Overclocking AMD 2500+

Warpy

Hi

I was after some wise know how on overclocking my new CPu, any help is much appreciated.

What is a stable CPU Multiplier value for an AMD 2500+?

craig588

Many people have good luck with dropping the multiplier down to 9.5 and raising the FSB to 200. If you have good ram, you might even want to go for higher FSBs. Only after you have maxed out your FSB do you want to raise the multiplier. The FSB has a much greater affect on overall speed than just the core of the cpu.

Warpy

ok, so you reckon drop it down and incrase the FSB?

DTC

You have to check it on your own, the Barton 2500+ is good to overclock, I think 11x200 should be able, but you have to check this, nobody can tell you which multi and FSB you can reach.
A small how to overclock:
Overclocking guidebook

DTC

DriveEuro

That's the best way to overclock..... What speed is your RAM mitchelson?

Warpy

Hey DriveEuro

My RAM is PC2700 runs sync with my BUS 333Mhz

DTC

Then it could be a problem to get FSB up to 200, maybe if you have the corsair or
some kingston or infineon.

DTC

The_Neon_Cowboy

depends on your nothbrige cooling as well as how good a hsf you got... 11X200 was good fer me

DTC

That should be no problem, if the A7N8X is in the newest revision.
Version 2.0 I think ?

DTC

rockandchelle

I have an A7N8X Deluxe 2.0 and a Barton 2500+, I currently have it running with my Crucial PC2700 @ 11.5x190, with the Ram insync. I tried it yesterday at 11x200, and I got reboots when playing games, so I think my Ram has reached it's limit. But the 2500+ is a great overclocker, but you will probably be wanting some new ram in the future.

The_Neon_Cowboy

i though that but i coulnt be i have 433mhz ram .. to till i removed my chpset hsf and removed the thrmal gunk under .. lappd it and put down as3 .. now it does 200 fsb but the nothdrige still ganes abot 10C from the o/c from 166 fsb to 200 ... the sensor on the nfoce 2 doest work right with stock cooling/ nor does it report the temps right ... puting a thermal take orb on it should fix my problems ...

stock cooling is not well for overclocking !!!! in any case

digitalwanderer

I've been a tad disapointed in stock OCing to, I'm thinking of adding a fan to me northbridge and a regular 80mm case fan to the stock AMD cooler to see if it helps. (But not yet, we're going thru a heatwave here and it's a crappy time to try and find the top end. )

Warpy

I just increased the cpu multi to 12.5 temp is 36 degrees

i then adjusted the fsb to 171 and the pc wouldnt boot had to reset the cmos..... it said memory failure test.

What do i do?

tek

Take the multiplier DOWN bro, to 11 or 10, then try 11x170 or 10x170, now raise your FSB til you reach a limit, then raise the multiplier to 11, and your done... and dont forget raise the VCORE to the highest.

Warpy

so i set vcore to the max then.... is that 2.8? U mean CPu vcore?

craig588

AAAAAAAAHHHH! NO! You would kill your CPU with that high of voltage instantly. You should only raise the voltage if you have good cooling and need to increase stability. It produces more heat though. You should raise it in .05v incriments.

Warpy

Ok i have set the following:

FSB 169
CPU MULTI 12.5

MEM VOLT: 2.9V

TEMP is 36 degrees

is this ok?

Thanks for ur help by the way!

tek

sorry, I didn't mean 'highest' - I meant raise it 'higher' if your experiencing instability.

Mitchelson, I suggest you try multiplier 11, and fsb 200, then run some tests, if you crash raise the cpu VCORE by .05 inrements, and raise the RAM voltage a little, also try different ram timings.

see... overclocking isnt as easy as you think it is, there's a lot of different things involved.

Lets just see if your capable of 200fsb, set your multiplier to 10, fsb to 200, loosen memory timings, raise VCORE by like .10, and raise MEM voltage to 2.8. Try booting, running tests... come back and tell us what happened.

-tek

Warpy

I am knackered dude.......... its 1am i must go to bed.....

I'll be online tomorrow day for me. I'll do some more testing.... see ya later and thamnks for all your help.

Warpy

i gave it one more hit..........

here is what i got.

CPU MUlti 12.5

FSB 180

Mem volt 2.8


I just updates rthe BIOS too.

See ya tomorrow.

Warpy

Ok i am back!

I have increased my FSB now to 190 and it seems to be holding well........... left Prime95 on last night for 7.5 hours under torture test and the temp stayed at 43

I think i am going to leave things be now........... CPu is at 3200+

Thanks all for ya help. Will do some benching today when my mate brings back my 3dmark disks!

DTC

Check your sig, "AMD Athlon XP-A 2500+ @ 3200Mhz" 3200Mhz that would be a 4200+ or something like that

Did you try to set up the FSB to 200 ?
To raise the FSB is always better then raising the multi for your CPU power.
Which multi do you have now ? 12,5 ?
Which temperature do you have under load?
And which voltage do you have on your CPU ?

Nice to know....

Have a nice day, DTC

and run 3dMark 2k1 and 2k3 and post the results

Warpy

Hey DTC

I am runing the following:

Not adjustment to CPu Voltage, - coz i dont know what to set it too?

FSB: 190
Mem Volt: 2.8

CPu Load Temp: 51
CPU idle: 34
CPU multi: 12.5

What do you reccomend to lower the temp and increase the speed?

DTC

You can only reduce the the temp by purchasing a new cpu cooler or by reducing
the cpu voltage, because you use the standard voltage of 1,65V for a Barton and your cooler has reached his limit.
To increase the speed you have to raise the FSB or Multi, but you have now 2375 Mhz, I can't belive, that this machine runs stable with standard voltage.

But however, if you raise the multi or the FSB and the system is not stable, you have to raise the CPU voltage from 1,65V to 1,7V then to 1,75V etc., but this means that your temperatures will increase also, so always watch your temps with motherboard monitor or something like that.
Try to increase the FSB as high as you can, because this will improve the most speed, if you get problems, try to increase the mem voltage to 2,9V and lower the timings for the memory.
If you can't increase the FSB and multi anymore, buy new memory, if you have the money, but 2375Mhz is also very good.

DTC

digitalwanderer

I had some good luck at 12x175FSB last night, I'm running nice & stable at 2.1Ghz with stock cooling.

Warpy

Nice one... thanks for the info guys.

I have ordered a GB of Multi RAM i think its called. SOmething to do with running in sync? Well i will be putting some of the new PC3800 i think it is?(The guy said it was the fastest anywaz) so i should get me overclocks happening a bit better.

krazy1

I have the xp2500 and it is OCed and to keep the temps down I have found the best solution for cooling is the the Thermalright SLK-900. I have this matched with a Thermaltake Smartfan 2. My temps under load are no higher then 93F. I couldn't ask for any better air cooling then this.

digitalwanderer

SLK-900 on an A7N8X? Did you have trouble fitting it on? I thought it was too big for that board?