Beating the FSB hole

[coxmaster]

As im sure some or many of you know the 680i LT has a major FSB hole.. which makes it quite difficult to overclock much. Anybody know if there is anyway to get beyond it? I can easily OC to 2.7ghz.. but once i get to a 400mhz FSB i cant get any further. The computer will either not boot up.. freeze on boot.. or it will give an error saying "System BIOS is in safe mode, please reset CPU frequency"

Anybody know how i can get past this?? Or am i stuck

[Goliath182]

You could try this. ;-)
http://bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24228

[jellyrole]

That's a good idea to try when you get your new case!

[coxmaster]

Just a few problems.. 1) Mine already has a default 333mhz FSB.. 2) Mine isnt a Q6600.. or even a Q

[Goliath182]

Works with C2D. Didnt know yours was 333. I dont think there really is a way to get higher clocks with your processor then, since you cant make the multi higher.

[coxmaster]

Dang.. i was hoping there might be a trick to getting the FSB on the mobo to go higher. If it wasn't for the stupid limited multiplier it wouldnt be any trouble getting it higher.

Also, i was just looking at the Nvidia Dynamic BIOS control section of the control panel.. it gives me the option to change the multiplier to anything. What would happen if i changed it to 8x rather than 7?? I dont want to try it unless i know its not gonna kill something

[Goliath182]

Im not 100% sure but id be willing to bet that it wouldnt change the multi. I think its low risk to try but maybe try and see on Google if anyones got that to work.

[coxmaster]

Yah, im pretty sure it wouldnt actually change anything.. but im not sure i want to risk it. Maybe somebody from XFX will see this and have an official answer..

[Raptorfury]

link the memory . after doin that i was able to reach 450 fsb easily . when i did have the 680i

[coxmaster]

Link i've tried that also.. Thats usually when i get the "system is in safe mode" error. My RAM should easily OC b/c its OCZ Platinum with some pretty good heatsinks. Ive tried in auto linked mode.. and all the different link modes, none of them seem to work

[werty316]

Not much you can really do other than setting the FSB:memory to linked else get a different/better overclocking board(P35 for example).

Have you messed around with any board voltages?

You should try dropping the multiplier to a lower value(6 or 5) to see how far the FSB on your board can go.

You should be able to hit a FSB higher than 400MHz.

[coxmaster]

Ive tried the multiplier at its lowest (6) matched up with an FSB over 550.. still no luck. I havent changed any board voltages because i dont know what to change them too, any suggestions?

[werty316]

Well not changing any of the board's voltages could be the reason why you are hitting a FSB wall.

Try bumping up the FSB voltage to 1.3V and if that doens't help you might need to increase the SPP voltage too.

You also might need to increase the vcore.

[coxmaster]

The FSB Voltage is on auto.. its running at 1.4 right now. The SPP is running at 1.2 also on Auto..

The FSB hole is common on all the 680's especially the LT.. so im afraid i might not be able to get past it.

[werty316]

Try increasing the SPP and CPU voltage.

I did a quick skim of a few XFX 680i LT board reviews and all were able to get past a FSB of 400MHz so...

BTW getting a FSB of 550MHz isn't gonna happen.

[darkorb]

im at 333 and no problems yet

my goal is to hit 400x9 so ill be trying that within the week

[coxmaster]

Well.. I cant believe it but the OC worked! Its running at 425x7.. I upped the CPU voltage from 1.2 to 1.35 and my temps only went up 3º. They are still pretty good.. even under load. I set the FSB to 1.4 rather than auto.. and SPP still is 1.2 but its running perfectly fine for now. Its a pretty good OC also, compared to what i was getting. Im happy with it for now!

[werty316]

That great to hear and I'm quite sure you can go even further, thats if you want to of course, but keep your eye on the board temperatures as the stock 680i LT cooling ain't that great.

[coxmaster]

Any idea how to monitor the NB/SB temps?? I cant seem to find them anywhere

[werty316]

Give Speenfan, nTune, or Everest a try.

[coxmaster]

nTune doesnt like my system :( The newest Nvidia System Monitor doesnt show those temps. SpeedFan is only showing System, CPU, AUX, Core0 and Core1..

I'll download everest and give it a shot

[coxmaster]

Ok.. got everest installed and running. Its showing the MCP at 51ºC and the motherboard at 32ºC.

Whats a good temp for the MCP?

Just noticing some other stuff in Everest.. What is considered good for the 3.3V and 5V lines?? Mine are just a little under on a brandnew 600W PSU (yes i know its overkill)

[srpeters18]

Your 3.3 in my estimation should be at least 3.25. 5 volt no less than 4.95. As for temps, all the nVidia reference boards seem to run the MCP about 50 degrees or so with all the stock cooling.

[coxmaster]

The 3.3 line is at 3.26
The 5V line is at 4.63 according to HWMonitor and 4.94 according to Everest
The 12V line is at 11.77

This is a brand new SteathlXStream 600W from OCZ

[werty316]

If your system is stable then those readings are off like most software based voltage readings and if those voltage readings are right, most likely they are not, I would get worried. A voltmeter would give a more accurate voltage reading.

[coxmaster]

Ahh ok.. i had a feeling that would be the case. Im definately running stable, played CoD4 for a few hours no problem.

As for CPU temps, i've never really heard a definitive answer on where to stay below. Oc'd to 3.0 my temps get to 55MAX (usually less) while F@H, but while playing CoD4, Listening to Itunes and F@H they got to 59.. Since the TjunctionMax on my chip is 100, and many ppl like to stay 30 below, i should still be good right?

[werty316]

I would try and keep the CPU temp under 60°C.

[coxmaster]

Is that for any Core2Duos?? I've noticed that some of them have much higher thermal ratings from Intel. For example the E6550 (mine) has a rating of 72ºC from Intel (http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLA9X) while the step up E6600 only has a rating of 60ºC from Intel (http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9ZL) Wouldnt it make sense that some can handle higher temps then?

[werty316]

No one is gonna run their Core2Duo when its temperature is at 72°C. Just ask yourself if you feel comfortable with your CPU running at 72°C. I know I don't.

[coxmaster]

No, im not saying i will run it that high.. nor that i plan to get close. Just wondering if a few degrees over 60 really hurts at all.. I dont plan to keep it as hot as it is right now even. I know i can go lower on the CPU voltage so now i just gotta test some and see what i can get stable

[Raptorfury]

for temp monitoring . i use rivatuner . or core temp . Rivatuner can be downloaded Here (http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163) . the plug in will be a nescessity as well can be had Here (http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1545) , core temp can be had Here (http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/) . for nb i have yet seen a utility that monitors it correctly , use a fan controller with temp probes or anything that has a temp probe on it .. other temps you can set up riva to monitor video card and hdd , vrm temps ( video card only )

[coxmaster]

I use Coretemp and Speedfan for the CPU, GPUz for the GPU and other various things whenever i feel like it.

[Raptorfury]

i could never get speed fan to work properly after the nf3 days .

[coxmaster]

It monitors my CPU temps just fine. It also seems to give me decent control over the CPU fan and the NB fan.. not the SB though. As for "system temp" its definately wrong b/c it shows -65 lol