Oh my new PC bios is too different? I don't get it?

keogh · 7 Apr 2007 at 00:32

Howdy,

Ok I had a Asus A8N-Sli on my last rig with my AMD X2 4400+ & DDR PC3200, and in there the overclocking settings where pretty simple, you had your:

CPU Frequency: 200mhz to 400mhz
Multiplier: x4 to x20
DDR Voltage: 2.60v to 3.00v
CPU Voltage: 0.800v to 1.650v
Max Memclock: DDR200 to DDR600
Hyper Transport Frequency: 1x to 5x
Memory Timings: (tras, cas etc etc)

This all made perfect sense to me, by my new BIOS in my Asus p5n-E SLi with my new E6600 & DDR2 PC6400 is confusing the hell out of me and I despretely want to clock my E6600, but and scared to death to touch anything cos I don't fully get it... so can you help me out. I've changed my memory timings, that actually was better laid out than my old BIOS and I have that to 4-4-4-12 2T @ 400mhz... so I am happy with that. The other options I think I need to tinkle with are:

Vcore Voltage: I know this one
Memory Voltage: I know this one
NB Core Voltage: 1.208v to 1.748v????
FSB Memory Clock Mode: Auto, Linked or Unlinked????
FSB Memory Ratio: Auto, 1:1, 5:4, 3:2, Sync Mode????
FSB (QDR) Mhz: 533mhz to 3000mhz???? (this I assume is the same as CPU Frequency above, but the value are much higher... not getting that? and whats QDR????
Mem (DDR) Mhz: Unlinked, Linked???
CPU Multiplier: I know this one
LDT Frequency: Now this is the Hyper Threading right? But on my old system I could see HT Link in CPU-Z which told me what it was running at... I can;t see anywhere where I can see the speed that is at? I dont want to go over the top with that?

I think thats all the info, if you could give me as much info as poss I would appreciated it!

Thanks!

Steve M

w3bbo · 7 Apr 2007 at 08:55

NB Core Voltage: 1.208v to 1.748v????

This is your Northbridge voltage inturn controls your memory-cpu link

FSB Memory Clock Mode: Put this to unlinked and set it to your memory specification. - Linked will be set to your FSB, Auto will overclock it in line with your CPU.

FSB Memory Ratio: These are your dividers

FSB (QDR) Mhz: 533mhz to 3000mhz???? (this I assume is the same as CPU Frequency above, but the value are much higher... not getting that? and whats QDR????

QDR= Quad data rate - divide that number by 4 and it will make sense.

Mem (DDR) Mhz: Unlinked to run at what value YOU set - linked to run inline with FSB

LDT Frequency: Leave at 5x

keogh · 7 Apr 2007 at 09:29

So when uping the FSB and it gets instable, as usual I would go in to the BIOS and up the Vcore a notch... well do I do the same with te NB voltage?

So for example:

1. Up FSB = Instable
2. Up Vcore = Still Instable
3. Up NB Voltage = ...

Or should I up the NB to a certain voltage from the start?

And I maybe stupid, but I know that the Memory Ratio is the dividers, but I don;t understand how the ration values (1:1, 5:3 etc) work? When I change my ratios on my last rig it was changing from PC400/PC333 etc?

w3bbo · 7 Apr 2007 at 09:39

Upping the vcore should be fine until you get into high FSB's say 400mhz(1600QDR)+. Leave the NB at AUTO for now.

The memory ratios work the same as your old system, they will divide the memory into a lower frequency. If you run your memory unlicked then you will have no need for the dividers. You should always run unlinked until you can ascertain the max cpu speed - golden rul of overclocking is to only overclock one thing at a time so you know what the problem is when instability arises.

keogh · 7 Apr 2007 at 10:05

Ok w3bbo that makes sense.

Setting it to unlinked, this keeps uping the CPU speed, but it also keeps the DDR speed to a max of 800mhz.... which will obviously be stable cos its the stock speed.

So I keep uping the FSB to get the best out my CPU, pnce I have peaked there, I can start fiddling with ratios to get the best from my DDR?

I just dont fully understand the ratios, as they are different to my old rig. As I say, but old rig NEVER mentioned 1:1, 5:3 etc, it was just 400mhz/333mhz etc... so I don't really know what the 1:1, 5:3 mean

For the E6600, shall I start the vcore at 1.30v? Obviously cos its on auto I can't see what the mobo sets it at by default, but Core Temp and CPU-Z seem to be around 1.30v?

Thanks so far w3bbo, you've been a help... once I understand it all pretty well I'll start the clock, don;t want to screw anything up. And having a e6600 at stock is annoying me, cos I know its got so much in it!

Thanks!