X2 3800 (AM2) Overclocking

Now at 2.66GHz @ 1.58V ... Prime95 stable 14hrs. Is 1.58V far too high???? Temps seem ok at 56C load (on the hot side!). Do you think I should revert back to 2.6GHz @ 1.52V??? Not much of a performance difference I guess.

Anyhow I will test both cores now that I have found this stability point.

Jules

I will post complete (relevant) BIOS settings if any1 wants them when I have sorted out what I am going to run.
 
Looks good! Is there any real world performance gain between say 2.4Ghz which is what I currently have (at default voltage) or what you have which seems to me excessively high temps?

What Mhz is your memory running at now?
 
Ah well ... tried TORTURE testing both cores together and I have had to come down from the highs of 2.66GHz to 2.52GHz. Well at least I am now running a more sensible voltage level at 1.46V. The memory frequency is set to 667 and the CPU settings are 9x280=2520MHz. Even at this level both cores running flat out give out a Temperature reading of 60C!!!! I set 60C as my limit as my old system ran all the time at 60C no problem (AMD 3000 Barton). For general use I would imagine I would rarely be using both cores at max load anyway.

The memory frequency you wanted to know is 840MHz.

Looks like I will need some serious cooling to better the above. I am considering a Freezer Pro 64 which you have but I am unsure how much more it will enable to overclock so thats why I am interested in your (geordiepaul) results for temps and how well you can overclock. Let me know what settings you decide to settle on and I will run your settings on mine and we can compare temps.

There is another cooler called an Ultra-120 which is about 38quid from OC but you need a special adaptor for AM2 which I am unsure whether OC supply. This cooler looks useful. In an ideal world I would like to overclock my system to 2.8GHz (FX-62 equiv.) and be stable on both cores.

There is a package called SP2004 which is a GUI for Prime95 which enables you to easily run Prime95 simultaneously on both cores. Don't have the link handy I am afraid.

Jules
 
Depends on what you mean by "real world". Just running windows and playing games generally then perhaps not. If you are running calculations or are a super serious games player then I would say maybe. Besides 2.4GHz is a good overclock anyway at 20%. I just like tinkering around anyway so thats my excuse though I was a little uneasy running Vcore voltages at over 1.55V.

Jules
 
I am currently running MUCH lower Vcore at 1.42V for 2.52GHz (9x280). Running Prime95 on both cores I now get 56C temp. You should easily do this with your Freezer Pro 64 cooler. (Was this cooler easy to fit?).

Running a lower mult. means running a higher FSB (which should be ok on the m2n32sli board). In turn this can mean you overclocking your memory too much hence the reason I have turned the memory speed down to 667MHz. (This is confusing to me ... it is something to do with the memory divider setting ... mem @800M and 200M FSB will mean the memory runs @800M (4x200). So I assume setting mem to 667 you get FSB*(667/800)*4 for your memory speed so for me .... [667/800=0.84].... so the calc is 280*4*0.84=940MHz (WRONG!!!! should be 840). I'll try and figure it out later.

Anyway when you change the memory frequency from 800-667-533-400 etc you are effectively changing the memory divider so that you can run a higher FSB speed.

I will post full BIOS details once I am stable ... I changed some of the chipset settings as well (from reading other forums).

Jules
 
Last edited:
Okay now I am SUPER STABLE @2.52GHz though I have had to raise Vcore to 1.49V(PC PROBE READING incl. OFFSET) which is ok but temperatures are high 62C under full load (both cores running Prime95). I can just about live with that I think as my old Athlon 3000 runs and has been running @60C+ for 2 1/2 years!!!!! Looks like I am on the lookout for a decent AM2 cooler.

Below are my full BIOS settings for 3800x2(AM2)@2520MHz with stock air cooler. [M2N32SLI mobo with 603 BIOS].

2520MHz ..... 280FSBx9, mem ddr667 (MHz), vcore=1.49, vdimm=2.3V
4-4-4-12-2T, changed HT mult. 3x
Memtest stable 8hrs, Prime95 stable 12hrs-1and2core,
Temps : CPU 38c(idle), 52c(load-1core), 62c(load-2cores), 47c(motherboard)
Mem. speed= 840MHz - Memory Bandwidth Sandra=8900MB/s
PCMark05 score=6301
Under Advanced Voltage Control->
DDR2 Termination Voltage = 0.6x
CPU to NB HT Voltage =1.2V
NB to SB HT Voltage=+1.3
SB Standby Voltage=1.6V
Under Chipset settings ->
SB - NB frequency=200MHz
HT x =3x
NB-SB HT speed=5x
SB-NB HT Speed=5x
Others...
AMD Live,Cool&Quiet, Q fan control ALL DISABLED

All other settings are AUTO or defaults as far as I am aware.


Will be interesting to see what other people get temperature wise compared to me using different coolers. GeodiePaul ... I am sure you can set VCore to 1.45V and easily acheive the above at lower temps. Let me know how you get on. I personally needed lots more VCore (1.425 ----> 1.49) just to get Prime95 stable on both cores.

HTH
Jules
 
mine is prime stabe on both cores at 2.6ghz (3800+ X2 AM2) but i cant get my pc to boot past 2.4ghz have to set it to 2.4 before i reboot the pc but its stable in windows @ 2.6

temps are confuseing as if i turn off Q-fan in AI booster it drops the temp by 10c instantly so i think my cpu is realy running at 52c when prime95 is maxing both cores out not 62 as soon as i stop prime95 it drops 10c strate away

mite be missing an setting like more v in the ht links or something
 
Last edited:
Hi leex,

I would personally turn off (disable) the q-fan control in the BIOS for starters. The reason the system won't boot at 2.6GHz is probably due to something making the PC decide it is unstable. Try increasing Vcore and see if that fixes it but be careful about the temps. It is normal for the temps to appear to drop straight away by around 10C or so as the reading is a time-averaged one ie reading is averaged every couple of seconds or so, so when the temp goes from 62-52Csay does not necessarily mean that it dropped by 10C in that split-second!!!

There are other settings you can play around with but I am unsure which one is best for your situation. My only suggestion would be is to take a look at my detailed BIOS settings above and try some of them.

I would increase the memory to its' specified maximum to see if the system boots as a first thing to try. a lot of boot problems occur with this board with memory settings as this board is very very fussy on memory. Alternatively you could test memory stability more or less directly with Prime95 by selecting Torture Test with LARGE FFTS. If this fails in 1-2hrs then looks like it is your memory that is slightly unstable.

Anyhow keep us upto date with your progress. Try the above and if it does not work then we will try and sort it out.

HTH
Jules
 
if i turn on or off Q-fan it changes the temp by 10c with in 1-3 secs

Max CPU OC is 2.61ghz i not tryed higher yet but i think it go that far

ram is set to 533 so that runs at 660mhz about ram oc not the boot problem ram v has been tested at 2.2 still beep error on start up ram is Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-4-4-4-12(MY-108-CS) stuff

settping up the Vcore up to 1.475 as an test the pc will boot at 2.49ghz (249mhz) after that i have to use more vcore to make it boot but its 2xprime stable @2.6ghz once i set the cpu speed in windows

one thing i seen that should not happen is when i run this program called boinc it has an built in benchmark and it goes from 3000 to 2500 on one test and 1500 to 2000 on the first test (higher number is better) i rerun the tests as i mite of been doing things at the time i may need to put more Volts into me ht bus or other things but do not know there default settings (not like overclocking an 939 chip)
 
Have you turned off Cool'n'Quiet??? Make sure it is turned off

Ermmm.. memory is fine Corsair is the best for M2N32SLI.

There is an NVidia overclocking guide for the 590 chipset (they use a Foxconn mobo) floating around. Do a search ... its a pdf file.

google : nvidia nforce 590 overclocking filetype:pdf

will probably find it. In that guide they boost up the HT/northbridge/southbridge voltages to around 1.4V. Some more info in that guide on overclocking the GPUs as well.

If I find the link I'll post it here.

HTH
Jules
 
I would try booting at the following settings....

(1)DDR2 Termination Voltage = 0.6x
(2)CPU to NB HT Voltage =1.2V
(3)NB to SB HT Voltage=+1.3
(4)SB Standby Voltage=1.6V

I think (not tried myself) that you can change (2)&(3) to 1.4V may give more stability though keep an eye on your motherboard temps. Should be ok as the m2n32sli has massive heatpipes and cooling heatsinks.

I would also double check that your memory is Prime95 stable 2cores with large FFTs. Run for 2-4hrs. If you get an error then obviously will be a memory stability issue.

Jules
 
i try them settings (i did not want to mess with them settings before as i had no base on what to do with them)

i find that PDF file as well thanks

its primes stable @ 2.6ghz (10x260) @ 1.4v just the booting i got an problem with i have to set it to 2.4ghz(10x240) to boot

temps are not an problem as i run none muti threaded games so thay never get to 60c (thinking about putting my artic cooling master 64pro on as i found the cpu holding bracket can be still be used)

Artic cooling master pro better then an Thermaltake MINI typhoon ? the artic one seems bigger
 
Last edited:
i got cheap no scews case that i be installing this water kit into later on today just asking questones (first time with water cooling tho)

got an water cooling kit now the coolermaster AQUAGATE and it comes with the AquaTrident CPU Water Block in the box that looks good but does not have the suported brackets to use on an AM2

so i got an TK water block

the cool master one has the 3 pipe system that probly works better hen the TK one but it is all copper and its unknow if the inside of the copper block has got thins like the coolmaster one (was going to see if i can work around the problem by useing bits of the TK water block ti fit the coomaster one)
 
Joining the big boys then Leex??? Water cooling ... looking like you're really going for it. I personally am not really prepared to go "water" cooling mainly due to the expense and mixing water and electricity generally ain't good. My eyes are on a Titan Amanda at the moment due for release by oc soon. Its a mix of air cooling and peltier and comes in at a pricey 66quid or so.

Only thing I know about water cooling is that you need to use deionised water and that you should rig the system up outside the case first and leak test.

Good luck with the H2O.

Jules
 
Oh yes and another thing .... you may find it hard to get the Vcore volts over 1.6V (or something like that) as ASUS have limited it in the BIOS. You may need a volt mod or something like it to go over 1.6V for some EXTREME overclocks.

I am still ambling along at 2.52GHz. My aim is 2.8GHz which is FX-62 speeds.

By the way what is the stepping of your CPU??? Its the 2nd line of the 3 line code on the cpu lid. My codes are

ADA3800IAA5CU
LDB4F 0626XPdw
 
officialy starting to get buged now cant seem to find an heat block for AM2 t
that uses 6.5mm pipe (1/4")

seems that the TK one does not suport AM2 heh

got some one who can cut metal to spec (engineering*machines) so he should be able to make one for me
 
As I say I know little about h20!!! ..... Could try and use a socket 939 block and use some sort of AM2 clip. (See adaptor mentioned in my AM2 Cooler thread (Frosty) or could be that you could reuse the original AM2 Cooler clip that came with your cpu whilst using a spacer of some sort like some coins alluding to a very crude example!!!!

At the end of the day if you have a m8 who is handy with mm metalwork then try a diy job. At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with using suitable cable ties!! or for that matter using a bit of elbow grease and try a little filing!!!

I myself am contemplating a Dremmel kit so I can drill some 2p size screw holes in my mobo back plate so that I can easily remove/reinstall this Titan Cooler when I get it!!!

Ask your mate will a Dremmel kit drill me some nice tidy 2p size holes in 1-2mm steel???

Jules
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom