Official GIGABYTE Forum
Overclocking, Benching, Events, Tweaking & Modding => Overclocking motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: digifred on March 05, 2012, 05:18:13 pm
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I posted over at tweaktown about my problem with the ratio that will not change on my BE processor. I use a couple of years old Gigabyte GA-M55S-S3 motherboard. I made many attempts to change the ratio on my X2 555 processor in the BIOS but any value other that 'auto' will prevent me from getting into Windows (7). I used x16, x12 mulitpliers and other settings but it doesn't work. I already reset the CMOS and have the latest BIOS firmware. I don't know in what direction to look now. Please let me know if you have an idea, thanks.
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Corresponding thread is here for all parties concerned
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/47707-i-cant-change-clock-ratio-my-phenom-ii-processor.html
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Hi digifred
As I checked your history in GTS (http://ggts.gigabyte.com) and there is no progress there indeed therefore I recommend you contact our NL branch directly (through phone) to help you.
Contact details are located here: http://www.gigabyte.co.nl/about-gigabyte/contact-us.aspx
Thanks
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I will try that tomorrow. Thanks.
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Thanks runn3r!
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I called Gigabyte today and basically they told me they can't help me because the motherboard is too old and they don't have it around anymore for testing purposes. The person I called said I should forward the problem and information to Gigabyte Taiwan to the hardware or bios department so they could push this further as there is no reason it shouldn't work.
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Did you ask them if they would test your hardware if you sent it to them?
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Did you ask them if they would test your hardware if you sent it to them?
No I didn't ask but to be honest I'd rather not. If it's too much trouble I'll leave it at that and just be happy with it. Thanks anyway and have a nice W-E.
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Well I'd rather send it to them than Taiwan as that would take even longer. I think unless you want to use this as-is at stock you'll need to send it somewhere, and this isn't a normal situation as mentioned above it should be working no problem
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I think my contact person asked me to forward it to Taiwan as they might have the proper hardware needed. I'm not sure but I think it's what he meant.
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Yes, I'm sure they would have the hardware to test. Did he give you an email in Taiwan? If not, you can start a ticket here, choose Taiwan and then explain that you've already asked the other local departments and they told you to ask directly in Taiwan for testing.
http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/technical-support.aspx
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I sent a mail to Taiwan in the hope they can investigate further into this. If not I might consider sending my hardware locally if it doesn't take too long. I will post again when I have an answer from them.
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Let us know what Gigabyte Taiwan says!
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Here is the reply
Thank you for your kindly mail and inquiry. About the issue you mentioned, the overclock result will depend on your peripheral devices, and the hardware overall performance. It might cause the system/hardwares cannot accept your overclock settings, and we will not guarantee any result caused by system overclocking.
Thus, we suggest you to load BIOS optimized setting and see if the problem still occurs or not.
Meanwhile, according to Microsoft Windows 7 hardware and driver design requirement, this product does not fully support Windows 7. So we do not have relevant driver for this OS.
Besides, if you install Windows 7 on this motherboard, it is possible to cause issues like: not able to install OS or system unstable, etc. Therefore, we do not suggest you to install Windows 7 on this motherboard. Sorry for the inconvenience that has encountered.
If you still have any further question or suggestion about our products/service, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will try our best to help you resolve the problem ASAP.
It seems I have a hardware/software incompatibility. I don't think it's worth sending in for further testing.
If there were any way to change the memory speed I could just tweak the FSB but that option is not supported. I guess this is the end of the story.
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Well, I don't think software matters, I mean if you can't set higher or lower CPU clock ratio and then reboot to BIOS and have it applied, software wouldn't be part of the issue. Right, I mean you get what I'm say there correct?
Memory speed should be adjustable as well, are you saying there is no memory speed adjustment either?
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I'm not an expert and I agree with you but if Gigabyte gives such answers I doubt they will take the time to test this even if I'm willing to send my hardware.
About the memory part, I've looked long enough for the setting that allows for the memory divider. There is a DDRII memory controller but it affects only the northbridge speed as far as I can see.
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Well, am I right? I mean, you can't adjust the CPU multi, and reboot to the BIOS and see it changed there can you? If not, then see I'd have to be correct, windows version or OS type does not even apply to the issue at hand if you can't change the multi outside of windows in the BIOS only.
I just checked your manual, and I see the memory multiplier option! It's here, you need to set timing mode to manual, then it looks like you can choose pre-determined memory speeds.
(http://i.imgur.com/FuBt2.png)
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Maybe I wasn't clear before but I can change the multi, reboot and still see it's value I chose previously. I just can't get in Windows. Sorry if that was unclear.
I went back to the BIOS but could not find the Timing Mode option. All I have and I wrote them down in order: CPU frequency/ PCIE Clock/ CPU Clock Ratio/ Memory Controller and than a few other options to set the voltages. So this is strange.
Right now I'm going to reboot again and confirm I can change the cpu multi reboot to BIOS and check again.
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I can confirm the BIOS stays at it's value.
I decided to install the latest drivers for the motherboard and I unplugged everything not essential like extra hdd, cdroms and sound card (even the floppy). I disabled in the BIOS what was not needed to run the computer. I still haven't been lucky. I can't imagine any reason this is not working the way it's supposed to.
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Ahh OK, thanks for the clarification! Then yes, what they mentioned about Windows 7 might be the main issue then! Try this with a test install of windows XP and see if you can get into windows then!
As for the BIOS memory settings, sorry I didn't think to mention, they might be hidden since this is an older board. Please go to the BIOS and on the MAIN page of the BIOS press control + F1 and the screen will flash, then go into the MIT section and see if you then see the settings shown above.
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I tried Ctrl + F1 in the main windows but all it does is bring the Help menu.
If I could access the memory control settings I might not even need the clock ratio option.
I have an old version of XP lying around. I can try installing it next to W7 and see if it boots. Just give me some time.
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You tried pressing control + f1 at the same time, on the main / first / front page of the BIOS?
Are you using BIOS FJI? I just checked that BIOS and those settings aren't even be hidden, can you show me an image of your BIOS, thanks!
See, the BIOS does look different than what the older manual design shows, but you should have "Memory Controller Freq" option, with many avilable multipliers (Those values may be based per CPU though)
(http://i.imgur.com/xucU2.png)
Maybe there is something wrong with the board? You have done an extended clear CMOS before correct? And loaded optimized defaults of course too right?
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Yes I pressed them both at the main BIOS page.
I will take some pics of the Main BIOS and MIT Window for you.
I do have the Memory Controller Frequency but it doesn't affect the memory speed in Windows. Although the Northbridge speed seems to be affected.
I did clear the CMOS before and yes I have loaded the optimized settings.
Could this be OS related also?
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I have some good news. Pressing the Ctrl + F1 did do something only it wasn't in the MIT section but in a different tab. I have now the advanced chipset feature available in which I can change the memory speed although not that many options to choose from.
Took also a bunch of pictures:
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Some more:
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Here are the new options available.
I think this will help me get started.
The CPU - HT NB speed is something I need to see what it affects.
I will leave the memory timings on auto as I think this is a bit out of my league.
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Ohh, nice to see you found that! Sorry, I wasn't aware it would appear in a different section outside of the MIT page!
So, nice, you can now set your memory speed! When you get time, test out the CPU multi option booting with XP instead of Vista/Win7 and see if that was the cause of that problem.
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No problem.
I'll keep you updated on my oc results.
Again, thank you for all your efforts and time spent trying to figure this out with me. It's very nice.
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I installed XP this morning and changed the mulitpler to x16 (native). Guess what, same problem again. XP gets to the loading screen and than everything is blank and I had to shut down the system through the PSU. So you were right, it's not OS related or at least not W7 related.
I've been pushing the cpu for the rest and I'm getting some errors in Prime95 mostly on blend tests. I did the research and I'll be experimenting with core voltages and fsb speed limit. My temps are good but volts seem to go high, around the 1.5+ barrier. I read the general limit for this cpu is around 1.55v. I'll see how it goes.
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You're welcome, I'm always happy to help when I can!
Cool to see you tested XP, I didn't think the OS would have much to do with it. Although, since you say it changes and that change is reflected in the BIOS on reboot, are you sure it's not just crashing when you try to enter the OS due to instability? Try lower than stock, maybe with a voltage bump, just to be sure this is not the issue.
Good luck on the tweaking, sorry I can't help with that as I have very little AMD knowledge :(
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How's things going with this? Just checking in, thanks!
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I'm making progress but I'm not at home at the moment. I've had the cpu running at 3.9Ghz but prime 95 was reporting errors after 3 to 4 hours of stress tests. I'll either raise the vcore or lower the fsb and try again. I've had trouble in the beginning staying stable at even 3.6Ghz so I searched the problem. I finally saw that my memory timings were set on auto and too low for the frequency of the memory since I adjusted the mem divider a step down but raised the fsb.
I'll post again when I find the optimal stable speed for my system.
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Nice to hear, sounds like you just need to dial in the tweaks and you'll be all set!
So you eventually got the CPU multi working too now right? Look forward to your updates once you get home and get everything stable
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No I haven't been able to use the cpu multi.
I really don't know what could be causing this. I still have to try raising the voltage and lowering the multi but since I'm able to boot at 4Ghz+ I don't really think it's going to matter.
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I'm back home and I finally have found a stable oc. I'm still at 3.9Ghz bit I raised the voltage a notch. I ran a blend test for 24hrs without any problems at all. Well in the end we did it, I got to oc my processor and benefit of a good increase in cpu speed. I am satisfied and all that's left is to thank you for helping out, I don't think I would have found how otherwise.
Do you still want to see if we can get the multi to work? I think we did our best and worked around it.
Thanks!
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To be honest there is not much that Lsdmeasap can't get the better of. He has a lot of experience and OCing behind him. ;)
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That and the patience. I haven't ever been helped online so thoroughly and kindly.
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Well that's what makes a friendly and efficient forum. ;)