Help ! Another Venice overclock.

[Tainted]

I recently saw the Potential about the Venice overclocks. The amount spent to get it running cost more than just buying a top of the range processor.

Sometimes it's not worth it...... But I am planning for AMD X2 future upgrade.

Anyway here is my system specs currently

AMD Venice 3000+ (XP120 HSF)
Abit Fata1lty SLI AN8 (Bios v1.3)
OCZ PC-4000 VX
Enermax Noisetaker 600w
Geforce 6600GT
2 x 200gb Sata drive (disabled when overclocking)
1 x 80gb boot disk

I am battling to reach the speed most people seem to reach without a problem on standard volts or in the 1.5 area.

2.7ghz seems a no go as prime95 is not running. Seems I have to hit the CPU with 1.65 volts to attain that but not sure how long it will really run for.

Last night I had the memory running at 500mhz timmings 2-2-2-6 @3.3 volts. It ran for 10 hours no problems under memtest v3.1

I am not concerned about 2790ghz speed, although running at that my memory would be then slightly overclocked @507mhz which should not be a problem but how many volts would this puppy need then. 1.67v... I'm on air using a Thermaltake XP-120 HSF.

When trying I set the following

CPU - 300
multi - 9
PCE-e - locked @ 100

cpuv = 1.50v
DDR = 3.3v
HT = 1.65v (Hexus set theirs to this to attaint 2980 overclock)

HTT Multi = 3

Memory Settings
DRAM Timing Selectable Auto Item Help
- DRAM Clock 333
- CAS latency Time 2
- Row Cycle Time 14
- Row Refresh Cycle Time 24
- RAS# to CAS# delay 2
- RAS# to RAS# delay 2
- Min RAS# Active time 8
- RAS# Precharge Time 2
- Write Recovery Time 2
- Write to Read Delay 2
- Read to Write Delay 5
- DRAM Command rate 1
- Burst Length 4 beats
- Bank Interleaving Enabled
32 bit Dram Memory Hole Auto
MTRR mapping mode Continuous

I have relaxed memory to it's fullest before but doesn't make a difference. When ram seems to be a problem the system switches off!!!

I have had the memory as low as 35ns latency with 6.9gb/sec throughput. nice setup but wish I could get all this stable.

I did have a 40gb I was testing off and this seemed to complete 3dmarks01 fine and give me a decent score of 22036. Not sure on stablity then but now but I can't seem to get back to that and 3dmarks01 won't run. Wish I had that drive still. Can a hard drive hold a overclock back?

Can anyone give me some feedback how I should go about getting the highest overclock and last bit of performace out of the memory. Looking for maximum throughput.

Thanks in advance.

[arthurleung]

My Venice won't pass 2.1Ghz stable with 1.65V, consider yourself very lucky already...

[Tainted]

Really that low. I Can run Battlefield at 2.6ghz with memory at 493mhz 2-2-2-6 timmings. Prime95 won't have it but Battlefield seems to love the setup.

Read that some say there machine runs everything except prime95 when overclocked so they not bothered.

Sorry to hear about your Venice. Send it back or sell it.

[sawyen]

2.7Ghz is pretty good for an air-cooled system.. considering ur using an Xp120, I'm sure there's plenty of temperature headroom... but probably you've reached the processor ceiling? OC have always been like a big electronic lottery..

TBH Anything above 1.65V would be of diminishing returns.. My best efforts only yielded 2.66 Ghz on 9x295 for a 'used ala m8's' 3000+ venice at 1.625V... I was limited by motherboard ceiling, my K8T800 only allowed no further than 295Mhz HTT.. But I'm guessing even if I got a DFI LanParty or a Fatality, I wouldnt get pass 310Mhz...

Pumping the excess voltage to tame those vibrating electrons will only result in more thermal loss, there's a limit on how much your die and that precious 128bit memory controller can take in terms of electron discharge from the excess voltage..

SOW, I wouldn't stay at 2.7Ghz very long if I were you... The wear and tear caused by the excess die thermal spread will only strain both ur processor and that acrtic silver (i assumed u used them) alloy polymers... Me m8s currently only going 2.4Ghz while my 3500+ only runs at 2.6Ghz...

Its good to know how far ur CPU can go, but running it 24/7 shouldn't be the CPU/Mobo limit... AFAIK

[SilentDeath]

I recently saw the Potential about the Venice overclocks. The amount spent to get it running cost more than just buying a top of the range processor.

Sometimes it's not worth it...... But I am planning for AMD X2 future upgrade.

Really. Even considering that your cpu is 300Mhz faster than any AMD sell.. (not including differences from cache or the Fx55 which is 2.6ghz)

Im happy with 2.4ghz on my winchester and I dont really think the differnce would be that noticable unless your running number crunching apps.. not in games anyway..

[sawyen]

well, if its any consolation, even 2.8Ghz on your 3000+ won't win u any medals in Pifast challenge.. ehehe... and the extra load on ur PSU and CPU aint worth it for that extra 10fps in battlefield 2..

[Tainted]

I cannot get 2.7ghz and run stable. I had it at 2835mhz lastnight but it's nowhere near stable.

I have felt that 2.6ghz is my ideal setup (289x9). And can get away with 1.55 volts. Memory running at 2-2-2-6 timmings @493mhz. It's extremelly fast, games loads quickly, much faster and than at 1.8ghz with memory at 2-2-2-6 @500mhz. The extra CPU mhz makes a huge difference and the initial jerk in BF2 when loading a new level goes away with seconds at 2.6. I refer to BF2 as it's quite resource hungry.

Just would have liked a 2.7ghz sitting there running cleanly. Can't have it all.

I'm not looking for benchmarking records. The FX seem to own those arena and there is always someone out there with a Phase Changer or Liquid Nitrogen to destroy any overclock. It's going to be a games machine a media server for High Definition movies. Though I will try tweak the last bit of performance out of this machine.

Although I see quite a few posting their 2.7 and 2.8 overclocks with low voltages. Seems there are also quite a few people are not getting what they hoped for when overclocking.

Does anyone know if the ABit software helps stablity in WindowsXP?
I always clock in the bios then goto windows. I don't clock in windows. If it can't boot how is it going to run?

[sawyen]

uGuru has a software called OCGuru that allows cpu overclocking without the need for a reboot... it even has a test run to see if the setup was viable... well, thats when u have uGuru... but TBH, I'd prefer the BIOS method, more tweaks, more options... and uGuru in BIOS is even more powerful that the OCGuru...

If u really wanted a 2.7Ghz that worked.. try lowering ur memory speed, dropping the FSB to 333MHz or 266MHz and begin ur overclock... that way you'll leave off some space for the memory controller in the cpu to breathe... probably earn an extra few hundred MHz...

[Tainted]

I normally run at 333 to attain 493mhz when @ 2700mhz or 473mhz @ 2.6ghz. I have tried 200 and 266 memory dividers but neither seem to make a difference. Relaxing the timmings completely doesn't help. I have also said to myself 1.6v is the maximum I want to push this ship. Idealy 1.5v would be nice or lower but let's not be greedy. It seems to do 2.5ghz on stock volts.

Perhaps my Venices limits are 2.6ghz with some tweaking to get stable.

AMD64 memory controller seems to bail out at high HTT speeds. Pitty cause that throughput it really nice. 35ns latency is quick. Anyone know if there is lowest latency records out there somewhere.

Oh for an unlocked Vence !!!

[sawyen]

yea... venice will work pretty fine on stock voltage, the one i tested lived thru prime 10 hr at 1.425V for a 2.53Ghz... anymore than that the voltage shoots up like no tomorrow... ended at 2.66Ghz for 1.625V.. anymore didn't help much... posted at 2.7Ghz (300HTT).. but bahh.. crashed when Winfox loaded...

also, you must also consider some cores actually clock higher on lower volts...

[Tainted]

Thought I would update everyone. I have managed to attain a 2610mhz overclock. Not bad. My memory timmings are 2-2-2-5. My signature shows all the settings.

Does anyone know about the Abit boards showing incorrect temps with them being too high. Idle it's sitting at 36c with prime96 load it shoots upto 57c. That heat probally also contributes to the prime failures. I can run prime but it only does between 3 -3 test then fails. If I relax the timmings I get upto about 12 tests or more. Though the mem timmings then were still low (2-2-2-8). It's relaly quick with memory at 37ns latency pushing 6.8gb/sec.

When I had the stock cooler it sat at 49c idle so the Thermaltake XP120 is a wicked HSF in my opinion and it's very quiet.

Everything runs fine though. I won't be able to post prime stablity screens but for my personnel use I'm happy with it.

It's a comforatble overclock.

I'm wondering if overtime it will settle and become stable more and more as the circuits settle on these current settings. Can anyone verify this?

[arthurleung]

Thought I would update everyone. I have managed to attain a 2610mhz overclock. Not bad. My memory timmings are 2-2-2-5. My signature shows all the settings.

Does anyone know about the Abit boards showing incorrect temps with them being too high. Idle it's sitting at 36c with prime96 load it shoots upto 57c. That heat probally also contributes to the prime failures. I can run prime but it only does between 3 -3 test then fails. If I relax the timmings I get upto about 12 tests or more. Though the mem timmings then were still low (2-2-2-8). It's relaly quick with memory at 37ns latency pushing 6.8gb/sec.

When I had the stock cooler it sat at 49c idle so the Thermaltake XP120 is a wicked HSF in my opinion and it's very quiet.

Everything runs fine though. I won't be able to post prime stablity screens but for my personnel use I'm happy with it.

It's a comforatble overclock.

I'm wondering if overtime it will settle and become stable more and more as the circuits settle on these current settings. Can anyone verify this?

Touch the bottom of the heatsink to see if its really hot. If the sensor is not working properly at high temperature, you should feel the heatsink warm. If its hot to touch, the sensor is correct. Try this at idle AND at full load.

[sawyen]

thats exactly what I tried last night... I downed multiplier to 9x to emulate a 3000+, raised HTT to 290MHz and voila... However, my system was running on 1.575V and was prime stable for 4 hours.... should be longer... I just didn't have to time to go the distance. you could try to up voltage to 1.575 or 1.6V to see if it works... I also managed to hit 295HTT on my 3500+ on 9x multiplier... can't go any further even when I dropped to 8x multi.. best I could do was 8x298Mhz that passed prime testing... this further proves that my AV8 mobo peaks around 295MHz HTT..

2-2-2-8 timings are way too speedy... really doesnt matter that much... If u want to go for a longer stable clock... try 2-3-3-5 or 2-3-3-6... shouldn't be that much difference... Benched HL2 at 2610MHz as well with 1T 2-3-3-6 timings... hit 108fps in video stress test...

[Tainted]

For prime testing I have to raise to volts to v1.55 or 1.575. For normal use I can get away with 1.5v and memory at 2-2-2-8. No crashing on movies (Divx and HD video) or battlefield 2. Must try GTA San Andreas, Doom3 and HL2. Don't see a reason to up volts when using normal if it will work. 3Dmark benches run fine aswell. Get a nice 22k score on 3dmark01.

I can post at 2835 but would probally take 1.7v to get windows up. No thanks. I also think I could do 296HTT and have it running with some tweaking and 1.55v.

Turned a exhaust blower into passive cooling for the ram. Works very well I must say. Those sticks remain very cool.

Perform heatsink test with fingers regulary but it's never warm.

[muddyfox470]

Overclocks are not guaranteed.

Why do people complain and feel cheated if their chip cannot overclock at all, or to a 2.7ghz stable system?

Anything over stock is a bonus.

Be happy, live a happy life!

Ian

[Tainted]

Because some like myself had a perfectly good P4 capable of clocking from 2.6 to 3.4ghz. And if I had a chip that didn't clock more than 2.4ghz I would have felt I just wasted alot of money buying chip, board, hsf, power supply and graphics card.

If you bought the chip to clock and it's doesn't you have been unlucky and cant they you are going to be dissapointed.

If it wasn't for AMD X2 4800+ upgrade the Venice route would not have interested me.