Does the Epox 8RDA+ Unlock the High Multipliers?

[tombance]

Im currently running a 1700+ Tbred B on an MSI 745 Ultra. Although the board has served me well Im beginning to think that a processor upgrade might be in order. With this in mind I was thinking of buying an Epox 8RDA+ v2.1 and overclocking my chip (hopefully to somewhere round about a 2400+). The problem is that I only have PC2700 RAM, and to run at the fastest timings I would have to stay at 133FSB anyway (I would prefer this). So, can anyone tell me for sure whther this mobo will unlock the higher multipliers (above 12.5) on my Tbred B 1700+?

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[ChipDeath]

I have an 8RDA+ and an xp1700+, and it doesn't unlock the higher multis. The only thing is mine's a rev 1.x mobo, but I don't think they added anything to allow those higher multis - I think you need to do something with the bridges to unlock them, or there may be a wire trick, but I can't remember off the top of my head.

What make is your RAM? if it's PC2700 then why not run @ 166Mhz FSB/RAM? and a little RAM voltage increase might make the tighter timings stable @ 166.

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<font color=red>Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do.</font color=red>

 

[tombance]

hmm. That might be a good point. If it doesnt unlock the higher multipliers then I might consider staying with my current board. You dont happen to know whether the MSI 745 Ultra has a 1/5 PCI divider do you? Its just that know that this board will run 166 FSB, but Im just a bit worried about my data integrity with the HDD running at 40.5Mhz bus speed.

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[markgun]

You dont happen to know whether the MSI 745 Ultra has a 1/5 PCI divider do you?

I remember reading that this board has a 1/5 divider kick in after a 152MHz FSB, but I'm not 100% certain. You might want to ask in the MSI forums.

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[tombance]

Fantastic. If that was correct it would eb brilliant. With A BIOS flash I could then get this thing working as a 2600+ (assuming it will overclock that far). I was wondering, does anyone know of any windows utility that will report PCI Bus speed. If so I could try booting up at 166 and looking for myself.

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[tombance]

You were right. I went to the MSI forums and found a couple of posts saying that it works at 166FSB with the correct dividers. Im sitting here at 166x10, 2000+ speed currently. Now im going to flash the BIOS (thought I might as well get the newer processor names). Now Ive tried thsi before but last time when I rebooted after the flash the BIOS wouldnt let me boot at 133FSB. Did I do something wrong? Am I supposed to clear the BIOS after a flash or something?

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[markgun]

does anyone know of any windows utility that will report PCI Bus speed.

I know Sandra is supposed to report PCI bus speeds; but from what I've heard, it's almost always wrong.

Did I do something wrong? Am I supposed to clear the BIOS after a flash or something?

I know you're *supposed* to clear it via unplugging and also pulling the jumper after flashing, but I never actually do that. Was the last BIOS version you tried 1.7?

<b>Qui habet aures audiendi audiat</b>

 

[tombance]

Yeah I tried the 1.7 and 1.6, both with the same problem. In the end I went back to v1.4 and it worked fine. I think I'll try again tonight and see what happens.

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[ChipDeath]

You talking about my comparatively feeble 196FSB? Yeah... As I said it's an early revision and just don't like it any higher. I'm planning to eventually get off my a$$ and replace the NB HS, and use the existing NB HS on the SB which'll (hopefully) let me get further... but I'm lazy and it does allow me to run my Corsair 3200LL at 2-2-2-4 timings, so every cloud has a silver lining.

If that's not what you mean, then state what my folly be, or face me in a duel so I can defend my honour!

---
<font color=red>Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do.</font color=red>

 

[tombance]

Well, The BIOS flash didnt go well. I still had the same problem as before (it would freeze on every second reboot or so) so I decided to go back to the old BIOS. One good thing that came from trying was that I found no new worthy features in my quick glimpse, so I may as well stick with the stable version.

Overclocking is going a bit better. Im sitting here at 168x12.5 (2100Mhz Exactly) at 1.65v. idle temp has risen from 36 to 40 (went from 1.575 to 1.65 volts) so that is still perfectly acceptable. Im hoping to get to 2.2Ghz which would require me to be at 176FSB. Im pretty sure my RAM could handle it (especially if I dropped the timings) but Im a bit worried about my PCI and AGP busses which would be running at 35/70. Is this anything to worry about?

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[rox]

Jeez there Wuss. I thought I was good @ 235x9.5. stable. With all the Mhz form your 11.5 what kind of cooling setup are you running? H2O I would presume? Im on Air @ 1.8 Vcore but like granite rock stable - got 5 fans though and C-7040 to keep it respectable.