AB9 Pro e4300 overclocking woes

[bonus uk]

Hi,

My set-up is:

C2D E4300 cooled by Tuniq Tower 120
Abit AB9 Pro bios 1.5
OCZ PC2-6400 Platinum XTC
Asus ATI x1600 Pro 512Mb
Hiper Type R 530 W PSU
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream case

My problem is getting the AB9 Pro to give me an FSB of higher than 300 mhz with this set up.

I can get the chip to run at 2700mhz with a 9x multiplier, 1:1 memory ratio and 300mhz FSB but I cannot get it to go any higher.

I then tried dropping the CPU multiplier to 6x to see if the CPU was the limiting factor as the memory should handle 300 mhz without even breaking a sweat and it didn't make any difference, still cannot get a stable boot of an FSB over 300mhz even with 6x 300mhz (only 1800mhz, CPUs stock speed).

The board will run fine however at 9x 200mhz with a ratio of 1:2, giving me 400mhz memory speed.

So I think I've narrowed my problems down to the motherboard.

Does anyone know which versions of the BIOS are best for overclocking or of any other issues I may be experiencing to not be able to get a 1:1 FSB greater than 300mhz?

Thanks.

[Highland3r]

Try Beta 1.9 bios (available via XS) works well for me (512 FSB)
Other users have hit 500+ FSB on the 1.5 bios too so you shouldn't have a problem. These aren't stable figures, but it does show what the board is capable of.

Have you tried increasing the northbridge voltages? Also, try increasing the vCore.

[bonus uk]

I wouldn't have thought that the VCore votage would need to be increased when running on the 6x multiplier as the chip is only running at around 1800mhz anyway which is it's stock speed.

I can try upping the chipset voltages, but I'd be lying if I claimed to know why I should do that either seeing as the system runs fine at a 400mhz with a 1:2 ratio.

I really don't understand what is going on to be honest.

[bonus uk]

I got the 1.9 Bios and I have exactly the same situation.

I have a completely stable system at 305mhz with 6x and 9x multipliers but if I move the slider along to 310mhz in uGuru it resets.

Does anyone know what could be causing this?

I've manually set the memory to 1:1 ratio, with vdimm of 2.2v and 5-5-5-15-2T timings just to be safe, nothing works.

[Highland3r]

I wouldn't have thought that the VCore votage would need to be increased when running on the 6x multiplier as the chip is only running at around 1800mhz anyway which is it's stock speed.

I can try upping the chipset voltages, but I'd be lying if I claimed to know why I should do that either seeing as the system runs fine at a 400mhz with a 1:2 ratio.

I really don't understand what is going on to be honest.

The memory is running faster, but the chipset is still at a slow speed (ie 200 mhz)
Just trying to narrow down whether its a voltage issue (ie something needs more) or something else. Have you tried setting 310+ fsb in bios rather than using uGuru? Also you`re moving close to a strap change above 300 FSB (ie a point where the chipset is running near its max) which could be causing the problem. More chipset voltage should help overcome this. You could also try setting an FSB above 334 and see if that helps.

[jimborae]

I got the 1.9 Bios and I have exactly the same situation.

I have a completely stable system at 305mhz with 6x and 9x multipliers but if I move the slider along to 310mhz in uGuru it resets.

Does anyone know what could be causing this?

I've manually set the memory to 1:1 ratio, with vdimm of 2.2v and 5-5-5-15-2T timings just to be safe, nothing works.

You'll find that a 300+ "fsb wall" is quite common with the 4300. If a new bios doesn't help you may want to try the 1066 BSEL mod. For more information go to xtremesystems forums and do a search.

This will get you started

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...light=bsel+mod

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...1&postcount=84

[bonus uk]

I've tried more tinkering with this to see what I can manage and it isn't any better.

At a 6x multiplier, I've managed to get my memory running at 450mhz using higher dividers and a 225mhz FSB speed, so I'm still sure the memory isn't my problem.

The CPU is running stable at 42 degrees C 2745mhz at 1.375 vcore so I'm quite sure this can go further.

I need to raise MCH voltage to 1.30v to boot at 305mhz. I still cannot get a boot into Windows with anything higher than 305mhz FSB even with higher MCH, ICHIO, VDIMM and VCORE voltages.

I tried going to 334mhz to push it above the 1333 NB strap but that doesn't give me any benefits either.

The BSEL mod stuff is interesting but would that be a limiting factor here when I'm runing 6 x 310mhz?

[jimborae]

The BSEL mod stuff is interesting but would that be a limiting factor here when I'm runing 6 x 310mhz?

More than likely, the point that you can't do more than 6 X 310mhz indicates a low fsb wall.

[d3fiant]

any one care to provide a link to the 1.9 bios on XS, I am having a hunt around but thats a busy forum and things disappear fast

[bonus uk]

I tried the 1.9 FUGGER BIOS from there but that had exactly the same results as well.

[Highland3r]

Sounding more and more like a VERY low FSB wall. Where abouts in the world are you mate? If you're in the UK and close I'll happily test the CPU for you in a board here

[bonus uk]

I'm from Dundee.

I've been in touch with OCZ and got the bank recycle time (tRFC) from them for the memory I've got and setting this lets me POST now at frequencies about 334mhz.

Haven't managed to get a boot into Windows yet, it just hangs as the blue bar cycles along the screen but it's an improvement. I should have some more time over the weekend to try out some more things :-).

[mac_i_ek]

Hi

I have small problem

my mobo - AB9 pro (bios 1.7), CPU - e4300

I can't set memory multipier to 1:1. when I set FSB to 400 MHz my ram automaticly sets to 1600 MHz - (1:2). my MEM - Geil DDR2 800 MHz 5/5/5/15

how can I manually set 1:1 mem multipier to get DDR2 800 MHz? this option is not avalible in uGuru section - I can only choose 1:2, 3:5 or 2:3?

THANX