So far I only read successful story on Barton 2500+ CPU. Many people in this board have overclcoked their Barton to 2.4Ghz and above. At least I haven’t heard anyone who can’t OC to 200 x 11. However, I have different story and I may need your opinion.

I purchased a Barton 2500+ CPU w/ Infineon PC3200 DDR Ram last month. The batch code for my Barton is “AXDA2500DKV4D AQXFA0345XPMW 1043877261198”. Right out the box I install it on an Abit NF-7 Rev. 2.0 mobo. But system consistently crashed and rebooted that I cannot even finish installing Windows XP. I blamed the motherboard because it won’t even work while I load fail safe setting on BIOS, and it lacks any user adjustment features like regular NF-7. Then I bought a DFI NFII Ultra-AL which is loaded with tones of user adjustment BIOS features.

I finally manage to install OS on the system (Barton + PC3200 + DFI). However, it crashes very often that I can not use my computer for 2 minutes. I adjusted the BIOS and finally realize that I can only run it stable when I set the FSB to 133Mhz. Since the CPU multiplier is locked so I am not going to do anything with it.

It doesn’t make sense that I pay for a Barton 2500+ but running it with XP 1900+ setting. I adjusted the BIOS and finally reach an acceptable setting for 166mhz FSB, But I have to increase the Vcore voltage to 1.70v where the default specification is supposed to be 1.65v. Even with this setting it won’t last for hours w/o crash, it just doesn’t crash in 2 minutes.

During the experiment, I found that if I increase the Voltage to 1.80 and above, the motherboard won’t POST that I have to clear CMOS w/ jumper. Any CPU voltage between 1.70V and 1.80V it POST and load OS but it is unstable. The idle temperature is under 50C if the voltage is under 1.75V and rise to over 50C if for 1.75V and above.

I ran mentest86 on my memory for hours w/o finding any problem. My memory SPD according to CPU-Z is 6-2-2-2/133Mhz, 7-3-3-2.5/166Mhz and 8-3-3-3/200Mhz. I used 2 power supply which are Antec 350W and Enermax 300W for the this set up. I also try to overclock the CPU, and the system won’t POST anything beyond 172Mhz FSB.

Anyone of you has any idea and what is the potential for overclocking. And how will you adjust the BIOS if you were me.

If your system constantly reboots & you're sure it's not overheating & the RAM tests good...it's probably caused by a weak PSU. If you have a lot of 12v devices (HDDs, optical drives, high end video, fans, etc), neither of the two you listed has a lot of amps on the +12v rail.

Just a thought...did you have the extra 4-pin 12v plug connected to the Abit board? The DFI board has the same connection...don't forget it!

BTW, the Abit board has many overclocking features:

http://www.ocmodshop.com/default.aspx?a=144&p=323

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @8x210mhz
512mb PC3200
Ti4200/8X 128mb
WDC 60GB

I do connect the 4-pin 12v plug. Unfortunally, the Abit I get is NF7 V2.0 not NF7-S V2.0. The Softmenu section multiplier is locked and the FSB selection has only 333 and 400, and I can not underclock it. You can't increase the FSB by 1 Mhz step gradually. This is stupid but this is NF7 v2.0 doing. Stay away from it.

Is your bios up to date?

I think the only difference between nf7 and nf7-s is the nf7-s has onbord sata support?

My nf7-s rocks!
Without the 4pin connector but I'm trying to resolve that.

Tt Lanfire
nf7-s v2.0
XP-m 2500@209x11
SP 97
512mb pc3200
Jou Jye 550w psu
FX5600
WDCaviar 160gb sata

;~}

you are wrong !!!! the nf7 2.0 is a very clockable board. i've been running this one at 2.3 with for over 6 months with no problems.

ABIT NF7 2.O
2500@3200 UNLOCKED

I ran a AMD XP 2500 Barton at 2200mghz for over a year 24/7 with no problems.(On a MSI K7n2 Delta ISLR MOBO)I did not up the voltage or anything. I just set the timing speed to 12X in bios. Had no heat issues or anything.
I have since upgraded and gave my trusty old 2500 Barton and MSI Mobo to a friend. He is running the chip at 12X as well for last 5months 24/7 with no problems.

Maybe I got a great dye but I would rate the 2500 and the MSI K7N2 as a great economical combo.

Rots-o-Ruck,

JA

i have a AMD2500+ barton /w an NF7 board, 1 gig of Corsair pc2700 XMS. im running the system at the 3200+ presets (200x11) with no problems and running at 36 degrees C.

but for some reason my multipliers are selectable but the computer won't accept the changes. i tried setting my multipliers to 14 with FSB 200 and it boots at 2200mhz (which is 3200+ speeds @ 11x200).

i am able to use default settings with the 2500+ and NF7 2.0 board with no problems though.