New Build

[Zapper2]

Hi,

 

I'm just starting a new build, and just signed up for the forums.

 

I'm currently working with the LP SLI-DR Expert board, with the Opty 152, and testing the graphics cards, in order to decide which one I want to use.

 

I just downloaded the nVidia overclocking guide.

 

Right now, these 2 cards are very similar on benchmarking. Both are around 27,750 3DMarks on 2001SE, and 5300 on 2005.

 

Since the 7600 is factory OCed, and the 7800 Go GTX is built by nVidia as a prerelease card, I think the 7800 may OC better.

 

I'll let you know how things go.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have a considerable amount of computer building experience, but this is my first major OC, and the first time working with DFI MBs.

[Syngensmyth]

You sound about where I was last year.

 

These are some links that helped me in AMD64 OC

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20832 Initial build with pictures.

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7619 24 pin PSU essential to F4.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/Techni...1_13118,00.html Dual Core Fix

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18106 OCZ Expert Memory

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware...4ochowto/4.html Good AMD 64 OC Stuff

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=gethowto&howtoID=58 Good AMD 64 OC Stuff

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10854 DFI Power Supply

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20823 DFI OC Guide

 

If you are beyond these already, please accept my apologies.

[Zapper2]

Thanks for the links. I'll look those over.

 

I just finished OCing the 7800 to nTunes Max of 476 Core and 1094 Mem.

 

I'm using the Video Card Stability Tester. My fps topped out at 1993.

 

My old system w/ a GeForce FX 5600 Ultra scored 376fps.

 

Stock on this 7800 was 1210fps.

 

This thing is definitely OCable. LOL

 

I'm also using FRAPs w/BF2 Demo. Stock it ran min. 57fps, max. 101fps, ave. 94.441fps.

 

I'll go test again now at this new max setting.

[Zapper2]

Ok, while it may have been stable in a benchmark program, it crashed after about 10 minutes of BF2, so I have some more tweaking to do.

[Zapper2]

At a core of 443 and mem at 1051, it plays nicely.

 

FRAP of 55 min, 101 max, and ave of 96.399, so good for now.

 

3DMark 2001SE = 28086, 2005 = 7221

 

I'll stick the 7600 in and see what it will do.

[Zapper2]

Stuck the 7600 in. It's amazing how close these 2 cards are in performance.

 

nTune maxed out at a core of 616 and mem at 1602.

 

VC Stability Tester reported 1989FPS at those settings. BF2 locked though.

 

Dropped the settings down to 593 and 1564, and it ran BF2 smoothly.

 

FRAP benchmarked at 55 min, 101 max, and 95.698 ave.

 

Highest GPU temp was 58C.

 

At those settings 3DMark 2001SE = 27327, and 2005 = 6479.

[Zapper2]

I upgraded the BIOS on the Expert board to the latest one I could find (04/06/2006).

 

I'm looking for the 704-2BTA BIOS.

 

Could someone point me in the right direction please?

 

I've hit a wall on the Opty 165 @ 2250MHz. I know it should do much better than that, so I was going to try the BIOS that a lot of the OC forums users are praising.

 

The 165 is Prime stable for 29+ hours at that setting, but I'd like to try the new BIOS, rather than increasing the voltage right now.

[l3lackh0le]

yea at 1.45v you should have more than enough voltage to crank to at least 2.6ghz depending on your stepping.

 

check this thread:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread...highlight=tmods

 

use his cd it has bunch of useful bios and other stuff. just boot to the cd.

i'm not sure where to get the 704-2bta bios itself b/c i got it off tmod's cd.

 

you're at where i was about a week ago :nod: this was my first rig/OC as well.

neways good luck!

[Zapper2]

Well, I installed the 704-2BTA BIOS, but ended up going with the 704-2BT BIOS instead.

 

I got the 152 up to 2.8 GHz on 1.456v, the 165 went to 2.4 @ 1.456v, and I picked up a 146 that goes to 2.88 GHz @ 1.456v, all of these results are on air, so I'll probably end up using the 146. I'm using an AMD stock cooler from a 175.

 

I hadn't pushed the 165 all the way yet, so I may go back to testing it.

 

I'm going to set up a stock system with the 152 for right now, and set up another test rig using the Ultra-D MB.

 

Just installed another 7600 GT, so I'm trying to get them to run in SLI mode right now.

 

It really doesn't seem to make that much of a difference. I gained about 1300 points in 3DMark 2001 SE. That's at stock settings though, so I'll see what I can tweak out of it.

 

Can anyone tell me why I'm only getting about a 5% increase with SLI?

 

27,386 with the single 7600, and 28,662 with both in SLI.

[My Ugly PC]

Well, I installed the 704-2BTA BIOS, but ended up going with the 704-2BT BIOS instead.

 

I got the 152 up to 2.8 GHz on 1.456v, the 165 went to 2.4 @ 1.456v, and I picked up a 146 that goes to 2.88 GHz @ 1.456v, all of these results are on air, so I'll probably end up using the 146. I'm using an AMD stock cooler from a 175.

 

I hadn't pushed the 165 all the way yet, so I may go back to testing it.

 

I'm going to set up a stock system with the 152 for right now, and set up another test rig using the Ultra-D MB.

 

Just installed another 7600 GT, so I'm trying to get them to run in SLI mode right now.

 

It really doesn't seem to make that much of a difference. I gained about 1300 points in 3DMark 2001 SE. That's at stock settings though, so I'll see what I can tweak out of it.

 

27,386 with the single 7600, and 28,662 with both in SLI.

 

3DMark01's only value is to test for CPU score. 05 and 06 are more sensitive to vid card scores. Note I said "score". Real game tests are the only thing that show you where you are really at, synthetic benchmarks have been and will continue to be a number.

 

Ugly

[Zapper2]

I still should be getting more than a 5% increase by running SLI though, shouldn't I?

[Zapper2]

Ran 3D Mark '05 and scored 10955, which is more than an 82% increase at stock settings.

 

I guess 2001 SE is no longer a viable benchmark for these current systems. Too bad, since it covered such a broad range of systems before.

 

I have started testing the Ultra-D board, and I'm finding that the hardware really does make quite a difference in results, especially when it comes to the 165 dual core.

 

I'll update my sig to reflect the new results, as soon as I finish this post.