Cant get past 168 FSB

[Tlenzi]

I first wanted to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge on this forum, which ultimatly helped me decide on the following system after many late nights of reading.

Epox 8RDA+ A1
XP 2100+
Kingston Hyper X 2x512mb PC3000

The problem I am having is that I can't push the memory past 168FSB. If I run out of sync, the processor has no problem at 200 FSB, so long as the memory doesn't go above 168. I have tryed every concevable combination of voltage and timing, but nothing will work.

Since I am fairly new to all of this I just wanted to know if everyone felt my memory was the problem, or perhaps I have a bad board? Should I RMA back to newegg, or exchange for PC3500 just to be safe?

BTW, it flashes C1 and beeps, and I get no screen.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Todd

[drs1771]

Originally posted by Tlenzi
I first wanted to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge on this forum, which ultimatly helped me decide on the following system after many late nights of reading.

Epox 8RDA+ A1
XP 2100+
Kingston Hyper X 2x512mb PC3000

The problem I am having is that I can't push the memory past 168FSB. If I run out of sync, the processor has no problem at 200 FSB, so long as the memory doesn't go above 168. I have tryed every concevable combination of voltage and timing, but nothing will work.

Since I am fairly new to all of this I just wanted to know if everyone felt my memory was the problem, or perhaps I have a bad board? Should I RMA back to newegg, or exchange for PC3500 just to be safe?

BTW, it flashes C1 and beeps, and I get no screen.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Todd

You might try running one stick of ram in slot 1, and bagging the dual channel thing.

[janko10]

What bios are you using? Did you flash to the 3402? I'm getting MUCH better stability after flashing.

Same setup as you (cept I have the Kingston PC3500). Before I couldn't get past 14x166. Now I'm at 12.5x180 w/ no problems so far. Also, did you add some active cooling the northbridge? I put a Vantec Iceberq on there and moved the stock NB heatsink to the SB.

[Tlenzi]

Thanks for the replies guys. I just updated my bios, and unfortunatly that didn't solve it. I also tried one stick, then switched to the other stick which didn't help either, so I put both back in.
I'm guessing that its not likely that both sticks wouldn't clock to their rated speeds, so maybe its my board?

[chasiubao]

What powersupply do you have? I had a similar problem before, I couldn't get my fsb pass 150 before. After I upgraded my powersupply, i got it up to 175.

[BlueOval]

You say you've tried voltage and timing settings.. what multiplier are you trying all this at? I have the same setup as you (1/2 the RAM) with the original BIOS and was able to hit 200 FSB with no increase in Vdimm, however my mult was set at 8.

If you were trying to up the FSB at the stock mult setting that may be yer prob. I set my mem timings to their most aggressive (6-2-2-2) and set the mult at 8 and started increasing FSB 1 step at a time, running MemTest and Prime95 benchmark after each increase. If it POSTed into Windows and passed the tests only then would I try increasing the FSB again. If it fails to hit a certain FSB, then try increasing the Vdimm at that point - up to whatever level you feel comfortable running your Vdimm at to attain whatever FSB.

Once you get yer highest FSB in this manner, then go to work increasing the mult step by step - testing inbetween and raising Vcore if necessary.

[janko10]

Is this the memtest you are talking about?
http://hcidesign.com/memtest/

Or memtest86?
http://www.memtest86.com/

I only ask cause memtest86 only runs from a floppy before the system boots up but it looks like memtest runs from within windows. If you used memtest, did you run it concurrently with prime95 or one then the other?

[BlueOval]

I used MemTest - the first choice - not MemTest86. I tested the RAM first w/MemTest, then ran the P95 benchmark. If all tested out ok, I'd reboot and up the FSB by 1. Takes a while, but it's worth it in the end knowing your system is 100% stable at the increased speeds.

As an aside, when you start upping the mult, make sure you keep a close eye on your temps.

[Tlenzi]

Blueoval, I was trying at 10X, but I just tryed at 8X and same thing. A few beeps, then starts beeping like crazy until I turn it off and reset the bios with a jumper. When at 8X my timing was 7-3-3-2 and once again at 6-2-2-2. I tried each combination with both 2.6 and 2.77 Vdimm.

Janko, I havent used a memory tester or Prime95 (which I realize I should be doing). I have been using it all weekend at (13x168) with no trouble though.

BTW my power supply is 430W.

[BlueOval]

Tlenzi, instead of resetting the BIOS w/a jumper, try clearing the CMOS by removing the CMOS battery and unplugging your PSU from the mobo. Wait about 10 minutes before plugging everything back in. This should do it for you.

Then try upping the FSB to 166 w/a mult of 8 and RAM timings set to most aggressive. From there up it step by step testing inbetween. Don't go further in FSB unless all tests check out.

[Thunderbird1GHz]

try running 1 stick at a time, single channel mode. also try cas3 or the most relaxed timings. If no go, maybe your cpu or mobo doesnt like being pushed so high

[lostlilchild6]

Tbird... your memory is the most pathetic piece of crap ram I have ever seen in my life..... PC3200 and its running at 145mhz 2-3-3-6? wow.. haha .

[Thunderbird1GHz]

its not the ram, but my kt266a mobo. kt266 mobos dont like high fsbs, the kt400 im getting will do over 200fsb. as for the ram, it does 2-2-2-5 but I dont gain one bit of performance over 2-3-3-6. with my kt400 my plan is to run 2.5-3-3-7 at like 190+ fsb. I am more worried about my thunderbird cpu, if that cpu wont do 180fsb ill have to get a tbred and http://www.excaliberpc.com/product_i...oducts_id=1925


they want $72 for it! man thats expensive!!!!!!

[BlueOval]

Originally posted by Thunderbird1GHz
...also try cas3 or the most relaxed timings...

ugh. I hate this idea. Personally, I would rather run at 190 FSB w/the most aggressive RAM timings than at 200 FSB w/the least aggressive. Whatever max FSB I can reach w/most aggressive timings will be my starting point for upping the mult.

I mean, I know the poor guy's stuck at 168, but his RAM is high quality and should match his board nicely. I think if he clears the CMOS he'll be ok.

[FlapJacks]

Having just installed and OC'ed an almost exact system,

EPOX 8RDA+
XP 2100+
HyperX PC3500 2x256 Mb

I can contribute some from my very recent experience. 1) I was able to hit 200 fsb out of the box at default voltage but my mult was down at 10. To get up to 11.5 and 12, I had to increase to vcore to 1.80 and vdimm to 2.77. 2) One thing that I found was that I had better results by making small changes. For example, early on I tried a 12x200 and was unable to post, but later when I had started at 10x200 and increased the mult by 0.5 every time I reached 12x200 without incident. 3) When I reset the CMOS the first time I used the jumper, but I later found you can reset the CMOS by holding the INSERT key when rebooting and then hitting DEL to get into the BIOS to change the settings back.

Sorry, I don't have much specific advice for you. Go with BlueOval's suggestions of clearing the CMOS and starting fresh. If you have good cooling go ahead and try 1.80 vcore and 2.77 vdimm to start. Those are considered "safe" settings for good OC'ing. Good luck.