Cannot get past 2.55GHz with E4300?

[lukeb]

Hello all,
My first question was answered after a night of reading up on the subject. I have come to another block, but am not sure what I am doing wrong exactly.

I can only get my E4300 up to 2.55GHz (282x9 @ 1.325v). If I go over that even by one MHz, the system either does a hard reboot and resets my BIOS or it's two long/continious beeps. Started my RAM timing at 5-5-5-15 to be safe with 2.1v.

My board is Biostar 965PT, Corsair VS 1GB (2x512) DDR2667, E4300.

Any ideas or help would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Cali3350]

Try 333mhz. It might be the strapping on the NB, but i doubt it at that low of a speed.

 

[lukeb]

When I tried 333MHz it shut down as if doing a reset and then kept freezing at the Biostar splash page. Finally had to reset CMOS to get back up.

 

[TRD3SGTE]

make sure you are running your memory at 1:1
otherwise your PC might be crashing because your memory is way too fast

 

[chrismr]

Do you manually set your voltage to 1.325? You may need to set it a little higher.

Have you tried leaving the voltage option for the processor at auto?

Also, you may need to slightly increase the FSB voltage.

 

[lukeb]

Thanks for the replies. I can't seem to find the option in BIOS to change to 1:1 (right now it's at 3:4 or 3:5). The only DRAM settings shown are AUTO, 533, 667 and 800.

As for voltage I have tried Auto, manually set to the default (which is listed as 1.325 for default) and also increased it a bit further. I have not tried the FSB voltage as I wasn't sure about it.

 

[tcG]

DRAM setting "AUTO" = 1:1

Try CPU voltage 1.45V, vMCH voltage 1.68V, and see what happens.

Make sure you pump up the RAM voltage and loosen those timings or that RAM is really going to hold you back.

 

[lukeb]

Thanks for the reply. I set DRAM to Auto and increased the voltages. I also disabled the speed step for the CPU so now it's showing 9X in CPU-Z.

Also, the RAM is still showing 3:5 under CPU-Z. If I go _any_ further, even by 1MHz beyond 282FSB it does a hard boot (completely restarts and resets BIOS "due to overclock settings").

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

maybe u got a bad cpu, its still lot of luck after all.

 

[lukeb]

Bad as defective = send back. Or bad as in I am screwed? :-/

 

[Accord99]

Try it with DRAM setting 533, it should at least go to the less stressful 4:5 ratio with this setting.

 

[lukeb]

Latest results...

DRAM set to 533, Mem set to 2.2V instead of 2.1V with 5-5-5-15. Still showing up as a 3:4 or 3:5 ratio in cpu-z.

Max I could get is 290 x 9. If I went higher it would reset "Due to Overclock". If I went higher then 325fsb it would give 2 long beeps and reset.

Tried these voltage settings...

1st attempt:
cpu 1.325v, mem 2.2v, 1.25v g mch

2nd attempt:
cpue 1.450v, mem 2.2v, 1.45v g mch (only goes up to 1.50/1.60 I think).

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Do you have the latest bios?

I have seen this problem reported before, where some boards are not able to run ram 1:1 with an E4300 Kinda sucks because many people buy the E4300 under the impression that it will overclock nicely with cheaper ram because of the higher CPU multi.

This is definately whats stopping you, with the 3:4 divider at 290FSB you DDR667 ram is running DDR773 which is really pushing it for value ram.

Your not going to get any higher unless you find a way to get the 1:1 divider working or you upgrade to some faster ram.

 

[lukeb]

Thank you for the reply. The BIOS date is 09/14/2006 version 6.00PG. I ran across this site: http://www.lejabeach.com/Biostar/965pt/ when searching earlier today and one of the updates referrs to adding support for E4300/E4400?

Is something like this recommended or just getting better RAM?

Thanks again!

 

[tcG]

Uhhh... that's probably your problem.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: lukeb
Thank you for the reply. The BIOS date is 09/14/2006 version 6.00PG. I ran across this site: http://www.lejabeach.com/Biostar/965pt/ when searching earlier today and one of the updates referrs to adding support for E4300/E4400?

Is something like this recommended or just getting better RAM?

Thanks again!

Yes, I would definately update the bios. If it gives you the 1:1 divider that would theorectially allow you to get to a FSB of 385 or so, which would give you 3.46 ghz if your board and chip will do it. And it won't cost you anything

 

[Ichigo]

I like how people feel as if they can't overclock, it must mean something's defective. As if their product came with a sticker saying "OC ME or refund".

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

You NEED to update your BIOS to one that supports the 1:1 memory ratio. Otherwise you won't be able to get 3Ghz+. Go to Rebel's Haven and DL one of their modified BIOS's. Then try 333X9 with a Vcore of 1.35 and post back

 

[lukeb]

Thanks all for the replies. I really appreciate the help. None of the BIOS updates listed specifically mention the dividers... just do the latest one or is there something I am missing?


By the way Ichigo, he said "bad chip". I was curious if it was bad as in something wrong or if he was referring to just the luck of the draw. I realize Intel didn't stamp OC ME on it anywhere.

 

[lukeb]

Flashed BIOS to the latest modified version from RH. Flash worked, but there still was no reference to mem dividers anywhere that I could find (possibly looking in the wrong place?). Also, if I go over 270fsb now it will not boot and when I did lower it to 270 I received windows corruption errors on boot up. These errors went away after lowering the FSB.

If I can't change the divider, is the performance increase worth the extra $$$ to get faster memory?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Did a little research for ya.

The 119 betabios on the page you linked is the only one that has the 1:1 divider.

As discussed in this thread at overclock.net Here

It shows under the Dram setting as 400

*edit*

After re-reading your post It looks like you have the correct bios, you just need to change DDR speed to 400

 

[lukeb]

Actually, I think I had a different one then the 119 betabios, so I reflashed and was able to lower it down to 1:1 (400).

** SUCCESS! **
Right now I have it at 350x9, vcore 1.424 and memory at 2.1v. It shows the memory at 700MHz, if I go any higher it doesn't want to boot. I suppose that's pushing the limit for Corsair Value Select.

Thanks everyone for the help! I really do appreciate it.

 

[Kampfire]

I had a similar problem then updated to the new bios and I'm running 334x9 right now. lukeb what cooler are you using?

 

[lukeb]

I am using the stock cooler. Yep, I admit I am a cheapie ;-) It's running idle at 27 - 28* C.

By the way, what type of memory are you using?

 

[Kampfire]

OCZ Platnium Rev 2 2Gb DDR2-800. My CPU voltage is running at 1.45V and I was ortho stable for about 5.5 hours. I ranged from 58-65 C at load and like 33-35 at idle. Im also using a Zalman 7000b-Cu cooler. I would think I should be able to get where you are at right now. Whats your temp under load and have you run orthos yet and how long was it stable?