Abit AT7 & IT7 owners, can you offer commentary?

[agrall]

Originally posted by: Nilonym
Just a follow-up from my earlier posts...

After a few weeks of burn in, my rig is still stable @2.4GHz with 150fsb. This is a 1.6a in an Abit IT7 mobo, running "true" Samsung PC2700 @400MHz (150fsb with 3:4 multiplier). PCI/AGP bus is locked @33, btw.

Temps with retail hs/fan are 39 idle to 54 load, and that's with the retail TIP. I am going to replace it with some AS3 soon and see if I can push it lower, and if so I will start upping the fsb again and see how far I can push it.

I should also note that my vcore and ram voltage is the default 1.5 and 2.5. I did not have to tweak it at all to get this oc. I certainly attribute this to the quality of both the 1.6a and the Samsung ram, but at the very least the mobo is not a factor for instability. I reamain quite impressed with it.

Looking forward to hearing other experiences with this board.

Nilonym

Sounds nice... I have the same memory/processor as you do... Do you think it is worth the extra money to get the IT7 over the BD7II?

 

[MazerRackham]

bump!

 

[metapy]

There is a new BIOS for the IT7 that is on the Abit ftp site but not listed on thier homepage:
8Y BIOS

The new features:
1. Add an option "Enhance DRAM Performance" in Advanced Chipset Features.
2. HPT 374 BIOS Version 1.21.
3. BIOS compile date: 5/3/2002.

Didn't see a dramatic imporvement, but then again every little bit counts

Also the IT7 user manual is on the FTP site as well
Manual PDF format

 

[Kartman]

Okay, I know this is a little bit off topic, but I'm gonna ask anyway. Hah!

For those running the IT7 under XP, what CD authoring software are you using, have attempted to use, and any bad experiences you care to relate?

 

[mazsuper]

Thanks agrall for the overclcoking tips followed your setup as i was still not happy with mine.

 

[gpanda]

I just got an IT7. I'll be seeing if my 160FSB capable 1.6A (on P4B533-E) can get up there on this board. Want that 3:4 CPU:MEM ratio.

BTW, this board along with a lot of other boards, apparently comes with MS, CF, etc. headers. Who seels the damn readers to plug into the headers? Love to have a drive bay slot with the reader slots!

 

[gpanda]

Here are my results so far:

156FSB with 2.5GHz (1.7vcore)
3:4 CPU:MEM ratio giving 416DDR (2.7volts with 2.5 3 3 7 timing)

Seems very stable...ran prime95 torture up to 25 before I got bored.

Benchmarks:
3DMark 2001SE 11968 (PNY Ti4400 O/C 300/620)
Sandra Memory Bandwidth (integer) 3050

I'm going to try pulling the memory CAS back down.
If I wanted to go to the trouble of doing the ping mod I'm sure I can get to 160FSB but doubt the payoff will be that great.

 

[Kartman]

What specific memory details? Manufacturer, part/model#, one/two stick(s), etc.? Also, what video card are you using, and did you take any precautions?

 

[gpanda]

Hi Kartman,

MB: IT7 with 5/3/2002 BIOS (lastest I think)
CPU: P4 1.6A pack date 5/6/2002
Thermal Take Volcano 7+ running full blast mounted with Artic Silver 3
RAM: Corsair XMS3000C2 single 512MB stick
Video: PNY Ti4400 with Thermaltake memory heatsinks on RAM (thermal tape)
Case: Lian Li PC60USB
Case is modded as follows: Side window, top window, 2 exhaust fans on back (80mm),
2 intake fans in front (80mm), 1 intake fan on side windows (120mm), rounded cables,
and of course blue cold cathod tube!
Power: Antec TruePower 550watt
Harddrive: Seagate Barracude IV 80GB IDE (just one)
CDROM: HP CDRW 9100

Hope this helps, I overkilled somewhat but had fun doing it

 

[gpanda]

BTW, I turned on the Turbo RAM setting int he BIOS and it pushed by Sandra mem to 3080 and bumped my 3DMark2001E up to this. If somebody knows what this really does let me know.

Finally hit that 12K mark

 

[Kartman]

Interesting. Life has kept me so dang busy I've not had a chance to overclock my IT7/1.6a/XMS2700/GainwardUltra650/Antec1035B system. Of course, I've NEVER overclocked before, and as such am a little scared of not knowing exactly what needs to be changed in the BIOS to get it, say, to 2.4GHz.

 

[agrall]

Ok....

Could those of you with P4 1.6a on the IT7 offer some overclocking advice?

I am currently running at 2.0 GHz, but when I tried to go straight to 2.4 GHz, it wouldn't boot up and just beeped repeatedly at me...

What do you have for your Bios settings?

CPU Clock:
PCI Bus Frequency:
Multiplier Factor:
FSB Freq. H/W Strap:
DRAM Ratio:
Speed Error Hold:
CPU Power Supply:
DRAM Voltage:

CAS Latency time:
Act to Precharge Delay:
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay:
DRAM RAS# Precharge:

Right now, my settings are:

CPU Clock: 125
PCI Bus Frequency: Locked 33
Multiplier Factor: 16
FSB Freq. H/W Strap: By CPU
DRAM Ratio: 4:3
Speed Error Hold: Disabled
CPU Power Supply: CPU Default
DRAM Voltage: 2.5 v

CAS Latency time: By SPD
Act to Precharge Delay: By SPD
DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay: By SPD
DRAM RAS# Precharge: By SPD

My menmry is authentic Samsung 512 MB DDR2700 from Newegg. I would like to get my CPU Clock to 150. Thanks!

 

[kcchieffan]

Codehack,

I have one stick of 512Mb OCZ DDR400 and have the exact same voltage problem. I've already RMA'd one board and the new board still has the problem so it isn't just PC2100 memory. I hope it can be fixed by a bios update I have tried both 8h and 8y no difference. I really love all the USB ports I just hate having my voltage so high! plus 133 fsb is about as high as I can get with reliability because of the memory problem

IT7
Lite-On 16X DVD
Yamaha 24X10X40 CDRW
2 IBM 120GXP 80 GB in RAID 0
SBLive
Leadtek GeForce4 Ti4400
P4 1.6A @ 2.1 133X16
512MB OCZ DDR 400 @ 356 (3:4)
Volcano 7+
Enermax 465VE-FCA
Lian-Li PC-60

 

[MazerRackham]

I thought people with PC2700 didn't have that problem? Or am I remembering that wrong?

 

[kcchieffan]

CH2,

Just wondering. What was your voltage reading for the negative rails (-12V and -5V) when you had the DDR Voltage problem?

Thanks