Happier with a home built rig

[Arkodominion]

It was not too long ago that I was ready to plunk down for a pricey alienware. Well, I'm just popping back in here to say that I ended up building my own. Damn, that was cool! It offered some challenges, but I really learned alot. I just wanted to say thanks to you all for nudging me in that direction. All that's left now is to try and overclock this bad boy. Unfortunately I've been reading that my mobo isn't so great for OC'ing. However, I will glean what I can from previous posts and see what I can push it to. And while I've got your attention... what good freeware is out there for monitoring system temps and OC'ing stability. I can only see my temps from the bios currently. I can tell you this for those wondering what the Zalman 9500 has done. It's about 13 degrees farenheit cooler than stock when idle. Hopefully it will get that much more out of the CPU.

 

[n7]

For temps, since MBM5 is too old to work with your mobo, i'd say SpeedFan.

 

[Lithan]

I've been told the asrock isn't too bad for oc/ing. It's main complaint is low voltage options, which is probably a good thing for a starting overclocker.

 

[Arkodominion]

I tried to overclock my rig with settings someone used on a very similar configuration using a stock fan, and is hitting 2.8ghz. However when I selected "save settings and exit" in the bios... it goes to a cold boot. Just a blank screen, no beeps, but the fans and CPU are powered. The only thing that fixed it is removing all but 1 stick RAM. Which is a little trick I learned when I flashed the bios to 1.2.

I'd like to know why this is happening, and how I can fix it. I'd love to OC to the 2.8ghz range, but I can't get past the cold boot. I'm sure the next time I flash the bios, it'll go blank again. This is my first rig, but I don't think it sounds normal.

 

[Gadzookie]

the as rock overclocks very well just make sure you update the bios if you dont y ou will get horriable overclocking

 

[anandtechrocks]

Tell us exactly what your overclocked settings are (multiplier, HTT, divider, LDT, vdimm, and vcore). I have a 3700+ SD and I got 2.8 GHz pretty easily. It's an old chip though, I bought it back in April.

 

[peleejosh]

2.8 is a little too ambitious right off the bat, imo. Try something like 2.5 to start off with. Also we need to know the stuff that anandtechrocks said. Also need to know what memory you have and if you are running that on a divider.

 

[peleejosh]

wait never mind i see your memory, you will have to run at 2t with 4 sticks in. also you might have to run it on a divider to get it down. I hope you didnt run it at anything over 225 without relaxing the timings

 

[Arkodominion]

Well, as of right now it's not even booting. The fans and PC are powered up, but it's just a blank screen on the monitor. I had this happen when I flashed the bios, and pulling out all but 1 RAM stick solved it. However, that's not even working anymore. I've tried all 4 different sticks, and it just won't boot.

these were the settings though

bios version 1.2; O/c Mode Async; Cpu Freq.255; Disabled Spread Spec. and Cool n Q.; Mult.11; Cpu Volt.1.450; Memory Clock 200Mhz (DDR400);Cas 2.5; TRCD 3; TRAS 8; TRP 3; Ma 1T; Read Preamble 5.0; Async Lat. 6.0; Cpu-Nb 600; Nb-Sb 600;
Dram Volt. High
I have Gated Clock Function Disabled.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: Arkodominion
Well, as of right now it's not even booting. The fans and PC are powered up, but it's just a blank screen on the monitor. I had this happen when I flashed the bios, and pulling out all but 1 RAM stick solved it. However, that's not even working anymore. I've tried all 4 different sticks, and it just won't boot.

these were the settings though

bios version 1.2; O/c Mode Async; Cpu Freq.255; Disabled Spread Spec. and Cool n Q.; Mult.11; Cpu Volt.1.450; Memory Clock 200Mhz (DDR400);Cas 2.5; TRCD 3; TRAS 8; TRP 3; Ma 1T; Read Preamble 5.0; Async Lat. 6.0; Cpu-Nb 600; Nb-Sb 600;
Dram Volt. High
I have Gated Clock Function Disabled.

Try setting everything to stock and clear the CMOS by removing the battery and moving the jumper, see if that will get it to boot.

As to your settings:

Make sure you have the HTT multi set at 3x
You should have tried 1.55 cpu volts (no way you will do 255x11 with 1.45)
You will have to drop the Memory clock to 166, 200 is the 1:1 setting and there is no way those 4 sticks will run 255mhz(DDR510)

I wouldn't try 255x11=2805 with the first try. Try 245x11=2695 first and work your way up from there

 

[Arkodominion]

Alright, resetting the CMOS jumper and removing the battery got it to reboot... whew!

I'll try your recommendations for the OC'ing

 

[Arkodominion]

This is my first rig, and my first attempt at OC'ing. I don't know what HTT multi is, but I do know the CPU multi is locked at 11. I can only change the CPU frequency for the OC. Also the maximum selectable CPU volts is 1.45 through my bios. I will try lowering the memory clocks to see how that works out.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Actually, the CPU multi is not locked. You can change it to lower values, just not higher ones.

Congrats on building your first computer!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The HTT multi is also called LDT or LDT frequency. The formula for the HT(hypertransport) bus is HTT(FSB) x LDT ie. 200 x 5 = 1000, the selection options should look like 5x,4x,3x,2x,1x or 1000,800,600,400,200. Your system can become unstable if your HT frequency goes much over 1000, thats why its important to always lower your LDT when overclocking. In your above example 255x5(default)=1275!!! way way over the stability limit.

About voltage, all boards list,report, and deliver voltage differently. I suggest you download CPU-Z and see what voltage it reports. For instance my settings in bios go up to 1.55 but if I set 1.55 it, CPU reports 1.58-1.60, but if I use Clockgen NF4 to set the voltage 1.45 is the max, yet CPU reports the same 1.58-1.60. Most boards won't deliver volts much over that level, with DFI and ePox boards being the exception.

And yes lowering the memory clock will do the trick for you, I have the same chip and if you can get the same 1.58 voltage as reported by CPU-Z you can probably hit that 255x11, thats what my chip hits. Mine will do 2730 with stock volts.

And the CPU multi is upwardly locked, but you can lower it. 11x,10x,9x,etc..., I ran mine at 280x10 for a while to maximize my ram overclock.

 

[Arkodominion]

HTT is lcoked out on my bios, so I don't have away to change it.

CPU-Z tells me that the HTT is 200.0, and the voltage hovers right around the 1.440-1.472

I haven't tried to lower memory clock yet, but that looks like the place to go to OC while using CPU frequency