AMD3700 Sandy O/c on Asus A8N32SLI m/b

[GeForce]

The 2x1mb cache X2s weren't ever built on an E4 stepping. The two steppings for them were the E6 and F2.

The 3800+, 4200+ and 4600+ were manufactured on the E4 stepping.

A 2x1mb E4 Athlon wasn't ever built.

Jon

[congo]

Which is why I posted above, to point that out. True San Diegos are E4 silicon, a defining factor, and therefore shouldn't be confused with other core types. While a Toledo can be compared to a proposed dual E4/2mb L2 cpu, the latter doesn't exist. Toledo's do not appear to tolerate high speeds as readily as a San Diego does.

[GeForce]

Yep I do agree with you. Would have been one nice CPU!

Jon

[GeForce]

Aha, I have found the answer!

The Opteron 180 Socket 939 was produced on the E4 stepping.

If you didn't know, its the 2.4Ghz Dual Core model. 2x1mb L2 cache.

Mainly this thing was built on E6 but part number 371-0885 was the (rare) E4 stepping version. Must clock like anything!

Jon

[cheesegrater]

Opterons are great overclockers. Do you need to buy an Opteron board for it, or will a 939 that supports 64/X2/FX work?

[NicksFXHouse]

Opterons are great overclockers. Do you need to buy an Opteron board for it, or will a 939 that supports 64/X2/FX work?

Its the BIOS that must support it. As long as the board matches the socket design of the processor, the motherboard BIOS must have the stepping information programmed into it in order to recognize the processor and use all its abilities.

The mentioned Opy is the only one I would go for. They all tend to be good clockers and solid processors but the 180 E4 (assuming you can get it) is the one to buy if your interested in that line.

If not, the 5000+ in AM2 is the next best

[congo]

Nice find GeForce.

I thought the 5000+ had an odd multiplier, therefore reducing memory bandwidth on socket am2, but then that could even be an advantage to an overclocker setting a memory ratio I suppose.

[NicksFXHouse]

Nice find GeForce.

I thought the 5000+ had an odd multiplier, therefore reducing memory bandwidth on socket am2, but then that could even be an advantage to an overclocker setting a memory ratio I suppose.

You are correct, the oddball multiplier actually has some advantages. Before A64 using the memory ratio features of a BIOS had negative effects on performance. A64 systems dont care about that and it is actually better to run 5:3 with high FSB and rework other settings than it is to run 1:1.

Max stable CPU Speed + Max FSB + Highest HTT (without going over 2000) + Max stable Memory speed + 1T CMD = best performance

If you lower any one of those, especially FSB, real world performance drops.

[Jimbo]

Sorry for me to get in the way, but this has made a very nice read Chaps. Shows me exactly what i'm looking to aim for and how the expertise in these part of the forums backs my idea. I'm running a AMD 64 4000+ and ive been getting help from a very good friend of mine and so far im at 2.75ghz, with a VERY stable system. I'm starting to understand the in's and outs of Overclocking, and the idea that hardware choices need careful decsion making. Hopefully with the help of my friend we should be able to get some good solid performance out of my processor.
I have recently found a major boost in perforance in GENERAL computing with these overclocking tweeks and in my gaming performance. I always thought overclocking was just "Something" that could be done, but once ive started to get the idea etc of how overcloking works, and what ACTUALLY can be made by a gentle overclock, its quite impressive.

I'm currently looking into purchasing a new heatsink/Fan for my processor so i can get some more solid and gentle performance out of it.

One again, cheers Chaps for the interesting thread.

James

[luke]

Hi N.Nick
Thank you for your detailed explanations in helping us aspiring overclockers.

With Congo's help sometime ago (but do not blame him for my failures), I tried to understand these operations.

In my own way somehow managed to raise my standard 2.12 up to 2.55ghz, but somehow I did not use all those settings available on my A8N32SLI deluxe that you used.

How could I hit such a fluke after setting the figures below and get it stable on prime95 test for 1hr. As I have no real need for Occlocking and tried only for interest, I stopped the test, and reverted to defaults.

The mobo & cpu temps were around 30 & 50c, but Congo complained of Vcore beeing hi 1.50v (normal shows 1.46v), with only CPU fan in the box, and open side panels.

The +12v always around 11.97v (SpeedFan).

Please note in my setup below, AMD 3500+ & low grade ram.

PS. my manual's bios settings bear no resemblance to the bios on the screen, and even the downloaded manual is not quite the same.

[NicksFXHouse]

Hi N.Nick
Thank you for your detailed explanations in helping us aspiring overclockers.

With Congo's help sometime ago (but do not blame him for my failures), I tried to understand these operations.

In my own way somehow managed to raise my standard 2.12 up to 2.55ghz, but somehow I did not use all those settings available on my A8N32SLI deluxe that you used.

How could I hit such a fluke after setting the figures below and get it stable on prime95 test for 1hr. As I have no real need for Occlocking and tried only for interest, I stopped the test, and reverted to defaults.

The mobo & cpu temps were around 30 & 50c, but Congo complained of Vcore beeing hi 1.50v (normal shows 1.46v), with only CPU fan in the box, and open side panels.

The +12v always around 11.97v (SpeedFan).

Please note in my setup below, AMD 3500+ & low grade ram.

PS. my manual's bios settings bear no resemblance to the bios on the screen, and even the downloaded manual is not quite the same.

Im not 100% sure what you are asking.. but on the subject of the BIOS settings not being the same, verify the BIOS number and date on that BIOS from the information screen inthe BIOS. If it is not MAY 06 your running an old BIOS and it needs to be upgraded. If you have never flashed a BIOS you will need instructions however since Asus provides a very simple BIOS flash utility at boot (ALT-F2) it is not hard to accomplish.

[NicksFXHouse]

Aha, I have found the answer!

The Opteron 180 Socket 939 was produced on the E4 stepping.

If you didn't know, its the 2.4Ghz Dual Core model. 2x1mb L2 cache.

Mainly this thing was built on E6 but part number 371-0885 was the (rare) E4 stepping version. Must clock like anything!

Jon

Unfortunately the E4 180 dual is no longer produced by AMD... the best you can do is the E4 150 single. There may still be some on them market. i am sure there is, finding it and making sure you get what you order is a different story.

[luke]

Regarding the BIOS, I found it to be of Oct 05, about the date I bought the mobo with its nanual.

I read in this manual about AFUDOS for saving the existing bios, and the Asus EZ flash utility.

I downloaded the 2/8/06 v.1303 and carried out the above, booting & using ALT+F2, it went up to "Reading file A8N32SLI.rom" giving 3 recurring beebs for a while so I restarted the PC and wonder where I went wrong.

The file (1mb) in the floppy is not reported corrupted.

How long it takes to complete the flash, on avearage?

Regards to overclocking, I tried on mine your listed 10 twicks but it would not boot, perhaps due to different CPU. Then tried again my 7 setings and again got up to 2.55ghz stable for 2.5hrs when I aborted the test.
Is this the wrong way to go about overclocking?     luke

[NicksFXHouse]

[quote]Regarding the BIOS, I found it to be of Oct 05, about the date I bought the mobo with its nanual.

I read in this manual about AFUDOS for saving the existing bios, and the Asus EZ flash utility.

I downloaded the 2/8/06 v.1303 and carried out the above, booting & using ALT+F2, it went up to "Reading file A8N32SLI.rom" giving 3 recurring beebs for a while so I restarted the PC and wonder where I went wrong.

The file (1mb) in the floppy is not reported corrupted.

How long it takes to complete the flash, on avearage?

Regards to overclocking, I tried on mine your listed 10 twicks but it would not boot, perhaps due to different CPU. Then tried again my 7 setings and again got up to 2.55ghz stable for 2.5hrs when I aborted the test.
Is this the wrong way to go about overclocking?

[luke]

PC restarted OK.

Well, not exactly, it was called A8N321303.ROM, & just draged it in to floppy.

But will rename it as you say & Extract it in the floppy, just in case it matters.

will post again.