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Tweaking the fastest AGP Based System - Part 1

Overclocking/OC-Team.be by massman @ 2008-03-25

While the rest of the mainstream world moves on to PCI-Express and DDR3, we take a step back to the previous generation hardware. Our aim is to build a scalable AGP benchmark platform with sole purpose: breaking overclocking records. Fueled by HWBot competition we squeeze the best AGP performance from a budget-friendly Asrock motherboard. Which memory goes the fastest? DDR1 or DDR2? Let us find out.

Test setup and methodology

Test Setup

Massman's Test Setup
CPU	Intel Core 2 E2160 @ 1.8Ghz
Cooling	Aluminium HSF
Mainboard	Asrock 4CoreDual-VSTA
Memory	2 * 256MB PC3200 Twinmoss BH-5 2 * 512MB PC4800 A-Data TCCD 2 * 512MB PC5400 Corsair FatBody
Other	Tagan 480W Western Digital 320GB SATA HDD

Programs used:

Lavalys Everest 4.20

SetFSB

SuperPi 1.5

Cpu-Z 1.43

Methodology: Problems occurring

How did we compare DDR1 and DDR2? Well, to be honest, it was not easy to find a method that allows us to find the real difference between DDR1 and DDR2 as the only option to overclock consists of increasing the FSB. In addition, we must take into account that the only memory dividers provided by Asrock are 133/166/200 for DDR1 and 266/333 for DDR2, so we lack the possibility to use a 1:1 divider platform with both DDR1 and DDR2.

Another problem is the strap change between 232 and 233FSB. Why do we use the word strap? There is not real strap at 233 as Intel never released a processor with 233 as stock FSB. The strap change is in the chipset itself as there's no option to run 1:1 past 233: the divider is automatically changed to 4:3, which results in a huge performance drop. As we're looking for an alternative for DDR2, we need to get higher, much higher.

Third problem seems to be the limitation of the DDR1 memory overclock. The maximum stable overclock we managed to reach was 245FSB (using both 1:1 and 4:3) and the maximum overall was 255MHz. In order to compete with DDR2, we really need to be able to run 265+ cas2 or 300+ cas2.5, but that seemed close to impossible.

Different cpu/memory combinations:

200MHz 1:1 2-2-2-5

200MHz 4:3 2-2-2-5

200MHz 1:1 2,5-3-3-7

200MHz 1:1 2,5-4-4-10

200MHz 4:3 2,5-3-3-7

266MHz 1:1 3-2-2-5

266MHz 1:1 3-3-3-9

Methodology: Solutions

Problem1: Memory dividers
In order to compare both DDR1 and DDR2 at 1:1 divider, we want to compare the results of a 200MHz FSB CPU and a 266MHz FSB cpu, but we need to take the different characteristics of those CPU’s into account. How can we be sure that the results we get are not biased by the CPU itself? Easy, we use the same CPU: in Massman's case an E2160. There are two possible theoretical options:

1) Hope that we can trick the system by setting 266FSB and 1:1 DDR2 works
2) Carry out a BSEL mod

In this case we got lucky and option 1 worked! (To help people who want to carry out a BSEL mod, check out next page's intermezzo.)

Problem2: Strap change
This is a bigger issue, to be honest, but not entirely impossible to work around. Asrock does not provide a windows overclocking tool, though, thanks to SetFSB, we can overclock in windows. The trick is to boot at 232FSB and SetFSB your way up. We can assure you that the program works perfect!

Problem3: MHz limitation
This is the worst issue we have: as there's no way to clock the memory past 255MHz, it seems that DDR2 wins over DDR1 just because of the MHz. We have contacted Asrock for more information, but as far as we can see, it seems to be a chipset related problem. We're hoping for a solution to pop up fast.

To end with, what about 45nm support? Yes and no, the board boots with a 45nm CPU, but is locked in the lowest multiplier setting, which means 6x. This might sound disappointing; however it does mean that 45nm support can be switched on by updating the CPU microcode in the bios. We asked them if this will happen in the future, we're hoping for a positive answer.

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