P4P800 Deluxe Overclocking

[Chris Richards]

Howdy.

I purchased the P4P800 Deluxe / P4 2.8 Ghz HT (retail) / PC-3700
memory. I noticed that if I increase the FSB speed, the memory speed
decreases. For example, I increased it to 233 (4x233=932 Mhz FSB).
The CPU was around 3.26 Ghz. However, the memory speed dropped to
around 170 Mhz.

What's going on and is this expected? Can you work around it?

Thanks!
/cjr

 

[DaveW]

It's expected. Your system is becomming unstable at that speed and so the
BIOS is cutting the FSB to return the system to stability.

 

[Chris Richards]

It's expected. Your system is becomming unstable at that speed and
so the BIOS is cutting the FSB to return the system to stability.

Hrm. I was reading at Tom's Hardware that memory speeds can account
for 30% of computer speed-up. It doesn't seem worthwhile increasing
the FSB while decreasing the memory speeds. Granted, I don't know how
important each components is (FSB, CPU, memory) when determining
overall system speeds...

I guess the way for me to tell is to run benchmarks, eh?

/cjr

 

[Len]

Auto settings tend to do that! The RAM you have in the system probably can
not operate at 233Mhz so the system backed your memory bus speed down to a
3:2 ratio.

You can over ride this action by not choosing Auto. However, it won't
correct the limitation of the RAM. You could well end up with that
wonderful ASUS voice telling you that "...overclock failed" and leave you
to get the system running again.

At 233FSB you sould really be able to get your RAM to work on a 5:4 ration -
a bit over 200Mhz if your memory sticks are good quality.

FWIW, Len

 

[Chris Richards]

Auto settings tend to do that! The RAM you have in the system
probably can not operate at 233Mhz so the system backed your memory
bus speed down to a 3:2 ratio.

You can over ride this action by not choosing Auto. However, it
won't correct the limitation of the RAM. You could well end up with
that wonderful ASUS voice telling you that "...overclock failed"
and leave you to get the system running again.

At 233FSB you sould really be able to get your RAM to work on a 5:4
ration - a bit over 200Mhz if your memory sticks are good quality.

I should be able to swing that then. I purchased 1G of Corsair
TwinX PC3700. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Cheers,
/cjr

 

[valued customer]

Hi Chris when you do find a good overclocking ratio please post same.
As it turns out I have the same basic ingredients as you.

Mine is overclocked to 20% using the bios (not manual). Everything is
running stable. I am unable to use the turbo setting or PAT technology
tho with causing the sytem to freeze.

CPU running at 3.36mhz (from a 2.8)

 

[Chris Richards]

I purchased the P4P800 Deluxe / P4 2.8 Ghz HT (retail) / PC-3700
memory. I noticed that if I increase the FSB speed, the memory speed
decreases. For example, I increased it to 233 (4x233=932 Mhz FSB).
The CPU was around 3.26 Ghz. However, the memory speed dropped to
around 170 Mhz.

I understand it now. It turns out that under the Manual settings, you
can control the DDR speed. There are three settings (from
recollection): 233Mhz, 320Mhz, and 400Mhz. I have no idea why Asus
named the options as such. Instead, it should be 3:2, 5:4, and 1:1,
respectively.

For instance, if you have your CPU External Frequency set to 250 Mhz,
DRAM Frequency to 320 Mhz (5:4), your memory speed will be running at
400 Mhz (250 / 5 * 4 = 200 * 2 = 400 Mhz). It is 333 Mhz and 500 Mhz
if your DRAM Frequency is set to 233 Mhz (3:2) and 400 Mhz (1:1),
respectively.

With Auto settings, you do not have this control. HTH.

Cheers,
/cjr

 

[valued customer]

and your final settings would be??

Locust

I understand it now. It turns out that under the Manual settings, you
can control the DDR speed. There are three settings (from
recollection): 233Mhz, 320Mhz, and 400Mhz. I have no idea why Asus
named the options as such. Instead, it should be 3:2, 5:4, and 1:1,
respectively.

For instance, if you have your CPU External Frequency set to 250 Mhz,
DRAM Frequency to 320 Mhz (5:4), your memory speed will be running at
400 Mhz (250 / 5 * 4 = 200 * 2 = 400 Mhz). It is 333 Mhz and 500 Mhz
if your DRAM Frequency is set to 233 Mhz (3:2) and 400 Mhz (1:1),
respectively.

With Auto settings, you do not have this control. HTH.

Cheers,
/cjr

 

[Chris Richards]

and your final settings would be??

I don't have my final settings. I'm still tweaking and needing extra
cooling.

/cjr

 

[valued customer]

Extra cooling I do not need, 4 fans pushing in & 3 sucking out. No
matter what I did temp would never go higher than 40C. I finally
disconnected 1 intake & 1 exhaust fan (noise level)

Locust