changing voltage

Malu

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Hi,

Very newb here...
If I change the FSB to 200 in the BIOS when overclocking am I done with a newb overclock or do I also need to change the voltage or anything else?

Thanks,
Malu
 

speeduk

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That depends on what cpu you have. Without that information we can't help you out....

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

Malu

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that would be:

AMD Barton Processor 2500+
MSI K7N2 Delta-L motherboard
MSI GeForce 4 TI 4200 4xAGP
2 single sided modules 256 mb ddr 333 memory
Soundblaster 5.1
300W Power Supply
cd rw 24x10x40x
120 GB HD/40 GB HD
 

speeduk

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Ah here i see a slight problem. 333mhz memory just wont run at 400mhz ddr (200mhz) if you sync it with the fsb for an overclock. If you just simply changed the fsb to 200mhz the system wouldnt post. Either get some 400ddr memory or use a ratio that keeps the memory in spec. Also by moving to 200mhz fsb you need to change the multiplier to keep the overclock realistic and safe. I suggest changing the multiplier (if you can) to 9 if you intend on only running at the same speed but on 200mhz bus.

Changing the voltage only comes into effect when you overclock the system and simply wont post or load windows properly without more power. 1.8 volts is a safe setting if you have adequate cooling to meet the demands of the extra heat it puts out.



2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by speeduk on 06/20/03 07:42 PM.</EM></FONT></P>
 

TheMASK

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hey speeduk, so u r at 1.9V...that 2300MHz, translates to 2950+!! u didnt try the magic 3000+ mark?? :wink:

A7V8x BIOS 1012
1700+ t-bred B at 2000MHz @ 1.92V

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speeduk

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Im on 200mhz fsb so it translates to a 3200 lol. This is the max i can go without going to 2 volts. Anyways im happy with over 16,000 3dmarks :D. I did try it at 2 volts and could go as high as 2341mhz while being stable but thats a bit too high a voltage for me

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

speeduk

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Actually im surprised you had to use 1.92 volts to get to 2ghz with a 1700 tbred b! I would have thought that cpu should do at least 2.1ghz on 1.85 volts at max. Maybe you just got a bad cpu :/

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

Malu

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thanks for you help btw

Actually I have tried running after changing just the FSP to 200 Mhz and it seems quite stable. The voltage still unchanged at 1.6 and the temperature below 40. However I tried running a 3D game and about 2 minutes in it the computer froze.

So I tried setting the multiplier (that is the CPU clock speed correct?) to 9 when the FSP is 200 but it will not post. Also it will not post if the CPU clock is 9 and the FSP is 166. However it will post at both 200 and 166 when the clock speed is 8.5 But that ends up being slower than the default setting anyway.

Next I tried just putting the FSB up to 200 MHz and the CPU Core Voltage up to 1.8 (which is the highest setting available). While trying to boot it played a cacophony of beeps that almost sounded like a midi file. I don't know what that would mean. I also tried 1.7 and that seemed fine until I tried a 3D game again in which it froze with a loud buzzing noise coming from the speakers.

Ok this was kinda long so to summarize I was wondering:
1) Why can't I put the CPU clock to 9
2) What does it mean to have tons and tons of beeps
3) Any ideas on what to do now?

Thanks,
Malu

PS I'm actually running it at 2.19 GHz right now on a 200 FSP and it's stable. It's just when I try a game that it crashes.
 

speeduk

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Woa!!! Your running the memory at 200mhz fsb???? In bios is there a setting like FSB memory ratio or something set it to something like 80 percent or 5/4 if you can. You are running the memory too fast if its set at 100% or 1/1. Thats what the beeps are for i think.
Did you monitor your temperatures??? What heatsink/fan have you got on the cpu? I suggest you back down the settings a little. Keep the ram running at 166mhz for the time being and only overclock with multiplier changes (you call it cpu clock). Actually its just the number you want to multiply the FSB or front side bus by (133 to 200mhz) to get the end clock speed.

Try 12x multiplier on 166mhz fsb. Monitor your temps and download prime 95 and run it for 30 minutes while keeping an eye on temps (sandra 2003 is good for this) and see if you get that far and keep me updated :)

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

Malu

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Alright! Good news!

So I changed FSB back to 166 and the multiplier to 12. Now games, system, etc everything is very stable. My CPU temperature stays at around 35 C and system temp at about 53 C. Voltage is unchanged at 1.61 in the core. This means that it was indeed what speeduk said about the 333 DDR memory becuase it was unchanged. Cool.

Right so this is great but I have two more questions:

1) Is it still safe to put to multiplier to 13 or 14? And would I need to manually change the VCore up to around 1.7 or 1.8 possibly?

2)After the first time I switched my FSB back to 166 MHz after running at 200 MHz I have had a problem come up where I have to wait approx 45 seconds on a screen during boot up which says "loading personal settings". This never used to occur and is abnormally long. I don't see how the changes I've made could affect a part of any software but nonetheless windows boot up seems to have been slowed down a lot. (Also during the 45 second pause during bootup there is no Harddrive access, I almost restarted the first time it happened thinking it was frozen)

Ok that's all for now.
 

speeduk

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Great to see you getting the system stable. Just one thing though, i think your temps are wrong. The cpu is always hotter than the system, from what ive seen anyways. The reason for this is the heatsink is cooled by air blown onto it by the fan. That air is taken from within the system, so its blowing warm air onto it. I could be wrong though.

To answer your questions...

First, make sure the temperatures are right for cpu because if its not then you have reached the limit of the cooler. Try taking a reading before playing a game, then play a game for 5 mins and then take another reading straight away. The one thats risen the most is the cpu temp.

Next if your sure about your temps being ok, change the cpu voltage to 1.75 volts and try a higher multiplier until the system is unstable. I would say dont go above 1.8 volts but thats your choice... Im not sure what problem windows is having though, maybe someone else can help here...

Also i REALLY recommend running prime95 for an hour or more to make sure its 100% stable

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

Malu

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about the temperatures.

The ones I listed above are what the MSI PC Alert 4 motherboard monitor tells me. I wanted to verify them so I restarted and looked in my BIOS at PC HEALTH and it displayed a CPU Temp as 47 C and the System Temp as 52 C. Does that sound more reasonable? Also I've been leaving my case open (more airflow) due to all the changes I've been making inside lately.

If the temperatures from the BIOS are correct do I have anything to worry about?
 

Malu

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about the temperatures.

The ones I listed above are what the MSI PC Alert 4 motherboard monitor tells me. I wanted to verify them so I restarted and looked in my BIOS at PC HEALTH and it displayed a CPU Temp as 47 C and the System Temp as 52 C. Does that sound more reasonable? Also I've been leaving my case open (more airflow) due to all the changes I've been making inside lately.

If the temperatures from the BIOS are correct do I have anything to worry about?
 

Malu

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sorry for double post.....

Why does my system change to 831 MHz when I change the multiplier to 13x?
 

speeduk

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Maybe the motherboard doesn't unlock the higher multipliers for you, only a few do. And your temps seem strange. Download the latest bios and see if that corrects things. Just be sure to set everything in the bios to default or optimal and load optimal defaults before you flash...

2100xp @ 2300mhz (200x11.5 @ 1.9v)
Epox 8RDA3+ Nforce 2 ultra 400
2x512mb pc3200
ATI 9700 pro
3DMARK 2K1 = 16,000
 

TheMASK

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Actually, I had to use 1.92V to get my CPU to 2160MHz. I wud have it stable at 12*180 with my DDR333 Ram, but that was in Win 98Se. Once i switched to Win XP, even 2100Mhz at 1.92V was not stable. I asked for help in some other section, and svol advised me to lower my clock from 2100MHz. SO now i am running it stable at 2000Mhz. I forgot to reduce the Vcore, so its still running at that Vcore.i'll reduce the Vcore later and check, how low cud i go..

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TheMASK

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hey speeduk. tnx for telling me to back off from my insanely high CPU Vcore. :wink: . WEll, actually, i tried to reduce my Vcore from 1.92V and now i run my 1700+ at 2000MHz (2500+) at just 1.68V. My full load temp doesnt cross 43C anymore. just thot u shud know.

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BrianMJC

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Hi - I'm also a newbie and have a question if you don't mind. I was under the impression that increasing the voltage decreased the lifespan of the mobo & cpu plus was risky (you could fry them if you go too high). But you recommend 1.8 volts as "a safe setting."

Does running at this voltage harm your components, in the long and/or short run?

Thanks. :)
 

speeduk

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I'll give you an example... The palomino core (1500 to 2200xp) ran on a default voltage of 1.75 volts and i think was rated to last 10 years (not sure). My motherboard actually overvolted my palomino 1700 to 1.78 volts and it ran over 60C sometimes. It lasted me 14 months with no problems and ive just upgraded.

To sum it up... 1.8v is well safe for over a years use at sensible temperatures. 1.9v is on the edge, say 6-12 months at high temps and 9-16 months on sensible temps (40-45C).
2v at 60c wont last you very long at all.....

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svol

Champion
Well only if you increase it very much AND/OR you don't cool it enough it is going to damage. If you would go over 2V with a Palomino with bad cooling that would be very bad for the CPU. I've ran an XP1600+ at 2.05V for months with watercooling and now it still works (back at stock in someone else his PC).

So instead of lasting 10 years it will last 9 years... but it will be ancient and replaced long before that.

My CPU fan spins so fast that it creates a wormhole :eek: