Cant get past 168 FSB

Thanks for the idea about using the insert key...much easier. This has however lead me to some strange discoveries. I'm not exactly sure what it bypasses when you hit the INS key, but I know it resorts back to the factory voltages. Whatever I set the FSB at it will boot at most of the time when im holding INS, but the multiplyer sometimes boots at what I set it at, or the factory 13.

To make a long story short, I was able to get it to boot at 200X10 and run stable, but only when I hold the INS key. Its also hit or miss, because sometimes it boots at 200X13 and crashes because the voltage is 1.65(wont keep my 1.80v when I use INS), then other times it boots at 10X100. So I'm beginning to think my board might be the problem.

BTW I ran Prime95 and memtest all night at 13X168 with 0 errors @43C max. if I go 13X169 = wont boot. 8X169 = wont boot.

Anyone ever heard of a problem like this?

Im kinda in the same boat as you. Mine wont POST at anything above 180 FSB. Running at 180 x 12.5 currently. Won't let me boot with mult above 12.5 also no matter what the FSB is at. Mem timings at 2-2-2-6 with 1.8 vcore and 2.77 vdimm. Think i've hit my peak without adding better NB cooling and heatsinks on the capacitors?

Well, that's three of us in the boat. 1 stuck at 168 and 2 of us stuck at 180. The only common connection between the three of us is mobo, ram, and proc. Doesn't seem like the proc would be the issue, so it's mobo or ram. We all have Kingston ram too, 2 with PC3000 and I have PC3500. So wierd. I don't know know if it's the mobo or just the mobo/ram combo. But then I see other people doing MUCH better with their Kingston so that CAN'T be it. Plus, I've added active cooling to the NB and passive to the SB and I still can't above 180, not even 1mhz. This is so wierd....

Sh1t.

I have this thread @ amdmb.com going, looks like 2 more people with Kingston are stuck at ~180-185mhz. I think we're looking at a ram/mobo incompatibility now. I just don't know.

One guy tried one stick of PC3500 in dimm 2 and could get up above 200. I'm gonna try that now, let you guys know in a bit (I think this would rule out the boards being defective cause then it would seem more like a ram/mobo incompatibility).

Hmm, looks like the 3 of you all have 2x512 Mb. Probably a coincidence but another thing to look at.

Oh and as an fyi I am using the 3305 BIOS.

MONSTER UPDATE

Ok guys, someone on aoaforums.com suggested running the mem at like %66 of the FSB, then ramping up the FSB. Well I did that, and bam, hit 220mhz on FSB like nothing (prolly could'a gone higher, but I didn't bother cause nobody would be running their rig in this fashion anyway).

That tells me just about for sure that it's a Kingston/8RDA+ incompatibility issue because:

A) The mobo can reach 200mhz+ on the FSB easily, so that rules out we have bum mobos.

B) The NB/Mosfets/etc... having too much heat or whatnot cause they wouldn't let the FSB get that high if that was the case.

So in my eyes now, it looks like the Kingston HyperX is no good for the 8RDA+ for anything above ~180mhz or so.

Now, FlapJack brought up another issue because he's running 256mb sticks ok in his rig. Perhaps it's just the 512mb sticks that are not compatible? Seems like alot of other people are doing ok with 256mb sticks.

So I'm looking at it this way now:

I'm expecting my RMA Kingston ram to perform about the same as the ram I have now. If that becomes the case, then we're left with one of three options:

1) Stay at 180mhz (not me, thanks :mad: )
2) Go for 256mb sticks of Kingston (not me either cause I want a gig damnit :mad: )
3) Get different 512mb sticks that are going higher. Does anybody know of any setups with 2x512mb sticks that are going higher than 180mhz (at least 200mhz) and if so, what brand?

Ok guys, I've posted this thread at the amdforums.com on the Epox board because they have an official rep there. I'm also going to email them the same info and see what they say (Cross's fingers, hopes they'll at least acknowledge a problem).

Ok, I have some new insight. After reading and posting on this thread I went back and checked over my setup and 'lo and behold I was NOT running in dual channel mode. In my initial testing I was able to run 9x220 with no errors in this mode. I just switched to dual channel and am topping out at 180-185 fsb with an 8 mult. I am still testing it to see what performance I can still get but it does appear the fsb is topped at the 180 mark like everyone else.

Quote:

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Originally posted by FlapJacks
Ok, I have some new insight. After reading and posting on this thread I went back and checked over my setup and 'lo and behold I was NOT running in dual channel mode. In my initial testing I was able to run 9x220 with no errors in this mode. I just switched to dual channel and am topping out at 180-185 fsb with an 8 mult. I am still testing it to see what performance I can still get but it does appear the fsb is topped at the 180 mark like everyone else.

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Well sorry to hear that Flap. Good for us cause it's more ammunition now, but that does suck for you :(


Here's a copy of the email I sent to Epox usa, hopefully they'll have some insight. If I get a "Get different ram" or "180 is already higher than it's supposed to be" or "Nothings wrong", I'm gonna be so pissed man...

Quote:

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Myself and quite a few others at amdforums.com, sharkyforums.com, and aoaforums.com, are having problems specifically with Kingston HyperX PC3XXX 512mb modules (the 256mb modules seem unaffected). The 512mb PC3XXX (I have PC3500, for example) seems to be incompatible with the 8RDA+ at any FSB higher than 180-185mhz with the memory at 100%. This is regardless of timings, Vdimm, Multiplier on the processor, Vcore, etc... No matter what I try, I cannot get above 180mhz, not even 181mhz. Everyone else with the 512mb Kingston HyperX seems to be in the same boat. To test my board and processor, I lowered the multiplier very low to 8 to make sure that wasn't the issue. I then set the ram to 66% of the FSB to make sure I didn't have a faulty motherboard. With these settings, I was able to boot up Windows XP no problems at 220mhz+ on the FSB. Before, anything higher than 180mhz resulted in BSOD's, crashes, BIOS freezing and having to clear CMOS with the jumper (the INSERT + DEL key would not even work). Because the board could do 220mhz FSB easily with the memory at 66%, that seems to suggest that board itself is ok and heat on the Northbridge is not an issue. The basically leaves compatibility with the ram. Can you PLEASE check into this for us, we would all be ETERNALLY GRATEFUL as we all love the 8RDA+, it's just ashame that the ram is not running properly (As a note, myself I have tried 4 different sticks of Kingston HyperX PC3500 512mb to no avail. I placed them in all possible slots, in all possible configurations, and tested each stick individually, so that would seem to suggest that the ram is ok and not faulty).

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Cool deal guys. Make sure to keep us informed if you get any new info on it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by f4t4bb0t
Cool deal guys. Make sure to keep us informed if you get any new info on it.

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Definetly will, although I might add, the more people who email, the better reception we'll get on the problem. If only one person does, who's to say they'll even bother.

So if you guys wanna email them about it too, that would probably help alot in terms of response time and effort:

http://web.epox.com/html/motherboard-contact.asp?lang=1

I've also gone ahead and emailed Kingston too to see what they say (I'm sure they'll just say it's the mobo and not our problem, but who knows):

http://www.kingston.com/support/newtechsupportform.asp

Quote:

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I have two sticks of 512mb Kingston HyperX PC3500 (the newer Low Latency modules) and a Rev. 1.1 Epox 8RDA+ with bios 3402. The memory is rated to 216mhz (434mhz DDR), but the highest I can get the memory to run is 180mhz (360mhz DDR). This is with the FSB and memory synched. I've tried running the memory at 50% just to make sure the motherboard would run 216mhz FSB and it went as high as 230mhz! I've spent a great deal testing and narrowed it down to the ram. No matter what timings, dimm slot configuration, 1 or 2 sticks, Vdimm voltage, CPU Multiplier, Vcore, any adjustment what so ever, the absolut highest it will go is 180mhz. Alot of other people on sharkyforums.com, amdforums.com, and aoaforums.com are having similar issues. Could you please take a look at a possible incompatibility issue with this ram and the Epox 8RDA+? Most people, including myself, are having issues with the 512mb sticks in PC3500 and PC3200 flavor (the 256mb sticks seem to run fine, well over 200mhz).

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UPDATE:

Well Epox replied, pretty fast I'll give them that, but it's all stuff we've already tried. He says the board is rated to pc3200 which is 200mhz, but I'm saying we can't even get past ~180 with this, so that's what I'm emailing back.

Quote:

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Dear Jason, We don't recommend overclocking, and the board has been tested and approve for
supported up to PC3200 DDR memory module only, please check our website for the
board SPEC. However if you are having problem try the below tips out (Run the
memory at 3200), it may or may not resolve your issue, but, we recommend that
you give it a shot.
1) Power off
2) Press and hold the INSERT key while applying power.
3) If the screen is shown release the INSERT key and enter the CMOS
4) Go into the bios and change the memory frequency from "AUTO" to "BY
SPD" or "100%".
5) Retest.
Also try the following additional tips if PC3200 memory is not working.
Memory Frequency = 100%
Memory Timing = Expert
T(RAS) = 7
T(RCD) = 3
T(RP) = 3
CAS Latency = 2.5
Adjust the memory frequency above until you reach the resulting frequency
of 200MHz (for PC3200).

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My reply:

Quote:

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Thank you for your fast response. I've tried your suggestions and unfortuneatly, they didn't work. As you've said, the board is rated to 200mhz or PC3200, per the specifications. I would be satisfied IF we/myself could get to 200mhz, however we can only get to ~180mhz, which is SUB PC3200 speeds. So this is not overclocking the ram then. Being at 180mhz would actually be underclocking the ram and therefore things are not right. People using ram rated at PC3200 or better (including myself) are unable to to get to at least the rated speed for the ram, which is 200mhz. 180mhz < 200mhz. See what I mean? So again, there has to be an incompatibility issue with this ram and the 8RDA+. Please let me know what you think.

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Ok, my numbers now are 180 x 12.5 (2250 MHz) in dual channel. Not as good as my 200 x 11.5 and I still have to compare my performance marks between the two setups.

You are doing a great job of keeping this topic rolling Janko10. :)

I cannot get to the Epox site at the moment, can you post the e-mail address? I want to ask them about the single channel vs. dual channel as this seems to be the major issue.