Unofficial Northwood database and Overclocks

[jiffylube1024]

<< jiffylube - Is that 1.6 volts an actual reading taken from the BIOS or MBM, or is it what you have the voltage set at in the BIOS?

The reason I ask is that I have my voltage set at 1.6 but it shows up in the BIOS and MBM as 1.57-1.58 volts actual. >>



It's 1.625V in the BIOS reading ... I haven't tried going higher yet (fear of shortening the life of my chip). I can't even get it to boot @ 133 FSB (2.4 GHz) anymore.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Alright, after fooling around in the BIOS, I have a definite no-go @ 133 FSB, 132 FSB, any voltages. I've tried 1.6V, 1.7, 1.625, more @ 133 FSB, 132 FSB... no matter what it won't even post. 125 FSB is around the higest it boots (and that works at most voltages, 1.625, 1.6). So my Malay 1.8A chip won't even post @ my desired 133 FSB. Ah well, a 450 MHz overclock satisfies me! Fortunately, I'm actually underclocking the bus at 125 MHz FSB (bus runs at 31 MHz) so I'm happy with that. Plus I can run my ram @ 166 MHz 2-2-2-5. Not too shabby!

 

[RalfHutter]

Pretty much the same for me. My 1.8A Malay doesn't reliably cold-boot over 130FSB. I run it at 128FSB which gives me 2.3Ghz and 340Mhz on my RAM.Vcore is set at 1.625, runs Prime95 at 1.59-1.60V. Kingmax (2 x 256) PC2700 RAM is run at 2-2-2-5, stock Vmem. Running Turbo1.

 

[Mad Pierre]

1.8A at 2.3 Ghz @ 1.675V - will go higher Mhz than this - Still testing ans burning in

 

[jiffylube1024]

RalfHutter - perhaps if you ran with less RAM in there you could reach 2.4 GHz (but then, what's the point of the extra RAM). Mine is definately not a ram problem, I'm running a single 256 MB stick.

 

[RalfHutter]

You mean run with only one stick of RAM? How would that help. I don't think I'm running up against any memory problems, I am using RAM that is DDR333 and people claim to have got this same RAM up near DDR366 speeds.

 

[Nate420]

I see lots of people are using the AVC Sunflower HSF...Where did you guys buy your from, and how much? I checked Newegg, Googlegear, ect.. and no one seems to sell them. I just need to know a reputable place to pick one up.

Thanks...

 

[J0rdan]

CPU: 1.6A Northwood
Voltage: 1.65 volts
Cooler: Retail Heatsink/Fan
SL code: SL5YR
Fpo/Batch: L147B201
Location: Malay
Pack Date: 01/12/02
Motherboard: Asus P4B266
FSB: 153 MHz for 2448 MHz
Memory: Nanya PC2700 (2-2-2)

 

[topdog]

CPU 1.6a @ 2400
150 x 16
Memory ratio 1:1 default volts
Stock fan, cpu volts 1.552
Crucial 2x256mbs 2100 ddr
Asus P4S333
fpo/batch L147B212, Malay
pack date : 1/16/02

 

[Nate420]

^^Bump^^

 

[Rapier]

<< Rapier are you not concerned abut the voltage on that??? I get 2.4 at 1.57v and I have read many say don't go over 1.65v or you could kill this thing...electromigration, and a few other things I know nothing about...

Have you prime95 stressed that thing? >>



Nah, it's good for it ..keeps the system loosen-up. So far I haven't had any problems. It's been running Genome 24/7 since I built it.

Rapier

 

[stam01]

CPU 1.6a @ 2300
144 x 16
Memory ratio 1:1 default volts
Stock fan, cpu volts 1.675
256mb Kingmax PC2700
Asus P4S333
fpo/batch L147B212, Malay
pack date : 1/16/02

i guess you can't call it exactly "stable"... i can run prime95 for hours, 3dmark2001, and pull up the cpu benchmark(s) on SiSoft, but as soon as i run the memory benchmark, i get reboots, lockups, or blue screens.
memory is set as 2.5,3,3,6 in the bios... btw, if i set the fsb at 133 and run 333ddr, it runs the memory benchmark just fine (not to mention meeting rdram performance)
anyone have an idea as to what my problem is?

i've booted into winxp at 2400 w/1.7v, but it didn't run prime95 for very long.
maybe i just got a dopey chip or something...

 

[caboob]

Nate..I read that some people have been getting their Sunflowers at PC Power and Cooling.com.

 

[HFC]

CPU: 1.8A @ 2.25G
Voltage: 1.55 (BIOS set up +0.075 but reads 1.55)
Cooler: SVC sunflower (PCP&C)
SL code: 63X
Fpo/Batch: L146B047
Location: malay
Pack Date: 12/27/01
Motherboard: Epox 4BDA
FSB: 125
Memory: Cruica Micron PC2100 256 @ DDR332

 

[sigmatic]

CPU: 1.6a
Voltage: 1.5
Cooler: stock
SL code: SL668
Fpo/Batch: L147B296
Location: Malaysia
Pack Date: 01/25/2002
Motherboard: Asus P4B266-C
FSB: 130
Memory: Crucial 256 MB PC-2100

I might be able to get the FSB to 131 or 132, but what's 33 mhz when you have a 2.08 GHz chip... Well I guess it's a 2.1 GHz chip!

Seriously though, I have no interest in pushing the voltage up, and I get a bluescreen in win2k if I try to run the computer at 133 MHz FSB. I'll get better cooling probably and try it out. I'm happy enough with what I have for now, however. Maybe with proper cooling I could hit 138 MHz FSB. That'd be cool. Any suggestions?

 

[jiffylube1024]

<< I might be able to get the FSB to 131 or 132, but what's 33 mhz when you have a 2.08 GHz chip... Well I guess it's a 2.1 GHz chip! >>



What 33 Mhz more means that everything in your machine is running at spec except the CPU. At 133 MHz FSB, your PCI is a perfect 33 MHz (33.33333 really) and your AGP is 66 MHz. That's why the 1.6a is such a perfect chip, you can o/c it to 2.13 pretty much every time, and keep everything else in the system at the speeds they're supposed to run.

As for not upping the voltage, and instead seeking better cooling to reach 2.13 GHz, well, you're probably not going to hit 2.13 with all the cooling in the world, you have to up the voltage to reach the speed, it's the low voltage that's keeping you back! A .05 voltage increase would probably be sufficient, you're going to have to do it one way or another.

As for a .05 voltage increase significantly decreasing the life of your CPU, that's a crock, the CPU should run fine for years and years.

 

[jiffylube1024]

<< You mean run with only one stick of RAM? How would that help. I don't think I'm running up against any memory problems, I am using RAM that is DDR333 and people claim to have got this same RAM up near DDR366 speeds.
>>



I'm not saying it's RAM problems (and I'd think it should reach DDR 366 pretty easily, my crucial DDR266 is running 333 @ 2-2-2-5 no sweat) but I've heard of some people having o/c problems with more than one large stick of RAM in there. It should be fine however, I was just suggesting it as something to try just to see if you could crank out a few extra MHz to test your top speed (and if it's capable of reaching 2.4) ... after that you'd obviously put the RAM back in there.

 

[sigmatic]

Edit: I found something interesting that I thought I should share. It indeed seems to be a power supply issue. I have a 300W power supply, and it does not seem to be enough to go as far as I want it to. Apparently, when I have 100% CPU usage (United Devices cracking away), the voltage is stagnant at 1.48 to 1.50, even if I set it to 1.55 V. However, if I shut off United Devices and have a lot of idle CPU cycles, the voltage increases to 1.52-1.55, and I get no random application crashes. I think that I will invest in a 400+W power supply and see if it makes my overclocking more successful. PS- Thanks to jiffylube1024 for his suggestions on the matter.



<<
What 33 Mhz more means that everything in your machine is running at spec except the CPU. At 133 MHz FSB, your PCI is a perfect 33 MHz (33.33333 really) and your AGP is 66 MHz. That's why the 1.6a is such a perfect chip, you can o/c it to 2.13 pretty much every time, and keep everything else in the system at the speeds they're supposed to run. >>



Agreed, however I go by stability. I forgot to mention that I tried to bump the voltage by .025 volts and boot at 133 again, but got more problems doing so. Three apps randomly crashed without warning.



<< As for not upping the voltage, and instead seeking better cooling to reach 2.13 GHz, well, you're probably not going to hit 2.13 with all the cooling in the world, you have to up the voltage to reach the speed, it's the low voltage that's keeping you back! A .05 voltage increase would probably be sufficient, you're going to have to do it one way or another. >>



I'm not convinced that all of the cooling in the world isn't going to make a difference, but I do agree with you that it's probably not an overheating issue. I might just try the .05 voltage increase, but I'll pay real careful attention, because random apps crashing = not good.



<< As for a .05 voltage increase significantly decreasing the life of your CPU, that's a crock, the CPU should run fine for years and years. >>



I don't really feel that way, but I just feel that if it is unnecessary, it should be avoided. The way I see it is, if I'm going to up the voltage, I might as well run everything above spec. Quite frankly, running things not at spec hasn't caused a single problem, whether it was 110, 115, 120, 125, or 130 MHz FSB. So I'm not worried about that. Voltage does concern me, but I agree that a .05 voltage increase won't (or, at least, shouldn't) harm the CPU.

But thank you for your feedback, it has encouraged me to try a few more combinations.

 

[x86]

<< CPU: 1.8a @ 2.25g Edit- now 1.8a@2.52g
Voltage:1.6v setting(1.55 actual) Edit- now 1.67 after wire trick
Cooler: retail HSF with stock thermal pad
SL code: SL63x
Fpo/Batch: L146B047
Location: Malaysia
Pack Date: 12/27/01
Motherboard: MSI 645 Ultra
FSB: 125 Edit- now 140fsb
Memory: Crucial pc2100 running at 333mhz, cas 2.5t, normal setting in bios Edit-now running at 350mhz

Will run at 133fsb(2.4g), but not entirely stable. If I could increase the voltage a bit I think it would be stable. Or better cooling but I think this is less likely to help.

Edit- Now stable at 140fsb and 1.67vcore or 133fsb and 1.62vcore >>



My CPU is of the same batch, (thus location, etc.). I have been running it at stock for a while for it to "burn in". Do you think that I will be able to get the speeds that you are getting?

-x86

 

[Acanthus]

ive heard time and time again that rambus is sensitive to exceeding its rated speed and usually will not overclock more than 5%, how are you guys getting rambus up to 160mhz? i know about the 3x and 4x, so you can get pc800 at 133, but not even close to stock at 160

-confused

 

[jiffylube1024]

<< PS- Thanks to jiffylube1024 for his suggestions on the matter. >>


No problem! Anything to help!

Wow, I can't belive your PS is popping and cracking away, that would really freak me out! I agree with your comment about going by stability, that's the only way I run my machines!

 

[jiffylube1024]

<< ive heard time and time again that rambus is sensitive to exceeding its rated speed and usually will not overclock more than 5%, how are you guys getting rambus up to 160mhz? i know about the 3x and 4x, so you can get pc800 at 133, but not even close to stock at 160 >>

Me too, I remember hearing about how Rambus memory was very picky about o/cing, yet many people are saying it goes to PC1066 in their machine (133 MHz). Can someone with a Rambus setup explain how they're suddenly so tolerant?

 

[jonny13]

Well, got my Epox board yesterday. I got my 1.8a up to 2.4 with the 4/3 memory option, but neither my crucial nor my consair 2400 would make it stable enough running at 177/354. So, I backed it off to 2.3 and everything is great. I am hoping to get some faster RAM and make it to 2.4 or 2.5. I probably could with the 1:1 memory option, but then the memory bandwidth is so low and the extra MHz don't really matter. Anyways, just wanted to say that I have an Epox board and love it. Reboots every single time, no matter what speed I have tried.

Jonny

CPU: 1.8A Northwood
Voltage: 1.675 volts
Cooler: Retail Heatsink/Fan
Motherboard: Epox 4bda2+ at 128 MHz for 2304 MHz
Memory: Consair PC2400 @ 2.7 volts @ 171/352 Mhz

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< ive heard time and time again that rambus is sensitive to exceeding its rated speed and usually will not overclock more than 5%, how are you guys getting rambus up to 160mhz? i know about the 3x and 4x, so you can get pc800 at 133, but not even close to stock at 160

-confused >>

People who say that it is sensitive have bad memory or don't know what they're talking about. Just look at IDF--RAMBUS has some PC800 @ 1200MHz there without any problems.

 

[NoviceB]

Hmm, i guess thats it for the Intel vs AMD fight, seem like most ppl are crossing over.
LoL