Asus A8N-VM CSM overclocking

[jealouse]

hi, folks.

got A64 3700+, 1GB X 2, and Asus A8N-VM CSM Motherboard. It's a microATX MO and offers very little overclocking facility on BIOS. All it's got is a menu where I can enter FSB manually. Naturally, if I set it at AUTO, the FSB is set to 200Mhz which is normal. Right now, I got it at Manual and at 220Mhz. As a result, the CPU is running at 2.42 Ghz (220X11). Windows XP and Sandra correctly recognize it as 2.42Ghz. And it seems to be stable for now. Ran prime95 for 1/2 hours and also ran 3DMARK 06 and got the score of 5500...

However, I'm worried about what happens to other clocks - IDE, SATA and PCI-E as a result of this overclocking of FSB. does the clock divider adjust itself automatically so that the correct clocks are supplied to IDE, SATA and PCI-E? I've got 7900GTX on PCI-E slot and I do not want to break it. Also have a pair of SATA Raptors on RAID 0 and do not want to risk the data integrity by overclocking.

Many thanks in advance for your comment.

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

I have this same motherboard and it's a really poor overclocker which is to be expected I suppose considering its mATX sff design. I can't even get my FSB to 220Mhz before it becomes too unstable.

BTW jealouse have you tried stress testing with SuperPi. I also ran all the above tests you mention (3DMark, Prime etc) and had no problems until I tried SuperPi and it pretty much crashed my PC instantly, make sure you give that a go too to make sure your PC is 100% stable.

Sorry can't answer your Q, although I would like to know this too.

 

[imported_ST]

Originally posted by: jealouse

However, I'm worried about what happens to other clocks - IDE, SATA and PCI-E as a result of this overclocking of FSB. does the clock divider adjust itself automatically so that the correct clocks are supplied to IDE, SATA and PCI-E? I've got 7900GTX on PCI-E slot and I do not want to break it. Also have a pair of SATA Raptors on RAID 0 and do not want to risk the data integrity by overclocking.

Many thanks in advance for your comment.

According to clockgen, it looks like the PCI clocks are locked, so it seems to be fine. I have Venice E3 3200 that I am overclocking on this board as well. Since the default (and ONLY) VCore you can set is at 1.45V (or 1.1 at low multiplier if you CnQ), it's fairly simple to OC, but leaves much to be desired in the way of controls. My only issue with this board is when I start to OC, I cannot for the life of me perform a soft reboot properly (always hangs). I can prime 24 hours stable at the max 2400MHz, and even perform some clockgens up to 2.5GHz, but again it will freeze at soft reboots, unless i put it back to Auto FSB.

 

[jealouse]

Originally posted by: ST

Originally posted by: jealouse

However, I'm worried about what happens to other clocks - IDE, SATA and PCI-E as a result of this overclocking of FSB. does the clock divider adjust itself automatically so that the correct clocks are supplied to IDE, SATA and PCI-E? I've got 7900GTX on PCI-E slot and I do not want to break it. Also have a pair of SATA Raptors on RAID 0 and do not want to risk the data integrity by overclocking.

Many thanks in advance for your comment.

According to clockgen, it looks like the PCI clocks are locked, so it seems to be fine. I have Venice E3 3200 that I am overclocking on this board as well. Since the default (and ONLY) VCore you can set is at 1.45V (or 1.1 at low multiplier if you CnQ), it's fairly simple to OC, but leaves much to be desired in the way of controls. My only issue with this board is when I start to OC, I cannot for the life of me perform a soft reboot properly (always hangs). I can prime 24 hours stable at the max 2400MHz, and even perform some clockgens up to 2.5GHz, but again it will freeze at soft reboots, unless i put it back to Auto FSB.

thought my pc was stable at 2.4ghz (fsb=220mhz) until i saw your post and tried to soft-boot. it hanged! eventually got it stable by lowing FSB to 210mhz...
now i'm doing what sunday ironfoot suggested...locating superpi and running it.

 

[jealouse]

passed superPi just fine, along with Prime95 and 3dmark 06... however, at 210mhz FSB, i'd be embarassed to call it overclock

I want the top-notch system and do not want to give up my microATX case. Thinking about going SLI but there's only one microATX SLI board available and it's not even from the top-tier manufacturer...

I'd rather shell out my dough on another 7900GTX, before going with FX-60. you guys think top-tier manufacturers like Asus or MSI would release microATX SLI with all the bells and whisles, including good overclocking facility?