A7N8X deluxe, Athlon XP2000+ setup

[Lindsay Sutherland]

I wanted to let you know the bios settings for this processor and find out
if anyone has any better settings that work. I understand the XP2000+ is
specified to run a 1667 MHz and with a 266 MHz FSB. I am using 256 K of 400
MHz DDR which is an overkill but will avoid me having to upgrade my RAM if I
end up upgrading the processor with the higher FSB speeds.
Initially the A7N8X motherboard did not recognise the processor and so set
the clock speed to 1250 MHz with a front side bus speed of 200 MHz. In the
advanced chipset features I have set the following:
CPU external frequency (MHz): 133
CPU Frequency multiple setting: Menu
CPU frequency multiple: 12.5x
System performance: User defined
CPU interface: Optimal
Memory frequency 166%
Resulting frequency 222 Mhz
Memory timings User defined
5
3
3
2T
As you can see I can only run the FSB at 222 MHz which is less than the 266
MHz specification of AMD. Also my Kingston DDR memory is rated at CL=2.5
which is higher than the CL=2T as I have selected a lower FSB speed. CL=2.5
specification applies at the higher rate. Interestingly the bios now
displays a message indicating it has recognised the CPU as an XP2000+ rather
than just an Athlon running at 1667 MHz or a Athlon running at 1250 MHz
which is its default.
If anyone has managed to achieve a higher FSB speed please let me know.
Lindsay

 

[rstlne]

I think your a little confused
your ram is running at 222mhz (444 mhz ddr)

 

[callsignviper]

I wanted to let you know the bios settings for this processor and find out
if anyone has any better settings that work. I understand the XP2000+ is
specified to run a 1667 MHz and with a 266 MHz FSB. I am using 256 K of 400
MHz DDR which is an overkill but will avoid me having to upgrade my RAM if I
end up upgrading the processor with the higher FSB speeds.
Initially the A7N8X motherboard did not recognise the processor and so set
the clock speed to 1250 MHz with a front side bus speed of 200 MHz. In the
advanced chipset features I have set the following:
CPU external frequency (MHz): 133
CPU Frequency multiple setting: Menu
CPU frequency multiple: 12.5x
System performance: User defined
CPU interface: Optimal
Memory frequency 166%
Resulting frequency 222 Mhz
Memory timings User defined
5
3
3
2T

Will your system run stably in your OS with those settings?!?!?!

Have you tried running Memtest86 at those settings?!?!?!

 

[Lindsay Sutherland]

Yes it will run fine and is very stable. I haven't run memtest86. If you let
me know where I can find a copy I will try.
Lindsay

 

[Ed]

Yes it will run fine and is very stable. I haven't run memtest86. If you let
me know where I can find a copy I will try.

ever hear of google? ;p

 

[Lindsay Sutherland]

Hi Ed,
I used search.com and found memtest86. I ran the test on 1 pass and found no
errors. So this means I am running my PC3200 RAM at 222 MHz with an
effective double data rate of 444 MHz using an XP 2000+ which is only
supposed to run at FSB speeds of 266 MHz ie. external clock speeds of 133
MHz. How can this be?
Lindsay

 

[rstlne]

Hi Ed,
I used search.com and found memtest86. I ran the test on 1 pass and found no
errors. So this means I am running my PC3200 RAM at 222 MHz with an
effective double data rate of 444 MHz using an XP 2000+ which is only
supposed to run at FSB speeds of 266 MHz ie. external clock speeds of 133
MHz. How can this be?
Lindsay

the XP 200+ is only running at 266/133 (normal)
the ram is at 222/444 (not a big overclock for ram)

 

[Ben Pope]

Hi Ed,
I used search.com and found memtest86. I ran the test on 1 pass and
found no errors. So this means I am running my PC3200 RAM at 222 MHz
with an effective double data rate of 444 MHz using an XP 2000+ which
is only supposed to run at FSB speeds of 266 MHz ie. external clock
speeds of 133 MHz. How can this be?

Because your memory has some headroom (11%), and your FSB is at spec
(133MHz)

It is recommended that you run FSB and memory in synch (at the same speed)
on your chipset. If you experience any stability issues that should be the
first thing you change.

Although your memory is set to 444MHz, you cannot realise such bandwidth
since your FSB is much slower than that. You'd be better off with memory
and FSB set to 200MHz and your multiplier set to between 8 and maybe 11.
The model 8 processor is a T'bred, but I'm not sure if it's A or B. B can
get to 2.2GHz easily enough.

Ben

 

[Lindsay Sutherland]

Ben,
Thanks for all your suggestions. Really appreciate your help.
Lindsay