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I am not a gamer but was considering overclocking this system just to see what it could do...but I am wondering just what the real-time, observable, performance improvements that I would really be able to tell.
My system is running at 2000 Mhz. stock. Let's say that I get it to 2.4Mhz....could I tell the difference...would it be worth going thru all of the slow processes of timings, voltage adj's, stability testing...??
It may just give you the bragging rights for benchmarks, i assume you meant 2.4Ghz...2.4Mhz would be horrible.:)
It also depends on how good your RAM is, what brand is it? is it one stick?, if not, is it possible to run the 2 x 512mb sticks in dual channel mode? it is easier to overclock FSB in small increments, and push the RAM, getting the RAM timings down may help for games, or something that intensive.
Liam
You could try overclocking it and see how far you can go before you have to start messing with Vcore, that's what I did on my older P4 machine and I went from 2.66 to well over 3GHz without having to change anything other than the FSB frequency, and using the stock Intel cooler. It certainly was a bit livelier afterwards, and was well worth it for the small amount of effort involved IMO.
Just make the changes in small increments and keep a careful eye on stability and temps - as soon as it starts to become unstable back off a little bit and leave it at that.
With that mobo/CPU combo you have a lot of potential! A Google search confirmed this (I love Abit/AMD combos :) )--try almost 2.8GHz. This reviewer had the FSB up to 300MHz before he started backing down. ;)
Liam..yea, I meant 2Ghz...(athlon 64 3000+ Venice, s754).
My ram is Kingston 1Gb. pc3200 DDR SDRAM (3.0-3-3-8 @200Mhz).
cpu clock 2000.89mhz
multiplier 10x
fsb 200.89 (200 original)
memory bus 200.9mhz
SuperSparks...I have tried just bumping the fsb to 210mhz...nothing else...and get locked up...have to pull battery...I tried decreasing the multiplier to 9 and bumping fsb to 225 ( too much of a bump?), and got locked...maybe I'm going too fast...I have read the sites that tell all about overclocking the Athlon 64....info overload...ha!!.
Since I'm not a gamer and am satisfied with my system as it is...it runs very smoothly...no problems whatsoever...along with cable broadband...it zips along quite nicely....maybe I'm not ready to delve into that world.!!
You really only want to increment the FSB 1 or 2 MHz at a time. But if it is unstable at 210MHz then it looks like your particular system isn't going to overclock - sometimes that happens and you just have to accept it :(
Something's not right here (maybe me)--the Athlon 64 Venice series are all Socket 939 I think. Can you give us the CPUID number on that?
A Socket 754 Athlon should be jacked much more slowly than 25Hz at a time.
Hey, lgbpop....yep...this is a 754 Venice core....cool, isn't it!!
In Everest it says: cpuid revision....0020fc2h....not sure if this is what you were refering to...it also says: cpu alias: Venice s754. I also questioned this but from the info taken directly from the processor I confirmed it as a Venice core.
Okay...maybe I'll play around some more...and go s-l-o-w-e-r with the mhz bumps...I know that this cpu o/c's nicely and the Abit boards are known to be good o/c boards...but...as SuperSparks said...maybe this particular board doesn't like it...but then maybe it's just my impatience !!
If someone had an Abit NV8 board with the same processor...and knew exactly what it could take...then all I would have to do is follow their steps...and "Voila!"...a lazy way to overclock my system!!!
It doesn't matter if someone does have the identical board though, overclocking depends on the ability of the individual components to take the extra speed. Some will, and some won't. After all if every single CPU or memory module could take the extra clock speed, then the manufacturers would rate them at that higher speed in the first place. So someone else with the apparently identical components might get a fantastic overclock while you can only get little or nothing.
Darn it!!:D :D No easy way out!!! ( I knew that,really..:rolleyes: )
update...can use some help. This is what I have done...
HT frequency 3 (original 4)
dram-DDR266
FSB 206Mhz ( 2062.5Mhz)...
memory 137.5 mhz
FSB: Dram cpu/15
timing: 3-2-2-6
This info from CPU-Z
Baby steps, for sure...but when I go to FSB 208...I get lock up.
So..I have gone from original 2000.89Mhz...to 2062.5Mhz...
What do I do now??...at least I am beginning to get somewhere:) :)
If you got an ASUS board you can try NVIDIAs "NTune".....
also...the site that lgbpop gave me had, along with the HT freq. change & the DDR266...the upping of the Nforce chipset from default to a +.15. Question: is the Nforce chipset the graphics card chip...or not...and do I need to do that??
hey, scarecrowdr...I have the Abit NV8 board ( check my sig.)
It's a hassle having to pull the battery and re-set the settings...so..if I can go slowly..and with some good guidance ( I know, nothing is guaranteed),..maybe I can keep the lock-ups to a minimum.
Try upping the CPU voltage a little bit (0.25V at a time if possible) to stabilize things if necessary. Remember, the more juice you put through the CPU the higher the temperature's going to go. If your CPU fan is variable speed or if you're using AbitEQ, increase the CPU fan speed to compensate.
lgbpop...I'll try the cpu voltage bump....I even tried lowering the multiplier from 10 to 8...then increasing fsb...but no go...so I'll bump the cpu voltage by 0.25 and see...cross your fingers...
It's getting late...work early A.M.tomorrow....thanks all...will continue this tomorrow evening...
When upping the Vcore you really want to use baby steps. The power used increases with the square of the voltage, so the temps can rapidly go through the roof.
Finally home...:)
lgbpop...I increased the cpu voltage from 1.4 default to 1.64...cpu temp increased to low 40's...quite a jump for my normal cool temps...then I tried to up the fsb from where I was stable @206mhz...to 208mhz...but no go...no post :( I then decreased the V core some...
I am currently at: core speed....2062.6 mhz ( original 200 mhz)
Bus speed.....206.3 mhz
HT link..........618.8 mhz
V core...........1.568
memory.........137.49 mhz
A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that the site lgbpop gave me said to up the Nforce chip a bit....DO I NEED TO DO THIS NOW?
Do I need to start either loosening or tightening the timings? These things are so inter-related....I really would rather not have to keep popping the battery...:o :o
Another question...I was reading on the AMD processor forum site about the AMD drivers for the processor...seems that windows likes to install the "processors.Sys" drivers instead of the actual "amdk8.sys" drivers.
When I checked my own device manager processor drivers, it does, indeed, have the 'processors.sys' drivers.
Question: Do I need to install the actual AMD drivers?...could this have any bearing on my overclocking situation?
After reading, again, a good o/c'ing guide in the AMD forum....I saw where the LDT multiplier was dropped to x2 and then began the bumping of the cpu frequency (FSB)....that has helped...I also bumped the Nforce chipset up +.1
So far:core speed.....2102.6
cpu multiplier....x10
memory freq.....140.2
ldt multiplier....x2
Vcore.........1.584
I think that I will leave it at that for tonite.
Does anyone know why the Nforce chipset needed to be increased...none of the guides explained that...and how will I know when and if it needs further bumping?
Later....to bed I go....
Hey,lgbpop....good news...at least so far..:)
I am currently running at 2603.4Mhz...30% overclock:D ...I haven't pushed it as far as it will go...don't want to, either...I'll keep it here for a while and see how it actually behaves.
I ran Prime95 and it passes most of the 30 minute tests...a single error about a 'rounding error'??...I only have regular Kingston ram...maybe it's ram related...not sure.
After I get a better cpu cooler ( I'm gonna get the Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro), and maybe after I can budget for some better performance ram...then maybe I'll see what it will do, maybe...
Yea...this board/cpu is behaving very well...so far...thought you would like to know.:)
You can try Memtest and see how that goes. Must run error free at whatever setting you have.
What is your Memory frequency running at now? Ideally you want it up to it's stock speed at least, imo.
http://www.memtest86.com/
I'd also go for a Zalman copper heatsink, they are the best IMO, and if you wanna keep the temps down when OC'in i'd either go for the 7700 CU, or the 9500, they are both quite heavy beasts, but give excellent cooling, and i'm sure lgbpop and Crunchie will back me up as they both have Zalmans. :)
Liam
Crunchie....yea, I need to run memtest...I do have a couple of gremlins running around, maybe ram related. My memory is 173.6 ( stock 200), so I have some room to ease back up to 200. My cpu voltage is 1.456 ( stock 1.4), so I have barely increased that...figured a touch more voltage might help stability....but I'm not sure if I even needed to do that...I bumped the Nforce chip up just a touch.
No, I didn't do exhaustive testing at each step...dropping my LDT to x2 ( stock x4) seemed to have been when I was able to start bumping the cpu freq.(FSB)...so I have left it there...I didn't go back and try all combinations of settings.
Liam...yea, those Zalman's are nice...very heavy. I really don't intend on pushing this system to it's absolute max...with stock cooler my temp with Prime 95 never exceeded 52 C., with Vcore @ 1.456...and the cooling performance of the Arctic, I believe, will be plenty for my needs. BUT....I will re-read all of the info on both types of coolers before I order...I respect the knowledge and opinions of you and Crunchie and the others...thanks...!!
Just saw your numbers, very impressive. :) I'll bet you're seeing a bit of a difference!
The Zalman brought my @ load temps down by ~ 10C. Would definitely recommend.Quote:
Originally Posted by liam858
I swear by Zalman, a really well-made, well-designed unit. My computers run 6-9°C cooler than the stock HSF temps were.
Okay, okay...I'll re-consider the Zalman's..:D .
I ran Memtest for three hrs....got thru #5, I think...with no errors...got impatient and quit...can run the rest of the test maybe tomorrow.
I decided to try and get the ram frequency closer to stock ...200mhz...so I dropped the multiplier from x10 to x9....increased cpu speed (FSB)...and got to about 2700mhz and about ram of 200...then got locked up...and then my cable modem decided to quit on me and I'm just now getting back on-line ( I thought that I had really screwed something up..:o )
I am using Clockgen, cpu-z, and Abit EQ ...to keep a close watch on the numbers and temps.
I'll post back when I get the speeds back up and running ( hopefully), stable.
well...here is something interesting. I had been using Clockgen to increase cpu speed, along with cpu-z and my Abit EQ temp monitor program...and my system was responding rather well. Right after my previous post my cable connection cut out...again ( cable company having problems)...and it just now came back on.
So...since Clockgen requires you to be on-line...I figured that I could just use Bios to slowly build back up to my earlier figure of around 2700 Mhz (stock 2000)...BUT NO...for some reason I can't seem to get beyond about 2100 Mhz...even when I took only 2Mhz increments...tried small(very small) bumps in Vcore & Nforce...no post...even tried bumping ram voltage just the minimum ...no post...but...after a no post, I could turn the 'puter on & off a couple of times and it would post. Not good...
So...here I am...back to default settings. I am curious why my system will 'take' the increases with Clockgen but not when I use Bios by itself.
I will try using Clockgen again and see if I can coax a stable 2500Mhz speed...and not push it any further..!!
This has been a time consuming...frustrating...scary..experience.!!
But, I have learned a little more about my system...so it's been a worthwhile project.
There's a comprehensive tutorial here if you want a bit of reading; http://www.short-media.com/review.php?r=300&p=2
I'll be having an in-depth look myself as soon as I get all the parts together for my next system :).
Morning, Crunchie.
That is a really good guide...it's one of two that I kept re-reading...and re-reading..and re-reading...:o ...I downloaded Clockgen and cpu-z from there.
I also found this nifty calculator at the AMD processor forum: http://www.blurbdesigns.com/OcCalc/calc.htm
This thread contains a lot of the same info as the other guide...
http://www.ocforums.com/showtime.php?t=364233