Getting opteron cabge to atleast 2.5ghz

[Vario]

I took a gamble and bought a opteron 144 off ebay that didn't list the stepping. Unfortunately its a cabge but I didn't pay that much.


Any ideas for getting this thing to 2.5 ghz or so? I am using the stock opteron heatsink/fan and its not running particularly hot (33 idle 40 load) but its having difficulty being stable above 2.2 ghz.

Best stable thing I've got is 245 mhz fsb and upped the vcore to 1.45 from 1.4.

Increasing the vcore (as high as 1.55) didnt seem to make a difference, it doesn't seem to want to get over 245 fsb.

Any ideas?

[Solaris17]

raise the divider to drop the fsb down and go from their or drop the fsb raise the multi higher. that would give you head room.

[Vario]

Ok, what setting would you recommend, I am running two sticks of 1 gb mushkin ram, specs are:

Mushkin SP3200 1GB System Memory 991130, DDR 400 (PC 3200), 184-Pin SDRAM, 3-3-3-8, Unbuffered

This 128Mx64 SP3200 module is an unbuffered 184-Pin Double Data Rate (DDR) Synchronous DRAM Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM), organized as a dual-bank high-speed memory array. 64Mx8 chip density. This DIMM achieves high-speed data transfer rates of up to 400MHz. Rated 3-3-3-8 at 400MHz.

Features & Specifications: Brand: Mushkin. Series: SP3200. Model: 991130. Type: 184-Pin DDR SDRAM. Capacity: 1GB. Latency: 3-3-3-8. Speed: DDR 400 (PC 3200). Cas Latency: 2.5. Voltage: 2.6V. Module Density: 128Mx64. Chip Density: 64Mx8. Package: 6 Layer PCB. Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered. ECC: No. Heat Spreader: No.

[panchoman]

drop the htt link down to 4x, at 5x you're htt bus speed is near 1.25k, and you want to keep it around 1k. also, depending on your mobo, the htt link might also bring down your memory speed, if it doesn't, set up a memory divider

[Solaris17]

open up cpu-z in the memory tab what speed are your sticks running at?

[Vario]

Dropped ram to 133 in bios and got the fsb up 257 or so. Vcore is 1.52.

Video is flickering but so far prime is stable for the past few minutes and temps are within normal range. Is the pci-e in bios f'd up b/c of the fsb overclock?

[Solaris17]

is the pci-e speed locked?

[Vario]

ok i need to mess with it somemore before i can get that info for you, i dont trust its stability right now at all lLOL worried its gonna crash just browsing internet better reboot brb

[Solaris17]

kk try upping the vcore brining the HTT speed down switching the ram to 2t and then bring the ram speed up then try to oc.

[Vario]

Lowering the HTLINK multiplier seemed to help, what is a good setting to use for that? I just picked a lower one (3x) just to verify if cpu-z showed a lower value. I saw 4x above, I'm going to try that.

[Vario]

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5619/overclockey8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Vario]

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1246/overclock2ja8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=overclock2ja8.jpg

[Solaris17]

you usually dont want the ht link to go above 1000mhz try lowering it some more.....keep the ram at a steady what is it 400mhz ram? keep it on a divider and keep it as close to 200 in the bios as you can raise the voltage of the cpu and try to add mroe fsb.

[spud107]

mem timings, try 3-3-3-8 for stability at higher clocks
cl - 3
trcd - 3
trp - 3
tras 8 or 9

htt multi try 6x, aim to keep it around 1000.

[Vario]

ok its 400 mhz ram, not sure about what to set speed too (im a noob) so set it back down to 200?

Ill lower the htlink to 3x.

Thanks for help so far.

mem timings, try 3-3-3-8 for stability at higher clocks
cl - 3
trcd - 3
trp - 3
tras 8 or 9

htt multi try 6x, aim to keep it around 1000.

I think stock htt multi is 5x, lowering it lowers the htlink so if i try 6x its gonna be mad high plus I dont think my bios even has above 5x.

[Solaris17]

well it will work at 400 if its at 200 in bios its actually 400 because its double pumped...keep it close to 200 in the bios and as you OC the ram speed will go up a little over 200 is fine but if it gets too high put a bigger divider on it....and your HTT link your going to have to move up or down....to keep your HTT link under 1000mhz.

[spud107]

sorry im getting mixed up lol, yeah 3x

[spud107]

with a lower ht like 3x/2x and ram on a divider at 133 you can push the cpufsb up farther without the ram and ht becoming unstable,

[Vario]

Ok, so far Im up to 2.6ghz no prob, just heat is a bit high. Idles about 35-40 and load is about 50*c max.

Its on the stock opteron heatsink and I didn't like how I put the as5 on it. I got a bigger coolermaster aluminum one that Im going to polish and use.

Gonna try for 2.8ghz or so, then lower the vcore back down a little (1.5v probably, I think its 1.52 right now to get the temps down again), check stability with p95 for a couple hours.

Thanks for help guys, learned a lot so far :)

[Solaris17]

keep it comijn and good job on the 2.6

[Vario]

Ok. its at 300mhz fsb which is the max that the bios shows. 2.7ghz.

How do I get any higher? The bios doesnt have any higher number in that field?

cpuz says the ram is at 193.1 mhz which seems close to perfect. HT link: 900mhz.

[panchoman]

well you've gotten over the ocing part, seems like heat is whats gonna hold you back, up to 60C max load is fine though

[panchoman]

Ok. its at 300mhz fsb which is the max that the bios shows. 2.7ghz.

How do I get any higher? The bios doesnt have any higher number in that field?

cpuz says the ram is at 193.1 mhz which seems close to perfect. HT link: 900mhz.

excellent excellent, ram speed is very good and the ht link is well as well. your bios doesn't let you get higher then 300 fsb?

[Solaris17]

wow thats really good now can you input a fsb or do you have to pick from a list?

if you have to pick from a list and thas the highest and if you input one passd 300 and it doesnt work see if you can raise your cpu multiplier higher than it is.

[Vario]

You gotta pick it from a list. Starts at 200mhz which is the stock and the top on the bios is 300. I dont know if the multiplier is adjustable.

Its a biostar N4SLI-A9 so its a fairly lowend mobo.

[panchoman]

wow thats really good now can you input a fsb or do you have to pick from a list?

if you have to pick from a list and thas the highest and if you input one passd 300 and it doesnt work see if you can raise your cpu multiplier higher than it is.

chances are he'll need to fsb mod it or get a modded bios, usually its a drop down list and if 300 is as high as it goes, he'll need to find a new way, but he might want to grab a new cooler in the process

[Solaris17]

thats true

@ vario see if you can find an fsb mod in google for your mobo and if not try PM'ing Athlonx2 on this site he's the mod guru he might be able to help you out.

[panchoman]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=47083

ket is also another local bios mod guru, he should be able to help you at that thread

[Vario]

OK, its been stable for like 2.5 hours in prime 95 too, Im loving this.

50% overclock so far, lets hope for 3.0ghz!


Whats the best way to dump the mobo's bios?

[spud107]

if someone posts the bios up il have a look

[Vario]

Ha it ran prime95 for 14 hours 15 minutes with no errors.

[Solaris17]

what clock you got it at now? well im glad your impressed see what a couple questions will get ya on a tech site? ;) at any rate um i think theirs a program maybe pcwizzard 07 or something can dump the bios or.....you can just download it from DFI and we can mod it like that thern u just flash it.

[Vario]

Ok so do you need the "System Bios Dump" or the "DMI/SM Bios Dump" ?

[Solaris17]

...........um good question what program or what .....is giving you 2 options id say system bios dump.....

[Wile E]

What about using Clock Gen to go further?

[Random Murderer]

Ha it ran prime95 for 14 hours 15 minutes with no errors.

what version of prime95 are you using?
if you're running the multi-threaded version, you need to click "Advanced" and then enable "Round off checking" in order for it to tell you if there's an error, otherwise it will just run until you stop it whether there's errors or not.

[Vario]

what version of prime95 are you using?
if you're running the multi-threaded version, you need to click "Advanced" and then enable "Round off checking" in order for it to tell you if there's an error, otherwise it will just run until you stop it whether there's errors or not.

It stops for errors. If I lower the voltage it finds errors in about 10 minutes.

What about using Clock Gen to go further?

rather do it in the bios but good idea.