Stuck at 166FSB

[miahallen]

I just put together a new system for a friend and we are trying to overclock the FSB, it's a nice rig:

AXP2500+ (Coolermaster Jet 7 HSF)
Asus A7N8X Delux mobo (nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset)
Corsair TwinX CMX512-3200C2PT (1GB)
Two SATA Barracuda V 160GB HDD in Raid 0
ATI All-In-Wonder 9800PRO
Antec Trueblue 480W PS

I'm trying to get 200+ FSB out of it, but dosen't want to work, I've tried:
8.5 X 200
9 X 200
9.5 X 200
10 X 200
I'm still running the OEM BIOS, newegg.com said the mobo would only support the 3200+ with a BIOS update, is this the same reason it's not supporting 200MHz FSB for me?
I'm running without any problems at 12.5 X 166 now and maintaing CPU temps around 56C

 

[scottchen]

First of all A7N8X DLX doesn't use nForce2 Ultra400 chipset. Second, You should flash the bios, however without flashing you still should hit 200FSB. Flash bios, then check if it still doesn't work, then you got a mobo with a chipset that's extremely undervolted.

-Intel PIV 2.6C @ 3.575G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Copper 2x256 4000EL memory @ 275mhz 3-4-4-8 -XFX 5900 128meg 450/900 -SB audigy -120G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 S-ATA150 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[miahallen]

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-436&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-436&catalog=22&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1</A>
Yeah, I guess I don't really know what I'm talking about...This is the description of my motherboard from newegg.com and if they're wrong, then I guess I own you an apology because I would be wrong too! Until then, don't reply unless you know what you're talking about, please.

 

[Coyote]

I don't have your mobo, but from what you write the newegg.com people said you needed bios flash (generally you turn a 2500+ into a 3200+ by upping FSB to 200, so yes you need to flash bios although I thought those boards came OEM with the ability to do 200 FSB).

I note that you must have an unlocked 2500+

Why not leave CPU with stock multi and incrementally work your way up to FSB 200. Or have you tried that (incrementally) and no go?

I'm guessing that Ram is running at FSB 200 (pc3200) hence your system is asyncronous right now?

EDIT: You may need to bump up the voltage a bit to get it to FSB 200

XP 2000+
MSI KT3 ULTRA-2 KT333
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB PC2700
ABIT G4 Ti4200 OTES 64MB
Win98SE<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Coyote on 12/09/03 05:17 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[scottchen]

<A HREF="http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/mbindex.htm" target="_new">Asus</A> proves me right, so newegg can go screw themselves, I think I do know what i'm talking about. The Ultra 400 chipset is only for the sh*tty A7N8X-X.

-Intel PIV 2.6C @ 3.575G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Copper 2x256 4000EL memory @ 275mhz 3-4-4-8 -XFX 5900 128meg 450/900 -SB audigy -120G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 S-ATA150 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[psykoikonov]

FSB 400 Support
Starting from PCB version 2.0, The A7N8X motherboard supports Front Side Bus
(FSB) 400. The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) version is located beside the
motherboard name printed on the motherboard. PCB 2.0 BIOS version or later are not compatible with PCB 1.06 or earlier BIOS versions.]

<A HREF="http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7n8x-d/overview.htm" target="_new">Actual Link to A7N8X Deluxe overview page @ Asus</A>

<A HREF="http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=A7N8X%20Deluxe&langs=09" target="_new">The Asus A7N8X Deluxe specifications page says this</A>

Chipset
North Bridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 SPP(Ultra400)
South Bridge: NVIDIA® nForce2 MCP-T

So as long as the PCB is Rev 2.0 then yes you should be able to run at atleast 200MHz fsb.


<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=421" target="_new">Psyko's Puter</A><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by psykoikonov on 12/09/03 10:11 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[psykoikonov]

First things first Flash that mobo to the latest version for your PCB. Next SLOWLY increase fsb with low multi (9 or 9.5, watch 9 though as my mobo's 9 is actually 11). Then slowly increase multi with low fsb (166). That will give your limits and then you can fool around in the range.

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=421" target="_new">Psyko's Puter</A>

 

[scottchen]

Click on my link, it says A7N8X DLX uses the nVidia nForce2-ST chipset, and only the A7N8X-X uses the 400 chipset. Asus made a type-o somewhere?

-Intel PIV 2.6C @ 3.575G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Copper 2x256 4000EL memory @ 275mhz 3-4-4-8 -XFX 5900 128meg 450/900 -SB audigy -120G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 S-ATA150 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[psykoikonov]

Sure enough it does, but in my dealings with Asus their full of (*&* half the time anyway. I don't/wouldn't believe a damn thing on that website even though they manage to make a good mobo every now and again.

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?showtopic=421" target="_new">Psyko's Puter</A>

 

[scottchen]

I guess I would call the A7N8X a successful series, except the sh*tty A7N8X-X.

-Intel PIV 2.6C @ 3.575G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Copper 2x256 4000EL memory @ 275mhz 3-4-4-8 -XFX 5900 128meg 450/900 -SB audigy -120G Maxtor Diamond Plus9 S-ATA150 hdd -450 Enermax PSU