Overclocking issues with p4c800-e dlx

[ftran999]

AS I have stated before in this NG this is my first journey into the "build
your own" realm so please bear with me.

I finally got my system built and up and running.
Specs relevant to this post: p4c800-e deluxe MB
Pentium 4 3.0c retail boxed processor
pair of cosair twinx1024-3700 memory

When I run the system with the cpu set at the stock speed I have no problems
at all.
I then decided to try overclocking it. I've read somewhere that ideally the
cpu fsb and the memory fsb should have a ratio of 1:1. Taking this into
consideration I went into the bios>advanced>jumper free config selected
manual on
the AI overclock tuner and set to fsb to 233. I then rebooted to see how
things would work. During "less intensive" use such as web surfing I ran
into no problems whatsoever. However, when I stressed the system such as
running 3dmark or playing Unreal2 both times the system crashed and
rebotted. Figuring this didn't work out too well I went back to the bios
and reset to fsb to 200.
Ok, so I thought to myself, maybe 3495Mhz was a little too high. Maybe just
a 10% increase to 3300Mhz would be more stable. I went into the bios and
choose 10% overclock and the AI overclock tuner and rebooted.
While the system did not crash will playing Unreal2, I ran into another
problem-shutdown. When I tried to shut the system down the normal way
start>turn of the computer>turn off the computer, it would not shutdown.
Not even, pressing the power button would shut it down. I had to use the
psu switch in the back to shut it off. So once again back to stock speed.
I should mention that will I did not use to Asus probe utility during the
3495 setting, I did use it during the 3300 setting and after playing Unreal2
the cpu temp read 131F.
Fwiw, I am using the stock HSF on my processor. I know that as one gets
higher into overclocking this usually mandates getting a third part HSF.
However, according to the cpudatabase.com website a couple of people have
oc'd the same processor as mine to as high as 3.6Ghz on the same board using
the stock HSF.
My other cooling consists of the 3 case 80mm case fans that came installed
with my Antec plus1080amg case, 2 on the rear and one on the side blowing
directly on the video card.
The other setting under jumper free config:
Cpu Vcore voltage, DDR ref voltage, and performance mode all set to auto.
A google search has revealed that many people like to set the vcore voltage
to 1.65. However, on the box of my processor it states that the maximum
voltage is 1.55 so you can see why I'm hesitant to set it as high as 1.65.
Do I need to change any of the above setting away from auto to maintain
OCing stability.
My memory's timing is by default 3-3-3-8. In the chipset settings in the
bios I have the configure dram timing by SPD set to enable. Should I change
this, if so which setting would your recommend.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[Paul]

AS I have stated before in this NG this is my first journey into the "build
your own" realm so please bear with me.

I finally got my system built and up and running.
Specs relevant to this post: p4c800-e deluxe MB
Pentium 4 3.0c retail boxed processor
pair of cosair twinx1024-3700 memory

When I run the system with the cpu set at the stock speed I have no problems
at all.
I then decided to try overclocking it. I've read somewhere that ideally the
cpu fsb and the memory fsb should have a ratio of 1:1. Taking this into
consideration I went into the bios>advanced>jumper free config selected
manual on
the AI overclock tuner and set to fsb to 233. I then rebooted to see how
things would work. During "less intensive" use such as web surfing I ran
into no problems whatsoever. However, when I stressed the system such as
running 3dmark or playing Unreal2 both times the system crashed and
rebotted. Figuring this didn't work out too well I went back to the bios
and reset to fsb to 200.
Ok, so I thought to myself, maybe 3495Mhz was a little too high. Maybe just
a 10% increase to 3300Mhz would be more stable. I went into the bios and
choose 10% overclock and the AI overclock tuner and rebooted.
While the system did not crash will playing Unreal2, I ran into another
problem-shutdown. When I tried to shut the system down the normal way
start>turn of the computer>turn off the computer, it would not shutdown.
Not even, pressing the power button would shut it down. I had to use the
psu switch in the back to shut it off. So once again back to stock speed.
I should mention that will I did not use to Asus probe utility during the
3495 setting, I did use it during the 3300 setting and after playing Unreal2
the cpu temp read 131F.
Fwiw, I am using the stock HSF on my processor. I know that as one gets
higher into overclocking this usually mandates getting a third part HSF.
However, according to the cpudatabase.com website a couple of people have
oc'd the same processor as mine to as high as 3.6Ghz on the same board using
the stock HSF.
My other cooling consists of the 3 case 80mm case fans that came installed
with my Antec plus1080amg case, 2 on the rear and one on the side blowing
directly on the video card.
The other setting under jumper free config:
Cpu Vcore voltage, DDR ref voltage, and performance mode all set to auto.
A google search has revealed that many people like to set the vcore voltage
to 1.65. However, on the box of my processor it states that the maximum
voltage is 1.55 so you can see why I'm hesitant to set it as high as 1.65.
Do I need to change any of the above setting away from auto to maintain
OCing stability.
My memory's timing is by default 3-3-3-8. In the chipset settings in the
bios I have the configure dram timing by SPD set to enable. Should I change
this, if so which setting would your recommend.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

According to the datasheet for your memory (corsairmicro.com), it
is 3-4-4-8 at 233MHz memory clock (DDR466). I think I would leave it
that way, whether 200 or 233MHz. The datasheet doesn't say what voltage
the memory might need, but it would be 2.6V for PC3200 or higher, and
some memories need a bit more, to reach their rated value. Now, some
Asus motherboards cheat, and are already giving an elevated voltage
for the memory, so it is hard to say whether this is limiting you or
not.

As for the processor, the datasheet maximum value is 1.75 volts.
The cpudatabase.com data, shows a couple of bright bulbs have
overvolted to 1.85 or 1.95, and that is living on the edge. The
only data I can offer on failure rate versus voltage, is a claim
that the 1.75V max Tualatin processor would last three or four
weeks at 1.8V, so while the processor might not fail immediately,
there is no way of predicting how much margin is available. (One
way, is to find a paper presented at ISSCC, in which the processor
or the process technology is described, and see if a breakdown
voltage is listed for the CMOS process used. On some processors,
there isn't a lot of margin left.) In any case, the 1.55V listed
on the retail packaging, is the VID value, not the max value.
The VID value is the logic code that goes from the processor to
the voltage regulator, and the voltage is set at the factory so
the processor will work properly at 3.0GHz. You should be able to
use 1.65V no problem. Whether higher values than that are safe or
not, might depend on whether the Asus Vcore regulator runs on the
high side of the programmed value or not - a good voltmeter would
take the worry out of using 1.75V, for example. In any case, long
term, I would stick with 1.65V, to leave a little margin for circuit
drift with time.

One thing you can try, is use the Asus AI for your first overclocks,
and then use Windows utilities, to see what settings it is using.
See what memory timings are being used, memory clock, processor
clock etc. Using Asus Probe, or MBM5, see what voltages the
motherboard is using for Vcore, Vdimm etc. I think one thing
you will find, is the AI likes to downclock the memory, so it
is probably using 5:4 or an even worse ratio for the memory.
This can be due to the SPD info in the DIMM. The Corsair datasheet
claims your DIMM is "plug and frag", implying it is set for
DDR466, but then, how did the memory end up at 3-3-3-8 ? When
a DIMM is programmed for DDR400, while the memory is rated for
a different number, the AI can only use the SPD info, and
consequently will end up trying very conservative memory
settings, in terms of the clock.

Once you have a feeling for the settings the AI uses, you
can go back to manual adjustments, to get better use from
your memory.

For cooling, it is hard to say how much is enough. CMOS gets
slower with rising temperature, so if the processor gets hot
enough, that can be a reason for crashing out. Your temp was
55C, and while that is fairly warm, there is still a bit of
room left to work with. I like the Zalman 7000a, as it has
a low thermal resistance (0.25C rise per watt of input power),
but the main improvement will be in the noise level. At
55C, your Intel fan should be spinning at its max speed.
Disable Q-fan to make sure it is getting all the voltage
it can.

The only persistent bug I know of with Intel chipsets, is
failure of AC97 sound to work properly while overclocked.
I haven't heard of any shutdown bug while overclocking -
perhaps some driver is talking to some piece of hardware
and is having trouble preparing it for shutdown. I didn't
find too much of relevance on Abxzone.com about your
shutdown problem, implying your problem isn't a common one.

http://abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40336

As I quit trying after only one overclocking experiment
on my P4C800-E, I guess I'm the wrong guy to be coaching
you )) My board claims the BIOS is corrupt, and the fix
for that is to clear the CMOS and reenter all your settings
(don't stick the CD in the machine, and reflash the BIOS,
as you might end up with a dead board that way).

That is too much work for an overclocking experiment.

I like the easy overclocks, like my old Celeron 300a doing
450. A slamdunk, didn't even need any voltage or anything.
Just change the FSB.

HTH,
Paul

 

[ftran999]

AS I have stated before in this NG this is my first journey into the "build
your own" realm so please bear with me.

I finally got my system built and up and running.
Specs relevant to this post: p4c800-e deluxe MB
Pentium 4 3.0c retail boxed processor
pair of cosair twinx1024-3700 memory

When I run the system with the cpu set at the stock speed I have no problems
at all.
I then decided to try overclocking it. I've read somewhere that ideally the
cpu fsb and the memory fsb should have a ratio of 1:1. Taking this into
consideration I went into the bios>advanced>jumper free config selected
manual on
the AI overclock tuner and set to fsb to 233. I then rebooted to see how
things would work. During "less intensive" use such as web surfing I ran
into no problems whatsoever. However, when I stressed the system such as
running 3dmark or playing Unreal2 both times the system crashed and
rebotted. Figuring this didn't work out too well I went back to the bios
and reset to fsb to 200.
Ok, so I thought to myself, maybe 3495Mhz was a little too high. Maybe just
a 10% increase to 3300Mhz would be more stable. I went into the bios and
choose 10% overclock and the AI overclock tuner and rebooted.
While the system did not crash will playing Unreal2, I ran into another
problem-shutdown. When I tried to shut the system down the normal way
start>turn of the computer>turn off the computer, it would not shutdown.
Not even, pressing the power button would shut it down. I had to use the
psu switch in the back to shut it off. So once again back to stock speed.
I should mention that will I did not use to Asus probe utility during the
3495 setting, I did use it during the 3300 setting and after playing Unreal2
the cpu temp read 131F.
Fwiw, I am using the stock HSF on my processor. I know that as one gets
higher into overclocking this usually mandates getting a third part HSF.
However, according to the cpudatabase.com website a couple of people have
oc'd the same processor as mine to as high as 3.6Ghz on the same board using
the stock HSF.
My other cooling consists of the 3 case 80mm case fans that came installed
with my Antec plus1080amg case, 2 on the rear and one on the side blowing
directly on the video card.
The other setting under jumper free config:
Cpu Vcore voltage, DDR ref voltage, and performance mode all set to auto.
A google search has revealed that many people like to set the vcore voltage
to 1.65. However, on the box of my processor it states that the maximum
voltage is 1.55 so you can see why I'm hesitant to set it as high as 1.65.
Do I need to change any of the above setting away from auto to maintain
OCing stability.
My memory's timing is by default 3-3-3-8. In the chipset settings in the
bios I have the configure dram timing by SPD set to enable. Should I change
this, if so which setting would your recommend.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

here's an update. Everything seems to be working fine so far (keeping my
fingers crossed). At first I raised the vcore voltage to 1.65 but that did
not solve anything. Then I raised it to 1.675. In addition I set the Dram
freq to 400Mhz and the DDR ref voltage to 2.65. I set the "configure dram
timing by SPD" to enable. I stressed the system by running 3dmark03, the
burn-in wizard in Sisoft Sandra and Unreal 2. Neither of these caused any
of the fore mentioned problems. According to asus probe, at normal use the
cpu temp hovers around the mid 30s C. After intense use it may get as high
as the low 50s C. To be on the safe side I probably should be looking at
adding a new HSF.

 

[Paul]

here's an update. Everything seems to be working fine so far (keeping my
fingers crossed). At first I raised the vcore voltage to 1.65 but that did
not solve anything. Then I raised it to 1.675. In addition I set the Dram
freq to 400Mhz and the DDR ref voltage to 2.65. I set the "configure dram
timing by SPD" to enable. I stressed the system by running 3dmark03, the
burn-in wizard in Sisoft Sandra and Unreal 2. Neither of these caused any
of the fore mentioned problems. According to asus probe, at normal use the
cpu temp hovers around the mid 30s C. After intense use it may get as high
as the low 50s C. To be on the safe side I probably should be looking at
adding a new HSF.

So, what speed did you get the processor up to ?

Paul

 

[ftran999]

So, what speed did you get the processor up to ?

Paul

I'm running it at 3495.