Overclocking my xp2100

[crassus 0]

I've yet to really burn it in using Sandra, etc. but I've got my home-built (Asus a7n8x dlx, xp2100+) running at xp2400+. I want to get it up to 2600, or better, but it locks up at that level. I'm guessing due to heat.

I guess I should first ask, will overheating lock it up? I've only tweaked the multipliers in the BIOS, not the FSB, so nothing else on the mobo should be adversely affected by my o/c-ing, right?

I'm looking at a Thermalright SLK-80A, and a Delta FFB0812SHE 80mm fan (and the Arctic Silver 3).

Has anyone had any experiences with this brand?

[Kuja- 0]

SLK-800 is one of the best heatsinks you can buy at the moment (although it weighs something in the order of half a kilo) and not many fans push more air than a delta will, but that comes at the cost of noise that will make your ears bleed.

With adequate case cooling, you won't be able to find a better combo for aircooling, but it will be noisy.

It can lockup due to heat (very bad, running an AXP above 60' for sustained periods, or letting the temp spike to the point where it shuts off is damaging to the processor) but most likely it's just locking up because it's not getting sufficient voltage for that overclock. Increase the voltage in .25v increments until the overclock you want is stable, while keeping the temperature below [optimally] 50c under 100% load.

Your motherboard has independent PCI/AGP clock generator, so you will receive a far larger performance increase by increasing the FSB as high as it will go whilst dropping the multiplier.

For e.g, the processor defaults to 133*13 = 1.73ghz

But changing that to 200*8.5 = 1.7ghz would yield a far greater performance increase because you're vastly increasing the memory bandwidth (if your memory can take it) and the bandwidth between the northbridge and cpu.

As you have it at the moment (133*15?) you would probably achieve more by increasing that to 200*10 instead of 133*16.

[Badgerboy 0]

Have a look here, and maybe here.

I also recommend the forums here.

I see that you are merely increasing your multiplier. As said above, you will experience better performance with a higher FSB.

One of the hurdles you have hit is temp buildup, but the CPU is probably becoming unstable the higher you push it. One way to counter this is to increase the voltage going through it. This will cause a heat build up however.

I hope for the love of god you are not O/C with the heataink that came with your CPU. If you are, turn it back down to stock speeds pronto

Here's my gaming rig's setup;

My gaming machine :

Abit AT7 MAX2 @ 200 FSB

Athlon XP2100 (1.7ghz) @ XP3200+ (2.3 Ghz) - 1.775 volts

TwinMOS 3200 DDR @ 400 mhz - 1.85 volts

Zalman Flower with AS3 and 120mm Papst, Passive Zalman NB cooler, and 4 Asaka case fans.

Temps :

CPU Idle : 32c

CPU Load : 45c

Get back to us on your cooling solution, and we can provide some tips. Additionally do you know if your 2100 is a throughbred or a palamino? If its a thourghbred your in luck, those things clock to insane heights! (Look at my overclock! )

[crassus 0]

LOL...Ahem.....Lemme clock this sucker back doooowwwwn!!!!

Thanks!  I will get back to you on this. But right now I must ask, should I leave the FSB tweaking until later also, when I get that HS and fan combo?

I don't recall how (I think by entering the series of number listed on the CPU box into a "calculator"), but I did confirm that my 2100 is a T'bred.

[Badgerboy 0]

Get your coolling solution, and then we can talk overclocking! If you do get the SLK 800, make sure that it fits your board.(It should have 4 holes near the CPU sockets)

If not, there are plenty of good heat sinks out there.

[crassus 0]

Okay, Badgerboy, I've finally got my cooling solution. My Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu arrived today. I also have Arctic Silver 3.

It's been recommended that before I o/c, I run the rig with the HSF and the goop about 72 hours, to let the goop really "melt" in. That's what I plan to do; after that how should I go about o/cing it. I know the values to punch in to the BIOS, but I don't know if I am to go for the high speed right off the bat and then burn it in with Sandra, or take it up gradually, running Sandra at each increment. This last option sounds a bit too stressfull for the machine to me, burning it in frequently.

[Badgerboy 0]

When you apply the Arctic Silver 3, make sure that you follow the intructions on the site. Don't blob the stuff on, as it will make your temps worse.

If your happy with the settings to run at, then step it up gradually. I usually use 5mhz increments on the FSB untils it becomes unstable. It's usually best to lower the multiplier firstm and then start jacking up the FSB. Once you find the high stable FSB, then start turning up the multiplier. If your machine starts falling over at low FSB speeds, try turning up the DRAM and CPU volatages a notch.

Alot of trial and error is needed, but tis worth it in the end. (And find where your CMOS reset jumper is on your board. You may need it!)

If you need any help, PM me, or even better, visit this forum and post your problem. They are very friendly and knowledgable.

[crassus 0]

Well, I've finally installed the Zalman and Arctic Silver....and after running it awhile at higher and higher settings, I've an XP2100 @ 144*15 = 2160MHz.

Did I do good, huh did I did? ;)

Also, according to Asus Probe (I've an A7N8X Dlx), my temps are 32 Celsius/ 89 Fahrenheit. Too high?

[Badgerboy 0]

Jolly good!

I take it you couldn't get the FSB any higher? If so, its probably your RAM thats holding you back. Do you know what it is? (PC2700/3200 etc).

Temps look good, but Asus probe is worse than useless. To be safe download Motherboard Monitor 5. Linkage

It's far more accurate, and has loads more features...

[crassus 0]

Yeah, I've 512MB of PC3200/400MHz.

Quote[/b] ]...and has loads more features...

Trouble with that is, more stuff to have to fiddle with. Right now MBM is reporting that my CPU Diode is 192-degress Celsius, and the CPU Socket is 33-degress Celsius. Should I be worried about the Diode reading? Do I need to make an adjustment somewhere? How?

Edit: I set "Scale for this temperature meter in the dashboard screen (VUM style)" to 100-degrees Celsius, and that lowered the reading for the CPU Diode to 28-degrees Celsius. I don't know if that was what I was supposed to do.....My rig's running fine at 33-degrees Cel for the CPU socket, but I've this nagging that something's gonna "blow."

[bn880 5]

Okay, Badgerboy, I've finally got my cooling solution. My Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu arrived today. I also have Arctic Silver 3.

I see you are serious! I just wanted to say I admire your fan. Is that copper in the middle where the die comes? If it is then that's one of the best heatsinks I have ever seen.

2160MHz not bad!

Don't forget to keep an eye on your MB capacitors if you start getting unstable after a while.... there is a major problem with some Taiwanese caps on Mobo's lately, I have just repaired 2 boards with that problem.

[crassus 0]

Quote[/b] ] If it is then that's one of the best heatsinks I have ever seen.

I don't know if it's my cooling (good HSF, maxed out in case fans), but all of sudden my rig's rebooting on it's own....The CPU Socket reading is now at 34-degrees Cel.

Oh, at POST it reads "XP2400+", but MBM reports CPU speed at 2160MHz. I don't get the two readings, as the XP2400 is at 2.0GHz...

[bn880 5]

That is a bit odd, shoud be at 2600+ now, perhaps it has something to do with the multiplier setting, as in 15 VS 16.

EDIT: So yeah, it makes sense, it just knows you are overclocking a 2400 via FSB and that multiplier setting.

[Badgerboy 0]

What sort of voltage are you putting through the CPU?

[crassus 0]

Sorry, boss, you got me there. Which of the Voltage readings on the dash am I looking at?

[Badgerboy 0]

Your better looking in the BIOS. I assume you have left it on stock. (1.65v I think).

If you start clokcing the processor up weithout increasing the voltage, it can fall over. Try raising it to 1.75 and see what happens. If all is well, try dropping it till your system is stable. This goes the same for the RAM as well. Bear in mind, the higher the voltage, the higher the heat generated.

I'm running a XP2100 at 2.3ghz (XP3200) (11.5 x 200).

The CPU voltage is 1.75, and the RAM is running at 1.775.

[crassus 0]

Well, I thought it was stable at 2.3GHz (200 * 11.5), with voltage at 1.75, but the real results came when I shut my rig down, then booted it up. Nothing. So I restart it, then it POSTs and Windows loads.

I tweaked the voltage up and down a bit with only the same results. It seems that 2.2Ghz is where it will hold.

MBM reports the speed at 2244MHz; CPU temp at 37 Celsius; CPU Diode at 29 Celsius.

Do you think it's the amount of RAM I have/don't have? Or is it just the type? Again, I've got the best for the A7N8X Dlx, v2.0, PC3200 400MHz.

I guess 2.2Ghz is respectable.

[drewb99 0]

Pop open your BIOS and see if you can loosen your memory timings a bit, and make sure it's running as it should (my K8V sets RAM to a 1:1 ratio by default, so my PC3200 was running at ~200mhz for the longest time without me noticing ).

[crassus 0]

That's not it. If done correctly, I'd set "Memory Timings" to "Aggressive." Or should I select "Menu?" But then what specific settings should I making in each of the timing areas?

What's happening right now, my rig will not POST on the first attempt; I have to shut it down and hit Power again. When it does POST, the system is reset to "xp 1500+" and "100Mhz"--though when I go back into BIOS the settings are as I left them, "200MHz", "11.5", etc.

Could it be I just have a "bad" 2100, unable to stay past XP2700+?

[crassus 0]

I would like to extend "Thanks" to all who helped me: I've got this puppy running at (according to Motherboard Monitor) 2253MHz, with temp at 37-degrees Cel before gaming.

Also, I've a new video card, ATi Radeon 9800 Pro! After playing OFP on a turd with only 8MB, and this home-built one with 64MB, I was in complete shock at how good it looked.

I plan to add another 512 of RAM (because I can); try out a RAID-0 with a couple of 36.7GB Raptors...

Please accept my sincere thanks.

[Badgerboy 0]

Always a pleasure. Make that hardware work as hard as it can for you!