MSI K8N Neo2 Plat owners -- Bios ver/ Memory type / settings ?

[Nvidiot]

I'm just curious what everyone is running for bios version, memory settings and timings with the MSI K8N Neo2 Plat motherboards.

I have:

CPU: A64 3500+ 90nm
Heatsink: Thermaltake Venus 7 (Hey, it was cheap)
Bios: 1.41mod
Memory Brand: OCZ PC3200 Rev. 2 Plat
Memory Timings: 2.5-3-3-10 / 2T
Memory Speed: 250 MHz 1:1
Multi: 10x
HTT x4
Cool&Quiet: Disabled
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Dynamic OC: Disabled
Stock voltage on memory and cpu.

I'm running @10x250 nice and stable, but want to know if it is worth the effort to try and take it further. What's the general consensus on the 3500+ on the MSI Neo2 -- can it do 2.6 - 2.7 GHz, no problem? What memory and timings are giving the best performance for everyone?

 

[nealh]

what hsf are you using...retail or aftermarket..very sweet setup

 

[RealityTime]

CPU: A64 3500+ 130nm
Bios: 1.36B
Memory Brand: Kingston Value 2.5-3-3-8
Running at 166Mhz... 208Mhz Effective at 2.5-3-3-10-1T
FSB: 250
Multi: 10
CPU Mhz: 2500
HTT: 4x
CPU Voltage: 1.6
Cool&Quiet, Spread Spectrum, Dynamic OC all disabled
Mem Voltage: 2.65 (2.6 is default on my POS memory)

this is on a neo2, all stable, temps idle at 38c, top out at 54c

I've gotten mine up as high as 2.6, I think it could fairly easily do better but not on air, as its too hot doing 2.6 on air, of course mine is a 130nm part, but its also from the announce date and month/week batch that have been reported on xtremesystems.org to get up as high as 2.8-3ghz with water/exotic cooling. link: http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sourtimes/cpu.jpg

using a zalman 7000a-alcu, thinking of grabbing and xp90/92mm panaflo though, as I hear these are cooling beasts.

 

[Mrvile]

Man that Zalman must be a beast. I use the XP-90 with a Panaflo M1 92mm fan, and my non-OC temps are like 35-37 idle, 42 - 46 load. I think I applid the AS5 wrong, but I'll redo it and try again after I get my mobo back from the RMA.

 

[Nvidiot]

I edited my post to include the heatsink.

I should have asked if any of you Neo2 Plat owners have experienced problems with the voltage in bios saying one thing and the core center software showing something different. For example, bios is set to vCore 1.475 (I know, it is high) and core center shows vCore @ 1.41-1.43. Kinda strange, but hey it is stable. My temps are around 42C idle and 53C under load.

 

[sodcha0s]

Yeah, the Neo2 Plat undervolts the core. I have mine at stock and am actually getting 3.6-3.7.

 

[nealh]

Mrvile..how loud is that panaflo M 30db vs 27db L1A which is what I am thinking about getting

How loud was the retail HSF?

nvidiot...are you able to do 1T with the OCZ ram???

where is the best place to buy the OCZ plat rev2 ram...newegg has 1gb for like $275 shipped

one more thing anyone using a SAT hdd on these high fsb..does this hold you back any??

 

[Nvidiot]

nvidiot...are you able to do 1T with the OCZ ram???

where is the best place to buy the OCZ plat rev2 ram...newegg has 1gb for like $275 shipped

one more thing anyone using a SAT hdd on these high fsb..does this hold you back any??

I have not tried it with 1T. Memory bandwidth is around 6300, so I have not tried making the timing any tighter.

I will say that I kept reading that everyone was getting 2-2-2-5 to work @ 250+ with the OCZ Plat. Rev 2, but I was not. 2.5-3-3-7 is fine by me at 250.

I bought it from Newegg for $275 as you indicated. A good deal.

Using SATA is no problem provided you connect to the SATA3 or SATA4 ports AND set AGP to 67 MHz. I could not get the fsb above 210 MHz until I did both of those things. I also found it tough to install the nvraid.sys driver during WindowXP install. I tried using the XP install floppies and it would always error out with "unable to find nvraid.sys". Yes, I hit f6 AND installed BOTH of the provided drivers. I was forced to go with a single sata boot drive as a result -- which sucks.

 

[Nvidiot]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
Yeah, the Neo2 Plat undervolts the core. I have mine at stock and am actually getting 3.6-3.7.

You mean you're getting 3.6 - 3.7 GHz or your readings show vCore @ 3.6 - 3.7 volts?

 

[nealh]

thanks nvidiot..great info

 

[OrangeParktech]

CPU: A64 3200+ 90nm
Heatsink: Stock (will be Gigabyte Rocket Pro on tuesday)
Bios: 1.3
Memory Brand: Geil Ultra PC4000
Memory Timings: 2.5-3-3-7 / 1T
Memory Speed: 250 MHz 1:1
Multi: 10x
HTT x4
Cool&Quiet: Disabled
Spread Spectrum: Disabled
Dynamic OC: Disabled
2.8 Vdimm and 1.47 Vcore(as reported in Core center).

 

[Nvidiot]

Orange, have you seen an appreciable difference in setting 1T vs. 2T? Also, how about 7 vs 10, again have you seen a difference. @ 250 MHz I've not seen anyone demonstrate a difference even in the Sandra benchmarks.

 

[nealh]

know db rating on the retail hsf....not sure if I should go with a XP-90

 

[PVD]

what is the advantage of using the modded bios?? I am running version 1.3 and my cpu is currently at 2.64 GHZ stable on air. I have my RAM at 2-2-2-5 and at 1T. Good thread

 

[Nvidiot]

Originally posted by: PVD
what is the advantage of using the modded bios?? I am running version 1.3 and my cpu is currently at 2.64 GHZ stable on air. I have my RAM at 2-2-2-5 and at 1T. Good thread

The modded bios allows greater voltage adjustment and contains all the fixes in the GA 1.41 bios. It also has a few of the hidden menu items showing by default. Overall it is a big improvement over 1.30.

What voltages are you currently running. I am running on air too, but I cannot get 2-2-2-5 to work 250+, still my Sandra memory bandwith scores are off the chart.

Are you using HTT at x3 for 2.64?

 

[PVD]

I am running 11 x 240 with only a 3.3% increase in vcore. (the percentage option). All of my other stuff is stock voltage, with 2-2-2-5 timings. My HTT is at 4x. I tried fooling around with the higher fsbs and 10x multiplier but could only get to 2.65 or so stable, with lax memory timimgs. I upped my ram voltage to 2.75 to do this. I fugure 2.64 is good enough right now. I might play with it later. I like the fact I can run my ram at 2-2-2-5 and am not overvolting my ram and cpu. Thoughts??


Also, what sandra program are you running? 2005? What was your scores. I will let you know minw in comparison


PVD

 

[PVD]

also, how would I benefit from a modded bios?? Where do I get it at??

 

[Nvidiot]

Originally posted by: PVD
I am running 11 x 240 with only a 3.3% increase in vcore. (the percentage option). All of my other stuff is stock voltage, with 2-2-2-5 timings. My HTT is at 4x. I tried fooling around with the higher fsbs and 10x multiplier but could only get to 2.65 or so stable, with lax memory timimgs. I upped my ram voltage to 2.75 to do this. I fugure 2.64 is good enough right now. I might play with it later. I like the fact I can run my ram at 2-2-2-5 and am not overvolting my ram and cpu. Thoughts??


Also, what sandra program are you running? 2005? What was your scores. I will let you know minw in comparison


PVD

I have Sandra 2004 and with 10x and 1T @ 255 Mhz fsb x4 HTT I got ~7,100 / 6950

I also pushed my fsb up to 266 @ 2T x10 (2.66 GHz) and got 6300 / 6100.

Benchmarkwise I see very little performance difference betwen 2550 and 2600. I also had to bump the vCore voltage to 1.450 in bios to run stable at 2.66. I can run default voltage at 2550, so I like that better too.

Did you try x3 htt and 270 MHz FSB? I bet you could easily make it then. The trick is to keep the htt speed between 800 and 1000. You are really pushing it with 266 x4. Might be more stable with x3 and very little performance difference.

I will download Sandra 2005 and see if there is any difference.

Have you tried the Everest Memory benchmark program? I have not, but it looks like alot of people on here do.

 

[sodcha0s]

Originally posted by: Nvidiot

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
Yeah, the Neo2 Plat undervolts the core. I have mine at stock and am actually getting 3.6-3.7.

You mean you're getting 3.6 - 3.7 GHz or your readings show vCore @ 3.6 - 3.7 volts?

Sorry about that...

I meant I have my cpu voltage set to stock (auto in BIOS) which should be 1.4v, but I am actually getting 3.6-3.7 volts on the core.

3.6-3.7 Ghz? LOL, that's funny....