need help overclocking new amd rig

[mullered07]

ok i need help overclocking the rig in my specs, last system was an e4300 and p5b which was a breeze to over clock, this one i managed to get to 233fsb/2.45ghz on stock volts etc but really want to hit 2.5/2.6ghz for a 24/7 overclock.

im not used to overclocking amd, last amd i oc'd was a x2 3800+ and that was in software

the 8450 x3 runs @ 2.1ghz default with a 10.5 multi, in cpuz it shows the htt link as 1800mhz

basically i need help choosing a htt multiplier, cpu vcore, nb vcore and htt vcore, and aim to hit 250fsb (2625mhz) if anyone ciould help me out getting there it would be well appreciated, btw the mobo is an MSI K9A2 CF-F Socket AM2+ 790X

 

[mullered07]

ok sorry for double post apparently from the msi website the board only officially supports the phenom 8450 from bios rev: 1.5, im currently running 1.2

im gonna try and update bios again feel free to leave tips/ideas, ill be back (hopefully)

 

[mullered07]

need help with dos commands flashing bios

i put bios.rom and flash utility in f:test (made a fat partiton from my c: drive as it wont work with ntfs)

made a win 98 boot disc and started it up with cd rom support
managed to get f:\test
and ran the flash util(afud412)

and have the option afud412 <bios rom>/p (for programme bios file)

it keeps saying it cant read bios file

any ideas how i can flash it? seems to be an easily solved problem as the .rom + flash utlity is in the DIR and i can run the utlility, just cant get it to read the bios file to flash????


(hope you understand what ive just tried to explain in my limited knowledge of dos)

 

[twicksisted]

aaah this has happened to me before on an asrock 4coredual Vsta motherboard... forgot what was the cause to be honest but did figure it out after headbanging a bit!!!... think it has something to do with the capitalisation of the letters... (i was using lowercase and it was uppercase) its case sensitive... im sure it was that!

or did you add the extension into the BIOS filename eg: 5C3W1P40.BIN

 

[pagalms]

Check here for MSI Live Update utility. You can flash your boards BIOS while running in windows

 

[twicksisted]

Check here for MSI Live Update utility. You can flash your boards BIOS while running in windows

hmmm.... im not sure thats a good idea... if something goes wrong in windows, hes screwed then

 

[mullered07]

aaah this has happened to me before on an asrock 4coredual Vsta motherboard... forgot what was the cause to be honest but did figure it out after headbanging a bit!!!... think it has something to do with the capitalisation of the letters... (i was using lowercase and it was uppercase) its case sensitive... im sure it was that!

or did you add the extension into the BIOS filename eg: 5C3W1P40.BIN

the ext. is .170?? ill try adding the ext. im sure thats not it, also cant see capitalisation being the cause as i ran the flash util in lowercase (it shows as uppercase in dos) and works either way

 

[mullered07]

Check here for MSI Live Update utility. You can flash your boards BIOS while running in windows

read the first post

doesnt work!!!

 

[twicksisted]

the ext. is .170?? ill try adding the ext. im sure thats not it, also cant see capitalisation being the cause as i ran the flash util in lowercase (it shows as uppercase in dos) and works either way

The extension is .170? you sure thats the bios file... i thought they had to be .BIN

 

[mullered07]

The extension is .170? you sure thats the bios file... i thought they had to be .BIN

filename

A7388AMS.170

 

[pagalms]

That's the problem. BIOSes are *.BIN or *.ROM

 

[dark2099]

Have you tried the USB tool?

 

[mullered07]

That's the problem. BIOSes are *.BIN or *.ROM

check the msi page

http://global.msi.com.tw/html/popup/MB/AM2/page_e.html

 

[mullered07]

Have you tried the USB tool?

no usb stick, i have ONE dvd-rw (i mainly use for films on my dvd player) and thats it, hence doing it this pita roundabout way

 

[dark2099]

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=7048&type=bios

There is the link for the BIOS that you need, I am not sure what the .170 file you are trying to use is.

 

[twicksisted]

nope thats the one i downloaded too... also had that file in: A7388AMS.170
Perhaps try renaming it to .BIN and see if that works

 

[mullered07]

http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloadfile&dno=7048&type=bios

There is the link for the BIOS that you need, I am not sure what the .170 file you are trying to use is.

thats what its named in the zip file you linked to

nope thats the one i downloaded too... also had that file in: A7388AMS.170
Perhaps try renaming it to .BIN and see if that works

ill try that does seem weird its ext is .170 but surely it would tell you to rename it in the instructions listed ?

AMI BIOS Flash Procedure
1. Know your model number
a. Open your case and look for the MS-XXXX number on the motherboard between the PCI slots, also check the version number that is written there as well. (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number)
b. Boot up your system & take a look at the top left screen during POST, you should see something like “MSI 945P/G Neo 2 A7176IMS V3.3 Date: 04/26/06” This means the board is MS-7176 with BIOS version 3.3
Hint: Many systems are clearing this message very fast, the bios version is then unreadable, you can either press “PAUSE” or disable the “Quick Boot” in the BIOS setup.

2. Download the BIOS that matches your motherboard AND version number (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number). BIOS can be found according to the CPU type of your board like if your CPU is Intel 775 type then look here
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/produ....php?kind=1&CHIP=67&NAME=Socket 775 (Intel P4)
if you cannot find the BIOS that matches your board, try here http://www.msi.com.tw/support/bios/more.php

3. Extract the BIOS-archive that you have downloaded by double clicking to c:\test

4. Boot your system from a Win98 or WinME boot-floppy.
How to make boot floppy in case your don’t have it ready:
For Win9X, You can type [C:\ format a:/s] from the DOS prompt.
For WinME, You can make a boot floppy from control panel--> add/remove program-->make boot floppy. Remove autoexec.bat & config.sys file if there's any.
For Win2000, there's no way to make boot floppy, so you have to either use Win9X or WinME boot floppy.
For WinXP, you can make a DOS boot disk. Go to Your Computer, right click drive A:, select Format, select copy system files.

5. When you get the A:\ prompt, type the following sequence:
C: <enter>
cd\test <enter>
C:\test> adsfi719 BIOS file
(to save or not to save old BIOS is the user’s decision)

6. Reboot your system when prompted

 

[twicksisted]

i dunno dude.. someone else?

I had the exact same problem after too many beers flashing my other rig with an asrock board... was pulling my hair out and something I was doing was wrong... im sure it has to do with an extension or not typing out everything exactely as in the instructions. Eventually i figured it out though and it helped me finally overclock the board too.. before that i couldnt overclock a bit on an E6600

those instructions look pretty crap aswell to be honest as im not sure if you supposed to type everything listed or parts of it

C: <enter>
cd\test <enter>
C:\test> adsfi719 BIOS file

like there in red... do you type "BIOS file" in too? etc...

 

[mullered07]

ok managed to do it last night, dont ask me how i was quite drunk lol

i think i changed the bios to .BIN and used the cmd:

c:\test>afud412 <bios.bin>/p

now back onto the subject at hand, how do i oc this board lol i need to know what a safe multi is for the htt and voltages on the nb,htt,cpu etc

currently running 2450mhz with no extra volts

 

[JrRacinFan]

Just something to throw out to you mullered. AMD loves tight latencies. What are your dram timings?

 

[mullered07]

@ 933 5.5.5.15 havent really played with the ram yet, need to change slots to 1+3 as in the manual it says dual channel is acheived like 1,2 + 3,4 but cpuz says its running "unganged" i assume that means in single channel ?

theres a hell of a lot of sub timings it would be nice to know how to set up