Overclocking

[falsterbo]

My computer
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium (newest with cool-pipe)
CPU: AMD 64 3700+ (San Diego) with Zalman CNPS9500
Ram: 4x 512Mb Corsair DDR550 (2.5-4-4-8)
Harddrive: Maxtor DiamondPlus 10 250Gb 16Mb cache SATA2
Graphics: 2x SLI GeForce 7800GT 256Mb (470/1150MHz)

My question is why I cannot overclock my computer. I know how to do it because I have done it before, but this time the harddrive stops working when I past 210MHz (FSB or what it is called).
I have tried to put down the HTT to 4x but the harddrive doesn´t want to show it self when I start up the computer...
So yes I can clock my computer, but I cannot startup Windows if I clock more than 210MHz FSB...

Someone know why and what to do about this?

 

[xBlueBoron]

Just an idea, but I have heard of the board having issues with 4 sticks of ram, try removing two sticks, and maybe try lowering the speed on the ram as well.

 

[falsterbo]

Just an idea, but I have heard of the board having issues with 4 sticks of ram, try removing two sticks, and maybe try lowering the speed on the ram as well.

Sorry no, that is not the problem. It works fine with 4x 512Mb, beause I used to have 2x 512Mb...
This is not a ram problem, it is the harddrive or the motherboard. But I don´t know how to fix it.

 

[ChipDeath]

Make sure PCI/PCI-E frequencies are locked. Sounds like the bus the disk is on starts going too quick.

 

[falsterbo]

Make sure PCI/PCI-E frequencies are locked. Sounds like the bus the disk is on starts going too quick.

Yes I have locked them to 33,33MHz or something, but that doesn´t help...

 

[a1ien]

I have never heard of a hard drive affecting an overclock, but I am not a professional on the subject.

Do you have cool 'n quiet disable?

 

[chuckshissle]

It's not the hd it's just that it doesn't boot to windows when you overclock it. These have happened to me before with 4x512mb sticks. Try adjusting the rams clock to 2T and see if you window would boot up.

 

[gomerpile]

Mybe power, turn power options in bios to always on. Also turn off power management if not try a 600 watt psu

 

[falsterbo]

It's not the hd it's just that it doesn't boot to windows when you overclock it. These have happened to me before with 4x512mb sticks. Try adjusting the rams clock to 2T and see if you window would boot up.

No the ram is perfect... And yes I am able to overclock now, but if I restart my computer then my SATA2 harddrive is lost and I only have my normal ATA133 left, and then it says I don´t have any operative-system...

So yes I am able to overclock now, but sometimes my harddrive removes it self...

 

[mitch074]

this look like one of those 'I'm not lucky' bug. You could try replacing your motherboard with exactly the same model and see if you still experiment those problems. You could also try finding a way to cool down your southbridge. Last, you may tinker with all the spread spectrum settings you have - for example, SATA supports sperad spectrum modulation, check those settings.

 

[TabrisDarkPeace]

You haven't locked your PCI bus to 33.33 MHz have you ?, or if you have it isn't working.

SATA generates its bus clock from that, and if it is +/-5% out of spec those exact problems above occur.

It may also have something to do with the controller the SATA HDDs are connected to.

Try 200, 233, 266, 300, etc, as the PCI divider rises on each of them to keep the PCI devices happy and stable. 210 FSB = Why even bother ? Esp if PCI bus lock (async 33.333 MHz) isn't working.

On top of going from 2/4 ranks of RAM to 4/8 ranks of RAM is going to limit the memory overclock significantly. Just saying it is all the same memory as it was when running two DIMMs won't change that fact. Electrical signal needs to travel further. (eg: Try using walkie talkies in an open area at 500m then again at 1000m). To try and fix that force 2T CMD RATE in the BIOS. (Trying to use 1T CMD RATE may also be causing a ceiling in your 'boot stable' overclock).

 

[gomerpile]

sata bus enabled in bios under intergrated also for xp plug and play os to no

 

[mitch074]

If he can find his drive sometimes, then his port is enabled in BIOS - otherwise he'd never find it.

The PnP OS is worth a try, but I doubt it. Try changing SATA spread spectrum settings.

 

[falsterbo]

I have raised the FSB to 236 now and it works fine, I get 236 * 4 = 944MHz HTT and 236*11 = 2600MHz.

The harddrive removes it self only when I restart the computer now, don´t know why it fixed it self?

If I want to go for 3000MHz, which settings should I go for?

My ram can handle 275MHz (2x=550MHz) without any problems because I have bought DDR550/PC4400...

Now I know that the HTT shouldn´t be over 1GHz, so I would probably go down to 3x HTT.
So that gives me 11x 275MHz = 3000MHz
But only 825MHz HTT (3x 275).

How much does the HTT make in perfomance on my computer? I need to push the FSB to 333MHz to have 1GHz in HTT again with 3xHTT... I don´t think my ram can handle 333*2MHz= 666MHz...
So what settings should I go for?
I tried to start the computer with 250x 11 = 2700MHz but it wouldn´t load windows correct. Does it need more voltage on the cpu then?