Overclocking and applesauce

[Cowboy]

So here I am with my shiny and awesome 940 BE. And even though I am pushing a kick- water cooling setup, and a DFI board, I can't get it to clock higher than 3.6 ghz so that its 3dmark06 stable. EDIT: also running a borrowed copy of vista 32bit and switching back to xp when my case arrives.

I can get it to post and I can do things on the desktop for hours at 3.9 and 1.5v, but I can't for the life of me get it benchmark stable up to 1.6v @ 3.9 ghz.

What am I doing wrong?

Temps @ 3.9 ghz = 29 idle(min) , 38 load (max)

Running specs in sig. using 2 120.1 rads and 1 120.2 rad and an mcp355 pump w/ xspc top. Distilled water as coolant. Will post a pic of my case-less setup if requested.

Thanks for the help, this chip is depressing me

[MpG]

While I can't speak of any experience with AMD systems, the first thing I would do in such a case is to isolate the difference components, and verify that each is stable. Dial down the CPU and HT, and make sure that the memory sticks are entirely stable at those speeds/timings/voltages. Then bring up the HT, and make sure it's not the issue. Then finally, bring up the CPU. No guarantees, but this might identify a problem area.

[Cowboy]

Everything checks out, and I've been following any guides I've found on the net to help me out here.

Bday bump! help me !!!

[gingerbee]

sorry have not been overclocking amd for a long time since before dual cores.

[tyreman]

Can you unlink the memory from the equation on that board?

Is there an option in the bios for that?

I don't know if there is.
Someone might.

Make sure the memory is good the cpu seated properly, all components up to spec.

Good cooling airflow of the case and its internal components

Get the unit running stable first with the ram at its stock.

If you can't even get that to fly...you have to go back over it.

should be something maybe like FSB memory Clock mode option link or unlink
run it unlink first
see what processor does stable with ram at stock then move from there


A DFI board usually has a multitude customizable of settings
Is that DFI model board one of them?
If so there is a lot of potential tweakin' to do

[SKYMTL]

People see all these great scores and clocks with AMD chips these days and it brings them a false sense that they can accomplish the same thing. Overclocking is hit and miss, especially with the new AMD Phenom II processors; for every good one there are literally 10 that will not clock past 3.6Ghz.

[Cowboy]

Ok so I set memory clock and timings to auto (unlink? I think thats what you meant) and I ran 3dmark at 3.9 (19.5x multi)

crashes near the end of the 1st test. I'm going to upp the voltage to 1.6 and see if it still wants to play hard ball.

[Cowboy]

update: same thing at 1.6v, crashes at the same place as last time.
trying again at 19x @ 1.55v

maybe i need to fiddle with ACC?

EDIT: 19x @ 1.55v passes and i get 17.1 k w/ my 4890 @ stock speeds.

[tyreman]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Ok so I set memory clock and timings to auto (unlink? I think thats what you meant) and I ran 3dmark at 3.9 (19.5x multi)

crashes near the end of the 1st test. I'm going to upp the voltage to 1.6 and see if it still wants to play hard ball.

Even when I ran AMD running settings on auto almost always guarantees you not the best OC.
Set your ram speed by what it is not auto.
I set my equipment up by the numbers.
Some ram timings are okay auto but but the primary ram timings should be selected properly and not by auto.(ie only 5 5 5 15 )

[Supergrover]

I have the same prob with my 720, anything over 3.5 isnt stable sure I can hit 3.9 for a few 3dmark06 runs but it isnt stable.

[Cowboy]

ok, after this run I'll set my timings to 4-4-4-12-22-2t

oc'ed gpu to 955/1125 nets me 17.97k ~ 18k

GPU: max=35C, min=31C
CPU: max=43C, min=28C

Originally Posted by Supergrover

What is your NB running @? I found the NB needed a little goose in volts to even get passed 3.75. For me that was +100mv.

NB is @ stock V core. I will increase it aswell.

[Supergrover]

What is your NB running @? I found the NB needed a little goose in volts to even get passed 3.75. For me that was +100mv.

[Cowboy]

set timings to 4-4-4-12-22-2t and get 18060 in 06.

Also upped the NB voltage, just a tad tho.

EDIT/Update:

Pushed the NB to 204 (205 would crash in '06) and got a score of 18.3k in 06'

ram @ 816 4-4-4-12-22-2t
cpu@ 3.876 ghz

Thanks guys, I got a stable score at just below 3.9 ghz. not bad.

I'm still open to suggestions on how to make it better. (I.e should i drop the multi a bit and up the NB for better ram performance at the same cpu freq?)

[Wall86]

If the new Phenoms are anything like the old Athlons, tighter timings usually gives you the better performance compared to higher clock

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by Wall86

If the new Phenoms are anything like the old Athlons, tighter timings usually gives you the better performance compared to higher clock

good to know,

I've got my ram currently at ddr2-816 and 4-4-4-12-22-2t timings @ 1.88v

Any room for improvement?