Overclocking MSI nForce

[blitz]

Ok, I have:

MSI K7N420 nForce
XP 1700+ (locked)
2 x 256mb Corsair PC2400 CAS2
VANTEC CCK-6027D

I know the HSF isn't too great, but its doing the job so far.

I figure I can Overclock a bit without unlocking the CPU by changing the FSP.

Anyway, how should I go about doing this? (never overclocked before)

Should I just slowely raise the FSB until the temps get too high, or something stops working? (which also raises the RAM)

Also, what temp should I try to keep? Normally its about 45C, which I know isn't great, but I figure things should work without a problem below 55c or so.

[blitz]

Oh, and Vcore voltage? +.10 (1.85) ?

[The Therion]

If you keep it unlocked ,you will have to play with the FSB alone.
Raising the FSB speeds up everything (cpu,hd,svga etc).
Also it destabilizes the machine.
To stabilize it you need to raise the voltage (cpu and RAM).
Raising the voltage ,raises temperatures.
It should work at 50 but its something you will see for your system by yourself.
You already have 45?....hm....is it me or does this seem a bit high for a Palomino ? What do u mean "normaly its around 45" ? When you're at the desktop,on the internet,writing a document? or playing a game?

[The Therion]

the vCore will have to be raised when you see that it gets unstable.Or you can max it out from the start.But i wouldnt advise that in your case since you dont have the best cooling at the moment...

[blitz]

actually it seems to stay at 45-46 at all times. going up maybe 1 or two when playing quake 2.. which is the only game I do play. Even when ripping a cd, etc, it still stays around 45-46. The case temp is 25c.

[blitz]

Well, right now its at +.10 (8.5) and my temp is 47, but I didn't do any fsp changes right now.

FSB/DDRAM/AGP
133/266/66

[blitz]

Oh, and how do I check stability?

just look at temps?

or how the computer runs (see if there are any problems)

or is there a good program that can test this?

[The Therion]

You can easily check stability,say by running Quake 3 or some other heavy 3d game.

Of course if it freezes/crashes with simple tasks ,thats a bad sign !

Ultimately you can make Quake3 loop its demos continuously.This way you can check stability over longer time periods.

But the best stability test is Prime.This engages the cpu in mathematical tasks that bring it to its knees! If it doesnt fail this test,it will never crash because of temperatures etc.

Then again....it could crash after 5 or 10 hours of this test,but never crash on anything else! Such is Prime's intensity!

[blitz]

Ok, thats what I figured. Sicne when I originally tried to change my settings from 133/200/166 to 133/266/66 my etehrnet crapped out. At the tiem I had no idea what todo, but today I just tried raising the voltage.. which worked :)

Now I have to try raising the FSB... should I go a step at a time, or just jump around a bit?

[blitz]

Oh, where can I get Prime?

[NorthernYankee]

Grab it here http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

--NY

[blitz]

iS theer an amount of tiem (not too long, hopefully) that I can test stability for where.. say like 15 minutes or something, and keep doing that untill I get an error, then lower my FSB a bit, and do a longer test to find what I am going to leave my comp at?

[sptw]

Hi Blitz.

Well, i have a MSI 420Pro, and i can tell you, that this board is not so friendly to overclok.Look, to manage mult. you have to use bios 2.1 or 2.2.There's 4 bios and the best is 2.2.Take care when update bios.If you're using a on board video, it is better to change the heatsink and put a fun on it.With bios 2.0 you have to use mem on slot 1 and 3, all others bios, you have to use slot 1 and 2.I have the same configuration as you, and i can get 145/290/72.I'm on raid0 with 2 maxtor D740dx and i think this HD don't like overclok, if you are using different HD maybe you can get something better.Dont worry about the temp.This board works with 45-50ºC on Idle.I think MSI or Nvidia don't implemented Halt disconnect on it.Unfortunately there's no much option on memory to manage it, only cas.We have to wait for new bioses.

I hope this help you.

[blitz]

Hmm, well, not to sound too stupid, but how do I find my biod version (pretty sure its 2.1 now... but not 100% sure). And I have my Ram in 1 and 3... so I guess that is abig deal.. and may be why my SiSoft Memory Bandwidth Benchmark is a little low.. or was untill I brought it to 140/280/70 (which is as high as I can go, stable)

[sptw]

No, of course it is not a stupid question.MSI make a confusion and put a code instead a version number bios on the first screen when you boot the PC.Look, my MSI machine is without a Monitor for now, i had to make a RMA on it.It came with as defective device.Mine came with 2.0 bios version.IF you are on 2.1 bios version and you are using slot 1 and 3, this is why you are getting SiSoft Memory Bandwidth Benchmark so low.Change it to slot 1 and 2.I have a Corsair PC2400 too, and i get, if i remember it well, with 145 mhz on fsb, a 1907/1872.Let me advise you one thing, i really don't know what's version of bios do you have, but boards that came with 2.0 bios versios came with wrong manual, get a new manual on MSI site.There's a lot of thing wrong on this manual that came with MSI 420Pro, take care with the jumpers and connections.Maybe your manual is good.Another thing is :take a new driver from Nvidia site to this board.Take this driver <a href="http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=nforce_drivers">here</a>.It's better than MSI site.It came with 23.10 video driver and better improvement on 5.1 DD sound.

[blitz]

Ok, according to MSI Live Update, my bios is 2.00.

[blitz]

edited

[blitz]

Alright... MSI apparently doesn't have a bios upgrade... anyone where I can get it?

[sptw]

You're wrong.MSI have a bios.Take it <a href="http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/bios.php?model=MS-6373">here</a>.2.2 is the best.One advise, don't try to update back to 2.0 bios version.A lot of ppl loose your bioses because that.MSI declare that they fixed it with a new installer, but it's better to think before to do that.In my opinion 2.2 is a good choice.And, please, don't forget to take the correct manual, and check all your jumpers(CMOS jumper and JBAT jumper) with this new manual.Ok, take this manual <a href="http://www.msi.com.tw/support/manual/manual.php?model=MS-6373">here</a>

[blitz]

Yeah, I had found the bios.. but its version 2.3 should I get that or 2.2? (I ment MSI didn't have it in the Live Update ****)... But, I'm on windows 2000... no FAT32, so how do I boot up and execute the file off my HD? do I have to put it on a floppy?

[sptw]

Hi again Blitz.

Take 2.2.Yes put it on a floppy.Take <a href="http://www.viahardware.com/faq/kt7/kt7faq.htm">DRDFLASH.EXE</a> on download section.DrDOS is a utility to make a bootable floppy designed for BIOS flashing. Put a blank floppy in the drive then run DRDFLASH from your harddrive.After that extract the bios to your floppy.It ask you if you'd like to rewrite autoexec.bat, say yes.Then, boot with this cd and flash to your new bios.Look, give a try to this 2.2 bios.Some people have a problem when adjust ratio with unlocked Althon XP CPU using 2.2 bios version, if it is your case, try 2.3 bios version.2.2 works for most of the people.Don't forget to clear cmos after you flash to the new bios.Look for the manual on line for correct position about CMOS jumper.Forget the manual that came with your board.It's wrong.Look, 1 and 2 is a normal position.To clear CMOS is a 2 and 3 position.Finally, don't forget to change your memory sticks to slot 1 and 2.

[blitz]

ok, I flashed to 2.3 (actually by mistake, I put 2.3 on the floppy instead of 2.2).. anyway, I figure that should be fine.. BUT I changed my RAM to slots 1 + 2... and I set vcore to 1.75... and 133/266/66. And tried SiSoft Sandra Memory Bandwidth... and my score was 1710/1665 which according to my knowledge really sucks.

Something wrong?

[blitz]

ok, 145/290/72 8.5 Vcore and at about 52C...

Memory: 1862/1817

Still seems real low to me.

[blitz]

ok, that was unstable.

140/280/70 1.80 Vcore 49c

Memory: 1796/1804

thats lower then the reference nForce 420D PC2100U!!!

shouldn't I be a good amount higher then the reference? (considering my fsb is up higher, and I have faster ram)

[sptw]

Blitz, go to the Bios and disable DRam Precharge and look for you cas memory setup.If it is on auto, change it to Cas 2.The better Bios for memory is 2.0.There's a little difference compared to 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, but 2.0 Bios version have some bugs.Don't worry about the temp.Mine's is under 50ºC too.This board run so hot.Blitz, look, don't forget that this board don't have any other options to tweak the memory, and i think that syssoft is not calibrate yet for nvidia chipset.I think in next bios , probably we can see something more on memory setup.

[blitz]

ok, did that...1799/1756

[sptw]

Well, i think that there's nothing to do Blitz.Your configuration is correct.I think we have to wait for new Bioses.

[4.6POWER]

how do you guys like these boards?

[blitz]

good video, sound, ethernet for $150... runs good for me, overclocks like ****.

[sptw]

Ditto!