HUGE leap forward with A8N SLI Deluxe overclocking

[sreams]

Okay folks... I've been messing with this board quite a bit today, and have really pushed it to new limits pretty easily. HTT speeds can go well beyond what we've all seen so far.

My current overclock:

Athlon64 3200+ (90nm) at 2600MHz
HTT at 325MHz x 3 (that's right)
Memory at 520MHz (2.5-3-3-7)

Solid as a rock.

The thing I've noticed that may have hindered others in a quest for an HTT beyond 300MHz... x.5 CPU multipliers seem to stop working at high HTT clockspeeds. I was trying HTT325 with a 7.5x CPU multiplier for a while, and it just wouldn't work (locked up after drive detection). 8x works fine, however.

So... a list of the settings that have worked for me:

Memory set to "DDR333" (which really means a 4:5 ratio)
Timings at 2T, 2.5-3-3-7

HTT divider at 3x

HTT clock at 325MHz

CPU multiplier at 8x

Memory voltage at 2.7V

Core voltage at 1.525V

Works like a charm... and performs much better than my previous overclock, which was:

Athlon64 3200+ (90nm) at 2500MHz
HTT at 250MHz x 4
Memory at 500MHz (2.5-3-3-7)

 

[FastEddie]

Nice find and decent oc.

 

[bap4201]

Excellent testing sreams! Thanks for posting your information!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Great work Screams!

I can run the same settings with a 1T command rate if I loosen the timings to 2.5-3-3-10 and give it 2.9v with my OCZ TCCD. You might give this a try as I get quite a bit better benchmarks with the 1T.

 

[pudds]

seems like i got a bad cpu, wont even post at those setting. Highest prime stable is 2450mhz

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Yeah, 2T is really going to kill your performance. You're better off running your RAM at 480 with 1T.

 

[tretneo]

Hey Bap, we have very similar machines, do you overclock your FX-55 at all?

tret

 

[sreams]

It appears the limit for HTT on this board is somewhere around 340MHz. It's stable up to that point... but things start to get unpredictable after that.

Also... with the memory I have, I can't seem to get 1T memory timings to work reliably. The system boots into Windows, but will inevitably crash. Changing voltage and timings doesn't seem to help with this.

-S

 

[bap4201]

Originally posted by: tretneo
Hey Bap, we have very similar machines, do you overclock your FX-55 at all?

tret

I've dabbled w/ it but put it back to stock, because quite frankly, it is extremely fast at that!

 

[WaterGun]

I suspect the problem is with the board, not your RAM. I have tested the same RAM and CPU on MSI and DFI SLI boards and I can do 300 HTT, DDR600 1T easily while I can never go over 250 HTT, DDR500 1T.:disgust:

 

[spearsd]

Yes, thanks for the OC info ;-)

I've had pretty good success after replacing my power supply (bumping my head with Antec True430W) though my CPU seems to top out at just under 2500MHz :-( Of course, I'm talking about reliable performance (SuperPi and 3dMark05 for hours on end). I've completed Sandra memory benchmarks at 315MHz (DDR 630) with loose settings without increasing DDR voltage past 1.75v and scored just a hair under 7000. I'm still in the process of tweaking things and making sure the system is stable with the following:

275MHz memory bus (2.5-4-4-8-2T)
x9 CPU multiplier
x4 HTT multiplier

Have been able to run windows with occasional problems at ...

315Mhz memory bus (3-6-6-11-2T)
x8 CPU multiplier
x4 HTT multiplier

 

[DavidHull]

Memory set to "DDR333" (which really means a 4:5 ratio)

I've read a lot of reviews of A64 boards an their are two overclocking mistakes, sure to bring performance backwards. They are:

Using 2T Memory timings.

and

Using odd multipliers.

So, yes it was a good overclock, but does not solve the problem that everyones been complaining about. That is, being able to clock their memory, rated DD500 and above, at its rated speeds or 1T timings.

Dave

 

[sreams]

Originally posted by: DavidHull

So, yes it was a good overclock, but does not solve the problem that everyones been complaining about. That is, being able to clock their memory, rated DD500 and above, at its rated speeds or 1T timings.

Dave

I'd really love to see someone post benchmark comparisons with 1T vs 2T timings. Compared to known benchmark results for Sandra and all three versions of 3DMark... I seem to be doing great with 2T timings. How much of a gain would 1T be, specifically? Anyone have numbers?

-S

 

[spearsd]

sreams,

I can tell you from memory that with my Corsair CMX512-3200C2 Rev 5.1 at 200MHz 2-3-3-6 timings, the difference between 1T and 2T was over 950 points in the Sandra 2005 memory bandwidth test. 1T does make a BIG difference. Its a shame I can't get above 230Mhz with 1T timings :-(

-spearsd

Originally posted by: sreams

Originally posted by: DavidHull

So, yes it was a good overclock, but does not solve the problem that everyones been complaining about. That is, being able to clock their memory, rated DD500 and above, at its rated speeds or 1T timings.

Dave

I'd really love to see someone post benchmark comparisons with 1T vs 2T timings. Compared to known benchmark results for Sandra and all three versions of 3DMark... I seem to be doing great with 2T timings. How much of a gain would 1T be, specifically? Anyone have numbers?

-S

 

[Panorama]

What do u guys think about my OC progress and how can i improve it further.
What i have installed:
A8n sli-deluxe, FX-55, Kingston 512mb x1 333mhz (single channel), asus en6600gt 128mb.
my OC results:
FSB: 250
HTT: x5
CPU: 2500.00 mhz @ 1.65 v
Multi: x10
Ram fq: 208.3 (close 5:4/ 250:208) 2.5-3-3-7-10-16 cpu-z results @ 2.6v Bios timings are set to auto except ram fq which i have set to DDR333
Prime95 stable ran for 2 hr

 

[sreams]

Originally posted by: Panorama
What do u guys think about my OC progress and how can i improve it further.
What i have installed:
A8n sli-deluxe, FX-55, Kingston 512mb x1 333mhz (single channel), asus en6600gt 128mb.
my OC results:
FSB: 250
HTT: x5
CPU: 2500.00 mhz @ 1.65 v
Multi: x10
Ram fq: 208.3 (close 5:4/ 250:208) 2.5-3-3-7-10-16 cpu-z results @ 2.6v Bios timings are set to auto except ram fq which i have set to DDR333
Prime95 stable ran for 2 hr

Um... the -stock- clockspeed for an FX55 is 2600MHz, so you are underclocking, not overclocking.

-S

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Great work Screams!

I can run the same settings with a 1T command rate if I loosen the timings to 2.5-3-3-10 and give it 2.9v with my OCZ TCCD. You might give this a try as I get quite a bit better benchmarks with the 1T.

Do you happen to have a multimeter? I would like to know what your chipset voltage is at...

 

[Samus]

I was able to achieve an idential overclock with same memory timings with mushkin pc3500.

same setup, 90nm 3200, a8nsli, xfx 6600gt, 2 sata drives, exc. 36c idle at 5.25v, prime's been goin for 6 hours, no hickups yet.

 

[Samus]

Originally posted by: sreams

Originally posted by: Panorama
What do u guys think about my OC progress and how can i improve it further.
What i have installed:
A8n sli-deluxe, FX-55, Kingston 512mb x1 333mhz (single channel), asus en6600gt 128mb.
my OC results:
FSB: 250
HTT: x5
CPU: 2500.00 mhz @ 1.65 v
Multi: x10
Ram fq: 208.3 (close 5:4/ 250:208) 2.5-3-3-7-10-16 cpu-z results @ 2.6v Bios timings are set to auto except ram fq which i have set to DDR333
Prime95 stable ran for 2 hr

Um... the -stock- clockspeed for an FX55 is 2600MHz, so you are underclocking, not overclocking.

-S

Yea, whats up with that, you're running under the cpu's factory-capable speed. try shooting for 2800mhz, if it comes easy, go for the golden 3k. some people are able to do it with stock cooling (laughs) although i hear the stock coolers are actually better than most of the 3rd party crap under $25.

 

[Panorama]

i have overclocked my ram a lot from 166 to 208. i cant go beyond that because i find error in Prime95. otherwise i have overclocked this chip to 2770.oo mhz but the FSB is low being at 213 @ 13, htt: x5.

 

[buckZor]

sreams - you didnt mention what your memory is...?

 

[sreams]

It's PQI PC4000 rated at 2.5-3-3-7 at 500MHz (or 2.0-2-2-5 at 400MHz). Uses the Samsung TCCD chips.

-S

 

[bap4201]

Ok, I'm now trying to oc my fx-55 w/ ocz 3200 rev 2. I have the following settings:

mem timings = ddr400; 2-3-3-8 1T

bumped fsb up to 213 x 13 = 2,770

cpu voltage = auto

mem voltage = 2.8

prime 95 errors out if I raise fsb to 216.

I want to run at 1T

any suggestions?

I just want a mild oc to about 2,850 or 2,900 and I ABSOLUTELY want to run @ 1T.

Should I raise the fsb again & loosen the timings to say 2.5-3-3-8 ?

what do you think?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I don't think memory is holding you back. I'm running my OCZ at 232mhz 2-3-3-5 with 2.8v. I think you need to up the CPU volts, 170mhz is most likely the best you will get on stock voltage. Change from the auto setting to 1.6375 (seems to give 1.50 - 1.52 actual) per CPUZ and AI booster. And also experiment with lower CPU multi and settings like 234 x 12 = 2808, you can take advantage of that fine OCZ ram.
You might even get 240 x 12 = 2880mhz with ram at 240mhz, that would be wicked fast. I get an extra 500-600 points in 35mark05 running ram 232 vs 200, with the same CPU mhz.

With the FX-55 chip your overclocking range is most likely not as great as with my 3200+, but with the unlocked multiplier's the ways to overclock that chip are almost limitless. jealous I am So if you don't get the OC you want, try it a different way

288 x 10 = 2880mhz DDR333/ ram=240mhz

210 x 14 = 2940mhz ram=210

325 x 9 = 2925mhz DDR266(or AUTO) ram=217

273 x 11 = 3003mhz DDR333 ram=228 Dare we dream!!!

I'll quit now, my jealousy is increasing

Oh, and don't forget to drop that HTT multi to 4x if you use a setting higher than 220, and 3x over 260

 

[bap4201]

hey, thanks for the reply guitardaddy! Do you think I'll be able to run that at 1T? I'll try your suggestion when I get home tonight!

Cheers!