Not sure if this should go in Motherboards or overclocking so its in both.
Anyway, I gave up on my Tualatin CPU upgrade (tried four different motherboards - it doesn't work in any of them) and bought a 2.4GHz Northwood 533MHz FSB CPU and ASUS P4PE motherboard. Now, I have some questions...so don't be afraid to set me straight about all this!
What clocks are best to use and why?
AGP bus frequency tolerances, where is too high?
Vcore settings used successfully?
BIOS bias for overclocking?
How to get to 150MHz FSB?
Here we go.
One, It seems to overclock well that the FSB, PCI, AGP and memory all should work on an even multiple of 33.33MHz.
EXAMPLE for a stock setting;
FSB 133.0MHZ (33.3 x 4)
Memory 333.0MHZ (33.3 x 10)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 2349MHZ (18 x 133)
Now, assuming the above is correct, that even order 33.3MHZ bus dividers are best, the next logical overclocked setting seem to be;
FSB 167.0MHZ (33.3 x 5)
Memory 366.0MHZ (33.3 x 11)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 3006MHZ (18 x 167)
Well, I doubt we'll ever get that out of an air cooled 2.4GHz CPU. I haven't seen a 366MHz memory setting, does the P4PE allow this settings? But that's the point of this post, now that we have to compromise and mess with half order multiples like 4.5 on the FSB what is best? Observe;
FSB 150.0MHZ (33.3 x 4.5)
Memory 400.0MHZ (33.3 x 12)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 2700MHZ (18 x 150)
But, if we can't get this in a stable fashion (the 0.5 multiple has been used in the past with seemingly good results, but at the same time it wasn't desired)what to do? Let me show an example for everyone to tear apart;
FSB 140.0MHZ (35.13 x 4)
Memory 373.0MHZ (35.13 x 10.6)
AGP 70.26MHZ(35.13 x 2)
PCI 35.13MHz
Overall CPU 2519MHZ (18 x 140)
Notice I used the odd PCI / AGP settings above to try to even up the multiples. But, it still has an odd memory (10.6)multiple setting. I've been told that an even memory setting is critical to good memory throughput scores. So lets propose;
FSB *140.0MHZ (37.5 x 3.75)
Memory 373.0MHZ (37.5 x 10)
AGP 75.0MHZ (37.5 x 2)
PCI 37.5MHz
Overall CPU 2519MHZ (18 x 140)
Now we have an odd FSB but the rest looks OK if we can convince ourselves that the AGP bus isn't over extended. Old Cyrix prpocessors used the 37.5MHz PCI bus to good effect but the AGP bus didn't exist then. What is the AGP's general range of stable operation? Does 75MHz seem out of line?
*Why not 37.5 x 4 @ 150MHz FSB? Because I can't get to 150MHZ with stability. Or, I'd use the example using the 33.3MHZ PCI bus.
This all leads to what voltages we have used on the Vcore for Northwood CPU's to get the most overclocking stability without making a fireworks stand explosion. Well, what have we used? I'm at 1.6volts right now. I've read up to 1.8volts. Really? I'm using an AVC SUN FLOWER cooler. The memory voltage isn't an issue (is it?) since I bought XMS32 Crucial CAS2 400MHz memory. And, the memory seems to be driven in BIOS by the FSB range in the P4PE motherboard and this sort of forces you to work with the PCI / AGP settings based on the memory choices it gives you. CPU temps are around 40C-42C based on the ASUS PC probe utility and very stable at that. I've never seen over 50C running games like Dungeon Siege, which really heated up my old PIII 1000 coppermine (70C). The PIII never seemed to mind it at all, it just registered warm.
Last, has anyone verified that the 1002 BIOS isn't biased to poor overclocking due to possible timing state changes? I seemed to do better with the 1001 BIOS or, I could just be imagining things. I have no good source for the history change on the 1002 BIOS or even the beta 1003 BIOS (I've not used this BIOS).
But this is all in fun since I haven't seen any compelling improvements in benchmarks. Running serious Sam 2 on quality, 32 bit color and 1024 x 768 I see 70FPS @ the 150MHZ bus and 33.3PCI and 67FPS @ the 140MHz bus and 35.13PCI. 3FPS just isn't noticable. A better video card (waiting for the next generation of cards to drop in price) is what's really needed. An MSI ti4200 128MB set to 280core/500MHz memory can only go so far.
I have no complaints about the P4PE Mboard at all. If I use it where its supposed to be (stock settings) I can't get it to do anything wrong, and all the features work well, set up is a cinch (once all the wires are sorted out!) and the price is right based on all the features (seriel RAID, sound, firewire, USB 2.0 and 1GHz LAN).
So, all you experts out there, where would you set this board and or what would you do to get to 150 MHZ FSB? The darn thing seems to run well @ 150FSB if it gets into windows. It just starts to have cold/warm boot issues at the higher FSB setting. If it gets past that it seems to be fine in windows XP SP1 home.
regards,
rower30@earthlink.net
Anyway, I gave up on my Tualatin CPU upgrade (tried four different motherboards - it doesn't work in any of them) and bought a 2.4GHz Northwood 533MHz FSB CPU and ASUS P4PE motherboard. Now, I have some questions...so don't be afraid to set me straight about all this!
What clocks are best to use and why?
AGP bus frequency tolerances, where is too high?
Vcore settings used successfully?
BIOS bias for overclocking?
How to get to 150MHz FSB?
Here we go.
One, It seems to overclock well that the FSB, PCI, AGP and memory all should work on an even multiple of 33.33MHz.
EXAMPLE for a stock setting;
FSB 133.0MHZ (33.3 x 4)
Memory 333.0MHZ (33.3 x 10)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 2349MHZ (18 x 133)
Now, assuming the above is correct, that even order 33.3MHZ bus dividers are best, the next logical overclocked setting seem to be;
FSB 167.0MHZ (33.3 x 5)
Memory 366.0MHZ (33.3 x 11)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 3006MHZ (18 x 167)
Well, I doubt we'll ever get that out of an air cooled 2.4GHz CPU. I haven't seen a 366MHz memory setting, does the P4PE allow this settings? But that's the point of this post, now that we have to compromise and mess with half order multiples like 4.5 on the FSB what is best? Observe;
FSB 150.0MHZ (33.3 x 4.5)
Memory 400.0MHZ (33.3 x 12)
AGP 66.6MHZ (33.3 x 2)
PCI 33.3MHz
Overall CPU 2700MHZ (18 x 150)
But, if we can't get this in a stable fashion (the 0.5 multiple has been used in the past with seemingly good results, but at the same time it wasn't desired)what to do? Let me show an example for everyone to tear apart;
FSB 140.0MHZ (35.13 x 4)
Memory 373.0MHZ (35.13 x 10.6)
AGP 70.26MHZ(35.13 x 2)
PCI 35.13MHz
Overall CPU 2519MHZ (18 x 140)
Notice I used the odd PCI / AGP settings above to try to even up the multiples. But, it still has an odd memory (10.6)multiple setting. I've been told that an even memory setting is critical to good memory throughput scores. So lets propose;
FSB *140.0MHZ (37.5 x 3.75)
Memory 373.0MHZ (37.5 x 10)
AGP 75.0MHZ (37.5 x 2)
PCI 37.5MHz
Overall CPU 2519MHZ (18 x 140)
Now we have an odd FSB but the rest looks OK if we can convince ourselves that the AGP bus isn't over extended. Old Cyrix prpocessors used the 37.5MHz PCI bus to good effect but the AGP bus didn't exist then. What is the AGP's general range of stable operation? Does 75MHz seem out of line?
*Why not 37.5 x 4 @ 150MHz FSB? Because I can't get to 150MHZ with stability. Or, I'd use the example using the 33.3MHZ PCI bus.
This all leads to what voltages we have used on the Vcore for Northwood CPU's to get the most overclocking stability without making a fireworks stand explosion. Well, what have we used? I'm at 1.6volts right now. I've read up to 1.8volts. Really? I'm using an AVC SUN FLOWER cooler. The memory voltage isn't an issue (is it?) since I bought XMS32 Crucial CAS2 400MHz memory. And, the memory seems to be driven in BIOS by the FSB range in the P4PE motherboard and this sort of forces you to work with the PCI / AGP settings based on the memory choices it gives you. CPU temps are around 40C-42C based on the ASUS PC probe utility and very stable at that. I've never seen over 50C running games like Dungeon Siege, which really heated up my old PIII 1000 coppermine (70C). The PIII never seemed to mind it at all, it just registered warm.
Last, has anyone verified that the 1002 BIOS isn't biased to poor overclocking due to possible timing state changes? I seemed to do better with the 1001 BIOS or, I could just be imagining things. I have no good source for the history change on the 1002 BIOS or even the beta 1003 BIOS (I've not used this BIOS).
But this is all in fun since I haven't seen any compelling improvements in benchmarks. Running serious Sam 2 on quality, 32 bit color and 1024 x 768 I see 70FPS @ the 150MHZ bus and 33.3PCI and 67FPS @ the 140MHz bus and 35.13PCI. 3FPS just isn't noticable. A better video card (waiting for the next generation of cards to drop in price) is what's really needed. An MSI ti4200 128MB set to 280core/500MHz memory can only go so far.
I have no complaints about the P4PE Mboard at all. If I use it where its supposed to be (stock settings) I can't get it to do anything wrong, and all the features work well, set up is a cinch (once all the wires are sorted out!) and the price is right based on all the features (seriel RAID, sound, firewire, USB 2.0 and 1GHz LAN).
So, all you experts out there, where would you set this board and or what would you do to get to 150 MHZ FSB? The darn thing seems to run well @ 150FSB if it gets into windows. It just starts to have cold/warm boot issues at the higher FSB setting. If it gets past that it seems to be fine in windows XP SP1 home.
regards,
rower30@earthlink.net
, and I'm off and running at 2.7GHz with a 400MHz memory speed with no issues at all. Stress testing hits 50C from a 40C based on the infamous ASUS PC probe. Not sure what the "real" temp is but it seems its a 10C rise from where ever it is at idle. Not bad at all with a relatively quiet AVC sunflower cooler and artic silver III thermal compound.
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