I need serious help

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:58 pm

I have been trying to overclock my 2.8C processor for quite a while now, and failed miserably every time. I hope you guys can help me.
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My set-up:

AOpen AX4SG-N Motherboard
Intel 2.8C Processor
2x512Mb DDR400 (Unknown Brand)
MSI nVidia GeForce FX5600 128Mb Video Card
Antec 430 Watt Power Supply
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What I've tried:

Changed FSB from default 200 to 231 one at a time (231 max with PC4000 memory that's not mine)
Changed voltage from defualt 1.525 to 1.725 one at a time
Changed RAM multiplier from default 2 to 1.6 (mobo sucks, only has 2, 1.6 and I think 1.3)
Changed stock CPU heatsink to Aerocool 18K gold contact 2004 Limited Edition heatsink with 2 80mm fans
Added RAM heatspreaders
Changed RAM voltage both up and down (down since it's underclocked)
Changed to Koolance water-cooled system (for noise, not temps)
*Changed Northbridge (passive) heatsink to Koolance waterblock
**Changed fan in PSU to LED fan (for looks not cooling)
Positioned Aerocool 4000RPM 80mm fan on southbridge with side panel off

*Overclocks have been less stable since water-cooling (and/or psu mod), waterblock is not very tight, mobo has 2 hooks, block needs 4, so it will turn if you push on it
** fan doesn't move much air, very low CFM
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Only things left I can think of (Please help me think of more, tell me if these might work, thanks):

Download BIOS updates (do I get each revision in order or only the latest?)
Put 4 of 8 aluminum heatsinks that came with mobo/vid waterblock (for vid RAM) on Southbridge (can I do that? or will it wreck the chip?)
Change PSU to Enermax 420 Watt Noisetaker that I received for review on my site

Any other ideas? I have tried everything I could think of even if I knew it wouldn't help and still can't get anywhere.

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:22 am

The first suggestion would be the BIOS, it is always optimal to have the latest BIOS for your board. It is not necessary to download every BIOS version, simply the newest. You might also try installing all the latest drivers for your hardware (chipset, video cardx, etc). As to the heatsink on the southbridge, it shouldn't hurt anything at all, i did that and also cut up my extra VGA heat sinks and used them on the Mosfets, which helped a bit. Micro Cool has just come out with a heat sink pack for the motherboard that has heatsinks for just about everything. Remember, anything that helps disipate heat is a good thing.
Now on to the cooling. I am against modding PSUs at all, but i am a person who wants functionality over looks. If the fan that you put in there doesn't move as much air as the old one, id put the old one back. As far as mounting a fan over the southbridge, I think that is fairly useless, i think you would be better served mounting a fan over the Mosfets, they get much hotter and keeping them cool may not help you O/C, but the farther you push your system, the hottter they get, and the shorter the lifespan, IMO.
No name RAM could be the cause, a good way to tell might be to back off the RAM multiplier to 5:4, putting the load on the CPU. If that helps, then you know the RAM is holding you back. If not it could be your board.
As to the water block, it doesn't have to be super tight, but as long as the block seats well and has full contact, it should be okay. Alot of people really crank on that stuff and damage components.
I don't think your PSU is the problem as Antec makes very good stuff.
So in closing, i think your problem most likely is your mobo or RAM.

Post by **Apoptosis** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:37 am

What is the stepping and date code on your 2.8C? Is it a MO stepping?

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:39 am

1. What is a mofset?

2. Link to Micro Cool

3. About the bad PSU mod, don't worry, I will be trying a Enermax Noisetaker 420 Watt PSU that I received to review on my site.

4. About RAM dividers, my board is stupid. It's the same purpose, but it doesn't have dividers, it has multipliers. And only 3 of them to be exact. 2, 1.6, and I think 1.3. I have it set at 1.6 so my RAM is always underclocked, that's not the problem. I have to get to 3.5 to get back to DDR400. Plus I have Mushkin PC4000 (tried it before) that is to go in a customer's computer, I can throw that in with the new PSU and try it this way. Then buy some of my own if it helps.

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:56 am

Here are the Mosfets on your board. It won't affect O/Cing, but it isn't a bad idea to cool these, I brought it up because to me it is more important than cooling the SB.

http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/capper ... capper5016

Here is a link to the Microcool heatsinks

http://www.microcool.it/index1.asp?ris=1024&lin=in

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:08 am

I don't see where to buy them though

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:17 am

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/
they have them under chipset /GPU coolers.

Here is a review, I'm waiting on a set now so I can test/review them
http://www.systemcooling.com/microcool_chipsink-01.html

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:20 am

Apop I don't know what all you want so I'll put everything on CPU-Z

Name: Intel Pentium 4
Code Name: Northwood
Brand ID: 9
Package: mPGA-478
Technology: 0.13
Voltage: 1.584
Specification: Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Family: F
Model: 2
Stepping: 9
Ext. Family: 0
Ext. Model: 0
Revision: D1
Instructions: MMX, SSE, SSE2
Core Speed 2813.6MHz
Multiplier : x14.0
FSB: 201.0MHz
Bus Speed: 803.9MHz
L1 Data: 8KBytes
L1 Trace: 12Kuops
Level2: 512KBytes

Why does it say 201MHz FSB when I set it at 200?
And 1.584V when it's set at 1.525

I think part of my problem might be that the motherboard doesn't change anything when I turn up/down the voltage, it's always different

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:25 am

Apacer Technology DDR-SDRAM PC3200 - 512MB
Dual Channel
Frequency: 201MHz
FSB:DRAM: 1:1
CAS# Latency: 3.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay: 4 clocks
RAS# Precharge: 4 clocks
Cycle Time (Tras): 8 clocks

Post by **Apoptosis** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:33 am

You have an older Revision: D1 chip. The newer MO revisions are known to be the better overclockers. With the older D1 chips its a hit or miss deal when it comes to overclocking. I've never seen a 2.8C MO chip not hit 250FSB stable and that is all that newegg is shipping right now for $180. Might want to sell your D1 revision and hope for a MO chip.

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:13 pm

Well I'm not look to take a big loss so I'm asking a price that's probably to high, but hopefully someone will want it. $150 with stock heatsink and shipping included.

Post by **Apoptosis** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:20 am

They are selling for $150-$155 shipped on the forums.

BLISSTER (from the forums) came over last night with a D1 stepping 2.8C that he could get up to 3.1GHz and we played around with it. Under my water cooling his chip could fo 233MHz on a platform that is known to do over 320MHz FSB. If you want more headroom you need to snag an MO stepping.

As always buy your gear via our dealtime siteto help pay the server bills! Every penny helps keep the site running ;)

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 11:36 am

The link doesn't work for dealtime, but what is shipping for $150, new or used? and the kinda I have or the newer chip?

Also, can that motherboard of yours get 320MHz FSB from just about any of the MO stepping P4's?

Based on the prices of the 2.8 and the 3.0, which one should I go with if I get a new processor, will the 3.0 overclock very much past the 2.8?

EDIT: Link works now.