A7N8X-DX Rev 2 - 180 tops - I hope not

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dgk

Barton 2500+ unlocked.

I guess crappy memory - Nanya from a PC fair, supposedly 400mhz. No
bh-5 chips I bet. Decent PSU (Enlight 420). Gets up to 180 fine. Not
over that, the nice post lady tells me the memory failed. Dropped
multiplier to 10, no better. Raised it to 11.5, ok. 12 fails P95.

I have no idea what to use for the memory settings. I think it is
3-3-3-8. How do I set the Memory Frequency bios option? Choices are
Auto, By SPD, and increments from 50% to 200%? It is Auto right now.

I figured Nanya isn't a top name brand but is better than generic.
Maybe not. I would have thought 200 at least. I bumped vcore up a
notch or two. No difference. Bumped DDR from 2.6 to 2.7. No
difference.

CPU temp (socket by MM) is 33C using a Zalman 7000AlCu HSF on high
speed. Any suggestions eagerly awaited.
 
Even with my expensive Mushkin Level 2 (1x512MB) I had problems
getting to 200. I finally found that DIMM slot #3 (furthest from CPU)
worked for me. Your memory should be synched with CPU FSB (100%); not
sure if auto does the same thing or not (I manually set mine at 100%
after reading through numerous forums). I can run the Mushkin at 2-2-2
at 205 with no apparent problems.
 
Not familiar with the board - (I dream of an nforce chipset) but is the
pci/agp locked to the fsb? - so it is being taken out of spec by the fsb
increase - systems tend to fall over at about that speed if the pci is
locked to multiplier at 166fsb. If so set it to 33/66 manually.

I would try manual settings as the memory should be at 200mhz same as the
cpu - which I think is 100% - otherwise it may be running it at auto at 5/6
(166/200mhz) ratio - which means that you take the memory to 214mhz (with
fsb at 180) - which as generic ram it might not be able to do.

Try the memory timings by all means - the manual should say how to set the
various options, but it should run at 200mhz at cas 3.0, I would have
thought if it is going to do it.
 
dgk said:
Barton 2500+ unlocked.

I guess crappy memory - Nanya from a PC fair, supposedly 400mhz. No
bh-5 chips I bet. Decent PSU (Enlight 420). Gets up to 180 fine. Not
over that, the nice post lady tells me the memory failed. Dropped
multiplier to 10, no better. Raised it to 11.5, ok. 12 fails P95.

I have no idea what to use for the memory settings.
Click to expand...

I have A7N8X rev 1.06
My memory works great with 100%
(moreover performance is best with this setting),
I've had many problems using settings diferent than 100%.
I have generic Kingston ValueRAM PC2700 and Burt 2500+
They work fine @ 166MHz 6,3,3 2,5 (2,6V)
185 MHz @ 6,3,3 2,5 (2,7V) (CPU x 12,5=2314Mhz 1,7V)
200 MHz @ 8,3,3 3 (2,8V) (CPU x 11 = 2200 MHz 1,675)
(CPU x 11,5=2300 MHz 1,7)
 
Even with my expensive Mushkin Level 2 (1x512MB) I had problems
getting to 200. I finally found that DIMM slot #3 (furthest from CPU)
worked for me. Your memory should be synched with CPU FSB (100%); not
sure if auto does the same thing or not (I manually set mine at 100%
after reading through numerous forums). I can run the Mushkin at 2-2-2
at 205 with no apparent problems.
Click to expand...

I have 256 in 3 and 256 in 1. I thought I'd split it that way for any
benefit from dual channel. Maybe I'll try moving some around.
 
Not familiar with the board - (I dream of an nforce chipset) but is the
pci/agp locked to the fsb? - so it is being taken out of spec by the fsb
increase - systems tend to fall over at about that speed if the pci is
locked to multiplier at 166fsb. If so set it to 33/66 manually.
Click to expand...

I think all the nForce boards have the pci and agp locked. This one
does.
I would try manual settings as the memory should be at 200mhz same as the
cpu - which I think is 100% - otherwise it may be running it at auto at 5/6
(166/200mhz) ratio - which means that you take the memory to 214mhz (with
fsb at 180) - which as generic ram it might not be able to do.
Click to expand...

I'lll try locking it at 100%.
 
I'm running 2500+ @ 3200+ using 1gig Nanya Elixir. Runs perfect but
YMMV.
_________________________
Click to expand...

I wonder if I have Nanya Elixir. Mine is PC3200 400mhz. Cost was $44
for 256mb.
 
I have A7N8X rev 1.06
My memory works great with 100%
(moreover performance is best with this setting),
I've had many problems using settings diferent than 100%.
I have generic Kingston ValueRAM PC2700 and Burt 2500+
They work fine @ 166MHz 6,3,3 2,5 (2,6V)
185 MHz @ 6,3,3 2,5 (2,7V) (CPU x 12,5=2314Mhz 1,7V)
200 MHz @ 8,3,3 3 (2,8V) (CPU x 11 = 2200 MHz 1,675)
(CPU x 11,5=2300 MHz 1,7)
Click to expand...

I was sort of scared to bump the DDR voltage to 2.8 but I guess that's
what the memory needs to operate at 200 MHz? I could up the CPU
voltage up a bit also I guess. Well, worth a shot but I suspect the
memory should be better.
 
dgk said:
Barton 2500+ unlocked.

I guess crappy memory - Nanya from a PC fair, supposedly 400mhz. No
bh-5 chips I bet. Decent PSU (Enlight 420). Gets up to 180 fine. Not
over that, the nice post lady tells me the memory failed. Dropped
multiplier to 10, no better. Raised it to 11.5, ok. 12 fails P95.

I have no idea what to use for the memory settings. I think it is
3-3-3-8. How do I set the Memory Frequency bios option? Choices are
Auto, By SPD, and increments from 50% to 200%? It is Auto right now.

I figured Nanya isn't a top name brand but is better than generic.
Maybe not. I would have thought 200 at least. I bumped vcore up a
notch or two. No difference. Bumped DDR from 2.6 to 2.7. No
difference.

CPU temp (socket by MM) is 33C using a Zalman 7000AlCu HSF on high
speed. Any suggestions eagerly awaited.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your Barton 2500 can do 400Mhz, as
it's only rated at 333Mhz. Some do, some don't.

Memory should be locked at 100% (of FSB) - as it's best to run in sync.

AGP needs locking to 66MHZ manually in the BIOS.
 
dgk said:
I was sort of scared to bump the DDR voltage to 2.8 but I guess that's
what the memory needs to operate at 200 MHz? I could up the CPU
voltage up a bit also I guess. Well, worth a shot but I suspect the
memory should be better.
Click to expand...

Run memory frequency sync (100%) with CPU.

Use SPD (or looser) memory timings.

Lower the CPU multi so the overall CPU frequency is at or below stock CPU
speed (to eliminate it as source of errors).

Increase the VDIMM to 2.8 and use Memtest86 as an initial validation. If
your RAM is sold as PC3200, it shouldn't need 2.8v to make it work; return
it if still an option. If you're stuck with it, then you could also try
using a modified BIOS.
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15505
The modded bios adds option to increase vdimm to 2.9v (unlike the vdd
setting, this uncovered vdimm setting actually works when measure using
multimeter at vdimm measurement point on the board).
 
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your Barton 2500 can do 400Mhz, as
it's only rated at 333Mhz. Some do, some don't.

Memory should be locked at 100% (of FSB) - as it's best to run in sync.

AGP needs locking to 66MHZ manually in the BIOS.
Click to expand...

Thanks. The problem is, as long as I suspect that the memory is the
problem then I don't know if it's that or the Barton. I will lock AGP
and lock memory. Also bump DDR setting.
 
Run memory frequency sync (100%) with CPU.

Use SPD (or looser) memory timings.

Lower the CPU multi so the overall CPU frequency is at or below stock CPU
speed (to eliminate it as source of errors).

Increase the VDIMM to 2.8 and use Memtest86 as an initial validation. If
your RAM is sold as PC3200, it shouldn't need 2.8v to make it work; return
it if still an option. If you're stuck with it, then you could also try
using a modified BIOS.
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15505
The modded bios adds option to increase vdimm to 2.9v (unlike the vdd
setting, this uncovered vdimm setting actually works when measure using
multimeter at vdimm measurement point on the board).
Click to expand...

Are you saying that the standard bios (1007 on mine) doesn't actually
change the memory voltage? Or maybe in one place but not another.

Also, I spoke to the memory company and they say that the number of
PCB layers is as important as the chips used. So maybe my memory is 4
layers and they will get me something with 6. We'll see. I still want
to see if I can get the bh-5 chips. That's what everyone seems to
like.

I'm getting near having the system become useful so I'm backing it up
with Ghost just to make sure I don't lose all that work if the drive
ends up corrupted!
 
dgk said:
Are you saying that the standard bios (1007 on mine) doesn't actually
change the memory voltage? Or maybe in one place but not another.
Click to expand...

RAM Voltage adjustment works.

The Uber BIOS uncovers a chipset voltage option, which does not work.

Ben
 
dgk said:
Thanks. The problem is, as long as I suspect that the memory is the
problem then I don't know if it's that or the Barton. I will lock AGP
and lock memory. Also bump DDR setting.
Click to expand...

You can run RAM and FSB out of synch to determine which is likely your
problem.

Ben
 
You can run RAM and FSB out of synch to determine which is likely your
problem.

Ben
Click to expand...

I'm trying to remember the bios settings. The one in question would be
the Memory Frequency setting? I can set the memory to 80% of FSB and
see if it works, then lower FSB and raise memory to 110% or so? That
should isolate it.

I got the memory from Coast to Coast and they're pretty good about
allowing RMAs and exchanges. They are willing to give me better memory
for somewhat more money. Probably the best Samsung. They don't carry
Mushkin Black or OCZ EL or even Kingston. But let's see what they have
and how it behaves. It's apparently 6 layer PCB instead of 4. I guess
more layers is better.
 
dgk said:
Are you saying that the standard bios (1007 on mine) doesn't actually
change the memory voltage? Or maybe in one place but not another.
Click to expand...

Standard BIOS works fine up to 2.8v vdimm. The uber bios gives you 2.9v
vdimm max.

The *vdd* (chipset) voltage option in the uber bios does not work.
 
Just in case you haven't tried switching around the memory sticks -
try one at a time in different slots and see if that makes a
difference.
 
Just in case you haven't tried switching around the memory sticks -
try one at a time in different slots and see if that makes a
difference.
Click to expand...

I haven't done that and will. I also want to try just a single stick.
I've read that dual channel doesn't do much for AMD stuff and it might
be better to just go with one 512 rather than two 256. So many
options, so little time.
 
Corsair XMS mem is the shit, it was 260 bucks for 2x256meg but i can run my
barton 2500 at 221x11.5! (3400+?), 2.08 cpu volts on water ;-) Ram speed is
100% (442mhz) in dual channel mode. Timings are 6-3-2-2.0 If anyone knows
why i cn't get my voltage higher then 2.08 please read my post above!
Thanks.
Dirty Harry
 
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