rec.autos.simulators

by **J Burrow** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hello,

I've the following system:

Abit LX6 (With updated BIOS)

64 MBs SDRam (10 nanosecond 66? MHz NOT 100 MHz)
SB 64 Awe Value Edition

I can overclock to 374 MHz IF I either boot to the command prompt (no
good for anything) OR boot in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode I can run GPL
and enjoy another 25% improvement over what I get at 338. Of course
I've no sound and probably no cable connection. When I try to boot to
regular windows the system locks just when it looks as though its been
successful... Teasing me it is.

Now I've the following question:

Can anyone think of any settings I could change in Windows 95 (OSR2)
that might allow the overclocking to work? I am going to take the box
to a shop and try 64 MBs of fast ram. That might do it. If I can find
a way without replacing the ram though so much the better. Any ideas?

Now a comment about the sound card:

It seems that it's dragging GPL's frame rate down by about 10%. I
first became suspicious when a friend test his system with the same
setup and settings I used and came out about 10% higher. The only
difference is that he has a SB Live (it sounds cool btw). So I
temporarily disabled my sound card (in Device Manager) and, sure
enough, my test fps went from 21 to 23 and a bit. So if anyone's
putting together a new system or has been thinking of replacing an old
card you might consider the Live. I still want to test one in my box
though before I swap.

Any help with the above problem is appreciated. Thanks,

JBurrowes

by **Don Burnett** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Check and see if dma is enabled for your hard drive in win98.
To do this, go into device manager in control panel, click on disk drivers,
then right click on your ide disk drive, usually the first one listed. Click
on properties, and if dma has a check in it, remove it. I had a similar
problem with my Bh6 and Celeron 300a, disabling dma solved the problem.

--
Don Burnette
Palmetto Racing
Dburn on Ten

>Hello,

>I've the following system:

>Abit LX6 (With updated BIOS)

>64 MBs SDRam (10 nanosecond 66? MHz NOT 100 MHz)
>SB 64 Awe Value Edition

>I can overclock to 374 MHz IF I either boot to the command prompt (no
>good for anything) OR boot in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode I can run GPL
>and enjoy another 25% improvement over what I get at 338. Of course
>I've no sound and probably no cable connection. When I try to boot to
>regular windows the system locks just when it looks as though its been
>successful... Teasing me it is.

by **Robin Lor** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

How much cooling have you got btw? My 300a has 3 fans strapped to the heat
sink, and an extra (heatsink type fan) at the front of the case to blow cool
air in (hot air beeing blown out of the back by power supply fan) It runs
happy at 450 (you'll probably need to get new ram for this) but I did need
to increase the voltage to 2.3v

--

Robin.

http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk

Nurburgring and Grand Prix Legends

Remove nospam from e-mail address to reply

>Hello,

>I've the following system:

>Abit LX6 (With updated BIOS)

>64 MBs SDRam (10 nanosecond 66? MHz NOT 100 MHz)
>SB 64 Awe Value Edition

>I can overclock to 374 MHz IF I either boot to the command prompt (no
>good for anything) OR boot in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode I can run GPL
>and enjoy another 25% improvement over what I get at 338. Of course
>I've no sound and probably no cable connection. When I try to boot to
>regular windows the system locks just when it looks as though its been
>successful... Teasing me it is.

>Now I've the following question:

>Can anyone think of any settings I could change in Windows 95 (OSR2)
>that might allow the overclocking to work? I am going to take the box
>to a shop and try 64 MBs of fast ram. That might do it. If I can find
>a way without replacing the ram though so much the better. Any ideas?

>Now a comment about the sound card:

>It seems that it's dragging GPL's frame rate down by about 10%. I
>first became suspicious when a friend test his system with the same
>setup and settings I used and came out about 10% higher. The only
>difference is that he has a SB Live (it sounds cool btw). So I
>temporarily disabled my sound card (in Device Manager) and, sure
>enough, my test fps went from 21 to 23 and a bit. So if anyone's
>putting together a new system or has been thinking of replacing an old
>card you might consider the Live. I still want to test one in my box
>though before I swap.

>Any help with the above problem is appreciated. Thanks,

>JBurrowes

by **Bud Stree** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

What kind of hard disk do you have? Some hard disks won't tolerate 83
Mhz bus. You want a cheap fix? Get an Abit BH6 MB, I have two of them
with 300a's and they run flawlessly at 450, temperature on the CPU is
87F on one and 91F on the other running Quake/Sin at 1024X768 on the
Web. Neither of them needed any extra voltage either. Best $150 I ever
spent for the MB. Does it with PC66 SDram as well, though it has to be
good stuff.

> -----Original Message-----

> Posted At: Saturday, February 13, 1999 8:54 PM
> Posted To: simulators
> Conversation: A Celeron overclocking question...
> Subject: A Celeron overclocking question...

> Hello,

> I've the following system:

> Abit LX6 (With updated BIOS)

> 64 MBs SDRam (10 nanosecond 66? MHz NOT 100 MHz)
> SB 64 Awe Value Edition

> I can overclock to 374 MHz IF I either boot to the command prompt (no
> good for anything) OR boot in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode I can run GPL
> and enjoy another 25% improvement over what I get at 338. Of course
> I've no sound and probably no cable connection. When I try to boot to
> regular windows the system locks just when it looks as though its been
> successful... Teasing me it is.

> Now I've the following question:

> Can anyone think of any settings I could change in Windows 95 (OSR2)
> that might allow the overclocking to work? I am going to take the box
> to a shop and try 64 MBs of fast ram. That might do it. If I can find
> a way without replacing the ram though so much the better. Any ideas?

> Now a comment about the sound card:

> It seems that it's dragging GPL's frame rate down by about 10%. I
> first became suspicious when a friend test his system with the same
> setup and settings I used and came out about 10% higher. The only
> difference is that he has a SB Live (it sounds cool btw). So I
> temporarily disabled my sound card (in Device Manager) and, sure
> enough, my test fps went from 21 to 23 and a bit. So if anyone's
> putting together a new system or has been thinking of replacing an old
> card you might consider the Live. I still want to test one in my box
> though before I swap.

> Any help with the above problem is appreciated. Thanks,

> JBurrowes

by **J Burrow** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

On Sun, 14 Feb 1999 13:44:09 -0000, "Robin Lord"

>How much cooling have you got btw? My 300a has 3 fans strapped to the heat
>sink, and an extra (heatsink type fan) at the front of the case to blow cool
>air in (hot air beeing blown out of the back by power supply fan) It runs
>happy at 450 (you'll probably need to get new ram for this) but I did need
>to increase the voltage to 2.3v

Ummm. I don't think cooling is an issue here. When I booted in Safe
Mode I ran GPL for several minutes. The sys just won't boot all the
way in Normal Windows mode. If I eventually get it to I'll be watching
the temp.

Thanks anyway.

JBurrowes

by **J Burrow** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hmmm. Nope. It wasn't checked. I haven't time to try things now but
when I get home I'll try checking it and see what happens.

Either way, thanks for the suggestion.

JBurrowes

by **John Moor** » Mon, 15 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Thats a pretty high voltage. Mine required a bit higher when new but after a few
months I lowered it back down to 2.0. It runs cool with one fan on the heatsink
btw.
JM

> How much cooling have you got btw? My 300a has 3 fans strapped to the heat
> sink, and an extra (heatsink type fan) at the front of the case to blow cool
> air in (hot air beeing blown out of the back by power supply fan) It runs
> happy at 450 (you'll probably need to get new ram for this) but I did need
> to increase the voltage to 2.3v

> --

> Robin.

> http://www.oppositelock.freeserve.co.uk

> Nurburgring and Grand Prix Legends

> Remove nospam from e-mail address to reply

> >Hello,

> >I've the following system:

> >Abit LX6 (With updated BIOS)

> >64 MBs SDRam (10 nanosecond 66? MHz NOT 100 MHz)
> >SB 64 Awe Value Edition

> >I can overclock to 374 MHz IF I either boot to the command prompt (no
> >good for anything) OR boot in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode I can run GPL
> >and enjoy another 25% improvement over what I get at 338. Of course
> >I've no sound and probably no cable connection. When I try to boot to
> >regular windows the system locks just when it looks as though its been
> >successful... Teasing me it is.

> >Now I've the following question:

> >Can anyone think of any settings I could change in Windows 95 (OSR2)
> >that might allow the overclocking to work? I am going to take the box
> >to a shop and try 64 MBs of fast ram. That might do it. If I can find
> >a way without replacing the ram though so much the better. Any ideas?

> >Now a comment about the sound card:

> >It seems that it's dragging GPL's frame rate down by about 10%. I
> >first became suspicious when a friend test his system with the same
> >setup and settings I used and came out about 10% higher. The only
> >difference is that he has a SB Live (it sounds cool btw). So I
> >temporarily disabled my sound card (in Device Manager) and, sure
> >enough, my test fps went from 21 to 23 and a bit. So if anyone's
> >putting together a new system or has been thinking of replacing an old
> >card you might consider the Live. I still want to test one in my box
> >though before I swap.

> >Any help with the above problem is appreciated. Thanks,

> >JBurrowes

by **Nathan Wo** » Wed, 17 Feb 1999 04:00:00

What video card are you running? You realise that at any speed other
than 66 or 100 Mhz that the PCI bus is being overclcoked?
Default is 1/2 of the bus speed until you reach 100, where it is
divided by 1/3. So you're running your PCi devices a bit fast and if
they arent that good quality you can get problems.
Check your hard drive too as some of them arent happy at anything but
standard bus speeds.
You could upgrade the memory to PC100 too, as its pretty cheap these
days. Dont bother paying extra for stuff that does 133 as you will
never run 133 anyway. ANY Pc100 is fine at 100Mhz and most do 112 as
well. But, if the machine posts, then its not the memory, its
something else stuffing it up.
I dont know that you will see much difference between 338 and 375, a
better solution would be to buy an Abit BH6 and clock the sucker to
450 using the 100Mhz bus speed. Is your CPU a retail or OEM? The
difference being did it come with the heatsink and fan attached or
not?

Any GOOD Pci soundcard will help. SB Live or an A3D card will boost
framerates on a slower system.

--
Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors
- Super Touring - Alfa Romeo -

- V8Supercars - CART -

by **J Burrow** » Thu, 18 Feb 1999 04:00:00

>I dont know that you will see much difference between 338 and 375,

Ummm. Well I tested it at 375 in Safe Mode and got a 25% improvement.
That's significant. If I can find a way to oc to 375 in Normal mode
it'll be a great FREE improvement. Today I'll be taking the box to a
tech friend's shop where we'll try some 100 MHz memory. I hope that
helps although you say it won't - since I have ran the 66 MHz stuff at
375 already.

I must say I'm dissappointed that no one has been able to say why it
likely runs at 375 in Safe Mode but won't in Normal. Obviously
something or things are not being loaded that normally are. But what
besides the sound drivers?

Make no mistake though. It is at times like this that I really
appreciate this ng and others. Most of the time someone has a solution
to whatever problem I post about. Not this time it seems though.

Thanks to you all anyway!

Good. That Live sounded pretty cool with its "enviroments," though.
I'll likely get it.

JBurrowes

by **schwab** » Thu, 18 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hi John,

I had a problem like this in W95 once... I had a driver conflict and I
wasn't sure where. So I just REM'd out lines in my AUTOEXEC and CONFIG
till I found it. An easier way is to just Rename the two with different
extensions (.OLD) and see if it will fire up in Normal Mode.

--Dave

> >I dont know that you will see much difference between 338 and 375,

> Ummm. Well I tested it at 375 in Safe Mode and got a 25% improvement.
> That's significant. If I can find a way to oc to 375 in Normal mode
> it'll be a great FREE improvement. Today I'll be taking the box to a
> tech friend's shop where we'll try some 100 MHz memory. I hope that
> helps although you say it won't - since I have ran the 66 MHz stuff at
> 375 already.

> I must say I'm dissappointed that no one has been able to say why it
> likely runs at 375 in Safe Mode but won't in Normal. Obviously
> something or things are not being loaded that normally are. But what
> besides the sound drivers?

> Make no mistake though. It is at times like this that I really
> appreciate this ng and others. Most of the time someone has a solution
> to whatever problem I post about. Not this time it seems though.

> Thanks to you all anyway!

> >>Now a comment about the sound card:

> >Any GOOD Pci soundcard will help. SB Live or an A3D card will boost
> >framerates on a slower system.

> Good. That Live sounded pretty cool with its "enviroments," though.
> I'll likely get it.

> JBurrowes

--
Dave Schwabe

The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

by **Brett Resch** » Thu, 18 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Hi John,

I hope this doesn't sound like a silly suggestion, but have you tried
upping the voltage when you attempt to clock higher?

at 2.1, it runs rock solid. For the last few months I've been running
2.3V and 464Mhz. The down side is, of course, possible reduced
lifespan of your Celeron. But then most will probably upgrade before
the chip dies anyway...

Sorry if this has been mentioned, or is obvious to you. Good luck!

Brett

>>I dont know that you will see much difference between 338 and 375,

>Ummm. Well I tested it at 375 in Safe Mode and got a 25% improvement.
>That's significant. If I can find a way to oc to 375 in Normal mode
>it'll be a great FREE improvement. Today I'll be taking the box to a
>tech friend's shop where we'll try some 100 MHz memory. I hope that
>helps although you say it won't - since I have ran the 66 MHz stuff at
>375 already.

>I must say I'm dissappointed that no one has been able to say why it
>likely runs at 375 in Safe Mode but won't in Normal. Obviously
>something or things are not being loaded that normally are. But what
>besides the sound drivers?

>Make no mistake though. It is at times like this that I really
>appreciate this ng and others. Most of the time someone has a solution
>to whatever problem I post about. Not this time it seems though.

>Thanks to you all anyway!

>>>Now a comment about the sound card:

>>Any GOOD Pci soundcard will help. SB Live or an A3D card will boost
>>framerates on a slower system.

>Good. That Live sounded pretty cool with its "enviroments," though.
>I'll likely get it.

>JBurrowes

by **Aaron Lockto** » Thu, 18 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Try lowering the PIO mode of your HDD step by step if your BIOS allows
this. Some HDDs that won't do 83 FSB at PIO4 will at a lower PIO mode.
Of course this reduces HDD performance (just like turning off DMA).

Also what other PCI cards do you have in your system? NICs often
dislike being overclocked.

If you decide to go for a BX board and try for 450 try your PC66 RAM it
may well run ok. Also, if you can live with taping pins to alter
voltage, I recommend an Asus P2B. Many people find it a much more
stable board than the BH6.

Aaron
--
*replace nospam with alockton to email*

by **Kirk Lan** » Thu, 18 Feb 1999 04:00:00

You know it could also be the famed 'burn in phenomenon' - up the voltage a
tad, give it some really CPU intensive stuff to run for a few hours, keep
the chip cool, and then try dropping the voltage back down.

--
Kirk Lane

ICQ: 28171652

>Hi John,

>I had a problem like this in W95 once... I had a driver conflict and I
>wasn't sure where. So I just REM'd out lines in my AUTOEXEC and CONFIG
>till I found it. An easier way is to just Rename the two with different
>extensions (.OLD) and see if it will fire up in Normal Mode.

>--Dave

>> >I dont know that you will see much difference between 338 and 375,

>> Ummm. Well I tested it at 375 in Safe Mode and got a 25% improvement.
>> That's significant. If I can find a way to oc to 375 in Normal mode
>> it'll be a great FREE improvement. Today I'll be taking the box to a
>> tech friend's shop where we'll try some 100 MHz memory. I hope that
>> helps although you say it won't - since I have ran the 66 MHz stuff at
>> 375 already.

>> I must say I'm dissappointed that no one has been able to say why it
>> likely runs at 375 in Safe Mode but won't in Normal. Obviously
>> something or things are not being loaded that normally are. But what
>> besides the sound drivers?

>> Make no mistake though. It is at times like this that I really
>> appreciate this ng and others. Most of the time someone has a solution
>> to whatever problem I post about. Not this time it seems though.

>> Thanks to you all anyway!

>> >>Now a comment about the sound card:

>> >Any GOOD Pci soundcard will help. SB Live or an A3D card will boost
>> >framerates on a slower system.

>> Good. That Live sounded pretty cool with its "enviroments," though.
>> I'll likely get it.

>> JBurrowes

>--
>Dave Schwabe

>The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
>http://users.wi.net/~schwabe

by **Larr** » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

I have the P2B and it's superb.

However, I don't get the part about taping pins...

-Larry

> Also, if you can live with taping pins to alter
> voltage, I recommend an Asus P2B. Many people find it a much more
> stable board than the BH6.

by **Larr** » Fri, 19 Feb 1999 04:00:00

Easy (I think).

In safe mode, drivers aren't loaded and most hardware is dead.

In normal mode, all the hardware is 'fired up' and in use.

You have a piece of hardware, likely a PCI card, that doesn't like the
Overclock you are trying to perform...

-Larry

> I must say I'm dissappointed that no one has been able to say why it
> likely runs at 375 in Safe Mode but won't in Normal.