Asus A7n8X-X Memory Overclocking

edited November 2003 in Hardware
Hi, I have a dilema... I just purchased a Kingston PC3200 512MB
400 Mhz DDR Memory stick to use with my brand new AMD Athlon 2700+ 2.17 Ghz CPU.

Only problem is the CPU FSB goes to 166 Mhz, which when running in Sync with the memory, the memory only goes to 166 Mhz.

I've looked around trying to find a solution, and finally I overclocked the CPU FSB to 200 Mhz with a Multiplier of 11x.
It now has a total of 2.2 Ghz.

the main issue is that if I run the RAM at Optimal rate with the FSB 200 Mhz, the computer restarts, freezes, reboots, blue screen of death, the usual nasties!

If the RAM does support 400 Mhz memory?! why does it freeze when it is running at 100% with the FSB 200 Mhz of the CPU?! I am so lost. I am sad that my memory can't run at FULL SPEED, I feel as though I wasted my money because of my Lack of Knowledge. (I presume that Multiply the FSB 200 mhz of the CPU, equals to the Memory 400 Mhz) Please help anyone!

Comments

  • edited November 2003
    You need to run the ram at ddr333 setting so that it's in sync with the fsb of the 333fsb proc (166x2) and when you push the fsb up to 200 the ram will in turn be running 200ddr or at pc3200 speeds.
  • edited November 2003
    thats the Whole issue I'm trying to explain.

    Let's say I have a FSB of 166, which the Athlon 2700+ uses to get it's core speed of 2.17 Ghz.

    then I over clock the Memory to run at 200 Mhz, leaving the CPU back at 166 Mhz. I think they call that Asyncronus speed or something like that. The computer starts to freeze, stall, reboot. put it back to normal, and everything is fine.

    Ok, so then I increased the FSB of the CPU to 200 MHZ, which should then run in sync with the MEMORY, great... press F10 to save, reboot.... starting WINDOWS! BAM! same thing, stall, freeze, blue screen of death.

    it runs perfectly at 166 Mhz, but once it hits 200 Mhz it freezes, I really don't understand because the Memory is PC 3200 400 Mhz!!

    thats my whole dilema!
  • edited November 2003
    What cas settings are you running the memory at?
  • edited November 2003
    Ohh Sorry about that, the memory is

    Kingston 512 MB PC3200 400 Mhz Cas 3

    it says it supports memory timing 3-3-3, which I have no idea what thats talking about.

    I'm also interested in knowing what Precharge Delay is all about also, which is at 8 currently.

    Basically at 166 Mhz, its at 8-3-3-2.5, which works perfectly

    at 200 Mhz, I can't get it to be stable, I guess Stability is the issue
  • edited November 2003
    Are you lowering the multiplier when you clock up to 200 or are you leaving it at it's stock 13 multiplier? If you are leaving it stock on the multi, then you are probably hitting the absolute limit of your proc, as that would put it running at 2600 MHz, which is very fast for a Tbred on air. Try lowering your multiplier back to 12 or so and see what happens.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Vagrant,

    Drop the multiplier to like 8 first of all when testing memory.
    ALWAYS use sync, aka same speed on memory as the cpu.
    Start with cas 2,5 on the memory and the rest of the timings should be 5,3,2 for a start. Dont be afraid to use memory voltage as it will not hurt the memory and they won't get hot either.

    Edit//Mudd beat me to it. HOLY COW! He can boot to windows at 2.6 on default vcore? Dayum!
  • edited November 2003
    Mud, I did the research on the Overclocking of this particular CPU, 2700+ AMD, so I know that 11x is the highest it will go with a stable 2.2 Ghz, but the CPU is not the issue, it's the MEMORY!

    Argh!
  • edited November 2003
    Set it to 8-3-3-3 and go from there. you'll have to change it from "by spd" to "man" and change it then.
    It sounds like it's kicking out the errors because the ram is running to low a cas on the last setting when it hits 200.
    You might consider getting memtest86 and running it in DOS.
  • edited November 2003
    Mad mat, your telling me that my memory is running to slow on the default speed at 200 Mhz when choosing speed? so I need to set it manual

    Precharge Delay, I still don't know what it does? or why it goes up so high? like what is the difference between 8 and 11?

    go up or down?! I am not sure what you are trying to tell me, please be alittle more specific, so I can write this stuff down in my book!
  • edited November 2003
    I also used this website
    http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/cpu/amd/xp2700/

    for the INFO about the Overclockness of the AMD 2700+

    thats why it says to use a MAX of 11x multiplier when overclocking this particular CPU!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Now, first things first. No NF2 boards to my knowledge have worked with cas 3 memorys set at cas 3. Mine won't even boot even if the spd is cas 3 on my sticks.

    We need to make sure that it's NOT the cpu that's holding you back so until later drop the multi to 8 and set the timings on the memory to 11,3,3 cas 2.5 and run SYNC at 200 fsb. Go up on the chipset voltage a little as well as the memory voltage.
  • edited November 2003
    Ok, well I just have a few questions about the memory issue.

    I really don't feel too comfortable increasing the memory voltage, anything dealing with electricity get's me frighten.
    At 86% of it's capacity, running at cpu 200mhx fsb, it goes to 7-2-2-2.5 automatically. Which means it runs at 166 mhz. I did the sis sandra 2004 benchmark.

    What will increasing the voltage do? And is it really safe to do it? It normally runs at 2.6 v

    I currently increased the cpu once again to 200 mhz fsb, at 11.5x multiplies. Now the pretty one is running at 2.3 ghz

    The memory sadly is still at 166mhz, running stable. I'll try that multiplier thing soon, once I get a few replies about the memory voltage, precharge cas. Alrighty!
  • edited November 2003
    I run my ddr at 2.8v and as far as I've seen most ddr333 and above chips like 2.7-2.8v just fine.
    You'll have to forgive my cas ignorance on the n-force2 as I only had a Shuttle cube with that chipset.
    The ram I had was Corsair Xms Twin-X LLPT and it was rated at 2-2-3-5 so I ran it by spd but I ran it as DDR333 with my barton as it gave me better readings in sandra.
  • edited November 2003
    Ok let's say I run it at 4.9 VOLTS, will that totally fry my MEMORY? it may sound stupid, but I just want to know the kind of warnings I have for this thing. I'm really knew at the whole Overclocking thingie, so I'm not sure what Im doing

    my first PC was a Intel Celeron 300 Mhz
    then I jumped to a 900 Mhz Thunderbird
    then to a 1.67 ghz AMD Athlon XP 2000+
    and now to a 2.17 Athlon 2700+ running at 2.3 Ghz

    So I haven't had much experience, because the motherboard I had were very much inexpensive like the ECS k7s5a.

    I just heard good thing about the Nforce Boards, thats why I'm rockin this one. I just wanted to clear on the memory voltage, sorry about my history!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    I run my memory at over 3 volts 24/7. More if this damn vmod would work as it should.

    It seems that you dont want to try our suggestions so i leave it up to you. Good luck! :)
  • edited November 2003
    I do, I am just scared!!!! things cost money ya know, you said you run it at 3 VOLTS?! what does Voltage have to do with the actual product?


    it increase speed? volatile exploration?
  • edited November 2003
    It allows the ram to work better at speed is all. My ram's rated for ddr466 and I run it at ddr498 by running it at +.30v above the stock 2.5v.
  • edited November 2003
    Ooooooooooooo I found something very, very interesting, I am not 100% it is sure, but I am reading something about Athlon XP and the ASUS a7n8x! read and tell me what you think, its almost at the bottom of the page. !!!!

    http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/nforce2_tweaks_02.htm
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited November 2003
    Cheap DDR RAM requires higher voltages to reach it's rated speed.

    Change the CPU multiplier to 8x
    Change the DDR voltage to 2.8v
    Change the RAM timings to the loosest available (largest numbers)
    Save & restart

    see if it'll boot into windows like that.
  • edited November 2003
    Ok guys, I have officially given up to bring my RAM at 200 Mhz, I see that everything I have done was no good. I should just be happy with what I got, At least I know if I ever get a new CPU with FSB at 200, my RAM will still work and better for the future. I thank you all for sticking with me, and helping me in my dire need.
    Kudos to all!
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