athlon 64 x2 3800+ overclocking

z_dori

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hi,
i tried to verclock over 2400, (240X10) & the sys doesn't even gettin to show win logo...
i just turned the 200X10 to 240X10. what's next?

i have a Tt TMG A1. a nice fan, Idle 24C, Load 43C.


thanks
D.
 

SEALBoy

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You are probably not changing your HT multiplier. The HT bus is usually the first to become unstable from overclocking. The default multiplier is 5x (5*200=1000MHz). Keep the HT speed at or below 1000MHz. In your case, drop the multiplier to 4x and see if u can get to 240MHz FSB (since 4*240 < 1000MHz).
 

Hatman

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The above only depends on what kind of motherboard you got really though, some are betters ovverclockers than others.

If you want to overclock that CPU that far you'll have to increase its voltage, also check if you have good enough memory and its at the right settings.
 

z_dori

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i have 3G 667 Ram. 512X2 & 1024X2.

to 240 it's no problem. but ferther it's the problem.

i don't see in the bios feature to change the HT link speed/multiplier...
only voltage
 

SEALBoy

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If you have a budget board, it might not have the HT option. Mine doesn't, so I can't take my CPU beyond 2.25GHz. If that's the case, you're pretty much out of luck. Check the manual to make sure you aren't missing anything and see if you can get a BIOS update.
 

z_dori

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to 240 i get with no prob... just change it... the cpu at load gets to 45C....~

i'm just about to check about the BIOS update.. i thought about it b4..

UPDATE: the bios 6 ver upgrade didn't do much.... :( stil at 240...
 

frankienyc123

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Well first of all in order to help you we will need alot more info about your system. To start what motherboard, memory, cpu, power supply, hsf....etc and what are your bios settings such as voltage, memory speed/timings, HT multiplyer...etc. You should definitly be able to reach at least 2.6ghz with an am2 3800x2. First thing youl wanna do is use a memory divider and lowe rthe memory speed and loosen timings that way youll know that its not your memory holding you back. GOod luck.
 

z_dori

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Well first of all in order to help you we will need alot more info about your system. To start what motherboard, memory, cpu, power supply, hsf....etc and what are your bios settings such as voltage, memory speed/timings, HT multiplyer...etc. You should definitly be able to reach at least 2.6ghz with an am2 3800x2.

CPU- athlon 64 X2 3800+
MB: Gigabyte ga-m55sli
RAM: 3G (1024X2, 512X2) Hynix 667. 5T
PSU: regular & simple, came with the case. 500W. 12v: 18A 216W.
HSF: Thermaltake TMG A1.
voltage- regular/normal.
HT link- i cannot change via bios. so- regular. so his multiplier...

First thing youl wanna do is use a memory divider and lowe rthe memory speed and loosen timings that way youll know that its not your memory holding you back. GOod luck.

i cannot reduce the HT link speed. loosen timing of ram to 6t?
i tryed manually to change it to 800, & the system crashed at restart... & the bios went back to defaults...


Dor.
 

frankienyc123

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It doesnt make any sense that reducing the HT link to 800 caused it crash it should run fine at 800? Something else is causing your problem, Id put my best guess on the memory. Try running only two sticksof memory and try manually setting the timings to something real loose like 6-6-6-18 and reduce the speed one notch using a memory divider. Im not sure if its true on your motherboard but alot of Gigabyte boards have "secret" overclocking settings that you have to press ctrl-f1 to get to. Try that and see if you find more settings to mess around with. good luck
 

jazzcat_cfl

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Hello Z, I have been working with the m55-sli board for a while so I think I can help you to get started. This board is a good start into OC'ing but it has limited features compared to more expensive boards from ASUS or ASrock. My setup is very similar to you. I have the board and a x2 3500 Brisbane cpu. Let me give you the two most important things to remember.

1. The m55sli board has 2 OC menus in the bios. First is the MIT menu where you can adjust voltages, cpu frequency, etc. econd is the advanced chipset features menu; press Ctrl + F1 at the main bios screen.
Also remember to disable the AMD cool and quiet option.

2. This board does not have advanced memory timing options so forget what people are telling you about changing memory timings, etc.

Now here is a basic setup plan for the board.

1. In the advanced chipset features menu set the HT link to 4x or even 3x. If you want to push the cpu past 260Mhz you must do this first.
Then go down to the DRAM config menu and select manual and set the frequency to 400. This will give you some headroom to OC your cpu.
Now you will see the extent of the memory options for this board. Not much! You only have a choice to set CAS latency to 4 or 5.
Now a point about your memory. It sound like you have budget Ram, just like I did. This is not good enough for a cpu like this. You will soon find the need for better performing DDR2 800.

2. At this point you are ready to adjust your cpu. I guess you have seen in the MIT menu of the bios there are some basic features for this.
Honestly at this point you should consider the EasyTune 5 program to start tweaking your cpu's FSB speed. Start tuning usng the stock CPU voltage and multiplier. Increase your FSB speed until you reach 260MHz, then you will want to start checking your temps and your memory frequency. Chances are your Ram will not exceed 530Mhz so this will eventually put a cap on your cpu speed maybe around 270Mhz. As I said before there are no advanced memory options, this board basically uses the Ram's default timings. No problem just save for better Ram, as well as a better psu.
I believe you will see that although this board has some limitations it is still very effective for beginners.

x2 3500+ Brisbane
GA-m55sli-s4
Seasonic M12
G.Skill PC6400 2G 4-4-3-5
XFX 7300gt x2
 

z_dori

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man you are awsom!!!
i need to go to the miluim (army...) today, so i'll play with it only in a week from now.

and a jump from 2000 to 2700 is a lot in the preformance... it's very close to the high end athlons X2... so if it will be stable & nice temps... that will do very fine!

thanks again man.....


Dor.
 

frankienyc123

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2.7ghz would be pretty impressive for a 3800x2 using a lower end motherboard, memory..etc My 4200x2 (S939) only OC's to 2.7ghz and im using a highend motherboard, memory cooler, psu..etc. Good luck with your OC.
 

cd_rom

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oh man, my heart was sinking as i read through this thread. I'm wondering you jumped from 2000-2700 but how long did you run the stable tests i.e. prime95, orthos...? If you ran the test for 6 hours then i got to congrat you!

I got same cpu x2 am2 3800+ and i can't get up to 2400 (2360 at the moment but stable) with ECS nforce4a-m m/b. got 2 ram modules 1 is 553 and other is 667 cosairs. Run orthos for 7-9 mins and boom, failed!
 

jazzcat_cfl

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cd-rom your problem is in the RAM you are running. You are running 1x 533 and 1x 667 ? You probably have specified in BIOS that they should both run at the lower speed, but you should have a matched pair of 667 at least for a x2 3800. fter that, your next situation will be related to power not hardware. You may need to adjust the voltage for the CPU slightly.
270Mhz should be an easy OC on a decent PSU with decent RAM and the correct BIOS settings. With higher performing power and RAM you should approach 290 Mhz FSB.
 

cd_rom

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yeah, i got 1x 533 and 1x 667 (they are 1gig stick). i tried to take out 533 stick and OC with 667stick but it made no different. The m/b does offer the option to changet the cpu voltage but sadly 1.35v is the maximum. I got 400w psu from jeantech.
 

frankienyc123

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The motherboard only lets you go up to 1.35v? Thats the stock voltage for a 3800x2 thats a bit strange. our motherboard is definitly going to hold you back from getting much higher then 2.4 or 2.5 if you cant go higher then 1.35v. One think to check is wether you have one of the low power 3800x2, they dont overclock well.
 

jazzcat_cfl

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Frankienyc123 said:
The motherboard only lets you go up to 1.35v? Thats the stock voltage for a 3800x2 thats a bit strange. our motherboard is definitly going to hold you back quote]



Yes, for sure... unless the MB automatically raises the voltage when you increase the FSB. This happens with my GA-m55sli if you leave the Bios CPU v. settiing on auto. You can check on CPU-z whether or not this is the case.
 

cd_rom

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bah, i turned the cpu freq up to 2500 and it booted in safe mode so i had to switch back to 2360 again.

/me sighs
 

Craxbax

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I have been fighting with a 3800 X2 (Stepping 1, Rev. BH E4)on an A8S-X MB, Ultra X-Wind cooler, and 2gb cheap Corsair RAM. Couldn't get it stable above 2.34 ghz or even boot into windows. Lowering the HT to 4x, memory to 333mhz, loosening it a little, and bumping it to 1.4v. let me get ALL the way to 2.40 stable. lol :? I can boot into windows now all the way up to 2.55ghz but fails Prime 95 in short order. Temps are OK even at the 2.55ghz as are volts on the 12v rail. Not sure what is holding it back at this point.

I guess 400mhz isn't a bad OC considering the components but I expected more after reading all the posts about the high 3800 X2 OCs. Not sure what is holding it back but maybe some of the weaker s939 3800 X2s are being dumped now. Of course I am an OC noob so I just thought I would relate my situation.
 

jazzcat_cfl

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Cd-rom, actually with just stock voltage 2.4G isn't bad at all. You should know that CPU will go much higher with the right MB and mathched RAM.

Crax what seepd is your RAM? Some RAM does not do well at 400Mhz like my Kingston 667, when I set it to 533 I got much better results up to 2.74G

From what I read in this post the roadblacks are most definitely MB and or RAM related. The 3500 X2 and 3800 X2 have a lot of power to spare.
Hopefully some one with more expertise can help out the 3800 x2 owners to find the right settings for better OC's.