Sparkle Nforce2 400

Ecion · 11-May-04, 01:28 PM

Hello, yep you guested it, another overclocking n00b has come to your forums lol.
My main problem is not being able to adjust my multiplier. There is no option in the bios. So im struggling to overclock just by the fsb, 152/304 is about the max it'll go.
Any Advice on how i can get this up higher than 12.5x152=1900?

System Specs:
- CPU
AMD Athlon 2000+ 1667Mhz
AXDA2000DKT3C 4133706270496
RIRGA 0230MPM
Although the stepping code is an 'A', programs like CBI and CPUZ believe its a 'B', miss-labeled?
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nealcov...other/CPUZ.GIF
- Motherboard
Sparkle Nforce2 400, seems rare.
http://www.nexsis.co.uk/moreinfo-motherboards.asp?Product_ID=1
- RAM
256MB TwinMOS DDR400/PC3200

TekXoID · 11-May-04, 02:36 PM

After some deep web digging on your board, I found no PDF manuals for it. If a motherboard maker does not even offer online manuals, it's obvious they're BIOS, among other things, are lacking.

Read your manual front to back, if no multiplier option is mentioned, there probably isnt much hope.

My only suggestion is to try holding down CTRL and pressing F1 simultaneously at the main BIOS screen, this opens hidden BIOS menus on some boards.

Additionally, your processor is not exactly a pick of the litter, so overclocking will likely be limited.

nev_payne · 11-May-04, 02:47 PM

wow another brit - welcome to PR. Yhe your CPU is based on a 266 bus so overclocking is very limited. Tekx seems to have said the business, and it doesnt sound to good for you - i sugeest you do some serious web searching- you sure your motherboard hasnt got a manual FSB jumper or dip switch?

TekXoID · 11-May-04, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nev_payne


	your CPU is based on a 266 bus so overclocking is very limited

Untrue, only T-Bred A and Palomino's have limited overclockability.
Although this applies to Ecion, don't generalize 266FSB processors, here's why

Ecion · 12-May-04, 01:58 AM

You all seem to have ingored what I said in my first post... Although its labeled as a 'A', many programs idenitfy it as a 'B', (none say an 'A')
I'm sure its a 'B' because my old motherboard, a pcchips M810LMR was not fully compatitble with 'B's, and getting it to post was a 50/50 chance.
CTRL+F1 does nothing

nev_payne, nope no dipswitch, and no fsb jumper (dunno why you asked me to look for that one, i stated I was able to change the fsb)

It will post at 160/320 fsb as a 2600+, but will not load into windows, any ideas why?
Shouldn't be the Vcore as this motherboard gives you the amout of vcore needed automatically... or so the manual says. :S

TekXoID · 12-May-04, 02:29 AM

According to your exact chip specification code, several AMD ID scripts report it as a T-Bred A.
Believe what you will, but that is what it is.

Your motherboard looks like one well suited to an OEM or standard system intergrator, in other words, not exactly the kind of board one would want for full fledged overclocking.

Boot to a Memtest86 CD with your overclock set, and see if you get any memory errors.

spazticbusdriver · 19-May-04, 02:28 AM

Welcome to PR Ecion, about you mobo......you got the short end of the stick. Sparkle is a really really REALLY bad "cookie cutter" motherboard maker. They also made a few gfx cards that belly flopped. Too bad i see these motherboards in rigs all the time at a local computer store that sells them as "quality gaming" rigs.

Ecion · 20-May-04, 08:52 AM

spazticbusdriver,

Quote:


	Welcome to PR Ecion, about you mobo......you got the short end of the stick. Sparkle is a really really REALLY bad "cookie cutter" motherboard maker.

Short end of the stick? I've had no problems with this motherboard, the lack of dual channel is to be exspected on a 20 quid board, and the missing mulitplier adjustment can be a pain, but with a screw processor like mine, who needs it.

Quote:


	They also made a few gfx cards that belly flopped.

My friend has a sparkle ti4200, which is great card.. :\

Quote:


	Too bad i see these motherboards in rigs all the time at a local computer store that sells them as "quality gaming" rigs.

I don't think so. This appears to be the only motherboard sparkle have released. Plus its only avaible in the UK at the moment, so I very interested in where you saw it.

Psst, did you just bring up this dying thread to have a bitch at my mobo lol.

TekXoID · 20-May-04, 10:05 AM

Let me rephrase it for you: Sparkle Sucks
But hey if it rocks your boat...

Bumping old threads is a crime. Spaztic is a convicted felon wanted on several forums.

spazticbusdriver · 20-May-04, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TekXoID


	Let me rephrase it for you: Sparkle Sucks But hey if it rocks your boat... Bumping old threads is a crime. Spaztic is a convicted felon wanted on several forums.

true to that tekXoid! lol send me away! LOL

about your motherboard, i didnt meant to bash it. Im sorry if it sounded like I was. We have Sparkle MOBOs in the states, and I was talking about that same version, I know that they make only make one version. As far as graphics cards are concerned, Sparkle did a nose dive here. IDK about the UK cause I don't live there, I was just judging them on my experince with them.

Don__1 · 13-July-04, 09:18 PM

If you want to overclock with this board you will have to do it with the CPU bridges.
You get no voltage adjusments or multiplier adjustments in bios.
There is no temp monitoring either.

After having problems with the NForce400 "bug" on this board I tracked it down to be a rebadged Chaintech 7NJL3.
http://forums.pcapex.com/showthread.php?t=5378

If the link still works you can find info, drivers, bios and manual here:- http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/p...o=13&PISNo=172

It's a very cheap but competent board.

11-May-04, 01:28 PM		#1 (permalink)
Ecion Apex Techie Wannabe	Sparkle Nforce2 400 Hello, yep you guested it, another overclocking n00b has come to your forums lol. My main problem is not being able to adjust my multiplier. There is no option in the bios. So im struggling to overclock just by the fsb, 152/304 is about the max it'll go. Any Advice on how i can get this up higher than 12.5x152=1900? System Specs: - CPU AMD Athlon 2000+ 1667Mhz AXDA2000DKT3C 4133706270496 RIRGA 0230MPM Although the stepping code is an 'A', programs like CBI and CPUZ believe its a 'B', miss-labeled? http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nealcov...other/CPUZ.GIF - Motherboard Sparkle Nforce2 400, seems rare. http://www.nexsis.co.uk/moreinfo-motherboards.asp?Product_ID=1 - RAM 256MB TwinMOS DDR400/PC3200

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11-May-04, 02:36 PM		#2 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	After some deep web digging on your board, I found no PDF manuals for it. If a motherboard maker does not even offer online manuals, it's obvious they're BIOS, among other things, are lacking. Read your manual front to back, if no multiplier option is mentioned, there probably isnt much hope. My only suggestion is to try holding down CTRL and pressing F1 simultaneously at the main BIOS screen, this opens hidden BIOS menus on some boards. Additionally, your processor is not exactly a pick of the litter, so overclocking will likely be limited.

11-May-04, 02:47 PM		#3 (permalink)
nev_payne Apex Tech God	wow another brit - welcome to PR. Yhe your CPU is based on a 266 bus so overclocking is very limited. Tekx seems to have said the business, and it doesnt sound to good for you - i sugeest you do some serious web searching- you sure your motherboard hasnt got a manual FSB jumper or dip switch?

12-May-04, 01:58 AM		#5 (permalink)
Ecion Apex Techie Wannabe	You all seem to have ingored what I said in my first post... Although its labeled as a 'A', many programs idenitfy it as a 'B', (none say an 'A') I'm sure its a 'B' because my old motherboard, a pcchips M810LMR was not fully compatitble with 'B's, and getting it to post was a 50/50 chance. CTRL+F1 does nothing nev_payne, nope no dipswitch, and no fsb jumper (dunno why you asked me to look for that one, i stated I was able to change the fsb) It will post at 160/320 fsb as a 2600+, but will not load into windows, any ideas why? Shouldn't be the Vcore as this motherboard gives you the amout of vcore needed automatically... or so the manual says. :S

12-May-04, 02:29 AM		#6 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	According to your exact chip specification code, several AMD ID scripts report it as a T-Bred A. Believe what you will, but that is what it is. Your motherboard looks like one well suited to an OEM or standard system intergrator, in other words, not exactly the kind of board one would want for full fledged overclocking. Boot to a Memtest86 CD with your overclock set, and see if you get any memory errors.

19-May-04, 02:28 AM		#7 (permalink)
spazticbusdriver Apex Advanced Techie	Welcome to PR Ecion, about you mobo......you got the short end of the stick. Sparkle is a really really REALLY bad "cookie cutter" motherboard maker. They also made a few gfx cards that belly flopped. Too bad i see these motherboards in rigs all the time at a local computer store that sells them as "quality gaming" rigs.

20-May-04, 10:05 AM		#9 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	Let me rephrase it for you: Sparkle Sucks But hey if it rocks your boat... Bumping old threads is a crime. Spaztic is a convicted felon wanted on several forums.

13-July-04, 09:18 PM		#11 (permalink)
Don__1 Apex Techie Wannabe	If you want to overclock with this board you will have to do it with the CPU bridges. You get no voltage adjusments or multiplier adjustments in bios. There is no temp monitoring either. After having problems with the NForce400 "bug" on this board I tracked it down to be a rebadged Chaintech 7NJL3. http://forums.pcapex.com/showthread.php?t=5378 If the link still works you can find info, drivers, bios and manual here:- http://www.chaintechusa.com/tw/eng/p...o=13&PISNo=172 It's a very cheap but competent board.