Sempron 3100+ overclocking

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 02:09 PM

So after reading this article, I decided to pick one up and a DFI Lanparty board and I have to say I'm pretty well satisfied with it. Compared to previous motherboards I've owned, the DFI board has about a million and a half bios settings so it took a bit of fiddling to get it to overclock things right. Never have I seen so many RAM timing adjustments. I don't even know what all of them do. And then there's this Hyper Transport business that I didn't bother to read up on and apparently it plays an important role in CPU/FSB/RAM speeds.

But for $215 shipped, I got 2.48Ghz out of it at 48-50C load (varies with room temp) and prime stable. My goal is 2.6ghz but that might be asking a bit much. I've got 512MB of PQI Turbo (2-2-2-5) coming to replace my Corsair Value Select and I might even be able to run everything 1:1. I'll benchmark everything soon and let you know how it does. I don't think the 256kb cache is going to make a huge difference.

Jess1313 · 10-31-04, 04:25 PM

glad to here man.......

yes IMHO, the DFI board is quiet a good board, and the bios, is very flexable.

the bios has more opions than i can shake a stick at, and i can shake a stick at quiet a few things mind you

if you need some help with some of the timings, read over this...

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=329627

-Jess-

CandymanCan · 10-31-04, 04:27 PM

Im thinking of picking one up (the DFI) just get away from the Vcore bug that haunts this board, it sucks being stuck with only 1 bios that doesnt bug out and i have been using this bios for months, and it is dated almost 6 months old now and still epox refuses thier is a vcore bug

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 05:59 PM

Results so far:

3DMark03: 4164
PCMark04: 4571 (System benchmark only with Free version)
Super Pi: 39 seconds for 1M

I know 3DMark03 isn't very CPU dependant, but 3DMark01 doesn't run for some reason. It tries to load and does nothing.

What other benchmarks should I run?

AC Slater · 10-31-04, 08:17 PM

Nice work dude, I love my 3100+ and VNF3-250. What voltage are you running it at?

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 09:27 PM

1.7 right now, but I could probably drop it. I raised it to go to 285 on the FSB but it would error on Prime. I'll let it run at 275 for a while before I try raising it again.

alecela · 10-31-04, 09:48 PM

Nice one Alacritan.

Just put together one of those Dicey rig w/ Soltek EQ3801, nForce3-250GB based mobo. To be honest, the BIOS wasn't nearly as limited as I imagined. Max Vcore 1.55v, with Vdimm and Vagp all adjustable. With Vcore around 1.50v, I've managed around 2.3Ghz so far. I suspect with a full blown mobo I can probably go up higher. The HSF that came with the rig is actually quite good, under 50C full load @ 1.525V.

Just curious what's the max. Vcore settings for the DFI or any other full blown mobo for this Sempron?

Here's my score of 4100 on PCMark04 @ around 250FSB x 9 without much tweaking on memory. (Crappy memory so don't expect much and it's a rig I built for my cousin...)

http://service.futuremark.com/compare?pcm04=2636455

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 10:06 PM

The max Vcore on the DFI is 2.1V. I should probably put the Vcore back to 1.6 on mine since I dropped the FSB. With luck I'll be able to run my PQI Turbo 1:1 with the FSB and really get some wicked performance out of it. Is your cousin's rig on stock cooling or what?

I hope those rigs are folding btw. Maybe you'd like to fold for Pro/Cooling?

alecela · 10-31-04, 10:17 PM

Yes it's bone stock, which is why I'm impressed. With tight space/limited airflow I can understand the logic behind limiting the max Vcore to 1.55v now...

I'm expecting the S939 winchester 3000+ soon for my new gig. Will see how it goes...

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 10:47 PM

Curiosity got the better of me and I'm now at 2.56Ghz at 2.01V. YES!

I'll have to bump it up to 2.1V (the board's max) and see if I can get it over 2.6ghz and still be Prime stable.

Buhammot · 10-31-04, 11:15 PM

Urm... i dunno if that is anywhere near safe voltages, but, if it works, all the better.

Reefa_Madness · 10-31-04, 11:26 PM

Nice going there.

About ten days ago or so (give or take), I read that same article and got the same bug. Ordered the same 3100/DFI board to go with that same PQI ram (which I got a few months ago).

Then I cancelled the order. Just decided to stick to my original plans which was socket 939.

Now I'm expecting delivery of a socket 939 3000/MSI mobo within a day or two. The boards were close in price and although the cpu was about $50 more, it is still a pretty affordable entry level setup in order to be able to play with the A64. In alot of ways, it is very similar to what you've done, just socket 754 vs 939.

I just couldn't let everyone else have all the fun with these A64s. This will be my first attempt with these guys so I've been trying to read up and get somewhat up to speed.

Good luck at hitting your goal. You are mighty close.

Alacritan · 10-31-04, 11:27 PM

It's been shown that so long as a processor is properly cooled, voltage is not an issue. Cathar has run his Barton at 2.1V a very long time.

I'd only be concerned if I got close to 70C. Xbit Labs' Sempron got up to 79C and was still stable. That's a bit too hot for my tastes. But I'm not concerned with a 60-62C load temp. Stock A64's get up to the mid 60's with stock aircooling at stock speeds and they're the same architecture (K8) as the Sempron 3100+. Besides, I have the motherboard set to shut off at 65C anyway, so there's no way I could fry my chip.

Alacritan · 11-01-04, 12:00 AM

Well 2.6Ghz is a no go for now. Wouldn't even finish loading Windows, even with 2.1 Vcore. Looks like it's time to get some better northbridge cooling. I replaced the craptacular stock NB heatsink with a better passive Zalman one (the big blue one, not the gold one), but that might not be enough. I don't really like Danger Den products, so I don't want a Maze 4 chipset block, and I don't really want any more aluminum in my loop so I don't want a Swiftech NB block. But what else is there? Those Asetek ones look like crap. I might have to get a European block if I want all copper. Damn.

I think I'll also invest in a second rad. You can never have too much cooling. Maybe a chiller is in order...

CandymanCan · 11-01-04, 02:59 AM

A Barton is Diff then S754 cpu. Hell i may be wrong about this but i do know running any Athlon 64 above 1.8v will deff hurt it. I ran my Barton up to 2.3v 2600mhz, it was a old AQXEA Desktop barton, so cathar doesnt even come close to what i have done to my cpu's and just to let ya know iran 2.2v for over 6 months.

I have to admit when i tell someone to not use a certai namount of voltage i say it so they dont take the chance of killing thier cpu, but i have taken my A64 to 1.85v, my Barton to 2.3v, and my memory to 3.7v, and i have had not one problem in doing so on any system. But going to 2.1v on a Sempron kinda seems to high thier

Alacritan · 11-01-04, 04:44 PM

About the same as running a Barton at 2.3v. 50% over stock roughly. Either my RAM or my northbridge doesn't such a high FSB though since it wouldn't finish loading Windows at 2.6Ghz. But I've only got a passive NB heatsink so that is most likely the problem. And I've got some PQI Turbo on the way so this should be sorted soon. I just wish I could get a good all copper NB waterblock.

What's your load temps like on the A64 btw?

jenko · 11-02-04, 06:14 AM

How does this 3100+ sempron compare to a A64 because it uses the clawhammer core but alot cheaper!
Is it a 64bit cpu? Why arent these chips popluar?Sorry for stupid questions but people dont talk about these chips.

Quailane · 11-02-04, 09:51 AM

It has less cache and no 64-bit capabilities. Also people don't like it because of the 9 multiplier. The cache can make a difference in games like doom3.

10-31-04, 02:09 PM	Thread Starter #1
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	Sempron 3100+ overclocking So after reading this article, I decided to pick one up and a DFI Lanparty board and I have to say I'm pretty well satisfied with it. Compared to previous motherboards I've owned, the DFI board has about a million and a half bios settings so it took a bit of fiddling to get it to overclock things right. Never have I seen so many RAM timing adjustments. I don't even know what all of them do. And then there's this Hyper Transport business that I didn't bother to read up on and apparently it plays an important role in CPU/FSB/RAM speeds. But for $215 shipped, I got 2.48Ghz out of it at 48-50C load (varies with room temp) and prime stable. My goal is 2.6ghz but that might be asking a bit much. I've got 512MB of PQI Turbo (2-2-2-5) coming to replace my Corsair Value Select and I might even be able to run everything 1:1. I'll benchmark everything soon and let you know how it does. I don't think the 256kb cache is going to make a huge difference.
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 04:25 PM	#2
Jess1313 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The DFI AMD Forum......	glad to here man....... yes IMHO, the DFI board is quiet a good board, and the bios, is very flexable. the bios has more opions than i can shake a stick at, and i can shake a stick at quiet a few things mind you if you need some help with some of the timings, read over this... http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=329627 -Jess- __________________ Folding for Team 32 Heat
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 04:27 PM	#3
CandymanCan Disabled Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Woodbridge, Va	Im thinking of picking one up (the DFI) just get away from the Vcore bug that haunts this board, it sucks being stuck with only 1 bios that doesnt bug out and i have been using this bios for months, and it is dated almost 6 months old now and still epox refuses thier is a vcore bug
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 05:59 PM	Thread Starter #4
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	Results so far: 3DMark03: 4164 PCMark04: 4571 (System benchmark only with Free version) Super Pi: 39 seconds for 1M I know 3DMark03 isn't very CPU dependant, but 3DMark01 doesn't run for some reason. It tries to load and does nothing. What other benchmarks should I run?
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 08:17 PM	#5
AC Slater Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Spokane	Nice work dude, I love my 3100+ and VNF3-250. What voltage are you running it at?
	QUOTE Thanks

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10-31-04, 09:27 PM	Thread Starter #6
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	1.7 right now, but I could probably drop it. I raised it to go to 285 on the FSB but it would error on Prime. I'll let it run at 275 for a while before I try raising it again.
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 09:48 PM	#7
alecela Registered Join Date: Feb 2002	Nice one Alacritan. Just put together one of those Dicey rig w/ Soltek EQ3801, nForce3-250GB based mobo. To be honest, the BIOS wasn't nearly as limited as I imagined. Max Vcore 1.55v, with Vdimm and Vagp all adjustable. With Vcore around 1.50v, I've managed around 2.3Ghz so far. I suspect with a full blown mobo I can probably go up higher. The HSF that came with the rig is actually quite good, under 50C full load @ 1.525V. Just curious what's the max. Vcore settings for the DFI or any other full blown mobo for this Sempron? Here's my score of 4100 on PCMark04 @ around 250FSB x 9 without much tweaking on memory. (Crappy memory so don't expect much and it's a rig I built for my cousin...) http://service.futuremark.com/compare?pcm04=2636455 __________________ new: i5-2500k * Asus Maximux IV Gene-Z * Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600CL9 4Gbx2 * Powercolor 6950 2GB GDDR5 Dual Bios * Plextor PX-128M2S 128Gb * Seagate ST2000DL003 * LG CA30L BD-DVD Lightscribe * Corsair HX620 * ThermalRight Venomous X + TR-FDB-12-1600 * Silverstone FT03 old: A64X2 4200+ Toledo @ 2.9G @ 264 x 11 @ 1.425 Vcore * Asus A8N SLI SE Bios 502 * Corsair TwinX1024-3200C2 1GBx4 @ 208:CL2/1T/3/7/3 * MSI GTX560 Twin Frozer II OC @ 870/4080 * Seagate Cuda 7200.12 SATA 500GB * LiteOn iHES208 BD * Silverstone ST-45SF * ThermalRight XP-90 * Coolermaster Aerogate 3 Fan controller * Coolermaster Cavalier T02
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 10:06 PM	Thread Starter #8
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	The max Vcore on the DFI is 2.1V. I should probably put the Vcore back to 1.6 on mine since I dropped the FSB. With luck I'll be able to run my PQI Turbo 1:1 with the FSB and really get some wicked performance out of it. Is your cousin's rig on stock cooling or what? I hope those rigs are folding btw. Maybe you'd like to fold for Pro/Cooling?
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 10:17 PM	#9
alecela Registered Join Date: Feb 2002	Yes it's bone stock, which is why I'm impressed. With tight space/limited airflow I can understand the logic behind limiting the max Vcore to 1.55v now... I'm expecting the S939 winchester 3000+ soon for my new gig. Will see how it goes... __________________ new: i5-2500k * Asus Maximux IV Gene-Z * Corsair Vengeance DDR3-1600CL9 4Gbx2 * Powercolor 6950 2GB GDDR5 Dual Bios * Plextor PX-128M2S 128Gb * Seagate ST2000DL003 * LG CA30L BD-DVD Lightscribe * Corsair HX620 * ThermalRight Venomous X + TR-FDB-12-1600 * Silverstone FT03 old: A64X2 4200+ Toledo @ 2.9G @ 264 x 11 @ 1.425 Vcore * Asus A8N SLI SE Bios 502 * Corsair TwinX1024-3200C2 1GBx4 @ 208:CL2/1T/3/7/3 * MSI GTX560 Twin Frozer II OC @ 870/4080 * Seagate Cuda 7200.12 SATA 500GB * LiteOn iHES208 BD * Silverstone ST-45SF * ThermalRight XP-90 * Coolermaster Aerogate 3 Fan controller * Coolermaster Cavalier T02
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 10:47 PM	Thread Starter #10
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	Curiosity got the better of me and I'm now at 2.56Ghz at 2.01V. YES! I'll have to bump it up to 2.1V (the board's max) and see if I can get it over 2.6ghz and still be Prime stable. Last edited by Alacritan; 10-31-04 at 10:56 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 11:15 PM	#11
Buhammot Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: North Carolina	Urm... i dunno if that is anywhere near safe voltages, but, if it works, all the better. __________________ i5-2500k @4.8ghz@1.5v Corsair H60 Gigabyte GA-z68a-d3h-b3 G.Skill 2x4gb 12800 DDR3 Seagate 2x1TB (RAID1) Soundblaster X-Fi Plat Corsair GS750
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 11:26 PM	#12
Reefa_Madness DRAM Guru Senior Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St. Johns, FL	Nice going there. About ten days ago or so (give or take), I read that same article and got the same bug. Ordered the same 3100/DFI board to go with that same PQI ram (which I got a few months ago). Then I cancelled the order. Just decided to stick to my original plans which was socket 939. Now I'm expecting delivery of a socket 939 3000/MSI mobo within a day or two. The boards were close in price and although the cpu was about $50 more, it is still a pretty affordable entry level setup in order to be able to play with the A64. In alot of ways, it is very similar to what you've done, just socket 754 vs 939. I just couldn't let everyone else have all the fun with these A64s. This will be my first attempt with these guys so I've been trying to read up and get somewhat up to speed. Good luck at hitting your goal. You are mighty close. __________________ In memory of Gracie, my sweet, sweet wife and mother of my children. Darling, we will miss you dearly. May you rest in peace (born to this world on March 30, 1976; went to her Heavenly Father on Good Friday, April 22, 2011). http://animoto.com/play/E0wFhd6tN0nA...ent=challenger Heat
	QUOTE Thanks

10-31-04, 11:27 PM	Thread Starter #13
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	It's been shown that so long as a processor is properly cooled, voltage is not an issue. Cathar has run his Barton at 2.1V a very long time. I'd only be concerned if I got close to 70C. Xbit Labs' Sempron got up to 79C and was still stable. That's a bit too hot for my tastes. But I'm not concerned with a 60-62C load temp. Stock A64's get up to the mid 60's with stock aircooling at stock speeds and they're the same architecture (K8) as the Sempron 3100+. Besides, I have the motherboard set to shut off at 65C anyway, so there's no way I could fry my chip.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-01-04, 12:00 AM	Thread Starter #14
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	Well 2.6Ghz is a no go for now. Wouldn't even finish loading Windows, even with 2.1 Vcore. Looks like it's time to get some better northbridge cooling. I replaced the craptacular stock NB heatsink with a better passive Zalman one (the big blue one, not the gold one), but that might not be enough. I don't really like Danger Den products, so I don't want a Maze 4 chipset block, and I don't really want any more aluminum in my loop so I don't want a Swiftech NB block. But what else is there? Those Asetek ones look like crap. I might have to get a European block if I want all copper. Damn. I think I'll also invest in a second rad. You can never have too much cooling. Maybe a chiller is in order...
	QUOTE Thanks

11-01-04, 02:59 AM	#15
CandymanCan Disabled Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Woodbridge, Va	A Barton is Diff then S754 cpu. Hell i may be wrong about this but i do know running any Athlon 64 above 1.8v will deff hurt it. I ran my Barton up to 2.3v 2600mhz, it was a old AQXEA Desktop barton, so cathar doesnt even come close to what i have done to my cpu's and just to let ya know iran 2.2v for over 6 months. I have to admit when i tell someone to not use a certai namount of voltage i say it so they dont take the chance of killing thier cpu, but i have taken my A64 to 1.85v, my Barton to 2.3v, and my memory to 3.7v, and i have had not one problem in doing so on any system. But going to 2.1v on a Sempron kinda seems to high thier
	QUOTE Thanks

11-01-04, 04:44 PM	Thread Starter #16
Alacritan Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kingston, NY	About the same as running a Barton at 2.3v. 50% over stock roughly. Either my RAM or my northbridge doesn't such a high FSB though since it wouldn't finish loading Windows at 2.6Ghz. But I've only got a passive NB heatsink so that is most likely the problem. And I've got some PQI Turbo on the way so this should be sorted soon. I just wish I could get a good all copper NB waterblock. What's your load temps like on the A64 btw?
	QUOTE Thanks

11-02-04, 06:14 AM	#17
jenko Member Join Date: Jul 2004	How does this 3100+ sempron compare to a A64 because it uses the clawhammer core but alot cheaper! Is it a 64bit cpu? Why arent these chips popluar?Sorry for stupid questions but people dont talk about these chips.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-02-04, 09:51 AM	#18
Quailane Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Who stole my white stars?	It has less cache and no 64-bit capabilities. Also people don't like it because of the 9 multiplier. The cache can make a difference in games like doom3. __________________ I DRIVE A HYUNDAI AND I'M PROUD OF IT!
	QUOTE Thanks

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