P4B266 Questions

[adamone11]

Hi, I just put together my first system (!!) with a 1.8a, P4B266 and Radeon 8500, among other things, and was hoping you guys could answer a few questions I can't solve:

1) What's the best way to OC? Just start upping the FSB, or should I switch to Turbo1/Turbo2 immediately? What full-load temp should I back off at? Everyone talks about their max scores, but nowhere online is there a meaningful walkthrough.

2) What hookups/settings do I need to hear the Voice POST thing? I'd like to boot once with it, just so I know I'm clean. I get a weird high freq beep at startup that I think is my keyboard with a bad key, but it'd be nice to know.

3) I have the non -C, so it came with USB brackets. My case has 1 front USB port, but a completely split cable leading back to the mobo. So... given that, is there any way to hook up the front port w/o losing the back ports?

4) I have all my extra PCI cards in, and plan on having them in when I OC. I figure, if it's not stable with them in, then it doesn't matter how high I can get without em.

5) Just so you know, my scores at 1.82/4:3/2-2-2-5 are Sandra BW: 1939-1940 and 3dMark2001SE: 8386. I'm looking forward to 2.376!! Oh, am I really going to need a new HS/F? I have a side fan blowing in on it, but I also have 2 hot 7200 HDD's in the case. No AS paste, just stock so far.

Thanks for your advice.

P.S. I should have gone with all from NewEgg! Googlegear is so slow! (Texas)

 

[adamone11]

bump

 

[herbage11]

I am looking to get this same mobo and would like to see the answers to these questions as well..

 

[Eymar]

I just put together a Retail 1.6a (costa rica),P4B266-C, and a VT GF4 Ti4600. This my first Intel setup since my P2333/BX combo.

Here's what I did related to your questions.
1) I started OC by just FSB using FSB to MEM ratio of 1:1 (w/ a 1.8a you may want to set ratio to 3:4 if you don't hit above 133FSB). Started at 133mhz FSB, the max FSB I got stable was 160 (1.6@2.56) with bumps to CPU voltage along the way(currently @ 1.55v w/ 1.6@2.52 158 FSB). I then set the Memory settings to the max (2-2-2-5), then tried the Turbo settings. Turbo 1 seems to work stable (tested using Prime95 for a day) and Turbo 2 would not even boot.

2) I don't know about this one, but I don't get a good single tone beep at startup either. It sounds like static for a second then beeps like normal from a cold startup.

3) Really can't help you here as have the -C version and I use a USB2.0 pci card for USB.

4) I fill most of my slots as well. I have an Audigy, Intel NIC, IWILL Side 100 RAID, winmodem, and a USB2.0 card. Everything except NIC(haven't used yet) work stable at 160FSB with a 1/4 PCI divider should be running at 40mhz. My stablility testing is just looping of 3dMark2k1. It really depends on the PCI card's tolerances in this case for stability.

5) I use the Retail Fan fan, but took out the thermal pad and used AS. I don't believe you have to get a new HSF unless you see your performance decrease in half over time. Usually means Intel's P4 overheat protection is kicking in and throttles the CPU to lower speed, but I haven't seen it or notice it using the Retail HS/F. I also have 2 7200 drives, both WD 80GB. I use an Antec SX1030 case with only 2 Case fans. Quiestest system I had for a long time. Temps are for CPU are at 107.6F at load and for case around 77-80F.

Hope this helps,
Eymard