The EPoX 4G4A+ seems very promising.

[oldfart]

Interesting
crapito, could you post a new link from the page(s) where you have that info? I dont want to go though all those pages to find it. BTW, guys, I'm helping from a bit of a disadvantage. I run a 4BDA2+ 845D board. Some of this stuff I haven't had to deal with. Most of my info is "generic" in nature.

 

[oldfart]

4BDA's can stll be had. Dont forget there is also an 845E Epox, the 4BEA(R) (RAID). Like all 845E's only 3:4 and no 4:5.

 

[gsethi]

How important are the Intel inf drivers ?

 

[Lance22]

Originally posted by: oldfart
Lance, hate to say it, but you may have got just a bit of a dud. There is no guarantee when overclocking. You may get a great one, you may not. If 145 -146 FSB is all she'll do, well be happy with an overclock of over 700 MHz! Not that bad. Once you are sure the CPU is stable @ the FSB and voltage you test with, start on the memory. Lets use 145 FSB as a round number. 4:5 will get you DDR362. 3:4 is DDR386. Start with slowest mem settings cas 2.5 3,3,3,7.

Thanks a lot, i really appriciate the help, I just have a couple more questions..

1. Can you tell me which temp corresponds to what in MBM? Here are my settings right now...@146 FSB
Sensor 1 (19 C set to Winbond 1)
Sensor 2 (22 C set to Winbond 2 2N3904)
Sensor 3 (30 C set to Winbond 3)
Are those accurate? And my guess is sens 1(dunno) sens 2(case temp) sens 3(cpu temp)

2. Also, is there a certain vdimm i should run? Lowest, or a Max?

Thanks again for the help, I really appriciate it and I am very happy with the 145 fsb, now if only I can get my ram to run at 3:4 and have safe temps.

 

[oldfart]

Lance dont know the MBM's. Again, I dont have that board. Maybe someone else here knows. For Vdimm, absolute max I would go is 2.8. Rather see 2.6 - 2.7

gsethi, those are the chipset drivers that run everything on the mobo. They are extremely important. Have you tried going to 4:5 or even 1:1 to see what happens? 160 FSB and 3:4 is pretty tough to do on any system. Anything past DDR400 - 415 is very rare.

Here is a question for XP guys (I run Win2K). I know XP has native 845 drivers, but XP came out before 845G. Are XP native drivers up to snuff for 845G? I'd say no since 845G uses a new NB and SB.

 

[gsethi]

dont know but my system was running perfectly before with XP drivers only.

right now, i am working on the CPU first.....Boot to Windows at 160 FSB with 1:1 memory ratio. now gonna see if my memory will go to DDR 400+ levels again or not.....

Another question, will intel inf drivers make any difference in my 3dMark2001 scores ?

 

[crapito]

bwass24's 07/03/2002 9:20 PM post got me thinking...

"Intel® Application Accelerator (IAA)
Installation Requirements:
It is important to install the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility (INF) prior to installing the Intel® Application Accelerator so that the Intel chipset is properly recognized by the operating system."

"Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility
Installation Order - When Should I Install the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility?

The Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility files inform the operating system how to properly configure the chipset for specific functionality, such as AGP, USB, Core PCI, and ISA PnP services. In order to be able to install any chipset-related drivers (e.g. graphics, IDE, etc.), your operating system must first be able to recognize your chipset.

If your chipset was released after the operating system you are using was released, then it is likely that your operating system is not able to natively detect your chipset. Refer to the "Determining if the Intel Chipset Software Installation is required" page to determine if your operating system requires installation of the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility for your particular chipset. If it does, immediately after installing your operating system (but before installing any chipset-related device drivers), it is necessary to install the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility. Once the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility has been installed, all of your remaining Intel chipset-related device drivers should install correctly."

according to the "Determining if the Intel Chipset Software Installation is required" page, every MS OS except WinXP needs the Intel® Chipset Software Installation Utility (INF) installed.

hmm... I am going to test out my clean, untouched Ghost image of a WinXP Pro installation and setup everything except the INF and see if I can use the 3:4 divider over 140 FSB. I'll test out the IAA too, and get disk benchmarks before and after its installation to see just what effect it has on performance, and overclocking... from what I've read tonight in Intel's FAQs, no Intel specific drivers are needed for WinXP. that's cool, cause without installing Intels drivers, I can hit much higher overclocks. woo-hoo! btw: I won't finish till tomorrow sometime though, cause my woman is taking priority over my computer tonight.

 

[crapito]

oldfart: read my new, 07/03/2002 11:26 PM post for some good info. as for linking my other stuff from the BG7 thread... I don't know how to link specific posts, as opposed to actual pages/threads. sorry... I could quote, but you can just look for stuff under my handle, crapito, for more info.

Lance22:

Q1: Can you tell me which temp corresponds to what in MBM?

A: my settings...
n/a: Sensor 1
CPU = WinBond 2 Diode: Sensor 2
System = WinBond 3: Sensor 3


Q2: Also, is there a certain vdimm i should run? Lowest, or a Max?

A2: I've run DDR RAM @ 3.2 volts before, without a problem. granted, it's high, but so what? it worked... being a little more conservative, I'd suggest 2.8-2.9 volts as a good "max" voltage. personally, I've found little difference in heat between 2.5-2.9 volts, so I'd go higher rather than lower, for best overclocking/stability.

 

[gsethi]

ok:

I am able to boot to windows @ 160 fsb with 4:5 memory ratio (not 3:4 like before). I am using the intel inf drivers this time.

right now, i am download 3dmark and will see what score i will get in it this time, and if the intel inf drivers make any difference my in 3dmark score.

if not, i will reinstall win xp and use the native win xp drivers so that i can use the 3:4 ratio at 160 fsb.

 

[Lance22]

Right now I am running a 144 FSB @ vcore 1.70(165 MBM) and DDR 384 @ vcore 3.00 (2.90 MBM), So far all is well and stable, I passed the Sandra Memory test and am about to press my luck with playing games.

My temps are 44 C cpu and 30 C case.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[CTPAX]

Hmmm, it seems that weve found the problem, but not the solution. Hope all this will get to Intel )
Well im on win2k and i really dont want to install winxp, but if this is the only way.... :-((

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: CTPAX
Hmmm, it seems that weve found the problem, but not the solution. Hope all this will get to Intel )
Well im on win2k and i really dont want to install winxp, but if this is the only way.... :-((

ok......i am reinstalling win xp now and this time i am not going to install the inf drivers from intel. I will let win xp use its own native drivers and see if i can get my 163 fsb back or not.

Highest i was able to boot was:
160 FSB w/ 4:5 memory ratio.......got 3dmark2001 lockup
133 FSB w/ 4:5 memory ratio.......3dmark2001 score is 8338 (still low), so going back to my original setup w/o intel inf drivers.

EDIT: Re-installed win xp w/o intel inf drivers and i am back to using 160 fsb with 3:4 memory ratio
i couldnt even boot earlier at 150 FSB w/ 3:4 memory ratio while using intel inf drivers.....wonder why ??

one possible reason: the native win xp inf drivers uses the old Intel 845D chipset (highly overclockable). Now, probably intel has disabled some of the overclocking features in their new drivers so that when we install the new drivers, we wont be able to boot to windows at high fsb w/ 3:4 memory ratio but with the old ones, i can run 100% stable.

"why fix it if it aint broken" right ? I guess, stick with the native win XP drivers and you might be able to overclock a bit further. Also the intel website says that for Win xp, you dont have to download the latest intel inf drivers. I wonder that if downloading the drivers actually makes overclocking worse for OS based on Win NT kernel ?

any opinions on this ?

 

[5150Joker]

Without the Intel INF drivers you will probably get even lower performance. If you don't that'd be a first.

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Without the Intel INF drivers you will probably get even lower performance. If you don't that'd be a first.

i dont think that the difference is that much.

without inf drivers:
Sandra scores are amazing, they tend to beat all standards
3Dmark2001: ~7500 average

with inf drivers:
cant overclock high enough.....so sandra scores are down a lot
3dmark2001: ~8300 average

the 3dmark2001 difference is about 800 points........will run 3dmark again tomorrow morning and see what results i will get.

 

[CTPAX]

Yeah, gsethi, you got ~7800 with this setup, with the inf you got ~8300 with ddr333, well, i would rather think which setup is better )

 

[gsethi]

i agree with you CTPAX that with inf drivers, my performance is better but still, i want to try once more before deciding with which setup i want to stay (with inf drivers or without).

 

[CTPAX]

Well, in this case i advice you to put your ddr in slot 2, you'll get higher fsb ) In fact i run fsb161 ddr402 at the moment...

 

[gsethi]

Hello

I ran PCMark2002 and i got ~13669 (combined) w/o inf drivers. I think that inf drivers only help in performance in 3d graphics.

PS: download 3dmark2001 right now and will post that benchmark tonight too.

 

[oldfart]

Obviously, without the correct inf drivers, you dont have proper AGP support. That is why your 3Dmark, and any 3D app performance will suffer. Does your AGP go to 1X or 2X without the infs? Dont worry about Sandra scores. Get a stable system with everything working.

 

[gsethi]

ok.....i ran 3dmark2001 and again i got mid 7000s (~7500). I am wondering if there are any other benchmarks that i can run for my system (for 3D applications)?

 

[gtpark]

First a word off thanks to all for the great info that prompted to me to buy this board. Had a SOYO Ultra Dragon 645DX neat features could not get it stable in my system at any OC. Would not render MP2 video files unless turned down to 1.7 from the 2.26 CPU.

I envy you 1.6 guys running towards 3.0.

I have a 2.26 @ 2.75 stable
(2) 512k OCZ DDR 2700
4:5 DDR 404
Sandra showing 3014/3024
CPU V 1.725
DIMM V 2.7
Temp to 59.5 C running Sandra Burnin

Any suggestions from the "experts" for getting more?
If not I can live with this.

Thanks again,
Greg

 

[P4spooky]

Originally posted by: gtpark
First a word off thanks to all for the great info that prompted to me to buy this board. Had a SOYO Ultra Dragon 645DX neat features could not get it stable in my system at any OC. Would not render MP2 video files unless turned down to 1.7 from the 2.26 CPU.

I envy you 1.6 guys running towards 3.0.

I have a 2.26 @ 2.75 stable
(2) 512k OCZ DDR 2700
4:5 DDR 404
Sandra showing 3014/3024
CPU V 1.725
DIMM V 2.7
Temp to 59.5 C running Sandra Burnin

Any suggestions from the "experts" for getting more?
If not I can live with this.

Thanks again,
Greg

Greg: Looks good. I am at 160FSb, DDR400 (Vcore: 1.65, VDimm 2.8 Corsair PC3200 512K). My Sandra score is 3056, so I guess we are pretty close.

You are running 1G of memory? Is this correct?

Also your temp appears to be high. I am at 47 full load during burn-in test which I looped for 100 times.

Thanks,

 

[DocACE]

Greg!!

How did you get the 512x2 DIMMS stable? What slots did you use?

I was so disapointed when I kept reading you could ONLY use DIMMS in slot 2 to be stable.
How did you get 1GB stable

I was about the get an Abit but would prefer this board.

Thanks!

 

[gtpark]

Yes that is correct I have (2) 512 OCZ 2700s in slot 1 and 2. I know this memory is not the prefferred but it is working for me.

Yes the temps seem high to me too. I am in a big Antec 880 Plus case with a 430 watt power supply. Two rear fans out; two front fans in.
Maybe positve pressure in the case? some post suggest this leads to higher temps. I have a Thermaltake Volcano 7 on the CPU.

Any other non-exotic ideas for lowering temp. Don't know anything about water cooling or pipes.

Thanks again for all the help and ideas.

Greg

 

[anazoal]

With regard to temps:

CPU is WinBond 2 Diode
Board temp is either Winbond 1 or Winbond 3 -- both are within 1 C of each other

Here are my MBM readings at idle running 150 FSB, Vcore set to 1.525, others default.

WinBond 1 = 32 [WinBond 1 2N3904 and WinBond 1 Diode = -48 ]
CPU Temp = 32 [WinBond 2 = 87*and WinBond 2 2N3904 = 10]
WinBond 3 = 31 [WinBond 3 2N3904 and WinBond 3 Diode = -48 ]
Vagp = 1.52
Vcore = 1.52
Vdimm = 2.51
+5.00 = 5.13
+12.00 = 11.98
-12.00 = -11.61
-5.00 = -5.14
CPU Fan = 3068

*yep 87 scared the daylights out of me, but Sandra reported 32 C and when I rebooted PC Health also reported 32 C.


As I'm writing this email... readings running Prime95 (20 mins so far)

WinBond 1 = 33
CPU Temp = 47
WinBond 3 = 32
Vagp = 1.52
Vcore = ~1.47 (MMB reports low of 1.44 & it's hit 1.42 before - usually 1 reading though, and no problems with Prime95)
Vdimm = 2.51
+5.00 = 5.00
+12.00 = ~12.22
-12.00 = -12.11
-5.00 = -5.34
CPU Fan = 3096

Edit
BTW, I've running with this set up for several days (even backed up 2 DVD's to VCD yesterday) and the system is rock solid at 150 FSB. So I'm not sure if MBM's Vcore readings are accurate or not.