A few questions about AT's 90nm Winchester review...

[AthlonAlien]

Greetings,

I'm about to build a new Athlon 64 system, and have been reading AnandTech's review of the 90nm Winchester core models. I am refering to the one where the 3000+ and the 3500+ hit 2,610MHz with a HTT/FSB of 290MHz. I have a few questions in which I can't seem to find answers to (perhaps I'm just overlooking them?).

1. What HyperTransport setting was used (5x, 4x, etc.)?
2. Was the Memory ran at a 1:1 ratio (290MHz)?
3. In the AT overclocker's guide, they recommend Crucial Ballistix for the #1 choice and OCZ Platinum Rev. 2 for the #2 choice... however, they used the OCZ in the 90nm review and hit 290MHz?
4. The MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum was used in the 90nm review, and recommended in the overclocker's guide... but how does it compare to the Asus A8V Deluxe Rev. 2 (Rev. 2 has the fully functioning AGP/PCI Lock)?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

-Thank you

BTW, this is my 1st post on the AnandTech forums!

 

[Kabob]

I believe the HyperTransport was set at 4x for that overclock. The memory was running 1:1, and the reason the author used EL Platinum Rev. 2 is because the overclockers guide was written by a forum poster, while that was an official test. The OCZ memory is known for being an outstanding overclocker, and the Ballistix would not have been able to run 1:1 at 290MHz.

Some people like the K8N Neo2, while others despise the thing. It's been known to have reliability issues. I've heard good things about the A8V DLX, but I don't know how good of an overclocker it is.

You'll have to ask around.

 

[Robor]

I've got a .90 939 3200+ and I'm unsure which motherboard to get for it. The MSI and Asus seem like the popular choices but I can't decide which is better.

 

[Kabob]

MSI is chock full of problems, I'd go the Asus route as it seems to have more of it's problems fixed...and odds are you won't have to ship back 3 or 4 before you find a good one!

 

[Rhagz]

only took me 1 MSI board to get a good one... ive had it up to 290FSB with no problems.

 

[Kabob]

You are using the Neo2 Platinum Rhagz??

 

[Rhagz]

Yah I am.

 

[AthlonAlien]

Rhagz,

What CPU/RAM combo did you use to hit 290MHz? Were you using a 1:1 ratio?

-Thanks

 

[A10 Pilot]

I'm another AT sycophant...

MSI neo 2, 90nm 3000+, OCZ, 2.61G

I have the memory set to 100Mhz, with (1T) 2-2-2-5 timings

HTT 3x
FSB 290
CPU 9x
1.8 Vcore
2.85 Vdimm
1.75 Vagp

I recommend:
1. lower mem to 133Mhz, 3-4-4-11 timings
2. reduce HTT to 3x
3. raise voltage to the highest level you feel comfortable (this chip doesn't get too hot...I only get 62 degrees w/ prime running)
4. Increase FSB by 10's, checking prime for a couple of minutes until it fails instantly

from here you can either raise voltage and/or lower mem lock to 100. Lower timings. I find that memory causes any crashes below 2.8GHz.

good luck:beer:

 

[Mysti Rayne]

Hi A10 pilot. Where did you buy your chip from and was it an OEM or Retail. Do you know the stepping on your 3000+?

 

[A10 Pilot]

It's DH8-D0 and it shipped from Monarch computers on the 26th of October (after they had a stock-out).

Update:
better results w/ 8.5 x 305 FSB
2.60 Ghz
memory benchmarks 5% higher
Doom3 @ 1068x768 High quality, 8xAA, 25-60 fps
6 hrs prime stable temp <= 59C

 

[A10 Pilot]

It was OEM (wrapped in bubble wrap).

 

[pdu]

Originally posted by: A10 Pilot
I'm another AT sycophant...

MSI neo 2, 90nm 3000+, OCZ, 2.61G

I have the memory set to 100Mhz, with (1T) 2-2-2-5 timings

HTT 3x
FSB 290
CPU 9x
1.8 Vcore
2.85 Vdimm
1.75 Vagp

I recommend:
1. lower mem to 133Mhz, 3-4-4-11 timings
2. reduce HTT to 3x
3. raise voltage to the highest level you feel comfortable (this chip doesn't get too hot...I only get 62 degrees w/ prime running)
4. Increase FSB by 10's, checking prime for a couple of minutes until it fails instantly

from here you can either raise voltage and/or lower mem lock to 100. Lower timings. I find that memory causes any crashes below 2.8GHz.

good luck:beer:

Hi guys
I new in this forum so please be gentle

I'm thinking about purchasing the A64 3000+ and the MSI NEO2 combo. However I am very confused regarding what memory to get. When reading the post I quoted I got even more confused.

1) How can memory be set to 100MHz and FSB to 290?
2) If I want to run the CPU at 9x290 do I need memory that overclocks to 290MHz?

Sorry if these questions seem a bit dumb but I'm really confused.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Mysti Rayne]

Originally posted by: A10 Pilot
It's DH8-D0 and it shipped from Monarch computers on the 26th of October (after they had a stock-out).

Update:
better results w/ 8.5 x 305 FSB
2.60 Ghz
memory benchmarks 5% higher
Doom3 @ 1068x768 High quality, 8xAA, 25-60 fps
6 hrs prime stable temp <= 59C

Do you know the week stepping? What number was it "0434" something like that. Which number is the number after the 04?

 

[A10 Pilot]

Sorry, I can't check the chip itself...SiSoft gives me this information:

Generation: G8
Name: M1F Atholon 64 (K8 ClawHammer) 90 nm
Revision/Stepping: 1F/ 0 (108)
Stepping mask: DH8-D0

CPU-Z doesn't give me any more info.

Like I said, it shipped out after Monarch received it in inventory on the 23-25 of October, so you can imagine it was probably created around 20 October, which is week 43.

Does that help?

 

[A10 Pilot]

Peter, this is a quote from Zebo, one of the regulars around here:

________

isolate then consolidate. Keeping LDT x HTT less than 1000.

What that means is test three parts of CPU and subsystem to find max speeds of each.. then combine them for some sort of optimal overclock.

1. Max FSB (don't really need to do this step with DFI)

-set multi to 6
-set mem to SPD and 100
-Crank FSB up until you fail or there abouts

that's your boards MAX FSB capable

2. Chip

- Set multi to 9 (it's max)
-Set vcore to 1.6 or 1.65
-Set mem to SPD and 100
-Raise FSB up to boards max or until you start failing prime

that's your chips max speed

3. Memory

-Set mem setting to 200 and low 2.5-3-3 10 1 T and 2.9V
-Set chips multi to 6 again
-Raise FSB up to boards max or until you start failing memtest86 test 5

That's your mem max


I'm sure you can fiqure out consolidate.

_______
You don't need incredible memory to get great results, but you will get better results with better memory. I don't see the need to spend more than 150 for 512M of RAM, and all the games that I play now don't need 1G. Your call. You don't need 290Mhz though!!