BigToe and the AOpens???

[shoman94]

I'm wondering if there is any progress being made on the AX4C...I'm kinda fed up with the poor overclocking of this......I can only get 235 fsb to be stable with prime95 and using 5:4 at the moment I can only run 2.5,7,3,3 timings which is pretty **** poor.
I'm wondering though if maybe my PSU is not enough for what I have.....I used a PC power calc. and it says I should be using at least a 480W..I'm currently on a Antec 430 TRUEPOWER. Maybe I need more :confused:
I have the mobo, 2x512sticks, 3hdds, 6case fans, CPU and NBfans, and the 2 PSUfans, ti4200 and a TV card. Using a multi meter my voltages are at 12.02 at idle and load..... and 5.02 idle and load measured at the HDD plugs...on the CPU plug I get 12.02 at idle and 11.97 under load.....
It seems 235 and these timings are like a brick wall...I have to run the CPU at 1.650 in bios for complete stability btw.

Also, what's the latest on your AX4SPE?

Thanks

[Tony]

Regarding the AX4SPE Max..im testing a "special " bios, if you have read the aricle over at Toms HW you will know what im on about.

Power supply can make a huge difference so it may be worth you upgrading.Regarding the overclocking I have had the AX4Cmax at 270+fsb but it took a hell of a lot of tweaking to get it there, also it was not 100% stable but i did 3D it.

Aopen are still working on getting more speed from the boards so its just a question of hanging in there

[oldfart]

I run a 2.6C @ 257 FSB 3.34 GHz with a True330 on an IC7. :look:

[Tony]

It depends on other components also..a rig with one hdd and 1 cdrom will take a lot less juice than a fully loaded one.

[oldfart]

Yeah it does. IMHO, most people go WAY overkill on the PS though. I put my specs in my sig.....lets see if they show up:scratch:

[shoman94]

Well, I went to a site that had a power calculator for and inputed all my stuff.....I'm lacking on the 12v side.....My True 430 puts out 20A and according to them I would need 20A with just a 2.6A Northwood chip....so I'm thinking that maybe it's holding me back. I don't know....I wish I had a 550 just to try....I might just order one and use the 430 when I build my HTPC.

OldFart.....I can't even run my ram at the low timings your at. These new chips are a whole new ballgame.

[oldfart]

I've seen that calculator and I think it's way off. My system flunks it but runs 100 % stable. I cant imagine a True430 holding back any system.

2x512mb Corsair PC3500C2PT(DDR376@2.5,7,2,2)???

I dont get it. You should be able to do WAY better than that! You should easily be able to run 2-2-2-5. What Vdimm? I have to run 2.8 V.

[shoman94]

I know...that's what I thought....I can run 1:1 at 230fsb giving my ddr460 with 2.5,7,3,3 timings. I get memtest errors and prime fails if I run less than cas2.5,7,2,2. I really think that AOpen has some timing issues to work out. They've issued 4 bios's so far with 1.04a being the best so far but it's still not up to par yet. Plus I got one of the first 2.8C's which is not doing very good ...I have to run 1.650 right now.....shouldn't be. @ 240fsb...I can do everything except prime...it will fail usually within the first 5-10 tests at 1.675v. If I go to 1.700v it locks up the PC.:stop: :mad:
I keep hoping for a magic bios.....:yummy:

[oldfart]

Humph....I can see getting a CPU that is not the best overclocker (its happened to me MANY times), but the ram thing is very odd.

I just thought of something. Are the two sticks matched? Corsair has rev 1.1 and 2.2 memory. 1.1 is Samsung, 2.2 is Winbond. They both work fine, but will not work well together AT ALL.

[shoman94]

Originally posted by oldfart
Humph....I can see getting a CPU that is not the best overclocker (its happened to me MANY times), but the ram thing is very odd.

I just thought of something. Are the two sticks matched? Corsair has rev 1.1 and 2.2 memory. 1.1 is Samsung, 2.2 is Winbond. They both work fine, but will not work well together AT ALL.

They rev's you speak of are for the XMS3200. XMS3500 are v1.1 only and use winbond bh-5 chips. I ran them alone and it's still the same. Actually I can run ddr466....in dual mode I can boot into XP at 462 and run mem benches but it's stable at 460ddr. It's gotta be a AOpen chipset issue.....I'm gonna play somemore tonite.
This is messed up though.....at 2.8v I have to run 2.5,7,3,3 but if I drop the voltage to 2.7 I can run 2.5,7,2,2:confused:
I found that late last night...so after work tonite I'll try lower voltage again. I know it's not cooling as I have 6 case only fans.....:rolleyes:

[oldfart]

Something is amiss. Did you try one stick at a time in SC mode? If its not the ram, something is wrong with that mobo. DDR376 @ 2-2-2-5 @ 2.5 Vdimm should be a no brainer.

[shoman94]

I hear you.....I will test it tonite again. I did check them in single channel but I was using 1:1 when checking...They work fine in 1:1 mode. 5:4 sucks so far on this board.

[shoman94]

Well....I tested every voltage with 2,5,2,2..2.5v to 2.8v fail prime....some instances of XP BSOD's....

Lowest fully stable timings I could get was 2.5,6,2,2 @ 2.675v.....
That's it...best I can get.....Been prime95'ing now for 3 hrs....I tranfered music...surf'd and burnt some cd's..........
All other timings lower than this and at whatever voltage failed withing 5 minutes.....:beat:

[oldfart]

Either your ram is bad or that mobo is flaky. Have others with that mobo had the same issue?

[shoman94]

Not to sure.....but I do know that it's not the ram....I can run at DDR400 1:1with 2,5,2,2 timings...with 2.7 volts...
They are getting better....before the 1.04a bios...I could only run 2.5,7,3,3....:wack: :wack:

I'm thinking about getting another motherboard...but everyboard has issues. The performance is nothing to squint about....It does very well for what I have....Clock for clock....I can post the same or better results. It's just the OC'ing that is driving me crazy.....I need a new bios....:deviltail
People DO underestimate the performance of this motherboard....IMHO.

[shoman94]

Well, I got her to 249 fsb.
I'm liking this board...looks like when I get my IS7 back i'll just sell it.

BigToe..where are ya??:wave:
Anything about a bios soon?:yummy:

SHO

[Tony]

Heard nothing as of yet..as soon as i do I will let you know.

[shoman94]

Originally posted by bigtoe
Heard nothing as of yet..as soon as i do I will let you know.

Sweet.....By chance have you been doing anymore testing of the AX4C? Have you thought about a recap?

SHO