Just like the title says, I am hitting a brick wall here and I'm not sure what to try next. First of all the specs:

DFI Lanparty UT NF4 SLI
Athlon 65 3500+ (Scythe Mine)
OCZ Platinum Dual Channel 1GB DDR 400
Corsair 620 PSU


My current settings:
HTT 215
Multi 11 (stock)
DRAM Freq 200
CPC 1T
Cas 2-3-2-5 (stock)
CPU VID 1.525v
LDT 1.5v
Chipset 1.8v
DRAM 2.7v

These settings seem to give me the best performance so far, but where do I need to go from here? I know the idea is to get the max from my RAM and CPU, but it seems like everytime I try to change something, either I get lower MB/s RAM bandwidth with everest, or it won't boot at all.

What's your HTT multi? (Can also be called LDT)

Set memory to 2.5-4-3-7. I also want to know the LDT multi.

Quote: Originally Posted by EvilClown What's your HTT multi? (Can also be called LDT)

I believe it is 3x(does that sound right?), but I will double check tonight just to be sure. Could that be the issue?

Quote: Originally Posted by Sn0wMan I believe it is 3x(does that sound right?), but I will double check tonight just to be sure. Could that be the issue?

Generally it defaults at 5x but 3x would be 'optimal'. So that sounds fine.

Is that CPU VID the default setting? If yes, generally overclocking needs a voltage increase, which makes things run faster & more stable, with the opposite negative effect of increased heat. That's why you want to monitor your CPU temps while trying various overclocks, and of course ensure you have a decent "overclocking HSF". I haven't overclocked with AMD since the XP+ days, so I'm a bit out of touch as to what an acceptable temperature range is. I do know that P4 Northwoods and their cousins run hot, but as long as you can keep the temps below 55 degrees or so under load, you should stay stable. (I seem to remember AMD T-breds and T-birds got unstable if you exceeded 50 degrees.)

So, try upping your voltage 2 increments up from default and see if you can increase your overclocks, and check the temps in Windows while playing a demanding game or doing a game install (I find that installing a game or other major file copy increases heat).

EDIT: are you trying to OC your RAM or CPU?

I'm not sure if the VID setting is default or not (I don't think so) but my temps are fine. I will up it a little and see what I get.

Here are some great articles to read so you can more fully understand the "Theory" of overclocking, these are a bit older, but it's still releavent:

MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Articles - Overclocking 103: Turning Up the Heat with Voltage Adjustments

MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Articles - Overclocking 102: Taking Your Overclock to the Next Level

MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Articles - Overclocking 101: Overclocking Fundamentals

A bit more recent, it's AMD 64, but on socket 754...this will help you understand what the LDT is doing a bit better.

http://forums.pcapex.com/amd_cpu_mot..._oc_guide.html

You can find tons of OC utilities in the link at the bottom of my sig!

Also..if you click on my profile and "Fina all threads started by Necro" if you go back a bit through them, I did tons of them on socket 939.

Thanks man those are great links. Oh and I have read your OC guide word for word. I even have it printed out to look over when I don't have my machine in a stable state. I will read up on them and post back with what I got.

I'm wondering if your using a divider for your cpu to memory? And it depends
upon what I'm doing, but pure cpu power helps more than memory bandwidth
on a lot of things. And I can't remember the last DDR that I've bought that wasn't
rated at 2.8v's. I usually try to run 2.9 or 3 v's, with good ventilation. But I
can buy new stuff if it dies. I might not need another etch for awhile :-)

As $SOLID$ Necro stated, the basics of overclocking really haven't changed all that much--just the manner in how people do it. Whether it's increasing the multiplier, the FSB, or whatever they refer to as "FSB" with the C2D, it really hasn't changed from this:

Here is how I've always overclocked everything since it could be done in BIOS instead of jumpers on the motherboard:

1) Get hardware that is capable of overclocking; motherboards that allow you to overclock in BIOS, unlocked CPUs (whether by the factory or by bridging L1 gaps or other methods), good-quality RAM, and better-than-stock HSFs;

2) See how far you can push it without increasing voltage;

3) When it fails to POST or boot to Windows, increase the voltage a few notches, keeping a close eye on temps, using the Hardware Monitor in BIOS as your #1 source (as it's usually a few to 5 or so degrees closer to actual than software-monitoring apps)

4) With voltage increased and your goals of what temps *not* to exceed in mind, keep going as high as you can, upping voltage and clock speeds until you again cannot boot

5) Go back a few steps; if your temps are okay and you're stable in Windows and a few hours of games, I consider this "good to go".

6) Go back into BIOS and tweak your memory settings, lowering them to however low they'll go before you again can't boot; once the memory boots and is stable in games, you're pretty close to your optimal overclock.

7) Always run a taskbar temperature monitor (or something equivalent) so you can always keep track of your temps. A thick buildup of dust on a stock-running CPU won't really do anything bad (unless the fan gums up and stops rotating, of course, hehe!), but even a little dust buildup on an overclocked system will result in enough excess heat to destabilize your system and get crashes

8) All else being equal, it's better to overclock the FSB or bus speeds than the multiplier, it yields a more significant performance increase. A Duron 800 running at 980 with 140 MHz FSB (140 FSB x 7) will probably outperform the same CPU at 1040 (130 FSB x 8). Speaking from experience with that particular example.

That's about it, in a nutshell...without going into all the millions of details pertaining to specific hardware settings.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate I'm wondering if your using a divider for your cpu to memory? And it depends upon what I'm doing, but pure cpu power helps more than memory bandwidth on a lot of things. And I can't remember the last DDR that I've bought that wasn't rated at 2.8v's. I usually try to run 2.9 or 3 v's, with good ventilation. But I can buy new stuff if it dies. I might not need another etch for awhile :-)

With TCCD based Samsung memeory chips..I realy don't reccomend going over 2.8v for long term health! My GSKILL DR600 died after only a few months at 2.9-3v....and there are plenty more stories like mine if you do some searches on google or at Xtremesystems.org

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The slightly tighter timings I could run were not worth it!

Most other chips can handle a bit more, but typically over 2.9-3v is pushing things...the only exception to this rule is the old WindBond BH-5 can handle up to 3.6v with good airflow all day long!

Coel has some great pointers for "New" Overclockers there! I, like Salymate tend to push things to the limits and beyond...Here is a XP mobile 2500+ I am currently playing with using "Chilled" air cooling!




I have used upwards of 2.2v on the CPU so far..but don't have any screenies of it, since it did not help the OC at this time...and yes...thats old BH-5 in there at 3.2V! (My 939 rig allowed me to use 3.6v+)

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Wow thanks for all the helpful pointers guys! I have tried with a memory divider and without. The reason I am running the RAM at 2.7 is because of the warranty. Will it really hurt the RAM to run it at 2.8?

Here's what I got so far:
My HTT multi is set to 3x
I loosened my timings to 2.5-4-3-7
Bumped my CPU voltage to 1.525 + 13%


I put the HTT at 220 and I got a BSOD. I put it back to 215 and it worked fine. I played around with a mem divider at 180 then tried it at 235 and got a BSOD. 225 BSOD. (When I say BSOD I mean it comes from the memory bandwidth test in Sandra.)

So, I will put the CPU multi to 10x and play with that a little. What mem divider should I be using? 160? Anyway thanks for the help guys.

I don't think 2.8v will hurt your memory. And I don't think they'll void your warranty
either. I could be wrong. But I've personnally over-volted every component that gives
me the option. And I mean every. HeHeHe. While I've generally had good luck, I have
RMA'ed a few components and I've never been refused. Well ZipZoomFly did give me
a hard time over a mobo once. It was DOA and they claimed I scratched it. I asked them
to look at my account and decide if they wanted to screw me over. I got the new mobo
and I have yet to make another purchase from them.
Back on topic. I can't help but see your sig and it says you had it at 2.7 with the Asus mobo.
But from your 1st post your using the DFI and it's only running at 215x11=2.365 GHz? Am I
correct? What settings were you using with the Asus? You should be able to run it at those
same basic settings. The memory may need to be tweaked a little. Is this a new DFI mobo
or your old one? If it's a new one, what bios version is it? What bios were you using in your old one? Something just doesn't sound right to me. What are your temps?

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate What are your temps?

That's probably the most important question of them all.

Quote: Originally Posted by Slaymate I don't think 2.8v will hurt your memory. And I don't think they'll void your warranty either. I could be wrong. But I've personnally over-volted every component that gives me the option. And I mean every. HeHeHe. While I've generally had good luck, I have RMA'ed a few components and I've never been refused. Well ZipZoomFly did give me a hard time over a mobo once. It was DOA and they claimed I scratched it. I asked them to look at my account and decide if they wanted to screw me over. I got the new mobo and I have yet to make another purchase from them. Back on topic. I can't help but see your sig and it says you had it at 2.7 with the Asus mobo. But from your 1st post your using the DFI and it's only running at 215x11=2.365 GHz? Am I correct? What settings were you using with the Asus? You should be able to run it at those same basic settings. The memory may need to be tweaked a little. Is this a new DFI mobo or your old one? If it's a new one, what bios version is it? What bios were you using in your old one? Something just doesn't sound right to me. What are your temps?

I am using the old DFI board with a BIOS I got from Cpt.Planet, I'm not sure of the version. The reason I'm not using the ASUS board is that I am using it in my next project. This DFI board will finish up my Tsunami Dream project.
While my sig did say 2.7 that is not what I am running now. That was using a 133 mem divider on some old crappy RAM and the performance was terrible. (updating now)
My temps are about 52c fully loaded right now with these settings:
HTT - 240
Multi - 10
CPU VID - 1.63
180 mem divider
RAM 218 @ 2.8v
cas 2.5-4-3-7

So far this is the best performance I have seen out of this machine. The CPU v was 1.55 and passed with OCCT, but later blue screened while playing a game. After bumping the CPU VID to 1.63 everything has ran great. This weekend I will get some more time to walk it up a little more.

What do you guys think this system will do? Possibly 2.6?

Once again thanks for all your help and I will gladly pass out some rep.

I'm not the best person to answer that...my last AMD systems were the T-bird/T-bred/Duron/XP+ processors, followed by the P4 Northwoods and later. And just when I was about to get back into the fray with a new AMD system, out comes the Core 2 Duo...

Quote: Originally Posted by Coelacanth I'm not the best person to answer that...my last AMD systems were the T-bird/T-bred/Duron/XP+ processors, followed by the P4 Northwoods and later. And just when I was about to get back into the fray with a new AMD system, out comes the Core 2 Duo...

I can definately agree with you on that. I have had this CPU up to 2.7, but I would be happy with 2.6.

Well I've never owned a DFI mobo so I don't know what settings are available. But
I would assume that your memory is holding you back. Try setting it at something
like cas3 4-4-8 and see if your OC will go higher. You may want to try and get some
PC3500,PC4000 or PC4400

Try 1:1 divider with timings like 2.5-3-3-7 or like 2.5-5-4-9
they might help geting some more mhz