Please HELP Overclocking the GA-7VAX

Please help OVERCLOCKING XP +1800 on GA-7VAX

Please excuse the fact that I know absolutely nothing about overclocking. However I did get my xp +1800 to +2000 with ram simply set at ULTRA. Took me a while to work out ctrl F1 to get the extra futures in the bios setting. Hope that helps some of you!

That’s the prob with most people talking about the subject; but not explaining the process step by step in nooby terms. I,ll explain how I did mine, but I wish to know how to clock it further as many of you know how.

1st I tried lowering the Rams timing settings (my ram Kingmax 400 256MB). This did not work and seem to interfere when clocking the CPU HOST FREQUENY. In the end I resorted to simply selecting ULTRA in ADVANCE BIOS I think it was, third selection down on the right hand side (you will have to press ctrl F1 when BIOS has loaded up then go in.

After selecting Ultra I went into FREQUENCY/VOLTAGE control and stepped up the CPU HOST after enabling CLOCK CONTROL and setting the CPU VOLTAGE to +5%. After rasing the frequency 1 notch at a time with the AGP/PCI frequency automatically adjusting with it I loaded windows and ran 3DMARK 2000. I made it to a CPU Frequency of 145 before the bench mark started to crash (cant remember the PCI/AGP frequency) but my 1800 eventually got to 2000. Not much of an improvement (only 200 more points, but more than I ever got before.

So knowing that many Gurus out there have got there xp1800 to run at 2600 (or so they say) I was not happy enough and tried playing with the switches on my Board to no prevail. I simply don’t know the step by step process they tried. They talk about unlocking, connecting this solder hole to that, setting this to that, but I need to know in what order. Do I play with switches before I play in BIOS, do I not even touch BIOS if Playing with Board. Do I grab a pencil and draw a picture on my cpu before adjusting the multiplier (explain multiplier?) Yadda Yadda.\

So if anyone out there knows the GA-7VAX Board and feels they can explain it simply to some of us less knowledgeable people; we would be eternally grateful; well I would be.

Surely I can get more than +2000 out of my +1800?

Well, I figure I have done it!

I read the article for beggeners on overclocking in the forum and much better understand the process of it all.

I used to think of what I could do with tweaking this or that just to get those extra points in 3DMARK 2000

After finding the right spot for my CPU frequency (143 it was actually) with the voltage in my Bios set at +5% I got a clock speed +2000 (1643.36) increasing my 3DMARK 2000 score by 310. After aggressively crossing all my T’s so to speak with my ram and what not I further increased my score by another 86. Original score 7638- Final 8034

It may not sound like much, but believe me; my previous tweaking efforts via windows did little in comparison to the above. Even the 86-point improvement by the ram was worth seeing. My programs seem to load quicker and my gaming improved slightly.

I am yet to play with my video card, which is still only a mere G-force2 MX 400. All the more reason for the experimenting!

Obviously Cooling will be an issue if I am to continue this affair. Imediately after bench testing I check the cpu at 61oc and the system temp at 48oc. These temps could rise during day time temps as it is cool in the evening during autum. Well the Ram is Kingmax 256MB 400 and I am sure may be hot, but will keep an eye on overall stability for a sign of overheating? Not really sure how it all works. But at those temps I don’t think I have done to badly and will be sure to research my option when I upgrade soon.

That was the whole reason for doing all this; figured I had not much to loose and instead now I am hooked on performance and have learnt a whole lot more how the system works.

If I seem to be falling over my feet, please tell me what else I may be missing or what I seem to be misunderstanding. Have a made a fair attempt? I do still have my video card to vamp up yet!

Turn your voltage down. You shouldn't need it up for that little of an oc, and increasing it will up your temps and shorten cpu life.
Now, for any more help you will have to specify all the stuff in your system. (esp if it is a palomino or t-bred core. palomino won't oc much regardless). Most likely your cpu has the multiplier locked. You can find how to unlock it all over google. There are 2 main components to ocing, the fsb and the multiplier. You want to get teh fsb up as high as possible w/ stock multiplier, then up multi w/ stock fsb, then see how high you can get both together, with emphasis on fsb. This should all be doable from your bios (advanced settings), though you might want to look in your manual to see if there is a fsb selection jumper as well. Only after you reach the peak attainable oc do you want to consider increasing Vcore a small amount. It can make for a higher stable oc, but its hard on the chip.
Look at the tutorials and forums at www.devhardware.com and other sites first. You really need to know what you are doing before starting to mess around with overclocking, there's a lot of ways you can damage your system if you don't know what you are doing. (or even if you do, sometimes)

Yea, I had to increase the voltage to the first selection +5% to reach stability at 143.....

As for temps when running at stock the system sits around 46 there abouts and cpu at 54 oC (+1800)Palamino OEM

When I over clock cpu and lower ram timmings, the system temp is not really aftected and cpu goes around 59 making it around 64 - 68 imediatley after 3MARK2000.

Ive heard they can take it and I dont leave it set like that all the time.

Ive checked out
http://www.dinoxpc.com/Guide/Processori/AMD_PR/pr.ASP
and am happy with the results i got!

If i want more than that I will buy better gear, was just having fun, and yes, I did research as I am aware of the dangers....thanks for the tips