E4300 & 945P Hangs @ 225 FSB

[Cheesevillage]

I got a computer for free:

Specs:
-E4300 @ 1.8 Ghz (9 * 200 MHz FSB)
-MSI 945P Neo 3
-two no-name sticks of DDR2: 667MHz
-GeForce 6600 ( to be replaced with 4850 once the OC is worked out)

I did what I thought was enough homework and found my board to be limiting at 300FSB. Okay, 2.7 GHz is enough for me.

I went out and bought two more sticks of RAM. This particular board can only take at most 667Mhz ram so by my thinking 667/2>300 thus I'd be fine.

I bought an OCZ Vendetta 2.


The Problem: My FSB maxes out @ 224 MHz. It hangs @ 225.
Latest bios installed. Northbridge seems hot @ mid 20's. CPU barely breaks 20'C under load. If I can't figure out the problem I might bring the Vendetta back and OC with the stock cooler...


Am I missing some settings in the bios? It seems kinda limited...
Could the RAM be bad..?

I can't figure out how to raise the core voltage, either.


In need of a 'lil direction,


Thanks,




-Cheese

 

[ghmage]

In the manual for that motherboard, found here - http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=4185&type=manual there is talk of an MSI software called Core Center, which will allow you to change motherboard settings, including Vcore (See page 15). On page 43 of the manual there is talk of a "Cell Menu" in the BIOS which will also allow you to configure the CPU voltage.

You may want to apply additional cooling to the northbridge, by means of a fan on top of the existing heat sink or by replacing the heatsink entirely.

Here's a review of OC'ing the E4300 - http://www.nordichardware.com/Reviews/?page=1&skrivelse=500
Looks like it is a pretty good OC candidate, with a given motherboard being a limiting factor.

 

[Cheesevillage]

I have the dual core centre but it will not let me change vcore.

The core cell menu yields little. My options are more restricted than they should be...

 

[ghmage]

Have you tried adjusting these settings in the BIOS, -not- the core center?

 

[Cheesevillage]

The 1.55 V seems to correspond with my PCI-E voltage. The reported vcore of ~1.23V (in MSI dual core centre) @ idles doesn't appear anywhere...

 

[ghmage]

Boo hiss. Just a sanity check, in the System/CPU Temperature it only displays the vcore, correct? It doesn't allow you to modify the setting.

 

[bobbknight]

I just looks like you have hit the limits of your abilities.
I would say to enjoy your current OC.
Don't kill your free system.

 

[Cheesevillage]

How did these people hit 300 on the same chipset?


Also, no, I cannot adjust vcore (reported in bios as 1.384V) - I can only view it.


Finally, I just need to ask, as my understanding of the CPU bus to RAM speed to FSB relationship is low.
Is my thinking of 667/2 > 300 reasonable?

Thanks for the replies!

 

[ghmage]

Yes, a real bus speed of 333 x 2 = effective of 667. (Double Data Rate, data sent on both the up swing and down swing of the square wave.) If it were mine I'd try a different BIOS, but bob has some really solid advice.

 

[Cheesevillage]

I respect bob's advice but at the same time refuse to give up so easily. I will try some earlier bios versions (suggestions?).

I have the money to buy a new computer. I'm taking classes right now and this is really just a distraction to keep me sane.
That and I'm sure it'll run left4dead quite well.

Was the neo3 platinum MSI's OC board? I suspect this 300 FSB OC I read about (*having trouble finding it) may have been on that board... meaning I might have to do an actual flash...scary.

 

[ghmage]

It seems that F4 can enable some hidden options in the BIOS? Shrug - could try at the main screen and also in the Cell menu.

 

[Cheesevillage]

Hmm F4/un-assigned F buttons yielded nothing.


Where did you get the F4 notion?


Thanks for the help man!

 

[ghmage]

Just from a google on hidden options in the msi bios.