The nforce3-A mobo gives the option for oc up to 250Mhz but i hit instability at 232mhz which means i am only getting a max of 1.86Ghz from the Sempron 2800+. I've got an ancient PSU in there from a 2001 machine which is 300W could that be the problem? I've got a 7600 GS GPU/Single CD Drive/Single HDD also drawing power. Or is it likely that the CPU isn't coping because i'm using the factory supplied heatsink and fan? any ideas would be much appreciated. This message is also linke to the following thread http://computing.net/cpus/wwwboard/...

Sorry forgot to add that from everyhting I've read 2Ghz shouldn't be a roblem to achieve.

Here's the info on your CPU: http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/des... Here's what you'll need to do to overclock to 2.0GHz: DRAM config: - max memclock to 166MHz - 1T memory timing - Tcl to 2.5 - Trcd to 3 - Tras to 10 - Trp to 3 - CPU overclock to 250MHz - AGP overclock to 67MHz - AGP Aperture to 128MB - Clock Spread Spectrum to disabled - HT Freq to 3x - CPU multi to 8x - HT multi to 3x ** you may have to increase the CPU & DDR voltages And don't run an SATA HDD or it will limit your overclockability.

Thanks for the response I'm running a straight forward ATA HDD SP0842N. Unfortunately I'm still having a few problems (this is my first attempt at oc :O) in the setup menus I cannot find the following menu options: 1T Memmory Timing (i don't even know what this is) CPU Multi HT Multi And I cannot modify the Clock Spread Spectrum option I believe this could be changed but i don't know how to make it "available" atm its set to enabled. I tried changing all the other settings as suggested ncluding upping the voltages but get the same old message "system in safe mode blahblah please reset CPU frequency". Perhaps this particular chip cannot do more than 1.86Ghz :( Many thanks for the help, any other suggestions would be appreciated. Sponge

You have a VERY overclockable CPU...it can go way beyond 2.0GHz, but not with that board because the max CPU Freq is 250MHz. You are overclocking thru the BIOS, right? All the settings I listed above were taken right out of the BIOS section of your motherboard manual. I didn't tell you to raise the CPU or RAM voltages...I said "you *may* have to increase" them. Actually, you may need to update the BIOS for an E6 CPU...it would depend on what BIOS version you're currently running. http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWeb/Produc... "1T Memmory Timing (i don't even know what this is)" It's one of the BIOS settings under DRAM CONFIGURATION in the ADVANCED CHIPSET FEATURES menu. You have to highlite "DRAM Configuration" & hit [ENTER] to bring up the following settings: Max Memclock = 166MHz 1T/2T Memory Timing = 1T CAS# latency (Tcl) = 2.5 RAS# to CAS# delay (Trcd) = 3 Min RAS# active time (Tras) = 10 Row precharge Time (Trp) = 3 Here are the rest of the ADVANCE CHIPSET settings: CPU OverClock in MHz = 250 AGP OverClock in MHz = 67 AGP Aperture Size = 128M AGP 3.0 Speed = [Auto] AGP 2.0 Speed = [Auto] AGP Fast Write = [Auto] AGP Sideband Address = [Auto] Clock Spread Spectrum = disabled HT Frequency = 3x ** To change the BIOS settings, use the arrow keys to Move, the Enter key to Select, & the +/- or Page up/Page Down to change the Value.

Thanks for the follow up yes I am changing in the BIOS. When I get home tonight I'll check which BIOS it is. 1T/2T Memory Timing = 1T <-- This menu option isn't there. Clock Spread Spectrum = disabled <-- This item is locked out I can see it but cannot change to disabled. Perhaps as you say i need to update the BIOS I'll give that a go first and see if the missing options turn up. Many thanks for the help.

Im running my semperon 2800+@2400Mhz 8h+ prime stable with 1.5 vcore on a dfi lanparty ut 250GB. First off, connect sata disk to sata3 or 4, 1 and 2 are not locked. Second s754 sometimes hav e problems with more than one stick of ram, normaly you should use slot 1 and 3 on this lanparty board, but only slot 1+2 works for me if i want to oc more than 285 FSB. If you experince coldboot problems or other wierd stuff, replace the chipset heatsink because it really sucks. Put a zalman nb47 on instead, fits nice and i run 1.8v on chipset and the heatsink is much colder then the orignal is at stock voltage. Htt should be at 3x up to 300 and usualy a bit over 300 don't hurt. Set agp/pci to 67 to ensure it locks right. stay below 50c full load temp, any higher can cause wierd instabillity. I woulden't use more than 1.55v with stock cooler. I can reach 280 Fsb with no problem 1.45v, at 300 i need more vcore 1.5 but this is cpu dependent. Check temps with "coretemp" im using a crappy 400w psu, this and the crappy stockcooler is stoping me from going higher with rock solid stability.