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AMD® Athlon™ II Overclocking Thread

Dead 2GB stick I think.

Currently at 5hrs Prime @ 3.5ghz with just one 2GB ram decided to run 24hrs twice before moving up the the next step.

I will get some screen shots up when its done.

Had the week off and ended up fitting a shower and cutting hedges etc etc
 
Ive just bought the 620 Athlon (Propus) still playing around with it on my setup (AM2+)

Currently running at a 20% overclock on default voltages, will go higher but currently my memory is only rated to 800mhz (currently at 960mhz) OCZ stuff.

Anyone have anything to add... am I safe etc? temperatures are at 35 degrees.

 
Hi iTek,

35°C Processor load sounds good! :D . . . so lets see where you are

AMD® Athlon™ II X4 620

2600MHz (13x200) - Memory 400MHz [1:2] DDR2-800

+20% [Auto] Overclock

3120MHz (13x240) Memory 480MHz [1:2] DDR2-960

Well considering you have DDR2-800 then that's pretty good going! :p . . . If you wanted to make life a bit easier on yourself then it should be possible to lower the Memory-Multiplier in BIOS . . . that will take the strain of your RAM and let you concentrate on the CPU & Ht Ref Overclocking! :) . . . . I'm not sure about your mobo or the BIOS layout but once you lowered the Memory-Multiplier you should see it in CPU [Memory] Tab FSB: DRAM [3:5]

Let me know if that works and if so we can work out your overclock a bit more! :cool:
 
Firstly thanks for getting back to me.

Secondly the motherboard I am using is the ASUS M2A-VM HDMI (matx) spec etc here

This board unofficially supports the AM3 however with the latest BIOS I got it working, there are not many options in the BIOS because I dont think its geared towards overclocking but with your help I intend to look a littler deeper, I dont really understand the whole memory timings etc.

As for load temperatures they have started to rise with the ambient temps going up ever so slightly but I read that these chips can run hotter? 70 degrees c upwards??

Anyway i'll have a look in the BIOS and get back to you, one thing my motherboard does have now since putting this chip in is 1066 memory option in BIOS yet the board officially does not support this? is this down to the chip?

Thanks
 
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I have been in BIOS and here is what is available.

Jumper Free Configuration
Contains my multipier and fsb and voltages.

CPU Configuration
just comes witht he AMD live, tlb fix, virtualization etc.

Chipset ---> DRAM Configuration ---> Timing Mode / Memory Clock Frequency / DRAM Ganged Mode / Bottom of 32 Bit.

I also have option for LDT PCI Bus control, looks like I'm not able to change my DRAM configuration?

They are the options available to me, if I go to the Memory clock frequency I can choose DDR 1066 but I dont have 1066 Memory nor does the board say it supports it, I assume this is because the CPU is AM3.

Gary
 
iTek said:
Chipset ---> DRAM Configuration ---> Timing Mode / Memory Clock Frequency
Click to expand...
Hi Gary,

that "Memory Clock Frequency" you mentioned above sounds like the setting you need to change? . . . I think the default is DDR2-800 [2:1] so it would help if you can lower that to DDR2-666 [3.2] :)

The ASUS M2A-VM HDMI motherboard looks quite nice, bit "dinky" but we will find out soon enough how it copes . . . I suspect it won't enjoy running a huge overclock as the power circuitary doesn't look that strong! . . . we will proceed with caution! :cool:
 
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Brilliant Wayne, i'll change it when I get to the machine, I agree about the motherboard, tbh i'm looking for an alternative (if you know a good matx model) but its just a case of doing things on a budget hence getting the Athlon 620 to use on my old board at the moment until I buy a suitable upgrade (i think i'll need new memory too?)
 
Update, looks like I might have maxed out on this board, went to 245 (1:2) using the OCZ RAM and got blue screened, however have not upped voltages.

Went back to 240 and changed the Frequency to 3:2 and booted to windows but explorer kept crashing.

Whilst in no doubt my CPU will go quicker, its a case of not been able to go any higher because of my motherboard and memory limitations?

CAT - board looks great, do I not need to be aiming for DDR 3 board and upgrading my memory too.
 
Hi Gary,

I just had a quick look at your motherboard specs and I can't see any listed support for the Propus? :) . . . it does however show a few 95w TDP chips so that's cool . . . . I'm not sure how much pure clocking that board will alllow? . . . the power circuitry (PWM's etc) looks like it may really strain feeding an overclocked/overvolted QuadCore . . . . steady as she goes and make sure the area enlarged in the pic below doesn't get too toasty! :cool:

iTek said:

AMD® 690G/SB600
Click to expand...
 
The SB750 southbridge should be better for overclocking than the SB600 and the VRM section on the DFI motherboard is probably better and has VRM cooling too.

Of course having a decent PSU will also help. DDR3 RAM is quite expensive ATM too.
 
Wayne, spot on figured from seeing some of the photo's on here that I needed to pay close attention to that area and yes your right the motherboard does not support Athlon II but I read up that with a BIOS update it will run the Processor but not identify it correctly. Many Thanks

Cat, appreciate the information, I can accept that the DFI will be a better board for overclocking etc. But I don't want to remove my current board which is doing 13 x 240 = 3120Mhz for one that will do 13 x 266 = 3458Mhz.

Stay with me, I would be laying money out for a board and then i'd need DDR2 1066 memory. Paying about £150 for 300 Mhz.

Would I not be better off with a AM3 board and DDR 1600 priced at £187 from ocuk.

Memory
Motherboard

Anyway i'll try to remain bit more quiet because I know this is a thread for overclocking results and not support, but I appreciate all the help I can get.
 
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The thing is that the VRMs on your current motherboard are probably running very hot ATM so you should get at least fan on them.

Also since the motherboard is only rated for 95W processors and has a three phase VRM this will also limit you overclocking ability but I see that you are actually overclocking your RAM too!

Is your case limited to a mATX motherboard BTW??

For a similar price you can get ATX AM3 motherboards which have improved VRM sections with cooling and this should help with overclocking.

Also an aftermarket cooler will help with overclocking too.
 
Yes, I have a Aero M40 case. MATX only.

Cooling is not a problem, air flow is reasonable.

To be honest I don't know what all this VRM etc is, so I will research up, when I began overclocking it was thouroghbreds and bartons, all these new ones have muddled me up, as far as i knew, overclocking was always done by increasing the FSB and or Multiplier.
 
The VRM is the voltage regulation module which is part of the voltage regulation circuit for the CPU and RAM. These have MOSFETs which can get very hot when you start overclocking. Cooling them is a very good idea as Big.Wayne has found out!

This article is worth reading:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/616/1

Most motherboards have a 4+1 phase VRM or a version of it(split phases).
 
iTek, is the CPU voltage still on [Auto] ? . . . if you open CPU-z what figure is dispayed next to Core Voltage? . . . does it move about?, sag under load etc? . . . . you probably need to increase the VCore a little, stick with the lower memory multiplier for the moment! :)

The PWM's Mosfets, Capacitors etc all play a part in converting the current into CPU-Friendly format, the power flows from the 4-pin (8-pin) +12v cable then through the PWM/Mosfets/Capacitors/Phases etc before finally arriving at the processor . . . these components have an "optimal" load & operating temperature and they start to spaz out if pushed way beyond what there designed to run at! :D . . . . Any disruption or fluctuation to the voltage stream can only mean one thing . . . invasion! of the BSOD! :p

What is new to me (having come from LGA775) is the way these chips have Dual-Plane voltage, one rail feeding the processor core and another rail feeding the CPU-NB/IMC/HT-Link . . . that makes it extra tough on the old power circuitry and also makes it doubly "prone" to errors caused by fluctuating voltages! . . . . Basically once you OverClock & OverVolt the CPU/CPU-NB/HT-Link and then load the machine to the max the power circuitry is gonna "explode" unless it is high spec and well cooled! :p

This enlarged ASUS sales blurb illustrates the Dual-Plane thing quite well! nice tasty 8+2 phase there with heatpiped PWM cooling, lush! :cool:

820121.jpg
 
Yes = its still on Auto.

CPU-Z reads 1.408v.

I have a vague understanding now of what you are getting at with the PWMs.

As for lower multiplier, what do you suggest, its still on 13 (default)
 
Put the "memory multiplier" back down so your DDR2 runs in spec and then increase the vCore a little and see if you can raise the CPU clock! :D
 
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