Abit IC7 Overclocking - Oh, this is fun! Update!
Leonardo
Wake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, Alaska Icrontian
Update - 3.64GHz, FSB 1041, DRAM 420MHz CAS 2.5 6/3/3. Holy cow! There's still more headroom left! 100% CPU usage is 56*C.
About a week ago someone, I think Omega, PMed asking me to post when I started overclocking my Abit IC7 - P4 Canterwood box. Well, I've started. Check out my signature (System 1).
3.5GHz, FSB 500 (DDR)/1000 "Quad Pumped"
It wasn't all that difficult getting there once I started implementing options in the Soft Menu BIOS. I have to hand it to Abit, this motherboard is rich in overclocking tweaks in the BIOS.
Here it is in a nutshell:
AGP-PCI frequency ratio is fixed -- 66/33. I had tried running one of the preset CPU-AGP-PCI frequency ratios, 7:2:1, but the computer would experience memory dumps. I think my NIC doesn't have tolerance for out of spec voltages. That's the only card occupying a PCI slot - must have been the problem. I don't think the Radeon 9500 Pro would have been the culprit.
DRAM frequency is fixed at DDR400 (800). This Geil RAM was a bargain, and performs exactly as specified (CL2.5, 6/3/3); but overclockers' RAM it is not. I was able to overclock the RAM only by about 15MHz, so just decided to leave it at default. Boostin DRAM voltage didn't accomplish much of anything.
At first, I had a terrible time getting CPU FSB overclock over 3.0GHz. Then it dawned on me - the computer wasn't crashing, wasn't dumping memory, it was merely throttling itself as CPU temperatures rose due to increased FSB and CPU core voltage. A look at the BIOS confirmed this. I disabled clock throttling and made it to 3500MHz in only about one half hour after that.
Voltages. These are the voltages that are selected in the BIOS. Measured voltages are actually lower.
CPU Core - 1.675 (I'll lower it later and see if all is still stable)
DRAM - 2.6
AGP - 1.55
Indicated temperature, measured by on-chip device (not motherboard thermistor) is 58*C. That's with an ambient temperature where my computer sits at 22*C/78*F. That temperature is at 100% CPU load - two instances of Folding@Home running.
For stability testing, I ran 3DMark03 several times with both instances of Folding running in the background. No, no 24-torture testing yet. The 3500 clock has been in effect now for about 8 hours without a hitch. Absolutely smooth, stable, and FAST! I am so impressed with the P4C, Canterwood chipset, and Abit's rendering of the 875 chipset. Intel hype, at least this once, is justified.
I've run a full battery of SiSoft Sandra benchmarks. If anyone wants to see one, let me know.
One more comment - KUDOS to Vantec for the AeroFlow heatsink with TMD fan. Excellent cooling, and almost as quiet as the stock P4 cooler. After the AeroFlow installation, CPU temps under full load fell 18-20*C!
Yup, I'll see what the Abit NF7-S - XP 2800+ can do later. Right now, I don't want to mix and match Intel and AMD tweaking in my brain. One system at a time.
Leo
About a week ago someone, I think Omega, PMed asking me to post when I started overclocking my Abit IC7 - P4 Canterwood box. Well, I've started. Check out my signature (System 1).
3.5GHz, FSB 500 (DDR)/1000 "Quad Pumped"
It wasn't all that difficult getting there once I started implementing options in the Soft Menu BIOS. I have to hand it to Abit, this motherboard is rich in overclocking tweaks in the BIOS.
Here it is in a nutshell:
AGP-PCI frequency ratio is fixed -- 66/33. I had tried running one of the preset CPU-AGP-PCI frequency ratios, 7:2:1, but the computer would experience memory dumps. I think my NIC doesn't have tolerance for out of spec voltages. That's the only card occupying a PCI slot - must have been the problem. I don't think the Radeon 9500 Pro would have been the culprit.
DRAM frequency is fixed at DDR400 (800). This Geil RAM was a bargain, and performs exactly as specified (CL2.5, 6/3/3); but overclockers' RAM it is not. I was able to overclock the RAM only by about 15MHz, so just decided to leave it at default. Boostin DRAM voltage didn't accomplish much of anything.
At first, I had a terrible time getting CPU FSB overclock over 3.0GHz. Then it dawned on me - the computer wasn't crashing, wasn't dumping memory, it was merely throttling itself as CPU temperatures rose due to increased FSB and CPU core voltage. A look at the BIOS confirmed this. I disabled clock throttling and made it to 3500MHz in only about one half hour after that.
Voltages. These are the voltages that are selected in the BIOS. Measured voltages are actually lower.
CPU Core - 1.675 (I'll lower it later and see if all is still stable)
DRAM - 2.6
AGP - 1.55
Indicated temperature, measured by on-chip device (not motherboard thermistor) is 58*C. That's with an ambient temperature where my computer sits at 22*C/78*F. That temperature is at 100% CPU load - two instances of Folding@Home running.
For stability testing, I ran 3DMark03 several times with both instances of Folding running in the background. No, no 24-torture testing yet. The 3500 clock has been in effect now for about 8 hours without a hitch. Absolutely smooth, stable, and FAST! I am so impressed with the P4C, Canterwood chipset, and Abit's rendering of the 875 chipset. Intel hype, at least this once, is justified.
I've run a full battery of SiSoft Sandra benchmarks. If anyone wants to see one, let me know.
One more comment - KUDOS to Vantec for the AeroFlow heatsink with TMD fan. Excellent cooling, and almost as quiet as the stock P4 cooler. After the AeroFlow installation, CPU temps under full load fell 18-20*C!
Yup, I'll see what the Abit NF7-S - XP 2800+ can do later. Right now, I don't want to mix and match Intel and AMD tweaking in my brain. One system at a time.
Leo
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Comments
That ratio scares me a little as it seems very low. 7:2:1. That should be fsb:250/7=36 X2=70. Or have they changed the way the ratio works on that chipset?
I am looking around for a possibly better and faster ratio for your setup as we speak. Even if that memory isnt any overclockers memory, they should do better than that.
For starters, can you try 250 but use 5:4:1 instead? Thats A LOT better, but still not overclocked ram. With a cpu like that, it would be a terrible waste not to optimize memory.
DANG! 3.5 on almost default vcore and a medium performance rated cooler? You must have a wonder chip there.
Run a sandra memory bench before and after and let me know buddy.
Mac
I have a sudden urge to grab the credit card and navigate my way over to Newegg...
Leo, maybe I missed it... what are you using for cooling?
Finally, does anyone know of a support group for people like us? Overclockers Anonymous or something?
Yes, I'd like to find what headroom there is in the memory also. No I'm not running 7:2:1 CPU/AGP/PCI. I've l've fixed the AGP/PCI ratio at 66:33.
CPU to RAM ratio is at 5/4. At 250FSB, the RAM is running a stock default frequency of 400MHz DDR.
There is STILL headroom left with this CPU. I just lowered the vCore to an indicated 1.57v (setting at 1.6), and it's running two instances of Folding@Home at 55*C.
Geeky1, cooling is a Vantec AeroFlow.
Ditto!
Leo - guilty as charged!
Overclockers.com :"Is 3:2 For You?" suggests setting the CPU:Mem ratio to 3:2 will give better OCing results
How stupid of me, i should have understand that. No wonder i was scratching my nordic head when i saw 7:2:1.
Since memory runs stock now, could you test a little with timings?
Im sure they can at least do cas 2, maybe even tighter with the other settings. 5/3/2 cas 2? They should be able to do that if the chips is what i think they are. Im pretty sure you have Samsung 2700 ctl under there m8. I saw them on a Amd setup at 240 Fsb 5/2/2 cas 2 and 1:1 ratio the other day. If you have them, you might have a fantastic setup there. Dont be afraid to use memory voltage if you need it. The mosfets isnt getting hot until after around 230 fsb and high (3V+ ) voltages on that board.
Oh definitely - I do want to test RAM timings. It'll have to wait though. I'll be out of town starting today through Thursday.
Samsung 2700? I really doubt. I don't think Geil would pull an OCZ stunt, overclocking 2700 and calling it PC3200. I think it's simple no-frills PC3200.
CL2.5, DDR 400MHz, FSB1006 (QP)....
Geil doesn NOT manufacture their own memprychips, MAYBE the pcb. They just recodes the stick. It doesn`t really matter though, as long as they do what it says on the tin. The only manufacturer of 3200 chips is Winbond, Twinmos, Samsung, Hynix and Micron i think. I know somebody that bought a 3700 stick and started to rub off the surface of the chips, which was clearly stated the brand he thought it was first, but after a minute of rubbing, Samsung 3200 cas3 slowly came out of it. It`s just the SPD that is reprogrammed with their own information. Standard eeprom.
I know it`s a little bit off topic, but i thought you should know.
Stability testing not yet conducted.
CPU Core - 1.65 (I'll lower it later and see if all is still stable)
DRAM - 2.65
AGP - 1.60
AGP:PCI frequency locked at 66:33 MHz
CPU:DRAM frequency ratio set at 5:4
//edit:
That said, I've wanted to mess around with an IS7 and 2.8C for some time now. Dammit. I'm broke
DRAM at 2.65v failed stability testing - memory dump. I can notch it up to 2.8v, maximum setting. The RAM modules do have heatspreaders. Will maximum voltage risk the RAM's longevity?
Nope. The IC7/G/ has the 875 Canterwood chipset, not the 865P.
I can promise you straight out if those sticks die of the max voltage available on that board, i´ll personally replace them for you. Im serious, you can add over 3V on them without that they even get hot to touch. As a matter of fact, the heatspreader is the only thing that can get the chip warm. I know several peeps that run over 3.2 volts on that same setup 24/7 and have done that since the stuff came out. It´s safe captain.
IS7 stands for Springdale (the s) and IC7 stands for Canterwood (the C). Springdale is any 865 and Canterwood is any 875.
That´s my captain!
I´m loking around for tweaks so that you can use cas 2 instead.
Right now you have good fsb but the efficiency isn´t that good, only around 60% of what the chipset can do. Have you tried cas 2 at all or at lower speed? 6,3,3 cas 2?
CPU's got a lot of power left; RAM's holding me up. Not disappointed at all though. The RAM was only advertised by Newegg as CL2.5, 6:3:3, which it performs at flawlessly.
If I let the BIOS automatically select DRAM timings, it picks 2.5, 8:4:4. My NF2 setup's BIOS makes the same selection.
Yes, I wouldn't mind at all finding timings that would allow CAS 2.
True, but Corsair costs a bit more than the $70/512MB module that I paid for the Geil!