Asus a7n8x-e deluxe xp2500 won't hit 200 fsb

I originally bought a locked xp2500 a while back and on installation got over the 200 fsb mark to around 210. This cpu then went into another comp at stock and I ran a xp2800 for a while.

Anyway the xp2500 is back in use and is extremely stable at 197fsb but any attemp to hit 200 and the damn thing won't boot into windows. I have tried everything. :( (it will boot at 200fsb into safe mode no probs)

I wondered if I had the dreaded < rev 2.0 board issue but my mobo says Rev1.01 (I think 1.04/06 had the issues) and cpu-z says rev 2xx so I presume this is a Rev 2.0 board.

Anyone have any ideas? Different bios perhaps?

Temps: idle @ 40°C, load @ 45°C.

A7n8x-e deluxe (1009 bios)
xp2500 @ 2.18Ghz
1 gig mushkin level 1 ddr 3200 @ 2-3-2-6
9700pro
2 x sata 160 gig Hitachi deskstar in Raid 0.
1 x ide 80 gig WD caviar
Tagan 480w
Win XP SP2

hmmm explain this problem as i have a rev2 i think and i cant boot 200 with my 2800barton :mad:

Worth trying a different bios. I still run on 1.03 bios on my board and can get 215 fsb. When I tried the newer bios's (?) even the specials I couldn't get above 190. I'd try 2 or 3 different to see what you get.

When running at 200FSB, try running Memtest just to make sure it isn't the RAM.

Sure, I will give both a go. May well be a memory issue. Will be a bit miffed if it is. I originally thought it might be a driver issue in windows seeing as it let me get into safe mode.

any bios flashes mike_w with 200fsb support for locked chips?

Well I successfully flashed it and now windows won't load. arrrrrrrrgh.

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=36150 Anyone help at all?

Bad news there, looked at the other thread, I'd also suggest a re-install of windows if your data is backed up. I've had this happen to me also in the past, only one time though out of many bios flashes. Hope it goes OK though.

Have you:

Set the AGP / PCI bus to locked @ 66 / 33MHz instead of auto?

What multiplier are you using? My A7N8X DLX (not the newer 'E' version) is unstable using a 10 or 10.5 multiplier (no idea why, have not heard of anyone else having that problem but you never know)

What RAM are you using? Have you tried backing off the timings? Upping the RAM voltage?

Are you using stock cooling on the NB / SB (I found adding active cooling to the NB and passive cooling to the SB helped me get stable @ > 200MHz FSBs)

Presume you've tried increasing the vcore too?

And your rails are stable?

Malfunction.

AGP Bus is locked at 66 Mhz - first thing I ever change when o/cing!

Multiplier on the xp2500 is 11 - post week 39 chip I'm afraid.

1 gig Mushkin ddr 3200, level 1 (ch5) @ 2-3-2-6 (stock timings) @ 2.8v I have backed off the timings but no difference seen :(

Stock cooling on the NB. Might take that off and look at renewing the paste with my Antec reference silver.

Yep I have increased the vcore although for some reason the board will not post with vcore over about 1.7v. Don't quite know why this is as temps are in the low 40's.

Whilst I havent checked the rails with a multimeter, I presume they are good because when monitoring them previously they have been rock solid. Relying on Tagan quality here, lol.

TBH I've got a gut feeling that it's inadequate cooling or not enough voltage going to the NB. Possibly Bios.

I am gonna back up data today (in dos) and flash the bios (again) most likely to the latest 1013, however if anyone can recommend a better bios (I remember the uber? bios's) I might give that a go.

Cheers

Have you done anything with the NB? When I got my current board I took of the HS, always do to replace the thermal pad with AS. But in this case the NB chip was really concave, it was impossible to get a good contact surface over the whole of the heat sink. I had to lap the MB down to make it flat and get a decent contact with the HS. Not saying this will solve your problem but it may be worth looking at.

Will look at the NB once bios is flashed and Windows is re-installed.