*** Official ABIT IS7/G/E (865PE) Thread ***

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: MJLorenzo
Alright, first post on the AnandTech boards and I need a little help. I'm assuming here that this is not the technical limit of my P4 2.4C (though it may very well be) and asking questions based on that assumption. (And if it is the limit, let me down gently, eh?)

Current setup:

Motherboard: Abit iS7
Bios: v1.5
CPU: P4 2.4C @ 3120MHz
FSB: 260MHz
vcore: 1.55v
N/B Strap: PSB800
divider: 5:4
RAM: 2x256MB Kingston HyperX PC3500 (@ 208MHz, 2-6-2-2)
vdimm: 2.6v
agp/pci: 66/33 (fixed)
HSF: Stock Intel HSF
Idle Temp: ~46C (as reported by Hardware Doctor)
Load Temp: 61C (as reported by Hardware Doctor during Prime95's torture test, though the temperature was still rising when the test errored)
PSU: Antec TruePower 380w (Came with the case I bought at a local store as there weren't any other cases available, I have a Thermaltake 480w I can replace it with if need be)

Even this is not technically very stable, as it only runs Prime95's torture test for like 3 minutes before erroring. I may increase vcore to 1.575 later (though I really don't like to) and see if that helps my stability.
My problem, however, is that I cannot even POST anywhere above this, even with lowest memory timings (even though the RAM will be at 220MHz, not too hard to handle for PC3500) and vcore 1.575v.

This setup wouldn't POST:

FSB: 275MHz
vcore: 1.575v
Mem Freq: 220MHz, 3-8-4-4
vdimm: 2.65v
N/B Strap: PSB800

Now for the questions:

A. I've heard 1.6v vcore is as high as someone should go when overclocking a Pentium 4. Would any of you recommend 1.6v for better results perhaps? I would like to spare the processor's life as long as possible.

B. What exactly is the purpose of the N/B Strap? When it was set to Auto, I couldn't reach 3GHz on default voltage. When I set it to PSB800, I could.

C. If cooling is restricting my overclocking ability, which HSF would be recommended? I've looked at the AVC Sunflower, the Swiftech MCX4000, and (IIRC) the Zalman 7000cu.

First thing you should do is update your BIOS to 1.6

I would stay below 1.6 Vcore. Some people may say up to 1.7 but with these D1 stepping CPU's they are pretty much maxed out at 1.6.

The strap is just telling it what CPU you are using 800=200FSB and so on.

The Voltage you have for your Kingston memory is too low and that is probably your biggest problem. Bump that up to the max of 2.8. I believe Kingston even states 2.6-2.9 VDimm.

Next is to go into advanced options and DISABLE the last two settings under GAT.

As a note if you would have read through the entire thread (I know it's long) you would have seen all of these things. Next is your Kingston ram. Some of them do not like the 5:4 divider. The stuff I tested would do 250 1:1 but not 260 5:4 but my OCZ has proven that my CPU is stable at 275.

 

[computer]

First, did you use the stock thermal pad on the HSF unit? If so, remove it and try something like Arctic Silver or Nano.

Use the latest BIOS for the IS7, it's listed above. It's supposed to address some O'clocking issues above 255mhz (although I believe that's mostly for 1:1, it still may help).

Increase your memory voltage to at least 2.7v and give it a try. I don't know the max HyperX can go, but the mobo can go to 2.8v without the Vdimm mod.

I wouldn't increase your CPU Vcore yet until you see if the thermal compound will drop the CPU temp some.

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: computer
First, did you use the stock thermal pad on the HSF unit? If so, remove it and try something like Arctic Silver or Nano.

Use the latest BIOS for the IS7, it's listed above. It's supposed to address some O'clocking issues above 255mhz (although I believe that's mostly for 1:1, it still may help).

Increase your memory voltage to at least 2.7v and give it a try. I don't know the max HyperX can go, but the mobo can go to 2.8v without the Vdimm mod.

I wouldn't increase your CPU Vcore yet until you see if the thermal compound will drop the CPU temp some.

Posted at the same time with simmilar answeres...

BTW forgot to welcome MJLorenzo to the forums.

 

[MJLorenzo]

Orion:

1. Will do on the 1.6 BIOS, but I also figured the overclocking issues with the iS7 were strictly limited to 1:1 over 255FSB, and therefore didn't think it necessary to bother.

2. Yeah, D1 stepping. I'll keep the vcore a little lower

3. I just assumed the memory would run at or a little above its rated frequency with the default 2.6v but hey, learning experience.

4. I figured "Auto" was basically disabled, so I left them alone. I'll disable them next time I enter BIOS.

5. I read all posts up to page 8 or 9 I believe, didn't see answers to any of my questions (though I did notice someone mentioning boosting up the vdimm to 2.8 before I posted)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:

Unfortunately I did not order any performance thermal compound with the parts; I was going to wait until I ordered a better heatsink. I see now how crap the thermal pad really is. Heh.

I'm still confused about Prime95 though. Can barely run it 2-3 minutes without an error. Could it be the low RAM voltage or does Prime95 somehow bypass using the RAM for storage to measure only CPU? (Haven't used it before, that must be obvious)

Also, when the board refuses to POST, don't the beeps denote the source of the error? I think I remember you saying earlier in this thread that one long beep was the processor and something else was the memory. (I've only ever gotten one long beep)

EDIT: Thanks for the help guys, and the welcome Orion.

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: MJLorenzo
Orion:

1. Will do on the 1.6 BIOS, but I also figured the overclocking issues with the iS7 were strictly limited to 1:1 over 255FSB, and therefore didn't think it necessary to bother.

2. Yeah, D1 stepping. I'll keep the vcore a little lower

3. I just assumed the memory would run at or a little above its rated frequency with the default 2.6v but hey, learning experience.

4. I figured "Auto" was basically disabled, so I left them alone. I'll disable them next time I enter BIOS.

5. I read all posts up to page 8 or 9 I believe, didn't see answers to any of my questions (though I did notice someone mentioning boosting up the vdimm to 2.8 before I posted)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:

Unfortunately I did not order any performance thermal compound with the parts; I was going to wait until I ordered a better heatsink. I see now how crap the thermal pad really is. Heh.

I'm still confused about Prime95 though. Can barely run it 2-3 minutes without an error. Could it be the low RAM voltage or does Prime95 somehow bypass using the RAM for storage to measure only CPU? (Haven't used it before, that must be obvious)

Also, when the board refuses to POST, don't the beeps denote the source of the error? I think I remember you saying earlier in this thread that one long beep was the processor and something else was the memory. (I've only ever gotten one long beep)

EDIT: Thanks for the help guys, and the welcome Orion.

One long beep and no post is the memory. If you hit reset and then keep hitting the Insert key it will eventually post so you can go into the bios again.

Prime will error if you have bad memory. You should set your desired settings in the BIOS then run Mem test to check your memory.

 

[computer]

Yeah, welcome!

You can also decrease Prime errors by bumping the voltage up a bit.

I don't remember you mentioning anything about getting any error beeps. I'm not as familiar with AMI beep codes (I think the IS7 has Award?), but Award's one long beep + is usually video, and short beeps are usually memory. AMI beep codes . Award beep codes .

 

[MJLorenzo]

Orion, lol you are seriously "the man". I've never seen someone so quick and damned informative on any forum ever. (No offense to computer of course)

Alright, well I'll apply this newfound knowledge in a few minutes, and maybe get back to you guys on how it went.

 

[computer]

As far as the thermal compound, you can try some heatsink compound now if you have it just to see if it would be better than the pad. You know, the white silicone kind if you have any. You'd be surprised how many HS units DO NOT actually make perfect parallel contact with the chip. I have a habit of holding the CPU with mounted HSF unit up to a bright light and checking for any air (light) gaps. That was easy with slot 1, slot A, and slocket adapter CPU's, but a bit more difficult on mobo mounted CPU's, however it can usually still be done by holding the mobo on it's side up to a bright light and looking. Compound makes this unnecessary. Unless you use a thick pad, a thin pad usually won't compensate for a nonparallel asymmetrical air gap and most thick pads don't have the thermal transfer coefficient performance of thinner ones. So, the compound is usually the best since it can compensate for an asymmetrical chip/HSF unit fit.

 

[computer]

Coincidentally, look what I just came across. Thermal compound round-up

 

[MJLorenzo]

Alright. I updated to BIOS 1.6. The flash went beautifully.

By upping the vdimm to 2.8v, I was able to lower my vcore back to default 1.525v at the same settings I was running before (260fsb). I also disabled the last 2 GAT settings in the BIOS.

However, try as I may, I cannot get these PC3500 modules to run at their rated speeds at 2.8v. I boosted the FSB to 270 5:4 (bringing the memory up to 216MHz, the actual rated speed) and set the timings to 3-8-4-4, still no POST. When I reset and tapped insert to POST, and checked in the BIOS again, the memory divider had reset itself back to "By SPD (1:1)" from the 5:4 I had set it to before the reboot. Of course this may have been when I set the timings to "By SPD" and thus perhaps forced a 1:1 ratio, but I'm halfway through writing this post and I've decided I've reached that textual point of no return. So let me go see if my hypothesis is actually correct, and I'll get back to you... again.. sort of.

 

[computer]

Do you have any other memory you can try? That may be your weak point. I don't even have an IS7/IC7 yet so I can't help you anymore with the behavior you're having, but I'm sure someone else can.

 

[MJLorenzo]

Nah, no other memory. I just eliminated my previous theory.. I set timings to 3-8-4-4 and ratio to 5:4, but when I went back into the BIOS after it didn't post, both the timings and the ratio were off manual and back at By SPD. I'm thinking it's trying to run the memory 1:1 for some godforsaken reason, and it could be either orion's suggestion that the memory hates 5:4 (in which case, ARGH) or there's a BIOS error (much less likely).

EDIT: Also, I installed the NIC driver from the drivers disk in the motherboard box, and my LAN controller is recognized as the 3Com Gigabit LOM. Is this a mislabeling due to the same driver being used for the IC7 or did my IS7 come with Gigabit LAN? I was pretty sure the specs for the IS7 only included 10/100 LAN, but I've heard other people have gotten Gigabit controllers with their IS7s, or at least believe they have..

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: MJLorenzo
Nah, no other memory. I just eliminated my previous theory.. I set timings to 3-8-4-4 and ratio to 5:4, but when I went back into the BIOS after it didn't post, both the timings and the ratio were off manual and back at By SPD. I'm thinking it's trying to run the memory 1:1 for some godforsaken reason, and it could be either orion's suggestion that the memory hates 5:4 (in which case, ARGH) or there's a BIOS error (much less likely).

The reason you see the BIOS revert back to 1:1 and timings set to SPD is because there was a failed boot and you overroad it per se by using the insert key. On this board as well as the IC7 hitting the insert key after the dreaded long (and loud) beep will reset your ram settings since this is what the long beep is for (If I remember correctly it also resets your GAT settings). There is some concerns over at the Abit forums that the CAS settings may be backwards on these boards. i.e CAS2 is actually CAS3. I have not been able to prove that. I have proven that there are alot of memory modules out there that just don't like the 5:4 or 3:2 dividers on 865 and 875 chipsets. The same thing is happening on the Asus boards as well and they have pretty much got to where it is a specific chip that memory makers are using (The CH5) and I believe the Kingstons use that chip. You want to look for ram that has the BH5 chips on them. I believe the cheapest out there is the Buffalo ram that uses those chips.

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: MJLorenzo
Nah, no other memory. I just eliminated my previous theory.. I set timings to 3-8-4-4 and ratio to 5:4, but when I went back into the BIOS after it didn't post, both the timings and the ratio were off manual and back at By SPD. I'm thinking it's trying to run the memory 1:1 for some godforsaken reason, and it could be either orion's suggestion that the memory hates 5:4 (in which case, ARGH) or there's a BIOS error (much less likely).

EDIT: Also, I installed the NIC driver from the drivers disk in the motherboard box, and my LAN controller is recognized as the 3Com Gigabit LOM. Is this a mislabeling due to the same driver being used for the IC7 or did my IS7 come with Gigabit LAN? I was pretty sure the specs for the IS7 only included 10/100 LAN, but I've heard other people have gotten Gigabit controllers with their IS7s, or at least believe they have..

Yes your board came with the 3Com gigabyte lan but it is not the CSA g-lan.

 

[MJLorenzo]

Yes your board came with the 3Com gigabyte lan but it is not the CSA g-lan.

Yeah, I checked the device manager and it was still listed on the PCI bus.

Do all boards naturally fluctuate their voltages? I'm watching Hardware Doctor and my vcore is going up to 1.54, down to 1.49, back to 1.54, down to 1.525 (my setting) and repeating and my vdimm is dipping between 2.83 and 2.85. (Set at 2.8)

Could these memory issues be fixed in a later version of the BIOS? Would be a very welcome addition combined with a higher vdimm range.

Also, increasing the vdimm to 2.8 allowed me to boot with vcore 1.525, but Prime95 still fails after ~6 minutes.

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: MJLorenzo

Yes your board came with the 3Com gigabyte lan but it is not the CSA g-lan.

Yeah, I checked the device manager and it was still listed on the PCI bus.

Do all boards naturally fluctuate their voltages? I'm watching Hardware Doctor and my vcore is going up to 1.54, down to 1.49, back to 1.54, down to 1.525 (my setting) and repeating and my vdimm is dipping between 2.83 and 2.85. (Set at 2.8)

Could these memory issues be fixed in a later version of the BIOS? Would be a very welcome addition combined with a higher vdimm range.

Also, increasing the vdimm to 2.8 allowed me to boot with vcore 1.525, but Prime95 still fails after ~6 minutes.

Mine used to fluctuate a little till I upgraded my PSU to a Antec TrueControll 550. I did not think going from a 420W to the 550 would do anything I just got a good deal on it. When I booted up and checked the hardeware dr I was so impressed at how all of my voltages were not fluctuating by anymore (well maybe a couple of hundreths not the tenths I was seeing before).

Abit will probably not fix the Vdimm but there is the Volt mod floating around that will give you a couple of tenths.

 

[bheffern]

Does anyone know if the IS7 will support the old P4 1.9ghz, non-northwood? Thanks.

 

[orion7144]

Originally posted by: bheffern
Does anyone know if the IS7 will support the old P4 1.9ghz, non-northwood? Thanks.

I would think that the answere is no since it only supports 800/533 FSB cpu's based on the information from their website

 

[computer]

A link to the vmod is on the previous page, but it's not very clear on EXACTLY how it's done. I'm still waiting to hear back from fl62 on exactly how he did his. The link said to remove a resistor, then further down it said to remove a diode, no location given other than physical location. Some said to use a 300 ohm resistor in (its) place, some 350 and some 400 ohm! Still some are using a VR.

bheffern, did you check the manual? I know some are using 400mhz bus CPU's on their IS7, but I don't know of they are 256k (Willamette) or or 512k Northwood. I did a quick check of the manual and I see nothing about cache sizes, it just says 400mhz bus CPU's.

 

[computer]

I would think that the answere is no since it only supports 800/533 FSB cpu's based on the information from their website

Yeah I saw that too at their site a few weeks back. For the IS7-G it says 800/533/400, but it leaves out 400 for the IS7 on its webpage! The manual lists 800/533/400 for the IS7/x.

 

[bheffern]

Thanks, I was confused by the website too.

 

[MJLorenzo]

Ugh, weird error here. I have been running the 260FSB for a few days without a hitch. So I install Microsoft Works today, and restart to complete the installation.. BAM, BIOS checksum error. I reset the CMOS and tried the default failsafe settings and everything booted fine. I try to go back to the overclocked settings and I get a BIOS checksum error again.

I got into Windows and reflashed with the stock v1.3 BIOS, tried to boot the board again at overclocked settings. Boot went fine but Windows locked up. So I reflashed the 1.6 BIOS and booted on default settings. Everything went fine. Tried the overclocked settings again, and got slapped in the face again with a checksum error. I have work to do today, so I just said to hell with it and reverted back to default so I could boot into Windows.

This crap popped up really suddenly, I honestly cannot think of anything that would suddenly cause a change like this. Any suggestions?

UPDATE: Overclocked settings suddenly started working again today. Can't figure it out myself, but I'm grateful.

 

[Archangel07]

Having probs with the Logitec z540s (4.1) and the onboard audio. Just set up this system and would rather someone gave me the scoop without having to read the endless pages.

Also, I was wondering whether there was some more info on a vmod for this board yet as indicated above?

 

[Archangel07]

I guess it wouold help if I actually posted the problem. Cannot get my rear speakers to work in 5.1, they worked fine on my AX4C system which also uses the realtek, but not with this board. Any suggestions?

 

[computer]

Also, I was wondering whether there was some more info on a vmod for this board yet as indicated above?

Me too, I guess Mike (fl62) has "left the building". I guess someone is going to have to email him. If you find something please let us know. If I find the definitive info I'll post it.