Hi All,
I am doing various of testing with different RAM on my 8k3a+.
With a AMD 2000XP:
* I was able to run 2-2-2-5-1 setting with my Kingmax PC2700 top at 171Mhz (CPU @11x171) and 189Mhz (CPU@10x189) with setting at "normal". CPU voltage was 2.1V and RAM at 3.1V.
After some very aggressive setting to squeeze more fsb, I kind of messed up my HD. I reinstalled the OS and tried again. Strangely, I cannot make the machine boot at 2-2-2-5-1 anymore; even if I tried to run at stock speed of 1.67Mhz (I tried both 10x167 and 12.5x133). I could get it running up to 180Mhz FSB with overclocked CPU but needed to run with less aggressive setting on Ram timing (“faster” mode).
* Because it would hang at the 2nd page of POST procedure, I was kind of suspected that there could be something wrong among 1). CPU, 2). Mobo, or 3). Memory.
Last night, I put in a brand new (rev. 1.02) 8k3a+ with Windbond 6ns chip based TwinMos PC2700 RAM {this very stick just finished test (was the only brand passed with setting at turbo mode) at AMD’s lab at Santa Clara}. CPU was the only thing I didn’t change in my configuration.
I didn’t raise the voltage on either CPU and memory (because this memory is just for me to test and I need to return it later). What I got was 186Mhz setting at “fastest mode”. I was impressed on result of 186 MHZ with “fastest mode” because there was no voltage increase. This did kind of match VR-Zone’s PC2700 comparison review that I read few days ago (they did increse RAM voltage about 0.4 to 0.6V). The Sandra 2002 memory score was 2811 at 186Mhz (it is surprisingly high to me). I kind of like this borrowed TwinMos RAM and hope I dont need to return it next week...
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* However, it still failed to POST with setting at “turbo”. Very strangely, it wouldn’t POST even at stock 166Mhz while set at “turbo mode”. Just same as before I change mobo and RAM.
Now, this led me to think that something fishy with my unlocked 2000XP. I just got a loaned new 2000XP few hours ago and bought a stick of Samsung PC2700 512MB @$135 before tax(price was better than I thought).
I really want to get my PC to be able to handle "turbo mode" like before. Hopefully, tonight I can nail down what is the cause to stop my machine from running at "turbo mode" If anyone has any suggestion or comment for this, I will really appreciate.
By the way, for RoadWorrior, I do have two 512MB PC2100 nanya based RAM that I used on my ASUS A7V266E system. The max I got was 150Mhz x12.5 (and it became little unstable; 147Mhz or bellow is much safer) with 1900XP. Nanya is very solid on PC2100. Most review on PC2700 are leaning toward either Winbond based or Samsung original memory.
8k3a+
Kingmax PC2700
TwinMos PC2700 (Windbond chip)
Samsung PC2700
CoolerMaster ATC210 modified with 8 fans
Thermalright AX-7 with Delta 80CFM
PC mods rheobus 4 channel fan controller (17W per channel)
digiDoc5 for temp hardware monitoring
2 x IBM ATA 100 HD
Toshiba 16x DVD and Pelixter CD-ROM
MV99