A7N8X DELUXE 2.0 and 1003 version bios glitch

[me]

With version 1003 it is not possible to disable "Spread Spectrum" which
is needed for overclocking. Is anyone using 1003 and able to disable it?

I have heard 1003 is better for overclocking and if anyone has input please
post, thanks.

 

[Randy O.]

Hi Archer,

Could you describe the type of cooling you've used on your system and any
parameters you used to overclock with bios 1003. I'd really appreciate it.
I assembled a system with the same MB and CPU for my father, and I was
wondering if I could slightly OC it safely. I have the AMD fan HS setup.
It has 2 Corsair xms 3200cpt with platinum-silver heat spreaders (cas
latency 2-3-3-6-T1); the part number is cmx512-3200cpt, and they were bought
at NewEgg. I'm running it at 166 mhz fsb. I have a full tower with adequate
cooling fans with in and out air flow. Thanks --

Sincerely - Randy O. in WI USA

 

[Archer]

Hi Randy

I'm using an OCZ Gladiator heatsink with the delta fan. If you are using the
boxed heatsink and fan that came with your chip, make sure you watch your
temps as you overclock. I highly recommend getting a fully copper heatsink.
With the Barton XP's I've had my temps go down over the regular XP's. I
think this is because it has a larger size chip (do to the way the extra
cache and the processor is arranged) and that more of it comes into contact
with the heatsink. From what I've read, a lot of the Barton XP 2500's are
able to do XP 3200+ speeds with air cooling simply by changing the bus fsb
to 200. With this board you want to make sure that your memory is in sync
(100%) and that your memory timings are correct. I have OCZ EL PC3500
memory set to 6-3-3-2 at 200fsb. I haven't checked out Corsair's website
but they should publish recommended settings for different bus speeds. I
also had to up the chip voltage on my processor from stock to 1.75V. Since
all chips are different you may have to play around with the settings and
tweak it to get everything how you want it. If you can, disable the fsb
spread spectrum setting in the bios. Some people (me included) couldn't
turn it off with the 1003 bios. I use prime 95 and found it to be the best
way to test the overclocking stability. If you have any further questions
I'd be happy to help.

Good Luck
Archer

 

[Randy O.]

Thank you Archer! Since this is comp my father is using (I built for him),
I won't OC much if any, but I was thinking of building one for myself. Its
a tough choice because the newer asus P4P800 Deluxe sounds so good, but if I
bought that MB, I'd wait for a second revision like I did with the A7N8X
Dx. I will post to you at this group if I build one for myself. Your
valuable OCing info is stored away incase I do tinker with his puter.
Thanks again!
Sincerely --Randy in WI