HDD Overclock problem

[ptgrav]

Hello all,
I built a friend a computer. Here's the spec:

A7V8X-X Mobo
XP2500
Leadtek Winfast A180T Mx440
Maxtor 6Y120M0 120gb Serial ATA 8mb Cache 7200rpm
512M of Crucial PC2700 RAM (2X256M)
Antec Plusview 1000 case.

Works realy well until you try to overclock the XP. As soon as the FSB is pushed up to get the XP running at 2g the Hard drive bomb's out. The comp stops recognising it and XP crashes or doesn't boot at all. All the problems are HDD related, all the temps are in the 30's. Any ideas??

Pete

[Jonny M]

What are you running the PCI bus at?

[ptgrav]

I assume it's a division of the FSB. It's normaly 33MHz isn't it?

Pete

[Prodigy]

If your PCI bus isn't locked (i.e. not nforce2) then your PCI bus increases with FSB (which you seem to know).

It's probably a case of the HD not being able to take the increased FSB. It may not be temp related - it simply cannot hack it. Unlucky I'm afraid.

[Austin]

A number of little problems. IIRC A7V8X-X is base don the KT400, good but only designed for 333FSB NOT 400FSB and the PCI can't be locked (you need nForce2 for that). The PCI speed also helps derive the AGP and IDE speeds and to keep it simple your KT400's 1/5 divider will only manage 180/360FSB and even then you'd need RAM capable of 360mhz which PC2700 isn't.

So your RAM is running out of spec with any FSB increase, the PCI/IDE/AGP are likely to have problems above 360FSB and you may find the multiplier tops out at 12.5x too (no 5bit FID support). Even so you should easily achieve 12.5x166=2.08ghz which is XP2800+ speed ... so long as your PSU and cooling are up to the job.

If you're running a GF4MX440 then don't expect any gaming increase fromt he o/c, the enhanced GF2 tops often out even on the old Durons.

[ptgrav]

Thanks Austin,
I will sit down tonight and try and digest what you've written, I'm sure it's all good stuff.

Main problem appears to be at a slight overclock the HDD isn't recognised anymore???

Pete