AMD Sempron Processor 3100+ & ECS NFORCE3-A Motherboard for $80 at Outpost.com

[CuriousMike]

OK, HT @ 3x was the magic to get me over the 2250 hump.
I upgraded from a Athlon XP-M (Barton) that I ran @ 11*200 = 2200mhz.

Athlon XP @ 2200
SuperPi 1M 48.1 sec (I could unstably run @ 12*200=2400 and got 46.1 but only to test)
3D Mark05 5454

Sempron 3100 @ 2250 HTx4
Sandra CPU 8958/3400
Sandra Mem 2967/2780
SuperPi 1M 45.5
3DMark 05 5507

Sempron 3100 @ 2405 HTx3
Sandra CPU 10932/3756
Sandra Mem 2776/2785
SuperPi 1M 41.9
3DMark 05 6202

 

[furballi]

Enjoy.... This is a very good board. My only minor complain is the lack of a heat sink for the power circuit on the MB. That's why I use the big Zalman 7700Cu to cool the CPU, RAM, and power circuit when the CPU temperature exceeds 40C. The Zalman fan is set to spin at 950 rpm MAX.

Your SP time should be around 38 sec at 2.4GHz. Suspect something is running in the background that would sap your CPU speed OR the RAM is at 133 speed. I'm running ZA Pro 4.5.594 and McAfee 8.0i with negligible hit on SP time.

 

[freshspace]

SuperPi on my other computer with axpm 2600+ oced to 2.41 (1.65vcore, completely stable) did it in 43seconds. Not bad.

 

[mharrison]

Well, I'm just about fed up. This POS reboots part way through a driver install no matter what driver I use. I gues I'll have to put a card in it. I've read all the forum posts and followed all the instructions. Does anybody know which driver I can get from RealTek that would be the correct one for this? That's all I haven't tried.

 

[furballi]

Wipe the HDD and clean install Windows.

1st update the sound driver via Device Manager and reboot.

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Products/P...LanID=9&DetailID=502&DetailName=Driver



Next download the NF3 Nvidia driver and run the installation program. DO NOT load the SOUND DRIVER, IDE DRIVER, and FIREWALL.

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

 

[mharrison]

No "auto reboot" this go around, but I can't pick up an IP address for anything. It shows cable disconnects and reconnects. It gets a link light. Just no IP.

 

[mharrison]

OK, this is embarassing....I'm an MCSE and the no IP address problem was a bad patch cable....

Hmmmm....maybe it's too late to be messing with this....

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: mharrison
OK, this is embarassing....I'm an MCSE and the no IP address problem was a bad patch cable....

Hmmmm....maybe it's too late to be messing with this....

LOL! Don't be too hard on yourself...we've all been there.

 

[CuriousMike]

I use ClockGen v1.0.4.2 to do this. The NFS3ClockGen doesn't recognize my clocks(PLL or w/e)

I see other people with faster SuperPi == I don't know. I did a complete reformat of my system.
Literally, the only things I have running are SP2 ,AVG AntiVirus and Daemon tools.


Per CPU-Z,
---
CPU
---
Paris, Revision DH7-CG, x86-64 etc.
Core Speed = 2405.5
Multiplier = x9
HTT = 267.3
---
Memory
---
Freq = 218.7
FSBRAM = CPU/11
CAS # = 2.5
RAS To CAS = 3
RAS = 3
Cycle Time = 7
Bank Cycle = 10
DRAM Idle = 16
Command Rate = 2T

 

[thetxstang]

Originally posted by: CuriousMike
OK, HT @ 3x was the magic to get me over the 2250 hump.
I upgraded from a Athlon XP-M (Barton) that I ran @ 11*200 = 2200mhz.

Athlon XP @ 2200
SuperPi 1M 48.1 sec (I could unstably run @ 12*200=2400 and got 46.1 but only to test)
3D Mark05 5454

Sempron 3100 @ 2250 HTx4
Sandra CPU 8958/3400
Sandra Mem 2967/2780
SuperPi 1M 45.5
3DMark 05 5507

Sempron 3100 @ 2405 HTx3
Sandra CPU 10932/3756
Sandra Mem 2776/2785
SuperPi 1M 41.9
3DMark 05 6202

CuriousMike, seems like some great numbers there. I have a couple of questions for you, if you don't mind:

1) What kind/type of RAM are you using?

2) What RAM timings are you using at 2405MHz?

3) Did you have to increase your CPU and RAM voltages any? If so, to what level?

4) Have you tried OC'ing beyond 2405MHz?

Thanks!

 

[thetxstang]

Wow, you must've posted your last reply right before I was asking you the series of questions. Looks like you've already answered my question #2. But, it seems you're running at 2T. Have you tried 1T with any success?

 

[deadken]

Originally posted by: CuriousMike
......I see other people with faster SuperPi == I don't know. I did a complete reformat of my system.
Literally, the only things I have running are SP2 ,AVG AntiVirus and Daemon tools.


Per CPU-Z,
---
.....Command Rate = 2T

Have you tried running your memory at 1T? I understand that there is a 'decent' performance penalty for running at 2T and you might have just shown it.


BTW: I have a S754 A64 3000+, 2GB OCZ Ram, Gigabyte Mobo, and XP-120. I am running it at 9x266 (2400) with memory running at 200 (CPU/12) and I get 39 Seconds in Super Pi for the 1M calculations. I just downloaded Super Pi tonight, and it is my first time using it. No matter where I look, I don't see anything saying the results in less then 'rounded' numbers. How is it that you get your results listed with more precise times?

-Thanks, Ken

 

[themorningbells]

Ordered my combo at 8:45pm 4/3, it was at my door at 10:15am 4/4. I am impressed.

Benchmark comparisons I've done so far:

Both setups running: WinXP Pro SP2, 6800 GT 84.21 drivers, 2x512 Kingston HyperX

Athlon XP 3000+ @ 2264mhz (181x12.5) in NF7-S v2.0
3dmark01 - 17514
3dmark03 - 10985
3dmark05 - 5074
super pi 1m - 47s
lost coast stress (1024x768, 6xAA, 16xAA) - 58.79fps
cs:s stress (1024x768, 6xAA, 16xAA) - 107.40fps
sisoft - arithmetic: 9132/3517, multimedia: 21143/22468, memory: 2520/2431

Sempron 3100+ @ 2250mhz (250x9)
3dmark01 - 21151
3dmark03 - 11591
3dmark05 - 5114
super pi 1m - 41s
lost coast stress (1024x768, 6xAA, 16xAA) - 72.39fps
cs:s stress (1024x768, 6xAA, 16xAA) - 124.92fps
sisoft - arithmetic: 9516/3558, multimedia: 21483/23124, memory: 3101/3100

I'll edit this thread when I finish the rest of the benchmarks.

Added bonus is I bet I can actually make money selling my old setup on EBay. So far I'm really liking how this upgrade has been treating me. Everything setup no problem.

$107 shipped overnight including CM CK8-JD2B heatsink from outpost.

CPU temps are 40f cooler than my AXP ran at.

Only annoyance is I'm still getting datacache.dll error in CS:S multiplay (same as my previous setup). I was hoping this would maybe help with that, but I guess it's entirely Valve's fault.

 

[furballi]

Look for SP version 1.4 or 1.5.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Zap
Those K7S5A boards were made during the time that the crappy capacitors were being used.

As for this board, there has been a few reported DOA, but not in the numbers that I recall the K7S5A had. Besides immediate DOA there were some that died after short periods of time - mine included. This ECS board seems to be better initially than the K7S5A, but only time will tell if it lives longer than a year or two. I do know that the BIOS has improved much since BITD and these boards are now actually quite overclockable without resorting to hacked BIOSes and such.

Thanks for the very informative response to my question. My resolve against taking the ECS plunge again is weakening.

 

[deadken]

Originally posted by: furballi
Look for SP version 1.4 or 1.5.

Ahh... Thanks. Got Super Pi 1.5 and now see that my Gigabyte/A64 3000+(@2.4Ghz) 'scores' 39.4 Secs for 1M.

 

[furballi]

The primary failure mode on "value" MB is the power circuit. These boards aren't designed for extreme overclock. The electronics can handle the high FSB speed (probably +290MHz with this ECS), but there is insuffcient cooling at the output devices to assure long life. A mfr will add heatsink(s) to these devices to lower the temperature. Unfortunately, the price of the board will also go up by 50 to 100%!

The most economical method of cooling the board is to use a case with excellent air flow (Antec SLK3000B). Instead of spending big bucks on a brand name 500 wattts PSU, you should also invest in a quality CPU cooler that's capable of cooling the CPU, power circuit, and RAM (Zalman 7700Cu or Al-Cu). The 120mm fan on the Zalman is perfect for cooling hot output devices and capacitors on the motherboard.

If your system runs hot, then you should refrain from overclocking a "value" MB. Remember, the easiest way to achieve speed and stability is to lower the working temperature of the power components on the MB.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: mharrison
OK, this is embarassing....I'm an MCSE and the no IP address problem was a bad patch cable....

LOL, that's why I never go around spewing "I have such and such certification and XX number of years of experience..." Makes me look that much more dumb when I screw up something silly, like that time I hooked up the power and reset switches reversed and wondered why the system worked out side the case but didn't once I assembled it...

Yup, we've all been there, whether from lack of sleep, too much alcohol (can be a performance enhancer in small amounts but them "performance" drops off steeply with more intake ) or just a brain fart.

Glad you figured it out though and thanks for at least letting us know that you did. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by: themorningbells
Ordered my combo at 8:45pm 4/3, it was at my door at 10:15am 4/4. I am impressed.

Added bonus is I bet I can actually make money selling my old setup on EBay.

Right on!!! That is some mighty fast shipping.

Originally posted by: Thump553
My resolve against taking the ECS plunge again is weakening.

*Zap wriggles fingers at Thump553* "You WILL buy ECS... you WILL buy ECS..."

Hmmm, I may be an N'th generation Jedi after all?!?!

 

[furballi]

If AMD continues to support socket 754 well into 2007, then we may be able to pop-in a 65nm Sempron @ 3GHz!

 

[CuriousMike]

thetxstang,

I'm running Kingston ValueRam - i don't bother with 1T because I know it ain't gonna do it.

-----------

Does anyone else have luck with the NVF3 version of clockgen?
I try it, and it the PLL/CLock buttons are dim.

The latest version of clockgen works ( but you can't have it auto-load.)

 

[CuriousMike]

As an aside, I actually had the chip at 2.5ghz for about 30 seconds... about 23 seconds into the SuperPi run when it rebooted.
2450 completed superpi, but rebooted under 3DMark2005.

 

[furballi]

Another rig at 2.4GHz! A64 3500 939 speed at a fraction of the cost.

 

[CuriousMike]

furballi - how do you know that the Sempron 3100 @ 2.4ghz is equivalent to A64 @ 3500 ?
Which benchies do you use ?

 

[voodoo3]

I ordered this combo on 3 Apr via ground and received it on 5 Apr. Outpost is trying to give Newegg a run for it's money on shipping times!

 

[furballi]

I use Super Pi and Nero Recode. My Sempron is a little faster than a stock A64 3500/AX8 with 1GB RAM.

You can also extrapolate the data from this article.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/sempron-3400_5.html