Overclocking Foxconn NF4K8AC/NF4UK8AC with AMD 64 3000+ (venice core)

[jayton]

Hello,

I want to know how to overclock my new system without my current installation of windows falling over with a "missing hal.dll in system32" error.

My system specs:
AMD 64 3000+ (venice core)
Foxconn NF4K8AC / NF4UK8AC
1GB OCZ DDR400
80GB Western Digital Master Primary IDE
250GB Western Digital Special Edition Master Slave IDE
ATi/Saphie X300SE 128MB PCI-E

I use a 20pin ATX connector not a 24pin, it says in the manual that you can do this and does not give any reasons why not nor does it say anything about breaching system stablilty.

I managed to get it up to 2.115Mhz just by raising the HT Freq from 200Mhz -> 235Mhz and 16C~25C temp overclocked depending on workload.
But reading the article about getting it upto 2.8Ghz blew me away and I tried that but while windows was booting up it gave me an error about missing the hal.dll file in system32 directory.

What I need to know is, how do I overclock my system without this happening? or would I have to install windows yet again?

Also CPU-Z reports my DDR400 running @ 200Mhz is that right?
nTune says my DDR400 is running @ 402Mhz thats what I find weirder.

Here is an image of both
http://www.codegurus.org/~jay/images/cpu-ntune.jpg

need anymore info to help?

Cheers,
Jayton

[BUFF]

Probably your RAM holding you back - drop to the 333 memory divider.
Also drop the LDT multi down to 4x & once you get close to 250HTT down to 3x.

What kind of cooling to get 25C on load?

[[DW]Cougho]

also check the PCI/IDE bus is set to 66mhz or 67mhz (locked)

as going much over this will result in your hard disks throwing a wobbler, possibly not delivering the DLL's you mention like they should.

[jayton]

ok, before I attempt that, I am using the stock heat sink and & I got with the cpu (Foxconn fan) I have even just touched it to make sure its cool and im not being reported wrong, and yes it is cool to the touch (the heat sink that is).

The only other fan in my system apart from the PSU fan is the dust extractor located next to my PCI-E card.

[jayton]

Ok, cant find where in my BIOS (pheonix) to drop the memory divider...
The only thing I could find was to change my memory was 100, 133, 166 and 200mhz, should I use 166 since that adds up to 332mhz when multiplied by 2

Is the LDT the HT Link Multiplier?
Also can not find where to change the PCI/IDE clock.

I feel dumb lol

I'll have another look and try it now, Also would this bang up my windows xp installation? I really dont want to get that error now that I have just installed everything I need.

I will boot into FreeBSD and see what it reports my CPU is running at.

[jayton]

!!!Update!!!

Ok, I have now got it running @ 2250Mhz (see console output, FreeBSD)

I still did not find where/how to change to 66Mhz PCI/IDE.

jay@desktop$ dmesg | grep CPU
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+ (2250.01-MHz 686-class CPU)
cpu0: <ACPI CPU> port 0x530-0x537 on acpi0
jay@desktop$

[[DW]Cougho]

that 100/133/166 thing is the mem divider yes, drop it to 166 and you should be able to push a bit further.

LDT is hypertransport aswell

as for finding the PCI locks, im not sure, its probably near the memory/ldt speeds (as it is on my BIOS, which i think is award BIOS i.e the same) but thats about all i can say.

EDIT: found it, the page with superboot on has an option at the bottom for PCI clock lock, this should be enabled.

[jayton]

Ah ha! Ok I done all of that and yes the PCI/IDE lock was enable.

So with that I acheived 2250Mhz, not bad but not quite the 2.8Ghz the guys @ hexus reached. might have to play around some more, anymore ideas on how to reach the 2.8Ghz or closer than 2250Mhz?

Also in CPU-Z it reports my system as revision DH-E3, what is the difference if any between that and the E3 revision?

Ebuyer.co.uk also have the same mobo and cpu bundle going again (I bought from them a few weeks ago), not bad £135 for a N4 chipset mobo that costs £60~ alone with another £100 for the cpu, just thought u'd like to know if u want a cheap system upgrade for your old system.

[[DW]Cougho]

whack the mem voltage to 2.8 (which i think is the max on this board) and increase the cpu voltage to 1.5 or maybe 1.55 (make sure temps are still on the cool side, as your only on the stock cooler)

im not sure about the NF4 chipset, but if its like NF3 it shouldnt need an increase in voltage to fly.

then its just a case of slapping on the mhz

[jayton]

Slapping on the Mhz? that HTT increase?
just noticed you have the ATi X800pro, is it worth the price?

Ok, ive kept the HTT @ 250Mhz, Mem Div @ 333, LDT @ 3x and pci/ide locked (66Mhz ?)
ive also bumped up the voltages to what you said and there is no increase in my CPU's speed it is still running @ 2250Mhz.
What about the HTT Voltage and the chipset voltage?

[[DW]Cougho]

yeh i meant bump the HTT up, its probably not necessary to increase the chipset voltage and HTT voltage but it wouldnt hurt to bump em up one notch then if you still cant get any more speed put them back.

On the X800pro front, its worth it if you can get one that mods to 16 pipes, but the X800GTO2 is better for that now, as this does X800XTPE speeds but the GTO2 can most likely do X850XTPE speeds. Ive had this drumming away for about 10 months now with 16 pipes and it eats games for breakfast at 1280x1024.

[fredered]

Ah ha! Ok I done all of that and yes the PCI/IDE lock was enable.

So with that I acheived 2250Mhz, not bad but not quite the 2.8Ghz the guys @ hexus reached. might have to play around some more, anymore ideas on how to reach the 2.8Ghz or closer than 2250Mhz?

It is very likely that your cpu will not be able to reach 2.8Ghz as most cpus just cant do that speed, although i have heard you can expect 2.4

[KrEaToR]

To find your max cpu speed, lower the memory divider down to 100 then mess around with the cpu settings then, i.e voltage, htt, multipier. Don't let your HTT go above 1000mhz, i.e if yout htt is 230/240 ish put to x4 but if you got above 250 put it to x3.

But like i said put your memory multipier dwn to 100 and play around with your cpu, but don't increase your cpu voltage over 1.525/1.55v cause you are on stock cooling. I don't like putting my cpu over 1.55v and i have water cooling.

Good luck.

[jayton]

Thanks! Thats what I needed to know!

Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a 6600GT 256MB or 128MB?
I found a 6600GT 128mb for &#163;105 and the 256MB versions I found are out side my price range.