Best OCing CPU & Memory

Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
edited February 2004 in Hardware
Ok, my brother is buying my gimp GeIL and 2400+. I need to replace them ASAP so he can take them. I know everyone will say "2500+, mobile 2400+, Thortons.. etc".. But I need unlocked and the best for my money.

This can't be a hit-or-miss type thing..I need _the_ stuff. My NF7-S can hit 240FSB, I'd like to use that 24/7.

For memory I'm looking at 2x Mushkin Lvl II PC3500 256MB for $185. Will these hit 240FSB? If not, what will? Of course, I want the tightest timings. Also, I don't want to spend more than the Mushkin.

For the CPU I'm really lost. Barton 2500+s are nice and cheap.. but most are locked now. That won't work for me and 240FSB. I also want to hit at least 2300MHz without high voltage ( < 1.8v ). Is there anywhere to get good OCing 2500+s unlocked (100% absolute)? Local stores suck around here.. 2500+s are ~$150 :rolleyes: Anyone selling one or know of someone? My max here is no more than $100.

I want to stress, I can't do a hit-or-miss! I hate to sound picky, but I'm not rich and this will clear me out. My current 2400+ can hit about 2800+, so I really want to make it worth the extra $50 for a new CPU.

TIA :)
-PaRK
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Comments

  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited February 2004
    Well you would want some BH-5s I would think. I dont know what manufacture has them and all so you might want to buy used.

    And you are not going to hit 240FSB on less than 1.8V. Mack will prolly tell you it will need mods and extra voltage on the RAM, and CPU.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited February 2004
    Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe Park has done both the L12 Mod and the chipset voltage mod.

    And here are some bh5 sticks people have for sale:
    1 2
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited February 2004
    Hmm well then I suggest if you dont want a hit and miss, buy used.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Al_Capown wrote:
    Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe Park has done both the L12 Mod and the chipset voltage mod.
    Yup :) 240 FSB tried and true :bigggrin: 12 hr Prime95 + F@H running SSE in backgroud whole time
    mmonnin wrote:
    Hmm well then I suggest if you dont want a hit and miss, buy used.

    I thought maybe that would have to be done.. and I'm willing if anyone has the stuff.
    <hr>
    I was looking at the Mushkin because any review I've seen (that bothers to look) of the high quality chips, are BH-5s. This place got 240 FSB with a 512MB stick @ 2.8v & 2.5 CAS. He hit 230 FSB @ CAS 2. These are good clocks.. but they're reviews. Not always the best reflection of real-world products. Anyone have BH-5 Mushkin Lvl II PC3500?

    I'm looking at the Mobile 2400+ Barton. Good reviews @ Newegg for it. I just don't know.. it's all so scary! :eek3:;D
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Al_Capown wrote:
    And here are some bh5 sticks people have for sale:
    1 2

    #1 is sold
    #2 is 1x 512MB. I would like 2x 256MB for OCing reasons.

    Thanks for looking anyway Al :) Much appreciated
  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited February 2004
    Keep looking at [H] and AMDMB. There are usually a few ppl selling BH5s.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Mobile 2400+ at newegg $79 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-400&catalog=343&depa=1
    I have mine at 2300 with only 1.75v. They are unlocked and will work with the NF7-S. As far as memory I wouldnt be the one to ask. I use Kreton PC3200 Cas 2.5
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Thanks for sharing the nice OC FatCat :) I may very well get it, because it's cheap and good results.

    As for memory, if I can't get BH-5s, I'm thinking about Corsair PC-4000. They'll reach 240 FSB. Newegg link. $185

    Good results here --> PC-4000 Round-Up I really like the 0 errors in MemTest86 @ 250MHz :clap:
    Corsair

    Out of the six modules tested we found that the Corsair XMS 4000 memory line was the most stable of the bunch. It had no errors from memTEST86 and RSTpro testing when ran at default/aggressive timings at DDR500 and even at high speeds at loose timings! No other memory series we tested can boast these results. As far as overclocking is concerned, the Corsair XMS 4000 has ample head room, which allowed us to reach speeds above 520MHz on our module even when run at tighter CL2.5 timings. The fact that Corsair took a conservative approach on setting the timings even though the memory runs fine at CL2.5 actually plays in favor of the end user. Corsair makes it simple as there is only one DDR500 level of performance to pick from (XMS and PRO series are both 3-8-4-4). The Corsair modules are able to get an extra boost of performance that is available thanks to the Hynix IC’s and the great R&D work that Corsair put into the actual PCB design. With a solid price point, no errors on three of our four testing stages, and good performance it is our belief that the Corsair XMS 4000 series is the #1 memory pick on the short list of DDR500 memory modules.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Park,

    As for BH5 on NF7, it will be a hit and miss thing. It's a 50% chance that your board won't like BH5. I have 3 pairs of Level 2 Mushkin 3500 right here and my NF7 won't play ball at all with them. I have a new board coming (DFI Lanparty Rev. B) which looks like a NF7 killer and my best bet would me to get either a DFI Lanparty or a DFI Infinity (same board but the Lanparty has more stash) coupled with Corsair LL 3200 or 3500. The Corsair LL will be CH5 but it clocks like hell.

    As you all know, BH5 is discontinued but there is still BH6 left and Mushkin and OCZ do sell them as limited editions pairs. Stay away from high latency memory such as PC4000 on ANY Amd rig as that won't help at all.

    http://www.mushkin.com/epages/Mushkin.storefront/40277236025ef4f8273fc0a80102061f/Product/View/991155

    You NEED a voltmod and a high 3.3 volt line on the NF7 though. About 3.2 vddr and at least 3.55 on the 3.3 line will get you there and it will be safe for 24/7 usage.

    The good thing about the DFI is that it already have 3.3 vddr and it also takes it's voltage from the 5V line which is a lot easier and safer to keep up.

    Any local stores that sells HyperX ram?
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    You NEED a voltmod and a high 3.3 volt line on the NF7 though. About 3.2 vddr and at least 3.55 on the 3.3 line will get you there and it will be safe for 24/7 usage.

    The good thing about the DFI is that it already have 3.3 vddr and it also takes it's voltage from the 5V line which is a lot easier and safer to keep up.

    Any local stores that sells HyperX ram?
    No, no local stores here are good for anything. I do have 2 friends with 2x 256MB Hyper-X PC3500 though. One set from summer and one from this December. They're worth a shot. Is there anyway to remove the heatspreaders to and put them back on? If not, I'll just OC test 'em.

    I'll have to check my +3.3v line when I get home from school.

    Thanks for the help Mack.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Fire up the psu outside the rig and measure from the atx connector. The best would be if you could use a dummyload with a pelt or 2 but take some readings from software as on the NF7, it's pretty close to the real thing.

    Check what timings those 3500 are rated at, the one from December is 99% CH5 but the one from last summer might be a BH5.

    Perhaps a shot at ebay for BH5? Personally, i dislike used or refurbished memory but that's me. Look for Corsair XMS PC3200LL rev. 1.1

    Here's some DFI action from a fellow swede:
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited February 2004
    Park_7677 wrote:
    I also want to hit at least 2300MHz without high voltage ( < 1.8v ).

    edit: oops forgot to write.

    the mobile 2400+'s will definitly get 2300mhz at 1.8 or less.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    OK, I just got back from my friend's house who owns the Hyper-X from Summer. The are WinBond, but I can't see what they're rated with the heatspreader on. I've got them in my box now, I'll start testing them out to see what they can do.

    Also, my +3.3 line measures 3.31 V in MBM5, so I doubt that'll work :(

    If an unlocked Mobile 2400+ is a guaranty, I'll try to order tomorrow or the next day. If not, I'll work something out with Mackanz (<--Thanks ;))
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    3.3 is fine and dandy for onboard voltages. But as soon as you want more than 3 volts vddr on the NF7, you also need more 3.3V. As a general thumb of rule, add .3V on top of the vdimm of your choice.

    Test each stick in memtest. Start with 200 fsb at 11,2,2,2 timings. Use all the voltages you can get for the memory. If it passes, go up to 210 and do the same.
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited February 2004
    Park_7677 wrote:
    OK, I just got back from my friend's house who owns the Hyper-X from Summer. The are WinBond, but I can't see what they're rated with the heatspreader on. I've got them in my box now, I'll start testing them out to see what they can do.

    Also, my +3.3 line measures 3.31 V in MBM5, so I doubt that'll work :(

    If an unlocked Mobile 2400+ is a guaranty, I'll try to order tomorrow or the next day. If not, I'll work something out with Mackanz (<--Thanks ;))

    Well don't take my word for it, but everyone who has had one here has gotten 2300 (from what I have seen) and I got mine up to 2350 stable (didn't try to push it more, I bet it would do 2400 fine). From what I have seen everywhere else, everyone pretty much gets 2300 minimum. Might wanna ask around a little more though, just to make sure.
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited February 2004
    well i can tell you this, my PC4000 geil was cheap as **** and easily does the specified timings at 250fsb. only problem i can find with it is that it doesn't do much better timings period, but it seems to run fine @ 200 2-3-3-6
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    The Hyper-X does 5 passes of Memtest86 with:

    225.5 FSB 2/3/3/11 @ 2.9v (2.98 over-volt) in DualDDR

    I wanted more, and want more. Any suggestions? What I got is not bad, but this is my update time, and I want the best for my $$$ (as there is little of :-/)

    Thanks guys, I think the CPU is pretty much a sure thing :)
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Heh.. more posts by me!

    I found 2x 256MB Mushkin Lvl2 PC3200 @ AMDMB. I'm trying to get more information via PM from the seller, but what do you guys think? Yes? No? He says 230MHz 2/2/2/11 @ 3V in DC.

    If possible, I want to do a VDIMM mod to get ~3.2V.. which can be sorted out later. Hopefully that will get them to my gold 240FSB with low timings :)
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Park, those Hyper's are CH5 then. Not a bad thing but the Level 2's are better. You can easily sell the Level 2's if they don't work on your board, se it as an investment.

    There are 2 way to do the vdimm mod, and none are easy to do i'm afraid.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    I ordered the Mobile 2400+ last night. CPU is a done deal :)

    I also told the guy I would buy his Mushkin, so it's just a matter of getting funds into a PayPal account before they're shipped.

    Mack, have any links for the VDimm mod? I might as well take a look at it/them if possible. Don't bother right now if it's a big deal though. Thanks for all your help here :)
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    http://www.3dmaxx.net/articles/nf7vdimm/

    That's an excellent guide by Jason.
    This mod requiers the removal of a fixed resistor on the board, but the solder point is like 20 times bigger than if you don't remove it. I tried without removing the resistor once, it looked like Tjernobyl afterwards and i had a dead board. Just use a tweezer and twist/pull that resistor off the board.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    Thanks Mackanz. That looks pretty easy to compared to other mods I've seen for other boards. I'll probably do it :) Thanks again!
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited February 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    http://www.3dmaxx.net/articles/nf7vdimm/

    That's an excellent guide by Jason.
    This mod requiers the removal of a fixed resistor on the board, but the solder point is like 20 times bigger than if you don't remove it. I tried without removing the resistor once, it looked like Tjernobyl afterwards and i had a dead board. Just use a tweezer and twist/pull that resistor off the board.

    Got anything for an ASUS P4C800-E DLX ??? :)

    My vcore/vdimm are WEAK. =(
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    For the VDDR:
    Find the LM358 chip. It should be between the DIMM slots and the southbridge.
    Pin 6 on the chip to the top pin on the 50K VR and a ground to the middle pin should do it. This is from a google search but i know several who have done it. SMD grabbers work as well as there is space enough. The VDIMM reading point is delicate though. DO NOT slip when you read the voltage.

    Picture courtesy of Raptor.
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    http://www.3dmaxx.net/articles/nf7vdimm/ wrote:
    What you'll need to finish this mod is listed below:

    15w fine tip soldering iron
    100-250ohm VR
    2 strands of ata100 cable
    Silver-bearing .22 dia. Solder
    Tweezers
    Well this sucks. No one around here as a 100-250 ohm VR. Does anyone know where to get one? Or could buy one and mail me it?
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited February 2004
    Park_7677 wrote:
    Well this sucks. No one around here as a 100-250 ohm VR. Does anyone know where to get one? Or could buy one and mail me it?

    You could always find out what resistance you need and get a standard Resistor (or chain smaller ones to equal what you need).
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    The Shack?
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited February 2004
    Mackanz wrote:
    The Shack?

    Radio Shaq? I can't believe Shaq did a commercial for Radio Shack ....

    Also you can try http://www.bgmicro.com/index.asp

    http://www.bgmicro.com/prodinfo.asp?sid=0695868055555556661314118&prodid=RES1354&page=23&cri=RES&stype=2&time_out=18:38

    They have a 100, 200 and 500
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    He did? ROFL
  • Park_7677Park_7677 Missouri Member
    edited February 2004
    RadioShack has 1K as the smallest amount. I was mad.. there are 4 around me :-/

    I'll take a look at that link, thanks :)
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