**OFFICIAL** Abit BG7 (i845G) Thread

[therudyq3]

well some updates...i was able to run it at 133fsb stably...and i can go so far as high as 150 fsb...but at this fsb 4:5 is not stable.

at lower setting for 150 fsb ...the jury is still out.

i also notice that when i increase the pci frequency to 37Mzh, the onboard sound stop working... i'll run it with some 1:1 ratio and see how high i can get there...

is the tempature correct in the BIOS? my temp after running some test is CPU ==> 59C or 60C System1 (MB?) ==> 30C
the cpu vcore now is 1.61V

I'm used to have tempature monitor software from asus, the pcprobe, that tells you the temp instantly whil ur in windows...is there any such software for the BG7?

 

[therudyq3]

one more thing ....LOL...still can't get the Radeon 8500 to work with this BG7

 

[render]

installed intel ICH4 chipset
intel application accelerator
USB 2.0 driver
UB 2.0 support multi lang QFE


After installing all of above, I have to install usb 2.0 driver from windows update, then usb 2.0 finally works right.(check you device manager - no question mark there)

However, I uninstalled intel application accelerator because it doesn't improve any performances but cause some problems.

try the thing other people suggested here, like lock your agp/pci ratio etc...

Abit BG7 is doing great for me, so no complaints from me.

 

[therudyq3]

what is an acceptable temp for this BG7??

at default setting my System1 (MB?) temp is 30C and the cpu temp is 50C

I came from asus p4s533 and using the pcprobe temp monitor program, 50C at idle default setting is high...am I missing something here?

I noticed that after running some tests, the temp only increased about 3 to 5 more degrees...which is really cool

 

[MeCalvin]

Newbie too.

Not trying to give any advice but I will give my 2cents about OCing with the BG7.

I've found that I often panicked when I don't get what others with similar settings are getting.
Bombarded the board with questions late at night, and got frustrated when nobody answers.

The key is to slow down and take your time to debug the problem. Think clearly. Try to understand the concept of OC.
Make it work at stock settings first, without any addon cards, then put in your addon cards. Get them to work. Then OC, slowly.

This BG7 is a real picky MOBO, but hey, it's much cheaper than the next best thing: ASUS 845G MOBO. I chose BG7 over
the ASUS one (knowing that the ASUS one is better) simply because I'm a newbie, and think I should play with a cheaper,
but effective OC, MOBO.

Having said that, I have found that mine BG7 will not run my Corsair XMS2700 at high FSB and high RAM ratio, regardless
of voltage boost. There is a balance somewhere for every rig, and mine is (knock on wood and hope it does not crash tonight)
140FSB,
4:5 RAM ratio,
default vCore,
2.6VRAM (one boost)
2/7/3/3 RAM setting.

I have found that faster RAM is better than faster CPU. For example 150FSB 1:1 RAM got me 7700 on 3DMARK, but 140FSB 4:5
got me 9663 on 3DMARK.

Using Motherboard Monitor 5 (freeware) to check on temperatures. Winbond is a backup software to verify things as it does not stay resident on the tray.

44C idle, 53C under 3DMark for 140FSB settings. Used AS3 on HS. Will also try AS3 on northbridge.

For the guy with the Radeon 8500 problem, I'm running the same card (64MB ?) on Win2K (same driver I think) and have no problem so far. Few things to try:
1. Try using a different OS.

2. ATI driver has never been easy to uninstall. I have the specific instructions from ATI on how to uninstall drivers. I have found installing
new one over old ones often cause problems.

3. If you have time, just reformat your HD and reinstall your OS. Then install a fresh copy of the ATI driver. Mine is a new rig, and that's what I do all the times when my OC locks and kills my OS.

Good luck. It's frustrating to see others get good OC right out of the box, but for us few who are having problems, just think of it
as great learning experience. Hey if you don't fall, you'll never learn how to run.

 

[therudyq3]

mecalvin...could you please give me some specific info about running your Radeon 8500 drivre? like which driver for the radeon and which drivers for the MB ...and extra info I would appreciated it....also any special instructions on installing/uninstalling the ati driver?

that shouldn't be the issue since i'm running win xp pro ...and installing/uninstalling driver is a breeze

 

[snoopyb0y]

Bam!! I no longer bitch at my northwood 2.0A chip made from Philippines,

Orginal i couldn't overclock anything past stock but i have found the key!

My current settings stands at:

2.0A @ 135fsb = 2.70 Mhz
Cpu voltage @ 1.5V (default), Memory voltage @ 2.5V (default)
Memory set at HIGH, 4:5 ratio, Memory timing by SPD

The key was setting Memory @ HIGH, everything seemed to worked after that. Originally
I had it at "By CPU" which probably set it at LOW. I don't quite understand what the FSB Freq. H/W Strap setting does, but setting @ HIGH seems to allow me to OC'

Another thing that i don't understand is the memory timing? I am using by SPD right now, and it has selecting for me:
CAS Latency Time = 2, Act to Precharge Delay = 7, DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay = 3, DRAM RAS# Precharge = 3
Are these settings okay or too slow? My Corsair XMS 3000 Cas2 1 stick 512MB (part#= CMX512-3000C2)
specs to go at 2-3-3-5 on their site
http://www.corsairmicro.com/xms/xms_modules.html

Will some experienced Overclocker help me from here, i want to go faster and higher!

snoopyb0y
ICQ:18489867

 

[MeCalvin]

theRudy,
I am using the latest driver from ATI

Recommended Driver - CATALYST? 02.1
Driver Build 5.13.01.6094
7.72-020524M-004273C
Posted June 13, 2002

The reason why I've mentioned of a clean install of the ATI driver is that with my old rig, whenever I update my Radeon driver I've found
that it does not clean all of the files off the HD and more importantly, it does not clean the registry properly.

Obviously on a spanking new OS, we would not have that problem, but if you have it going, then it went bad and reinstall the driver,
just make sure the registry is clean of the old driver.

=== [ Windows 2000 Clean install instructions] ======================

Follow the steps below to ensure a clean install for your ATI graphics adapter:

- remove the current ATI/Multimedia Center and/or DVD player (if present) using add/remove programs in the control panel


- select NO when prompted to reboot. Then remove the ATI Display Driver. Do not reboot

- double click on My comp. on your desk top. Double click on the C drive
- double click on program files. Delete the ati multimedia folder (if present). DO NOT REBOOT

- go to Start > Run > Type regedit > Click OK > Click on Registry on the menu bar
- export the registry to the desktop

- click on the plus sign beside Hkey local machine > click on the + sign beside software > delete the ATI folders
- click on the + sign beside Hkey current user > click on the + sign beside software > delete any ATI folders
- exit the registry

Reboot to safe mode

- during reboot, hit F8 or hold down CTRL to bring up the MS Start Up Menu.
- select #3 to boot to safe mode

- open the Control Panel and double-click on System
- first select Performance and the graphics button to ensure that the performance slider is set to full
- If not, then change it but do not restart

- then select the Device Manager Tab and click on the plus + sign next to Display adapters
- remove ALL VIDEO CARDS LISTED UNDER THE DISPLAY ADAPTER HEADING
- remove all Monitors as well ( if present )

- also click on the + sign beside Sound Video and Games and remove everything that says ati

Reboot to Normal Mode
- windows will detect new hardware , let it install its drivers
- reboot
- Insert the ati installation CD in and install/install the downloaded driver/software

 

[MeCalvin]

theRudy,
make sure you have installed the ICH4 driver first before all else.

 

[MeCalvin]

SnoopyBoy,
if you are happy with your current RAM speed, then you would play around with the Delays (writing and reading delays)

From what I can gather from the BIOS Survival Guide, these delays are only good for apps which
actually use them. But then who cares to find out which apps use them, for us, the lower these delays the
better.

So why not go ahead and set them all to 2/2/2/5 ?????

If you are happy at your RAM speed, then yep, go ahead and change them. But if you want to go higher
RAM speed, keep them at the defaults, as these are more stable settings. Once you are happy with your
RAM speed, then change these delays.

I've done it, changing these delays at a certain RAM speed and 3DMArk returns
the same score.

So cool that you can OC at 4:5. Now try 3:4. What HIGH setting does was give you 4:5. Not trying to spoil your
discovery or anything, but I would be surprise if keeping all else the same, if you cann't OC with 3:4 with H/W strap on LOW,
you will be able to OC at 3:4 with H/W Strap on HIGH.

4:5 give you lower RAM speed, and thus more stable. Try 3:4 and see what happens. Hope I'm wrong for your case.

I have XMS2700, rated at 2/2/2 and I know it can go to DDR400. BG7 is not giving it to me. Your 3200 should go higher and more stable
at DDR400.

Go team.

 

[MeCalvin]

Originally posted by: snoopyb0y
Bam!! I no longer bitch at my northwood 2.0A chip made from Philippines,

Orginal i couldn't overclock anything past stock but i have found the key!

My current settings stands at:

2.0A @ 135fsb = 2.70 Mhz
Cpu voltage @ 1.5V (default), Memory voltage @ 2.5V (default)
Memory set at HIGH, 4:5 ratio, Memory timing by SPD

The key was setting Memory @ HIGH, everything seemed to worked after that. Originally
I had it at "By CPU" which probably set it at LOW. I don't quite understand what the FSB Freq. H/W Strap setting does, but setting @ HIGH seems to allow me to OC'

Another thing that i don't understand is the memory timing? I am using by SPD right now, and it has selecting for me:
CAS Latency Time = 2, Act to Precharge Delay = 7, DRAM RAS# to CAS# Delay = 3, DRAM RAS# Precharge = 3
Are these settings okay or too slow? My Corsair XMS 3000 Cas2 1 stick 512MB (part#= CMX512-3000C2)
specs to go at 2-3-3-5 on their site
http://www.corsairmicro.com/xms/xms_modules.html

Will some experienced Overclocker help me from here, i want to go faster and higher!

snoopyb0y
ICQ:18489867

135 FSB 4:5 would give your DDR337.
135 FSB 3:4 would give you DDR360.
150 FSB 3:4 would give you DDR400 ->>>>where I can only dream of.

 

[render]

I have XMS2700, rated at 2/2/2 and I know it can go to DDR400. BG7 is not giving it to me.

How do you know XMS2700 can go to DDR400 ?

XMS3000 cas2 cannot even do that with cas2 setting. You have to lower your cas setting to 2.5.

 

[Rythan]

My XMS3200 tops out at around 168MHz at CAS2. It has to be 2.5-5-2-2 from there on up.

 

[MeCalvin]

 

[MeCalvin]

Originally posted by: render

I have XMS2700, rated at 2/2/2 and I know it can go to DDR400. BG7 is not giving it to me.

How do you know XMS2700 can go to DDR400 ?

XMS3000 cas2 cannot even do that with cas2 setting. You have to lower your cas setting to 2.5.

How do I know: I don't personally. Being a newbie all I can do is do lots of reading and find out what the max my rig
can get to and then spent countless hours trying to get to it.

It would be good that my research is wrong, so then I would not need to try too hard to get my XMS2700 to reach DDR400.

But hey, he did....

http://www.hardware-test.dk/test_show.asp?id=868

In short, with his Motherboard: SOYO P4S Dragon Ultra SiS645 he got:
System status
-CPU: 2,160GHz
-FSB: 120MHz
-DRAM ratio: 3:5 (200)
-DDR bus: 400MHz -PC3200
-DRAM voltage: 3,0V
-CAS setting: CAS2.5

theRudy,
I locked my AGP at 66MHz.

 

[AznRyda]

Hey do you know any possible reason why my agp video card won't work?

I set the bios to agp/onboard from pci and it still only loads my onboard even though there is a card in my agp slot.

 

[therudyq3]

I sthe tempature on this board corretc?

P4 1.8A

Mine at idle is 48C to 50C CPU temp
System1 temp (MB) 28C to 30C

I applied AC3 on HS, using intel stock HSF and runnig at stock speed 18 X 100

I noticed most people here are using 1.6A, but still this same set up on an asus p4s533 and pc probe program, the cpu temp was 38C

Should I RMA this board...newegg will hate me...i already RMA the P4s533 twice due to bad secondary ide

 

[tyoung88]

Hi Guys,

I'm noticing that the Abit BG-7 may be reporting high temps? I've just successfully ran a days worth of Prime95 but my temps are little scary . . . when running Prime my CPU temp is at 59C.

Should this be of concern? I guess an Alpha would help . . . what kind of 80mm fan should I get with it?

 

[Lizardman]

Just so your temps are below the 60s dont worry about it. NO damage will be caused to your cpu.

 

[therudyq3]

"Just so your temps are below the 60s dont worry about it. NO damage will be caused to your cpu"

But will this stop me from OC higher? on the Asus P4S533 MB I was able to get this chip up to 2.7 on spd

here when running at 2.7....it's unstable for now

 

[snoopyb0y]

Originally posted by: MeCalvin
SnoopyBoy,
if you are happy with your current RAM speed, then you would play around with the Delays (writing and reading delays)

From what I can gather from the BIOS Survival Guide, these delays are only good for apps which
actually use them. But then who cares to find out which apps use them, for us, the lower these delays the
better.

So why not go ahead and set them all to 2/2/2/5 ?????

If you are happy at your RAM speed, then yep, go ahead and change them. But if you want to go higher
RAM speed, keep them at the defaults, as these are more stable settings. Once you are happy with your
RAM speed, then change these delays.

I've done it, changing these delays at a certain RAM speed and 3DMArk returns
the same score.

So cool that you can OC at 4:5. Now try 3:4. What HIGH setting does was give you 4:5. Not trying to spoil your
discovery or anything, but I would be surprise if keeping all else the same, if you cann't OC with 3:4 with H/W strap on LOW,
you will be able to OC at 3:4 with H/W Strap on HIGH.

4:5 give you lower RAM speed, and thus more stable. Try 3:4 and see what happens. Hope I'm wrong for your case.

I have XMS2700, rated at 2/2/2 and I know it can go to DDR400. BG7 is not giving it to me. Your 3200 should go higher and more stable
at DDR400.

Go team.

-----------------------
MeCalvin i don't think i can set my Corsair XMS 3000C2 512mb (1 stick) timing to 2-2-2-5. In the Abit BG7 manual, lowest settings are 1.5-5-3-3 ( i think).
Do you own a BG7 board? Also if i set my H/W strap on LOW, there are not timing option for 3:4 That is only available on the HIGH setting. Again do
actually own a BG7 board? I don't have the 3200 i have the 3000 Cas 2 ddr ram. On the corsair site its spec to go up to 370mhz, and i like to reach a higher speed at Cas2.

Someone tell me this, what is faster: 1.8A @ 2.45mhz with 333mhz ram OR 2.0A @ 2.66mhz with 311mhz ram ?
I'm trying to find out if overall system performance is faster via CPU or faster ram....?

snoopyb0y
ICQ:18489867

 

[therudyq3]

I installed the hardware doctor software that came with the CD...the winbond hardware monitor...
upon booting the system and running the windbond program, it gave me a beeping sound and warning message something like:

"your 3.3+ voltage exceeds the limit"

yest when I looked in the display, theMB temp was 28C and the CPU temp was 45C at idle....

i must admit this is high temp ....is there anything to this warning message..or is this the problem/reason why i'm getting such high temp reading of the cpu?

 

[Lizardman]

hey rudy what is your 3.3 line actually at when the warning pops up.

 

[Labdog]

how much did you raise the FSB?

 

[Labdog]

but w/o raid...