Modded BIOS for my IC7 Rox!

[Starbuck3733T]

I can't believe it, a bios flash that allowed me to turn off spread spectrum on my abit IC7 has gained me at least 61MHz more in prime95 stable. I keep cranking it up in small increments in windows using the "clockgen for IC952607" (about 2MHz fsb each). So far I'm topping out at 3565.23 (what i'm testing at now) and that's about 160MHz better than I ever did on my old non-mobile P4 3.06. An FSB of 297.10 is a wonderful thing.

[fivecheebs]

Nice one! :) Keep pushing her till she screams!

Have you tried superPI to 1M decimal places?

[Starbuck3733T]

I should try that again...

[Pug]

I can't believe it, a bios flash that allowed me to turn off spread spectrum on my abit IC7 has gained me at least 61MHz more in prime95 stable. I keep cranking it up in small increments in windows using the "clockgen for IC952607" (about 2MHz fsb each). So far I'm topping out at 3565.23 (what i'm testing at now) and that's about 160MHz better than I ever did on my old non-mobile P4 3.06. An FSB of 297.10 is a wonderful thing.
Wow, who'da thunk it? Impressive m8, congrats. :cool:

[Starbuck3733T]

Okay gents, I hate to say this but the whole thing is fscking bunk. The clockgen for the ICS (intersil) chip is junk, it appears to work but does not. I wasn't running any integer benchies.

As soon as I set the FSB in the bios to > 295 (using 3:2 for the ram) it'd get highly unstable.

So, I'm dumb. then I start thinking about the fact that all of this seems to occur (even on my old desktop chip) when the 'real' frequency for the RAM approaches 200MHz +. Shouldn't be a problem, right? The IC7 is a wonderful p4 overclocker board.

Wrong. Dead. Wrong. Remember that passive HS I installed on the northbridge? (which, of course, contains the memory controller hub?) My little infrared temp gun is telling me that the HEATSINK (not the die) is at 41.4*C IDLE! :eek:

Currently running prime95 at 295x12, and after a few cycles its at 53.7*C on the heatsink :eek: :eek:

Looks like I need to get some active cooling on this thing STAT. I'll go for a 60mm whiny-ass fan for the time being, as inserting some AC copper goodness isn't an option yet (need to acquire a few more parts)

just measured it again, and its now at 54.3*C (ambient air temp is ~20*C)

:eek: :eek: :eek:

[Leeum]

Ouch, perhaps a chipset block might be a good investment.

[Starbuck3733T]

That's the plan, but 1/2" chipset blocks = teh pain. I'm going to cure it temporarily to see if i can OC a bit more, and if i can, then I'll expedite that. I had planed on doing a chipset block when i go hybrid (along with custom VRM and PSU blocks :D)). I've got the money, I just need the time to design/implement. I'd also hope to use that money for the paint (when our buddy mnpctech is a little less busy).

[fillip]

So what are acceptable temps for the N/bride idle and loaded?

[Starbuck3733T]

Not what i have! ;)

[fillip]

Not what i have! ;)
http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/dry.gif oh.

http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/tongue.gif

No really, what should they run @ coz I don't see a prob with 50oC - used to a cpu temp close to 60oC here! http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/ph34r.gif

[Starbuck3733T]

Well, you have to figure that if the heatsink is at 50*C+, then the die is probably at least 10*C higher than that. I don't think northbridges are meant to take that kind of heat, but more research is required.

[ỒĊBłůē]

Have you modded your IC7?

[Leeum]

I've heard the drop mod can be quite easily done to the IC7's these days ;)

[Starbuck3733T]

The Vdroop mod does indeed look like a piece of cake, and no, I have not yet modded my IC7 in any other way other than replacing the stock northbridge HSF with a zalman passive HS (which is probably the source of my problems!)

[ỒĊBłůē]

Here's all the mods for the IC7 series; http://www.thelab.gr/reviews/ic7mods_en1.php

A bit too many for my liking, and none too pretty!

[Starbuck3733T]

I've got that sucker bookmarked, and that guy is nuts. Way too many for my liking, but hey, its extreme. just more extreme than I will ever need to be on water. Like I said, i suspect most of my problems are due to a too-hot northbridge.

[ỒĊBłůē]

I've got Madcat's VTT tracking mod (circuit construction and fitting) saved, that one's worth a look;

http://www.cmia.co.uk/Vtt/

[Starbuck3733T]

http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/designex/25252803.pdf

i875p thermal design guide, page 17, states Tcase_max is 99*C. That's pretty crazy.

[ỒĊBłůē]

Ouch!

Have you checked that the NB heatsink retaining loops are still where they should be?

I've seen a mod somewhere (rummage rummage) that replaces the stock wire loops and adds some retention on the back of the board. There's a few cases of the stock loops pulling out of the board. :blink:

[EDIT] Ah, here it is; http://dfxwebs.com/geekmods/abitic7nbfix/

[Starbuck3733T]

Very interesting read there ocblue. I may skip the heatsinking for now, just because i have plans to make custom waterblocks for them in the future.

[Pug]

Here's all the mods for the IC7 series; http://www.thelab.gr/reviews/ic7mods_en1.php

A bit too many for my liking, and none too pretty!
Sweet linkie... thanks dude. :cool:

[ỒĊBłůē]

No probs - just adding my tuppenceworth. ^_^

[mrQQ]

where can i find that modded bios?