Quick and dirty A64 clocking guide **UPDATE** X2 OC information!

[theMan]

spd just means to set all memory settings to auto, which they should be by default. memory dividers should be around in the same area with all the other memory settings. it should be called memclock mode of mem frequency. you want to set this to 100 or ddr200. (these mean the same thing). by default it should be at auto, or 200 ddr400.

 

[kman79]

Thanks guys. I figured it out. Right now I'm running at 2.7GHZ with corsair value ram running at DDR333. IT was stable on prime for 2 hours before I closed it, didn't have time to run for 12 hours. I get my 2X1GB OCZs on friday, I'll do the 12 hour prime run then. This build is mainly for gaming. If you played Battlefield 2, you know it needs more RAM than 1GB. I'm hoping the OCZ will get a decent overclock without me having to run a divider.

BTW, which test do I run on prime to fully test stability? I'm running the first option under torture test. Is that the right one?

 

[Homerboy]

rockin' my 3000+ Venice at 2.8Ghz
9x311, RAM (2-3-2-6) @ 207Mhz on retail HS/Fan on a DFI LanParty
Thanks for the guide!

 

[imported_wyrmrider]

KMan79 be not afraid of divider- in reality everything is a divider even unity
let us know how it goes, timings you get, 1t vs 2t etc


Homerboy, what brand ram, what bios, any other tweeks? 1t or 2t?

 

[theMan]

to test cpu stability, you should use the top test, small FFT's. then, once you do memtest, and some video benchmarks, you can do the blend test. this will really tell you if your whole system is stable.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: wyrmrider
KMan79 be not afraid of divider- in reality everything is a divider even unity
let us know how it goes, timings you get, 1t vs 2t etc


Homerboy, what brand ram, what bios, any other tweeks? 1t or 2t?

Cosair XMS 2x512 (2:3 divider so ~207Mhz @ 2-3-3-6 timings 1t)
6.15 BIOS from DFI (they pulled it after ~6hrs online )

No other tweaks, but do to popular demand Im going to set the RAM to 1:10 and see how high I can push the CPU once I get my XP90 in. I know HTT goes up to 350 so we'll see

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

I have an MSI Neo4 Platinum board. In the DRAM configuration, it says "Timing Mode" at the top, and it's set to Auto. I'm assuming that's SPD. But under it, it says "Memclock index value (Mhz)". I'm assuming that's how I run a memory divider? I have to set the "Timing Mode" to Manual to change the "Memclock Index value (Mhz)". So how do I set it to auto while running a divider?

 

[theMan]

well, if you set it to manual, and dont change anything, it will still be at default/spd. im no expert at that board so, sorry.

 

[Gogar]

Just to let you all know, i added the new Rev E core memory dividers to the Optimizer.
Not many of you will have these available in your bios but they are starting to become available in some newer bioses.

It's still untested so it's not guaranteed to be 100% correct.

Here's the new table of new memory dividers.
http://math.gogar.com/athlon64.cgi?showtable=1&htt=200

The fields in red are where the A64 itself picks the wrong integer to divide the cpu frequency with. Since i haven't been able to test the new dividers yet, i don't know of any such errors in those.

The big red block on the top left is because the memory divider integer can't go below 5, so where it should divide the cpu frequency by 4 it divides it by 5 and causes a lower memory frequency. But it's not that important since nobody will use the 4 - 5 multipliers.

Anyways, hope it all works correctly. Enjoy.

 

[dude]

Can someone take a quick glance at this thread.

It's a problem I'm having with a Asus A8N-E board in which I cannot seem to make it OC at all... maybe it's just a bad board? Everything else seems to work fine and it's perfectly stable.

 

[theMan]

hmm, i would try to find a thread about thte 1005 bios. for the a8v deluxe, the newer rev. e bios's are horrible. maybe its just a screwed up bios. maybe there is some bios setting in there that enables overclocking.

 

[CHOPPER GOD]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: wyrmrider
KMan79 be not afraid of divider- in reality everything is a divider even unity
let us know how it goes, timings you get, 1t vs 2t etc


Homerboy, what brand ram, what bios, any other tweeks? 1t or 2t?

Cosair XMS 2x512 (2:3 divider so ~207Mhz @ 2-3-3-6 timings 1t)
6.15 BIOS from DFI (they pulled it after ~6hrs online )

No other tweaks, but do to popular demand Im going to set the RAM to 1:10 and see how high I can push the CPU once I get my XP90 in. I know HTT goes up to 350 so we'll see

HOMER..what volts for 2.8 and temps please

 

[shelaby]

great guide, will be checking back later this week

 

[crackery]

Hi, I just built a new computer yesterday. And I want to OC. here are my specs:

AMD 64 3000+ Venice
Gigabyte nForce3 250gb
OCZ 2x512mb DDR 3200

I might be really ignorant. but after researching 3+ hours, I still don't understand at all.

Is there any other possibly easier way to do this? I go into BIOS, and there isn't even an option to change multiplier.

I see CPU and AGP Overclock in Mhz option, CPU and AGP voltage control, HT-Link volage control, and DDR voltage control...

I am so lost.

please help me..

 

[wbynum]

I'm a little confused about how the memory clock/divider works with these nForce4 motherboards. I am getting an Epox 9NPA+ SLI motherboard. In the manual the only thing I see about the memory clock is the following:

Memory Frequency (Mhz)
This item sets the memory clock. By placing an artificial memory clock limit on the system, memory is prevented from running faster than this frequency. Example, ?200? will set to DDR400 speed.
Options: 100Mhz, 133Mhz, 166Mhz, 200Mhz.

Given that I don't want to overclock my DDR400 memory, does the above mean that I just set it to 200mhz no matter how high I set the FSB/HTT? Or do I have to bump the memory setting down to 166mhz or 133mhz if I go with a high FSB setting?

 

[dude]

Sit it to 200 and it'll lock the memory at that speed.

You already answered your own question in bold.

 

[crackery]

Originally posted by: wbynum
I'm a little confused about how the memory clock/divider works with these nForce4 motherboards. I am getting an Epox 9NPA+ SLI motherboard. In the manual the only thing I see about the memory clock is the following:

Memory Frequency (Mhz)
This item sets the memory clock. By placing an artificial memory clock limit on the system, memory is prevented from running faster than this frequency. Example, ?200? will set to DDR400 speed.
Options: 100Mhz, 133Mhz, 166Mhz, 200Mhz.

Given that I don't want to overclock my DDR400 memory, does the above mean that I just set it to 200mhz no matter how high I set the FSB/HTT? Or do I have to bump the memory setting down to 166mhz or 133mhz if I go with a high FSB setting?

I finally figured it out last night. turns out that it wasn't really that hard... actually it was fairly easy. I just had to discover that I could get into more detailed hidden menu of overclocking by pressing Ctrl + F1.

and to wbynum, if you overclock your CPU, chances are you'll probably have to limit the memory frequency. As for mine, my CPU is set at 256 mhz with 166 mhz memory frequency resulting in 2.3ghz from 1.8 base. not too bad.

I actually have a question about FSB, and CPU rate.

my FSB right now is 256 x 3 = 768.
CPU: 256 x 9 = 2304. with 166 memory frequency.

however, what if i were to go 250 x 4 = 1000 FSB.
CPU: 250 x 9 = 2250 with 166 memory frequency?

Do i gain more by higher FSB even if that means i sacrifice my CPU rate a little? which one's better?

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: crackery

Originally posted by: wbynum
I'm a little confused about how the memory clock/divider works with these nForce4 motherboards. I am getting an Epox 9NPA+ SLI motherboard. In the manual the only thing I see about the memory clock is the following:

Memory Frequency (Mhz)
This item sets the memory clock. By placing an artificial memory clock limit on the system, memory is prevented from running faster than this frequency. Example, ?200? will set to DDR400 speed.
Options: 100Mhz, 133Mhz, 166Mhz, 200Mhz.

Given that I don't want to overclock my DDR400 memory, does the above mean that I just set it to 200mhz no matter how high I set the FSB/HTT? Or do I have to bump the memory setting down to 166mhz or 133mhz if I go with a high FSB setting?

I finally figured it out last night. turns out that it wasn't really that hard... actually it was fairly easy. I just had to discover that I could get into more detailed hidden menu of overclocking by pressing Ctrl + F1.

and to wbynum, if you overclock your CPU, chances are you'll probably have to limit the memory frequency. As for mine, my CPU is set at 256 mhz with 166 mhz memory frequency resulting in 2.3ghz from 1.8 base. not too bad.

I actually have a question about FSB, and CPU rate.

my FSB right now is 256 x 3 = 768.
CPU: 256 x 9 = 2304. with 166 memory frequency.

however, what if i were to go 250 x 4 = 1000 FSB.
CPU: 250 x 9 = 2250 with 166 memory frequency?

Do i gain more by higher FSB even if that means i sacrifice my CPU rate a little? which one's better?

A64 doesn't care about a higher FSB, go with the highest overall clock speed.

 

[kcstock]

UPDATE: Dual core CPU stability testing
X2 is not any different than a single processor overclocking but for volts and when prime testing CPU(s) for stability:

Volts should not exceed 1.45 for safe operation!

Can anyone elaborate on why this is so? Is over 1.45v safe for 24/7 operation but not for testing?? that seems backwards but it seems implied by this statement.

I have seen this 1.45 a couple different times but no-one ever explains why.

Thanks!
Ken

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: kcstock

UPDATE: Dual core CPU stability testing
X2 is not any different than a single processor overclocking but for volts and when prime testing CPU(s) for stability:

Volts should not exceed 1.45 for safe operation!

Can anyone elaborate on why this is so? Is over 1.45v safe for 24/7 operation but not for testing?? that seems backwards but it seems implied by this statement.

I have seen this 1.45 a couple different times but no-one ever explains why.

Thanks!
Ken

Mainly it's just a safty thing (i won't tell you guys how much volts I'm gonna use I will use more) but at the same time I don't want to be responsible for someone frying thier CPU so I give 10-15% overvolts as "safe" which has never been known to cause any CPU any harm...

AMD, unfortunatly, has never told use "safe" with K8/K9 as they did with K7 in thier whitepapers so my only choice is to err on the side of caution.. especially so with $500+ chips.

In essence i'm "educated guessing"

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: dude
Sit it to 200 and it'll lock the memory at that speed.

You already answered your own question in bold.

No. 200 means a 200:200 divider, or 1:1. 166 imploes a 5:6 divider. My Epox 9NDA3+ is the same wqay. Some boards show it this way instead of ratios or decimals.

If you go up to 240 HTT for example, a 166 divider (5:6) will kepp you memory at 200.

 

[cronic]

i'm running my 4400x2 at 2610mhz at 1.52 volts. under full load with 2 instances of prime running for hours with no problems mt temps never excede 58 degrees. is 1.52 not safe? idle temps are 37-38

 

[Zim]

Originally posted by: Zebo UPDATE: Dual core CPU stability testing

...

3. Next, launch taskmanager and set affinity of the first instance of prime to CPU 0 only. The other instance of prime to CPU 1 only.

You can set the cpu affinity from within P95. I assume that will have the same effect?

 

[suklee]

*TAGGED* and printed for later use, OC'ing my brand new SN25P

Guide looks great :thumbsup: Thanks Zebo!

 

[suklee]

OK I have some questions:

1. Max HTT/FSB: I got to ~278 on my mobo, anything higher can POST but booting to Windows will result in BSOD. An earlier post in this thread said going into BIOS is good enough. Should I raise my chipset voltage?

2. Max chip capable: if my max HTT is 278, then theoretically my max CPU is 278x9= 2502MHz (multiplier of 9 on the 3000+). I primed for 9 hours at 2502MHz okay, but load temps were 65C :Q Voltage is 1.52ish. Is it running too hot?

2a. Which option should I use under Prime 95 torture test - "Max FPU stress"?

3. Memory MAX - I have Corsair Value Select so I set it to 2.5-3-3-8 1T. You said "Raise HTT up to boards max..." am I starting from 200HTT and going up in increments? In other words, set HTT and memory both at 200MHz and slowly raise the HTT until I fail memtest86 test 5 & 6?