 1.2 and this new rev 2 dosen't perform like the old one did

Also my ram don't like higher voltage,I think 2.6 is all it wants,pretty bad for some of Corsairs finest.

[adrift]

yeah, its funny how much cash I'm now willing to spend on ocing, its like a disease or something, a money draining disease. And every purchase from now on is rated first by oc potential.

Dave95: I will try those timings, but I'm very hesitant on the vcore at 1.85, I don't think my cooling could handle it, but I'll give it a shot, I still can't get it stable

I hear all these high numbers here, 210+, and I thought 200x11 would be easy, doh

[adrift]

woohoo, for the first time ever, prime passed the first test of the torture test, I'll let it run a few hours and see. All I changed was the ram timing.

seriously, could someone explain to me how that made a difference to stability? I'm trying to learn more and it seems ram is a tricky thing in the overclocking process

[Dave65]

Originally posted by adrift
yeah, its funny how much cash I'm now willing to spend on ocing, its like a disease or something, a money draining disease. And every purchase from now on is rated first by oc potential.

Dave95: I will try those timings, but I'm very hesitant on the vcore at 1.85, I don't think my cooling could handle it, but I'll give it a shot, I still can't get it stable

I hear all these high numbers here, 210+, and I thought 200x11 would be easy, doh

Try it with a lower Vcore before using 1.85,you may not need that much..Good luck.

[adrift]

Well, no matter what the voltage I give it, I can't get it stable, the only thing left to try is to change the HSF on the NB and see if that makes a difference, it does get fairly hot and that may be why I can't get this rig stable.

I'll have to wait a while to get around to it with the madness that is the holidays.

[Dave65]

Originally posted by adrift
Well, no matter what the voltage I give it, I can't get it stable, the only thing left to try is to change the HSF on the NB and see if that makes a difference, it does get fairly hot and that may be why I can't get this rig stable.

I'll have to wait a while to get around to it with the madness that is the holidays.

Yeah but 11X200 should be easy to get even with the stock north bridge fan.

[Ducker]

seriously, could someone explain to me how that made a difference to stability? I'm trying to learn more and it seems ram is a tricky thing in the overclocking process

Adrift, check out this link, it will tell you everything you'll want to know about BIOS and RAM settings. It really is a must read for serious oc'ers.

[Dave65]

Originally posted by Ducker


Adrift, check out this link, it will tell you everything you'll want to know about BIOS and RAM settings. It really is a must read for serious oc'ers.

I agree it is worth the read..

[adrift]

checked out the guide, good info, however I feel that my ram should be able to reach the tighter timings. That's not even an issue though cause I've been trying to get it stable at loose timings 8-3-3-2.5

glock said I might've hit the wall and I'm running out of ways to say it ain't so

by the way, if prime95 give like a rounding error rather than stating hardware, is there a difference?

[adrift]

ok, so it seems I've finally got it stable, I had to format my harddrive cause I was upgrading and reinstalled windows, and at vcore 1.9 I got 200x11 stable where before the reinstall it wasn't stable, wierd.

At load its 48C, my view is as long as its under 50C its alright or am I wrong?

11-2-2-2 timing I've heard is good for nforce2 mb so I've it at that.

I've read some stuff about burning in, does that mean it'll use stock volts for the higher speeds, meaning if I burn in the cpu will I be able to lower the vcore from 1.9? I'm confused

[Ducker]

I've read some stuff about burning in, does that mean it'll use stock volts for the higher speeds, meaning if I burn in the cpu will I be able to lower the vcore from 1.9? I'm confused

It may not work oc'ed at stock volts, but at a lower voltage than before burn in. So yes, if the burn in helps, you would be able to run lower than 1.9. But burning in doesn't seem to work all the time for everyone. But I'd definitely go ahead & burn it in. It very well may work for you. Good luck.