Voltage

The natural instinct is to raise voltage in order to get higher memory speeds. The Infineon modules I'm using have taught me not to trust those instincts. I thought I needed 2.7v to run them at 265-270 @ 3-3-2. I found out during my own testing that they performed better with lower voltage. I dropped down to 2.65v, then 2.6v, and now I'm testing the modules at 264 with 2.55v. I've been running dual-Prime with those settings for several hours without a problem.

So how did I find this out? When I was trying to run the RAM at 272-273, I had trouble stabilizing the modules. As a last resort I raised the voltage to 2.8v and found out that made things even worse. That got me thinking. Maybe they don't like voltage. So I started lowering VDimm. The system won't boot with 2.5v. But 2.55-2.6v seems to be the sweet spot.

I'll keep testing and report any new findings.

Update: Core-1 failed after six and a half hours with VDimm at 2.55v. Core-0 was still going after almost ten hours before I stopped the test. Not bad. I'll probably stick with 2.6v because dual-Prime will run forever at that voltage.

CrystalCPUID

As an alternative to CPU-Z, you might give CrystalCPUID a try. It has much of the same information as CPU-Z, plus you can use the program to change the multiplier. Best of all, You can customize the graphic interface with whatever you want.

http://crystalmark.info/download/index-e.html

SuperPi 32M

This is the highest 32M speed I've gotten my air-cooled Opteron using 2X1GB TeamGroup I/A's. VCore set at 1.525v in BIOS. MBM5 reading was 1.49v. I ran dual-SP2004 for almost nine hours with these sticks using custom large FFT's with 1800MB of RAM used.

Kaori

Another Enka singer who I enjoy listening to is Kozai Kaori. She's a native of Osaka and sang Japanese folk songs (minyo) when she was young, then switched to Enka. Kaori and fellow Enka singers Fuji Ayako, Sakamoto Fuyumi and Godai Natsuko are friends. They're also all about the same age (late 30's, early 40's). Kaori has a very beautiful song called Mugon Zaka (Silent Hill). It's also rather sad. Here are the lyrics (translation courtesy of the Mognet Japanese Translation Group).

Lights come on in that window, in this window
The warm happiness is visible
I planned to pile them each up, one by one
But we always just miss one another
This kind of painful love
If I speak of it, it will become a lie
I want to go home, but I can't go home, this is the silent hill
I want to go home, but I can't go home, I'm alone on the hill at twilight

That city and this city both show signs of rain
Where will I go? I'm alone, a stray dog
I don't need comfort or excuses
If there is an answer, I'll come up with it soon
This kind of painful love
I shut my mouth about it, and clam up
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, this is the silent hill
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, on the hill where the rain is lost

I want to go home, but I can't go home, this is the silent hill
I want to forgive you, but I can't forgive you, on the hill where the rain is lost

This is the silent hill

Case update

I've had my Mountain Mods case for several weeks now. Absolutely no major issues. My only complaint is that I have to remove eight thumbscrews in order to take off the side panel. The Yate Loon fans are very quiet. I removed the Sanyo Denki 120mm fan that I was using to cool the RAM because I don't really need it. The modules are not hot to the touch with no fan. The PWMIC temp does shoot up quite a bit now while running dual-Prime (mid 50's). But at idle, it's in the mid to low 30's. And removing that extra fan has made the case very quiet.

Cas2.5 vs. Cas3

I ran a series of tests on the Cronus I/A's comparing 3-3-2 @ 263 versus 2.5-3-2 @ 241. Most of the other timings remained the same. As you can see, very little difference. In 3DMark01, 3-3-2 @ 263 won by about 200 points. The advantage to using Cas2.5 @ 241 is that less VDimm is required.

Ozu

One of my favorite directors is Ozu Yasujiro. Ozu began making movies during the silent film era. He later made a number of "talking" films during the 1940's and 1950's, some of which are classics. Perhaps the most famous one is Tokyo Story which critics consistently rank among the top films of all time. My personal favorite is Late Spring (Banshun). Ozu's movies usually don't have much of a plot. He tells the stories of ordinary families leading ordinary lives. The beauty of his movies is that he shows us the joy and sadness of human relationships without spelling it out. He leaves it up to the audience to discover the truth for themselves. The film critic Roger Ebert described Tokyo Story this way: "...it is about our families, our natures, our flaws and our clumsy search for love and meaning. It isn't that our lives keep us too busy for our families. It's that we have arranged them to protect us from having to deal with big questions of love, work and death. "

In his autobiography, the legendary director Kurosawa Akira mentions how he probably would have never made it in the film industry, were it not for Ozu. Both men were working for the same movie company during World War Two. Kurosawa's first film was made at a time when Japanese movies were subjected to government censorship. The censors were ready to reject Kurosawa's film, but Ozu, who sat on the review board, intervened on his behalf.

More tests

I ran more tests with the Cronus I/A's, this time, with the CPU settings I normally use (290X10). The nice thing about these Infineon chips is that you can run with fairly tight timings.

Cronus I/A

I've begun testing TeamGroup's 2X1GB kit that uses Infineon/Aenoen chips. Results look promising. Can run 242 @ 2.5-3-2 and 2.6v, as well as 270 @ 3-3-2 and 2.7v. Might be able to lower the voltage. Won't be able to do extensive testing until the weekend.

Expectations

I was just reading some of the comments about TeamGroup memory at a forum. People never get it. They see a few benches and say to themselves, "I've gotta get my hands on this stuff!" Then disappointment sets in. Blame the manufacturers, blame the hype. Of course, it may have something to do with the fact that they were fantasizing to begin with.

I've gotten my TeamGroup Microns up to 280 @ 3-3-3, Prime and SuperPi stable. Took a little work, but there you have it. Sure, 290 would have been better. But 280 is not good? 270 is not good? 265?

What I find sad about today's overclockers is that many of them don't want to do any work. They want something that's blazing fast right out of the box. They also want all the timings handed to them on a silver platter. Finding the right memory settings requires patience, something that many people lack.

Whenever I buy something that doesn't live up to my expectations, I just chalk it up to experience and move on. I don't blame the manufacturers, unless the product was defective, in which case I will just RMA it. If RAM is rated at DDR500 and it does DDR500 with no problem, then you have nothing to complain about.

Japanese movies

I love old Japanese movies, especially those made by Ozu, Mizoguchi and, of course, Kurosawa. The 1950's was the golden era for Japanese film-making. One of the great movies of that decade was Ugetsu, directed by Mizoguchi Kenji. It's a ghost story and one of the most moving films I've ever seen. There's a scene (see pic) where a woman is rowing a boat through the fog. It was probably shot on a studio set. Still, the cinematography is breathtaking. Pure art. I have a number of old Japanese films on VHS, including a few that are no longer available. I've thought about transferring them to DVD, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Mandelbrot

This is the latest program being used by Japanese benchers. It's called Mandelbrot. If you're into mathematics, you'll know who Benoit Mandelbrot is. In a nutshell, the program measures the amount of time it takes to zoom into a geometric pattern known as the Mandelbrot set. In other words, it calculates rendering speed. The Mandelbrot set is actually a much larger image. After the benchmark is started, it zooms in to reveal a lot of intricate patterns not visible to the human eye. Dual-core chips do really well in this bench. My thanks to fredyama for pointing out this program to me.

http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA026611/index_e.html

Opty potential

I think my Opteron has a lot of potential, with the right cooling. I've been able to run SuperPi 1M at 3133MHz and 32M at 3088MHz. This is with air-cooling and the IHS has not been removed.

For daily chores, I run my Opteron 170 at 2.9GHz and 1.4v. I use either 166 or 183 dividers, so the RAM is running under 270MHz. This allows me to keep VDimm below 2.7v.

280 stable

Finally have the TeamGroup Micron's pretty stable at 280MHz. So far, they've survived more than four hours of large FFTs. Normally I run Prime custom blend because I like testing the CPU and RAM at the same time. In this case, I just wanted to test the memory.

DDR560

Made some progress this weekend with my TeamGroup Cronus Micron. Was able to push the modules up to 280MHz (3-3-3-8 timings). I did a couple of things. First, I switched to the 704-2BTA BIOS which worked well with my old Crucial Ballistix. Second, I reversed the modules, putting the one that was in Slot-1 in Slot-3 and vice versa. I needed 2.9v to run at 280 and 2.8v at 275. I might be able to clock the modules higher. But I don't want to raise VDimm any more. For everyday use, I still prefer using a divider and running the sticks at 2.5-2.6v. I think they will last longer that way.

Update: The RAM running at 280 failed dual-Prime within minutes. But 275 was no problem.

Less than a volt

I was bored tonight and wanted to see if I could boot into Windows at default speed with VCore at less than one volt.

Random thoughts

It's March but it feels like January. We've had one storm after another, with snow dropping as low as the 500 foot elevation. No snow where I live, but plenty of rain. Today the sun is out and it's Friday, so I'm in a better mood.

I read that more than half of all American workers are looking for other jobs. That's not surprising. Companies give employees little reason to be loyal. Managers nickel and dime their workers to cut costs, so they can get their big bonuses at the end of the year. Also, the general work ethic has gone downhill. Very few workers put in a full eight hours of real work. Americans have become lazy. It's very sad.

Very low VCore

Ever tried booting into Windows with less than 1.2v for VCore? ^_^

170 Benching

I'm testing to see the limits of my Opteron 170 with air-cooling. Running single instance of SuperPi with semi-loose memory timings. The key is keeping the load temp under 50C.

Yonah

I know some people will be shocked, but I've decided to try Intel again. I bought a Yonah T2600 ES. Because it's an engineering sample it has unlocked multipliers. Still need to find a board. None are out at the moment. I figured I might as well get a good chip while one was available. The CPU should look similar to the one in the pic.

Low memory voltage

Decided to take xgman's advice and try running my TeamGroup Micron modules with low voltage. The BIOS I'm using only goes down to 2.5v, so that's where I set VDimm. Modules were Prime-stable at 258MHz with 3-3-3-8 timings. They can probably do 250MHz with less than 2.5v.

Once I switch to watercooling, the goal will be to run Prime-stable at 300X10 with the 166 divider. This would give me a RAM speed of 250MHz. So I would be able to run VDimm at just 2.5v.

More Opty testing

This is the highest air-cooled result I've gotten so far. Note the difference in times between the two cores. I think when the CPU is reaching its limits, there's some instability. CPU is stable enough to finish SuperPi, but Prime would almost certainly fail right away.

Tuniq

I got brave and installed the Tuniq 120 HSF. I test-mounted it first on a spare board to see if it caused any bending. It didn't. The Tuniq has already made a difference. Load temps have dropped 3-4 degrees.

Micron 2GB

I have not been able to push my TeamGroup Micron sticks past 270MHz at 3-3-3. So this RAM is not as strong as Crucial Ballistix. Somewhat of a disappointment. But the TeamGroup was meant for my daily system, and with a divider I can reach 2.9-3.0GHz with no problems.

Stress testing

Been running dual-Prime on my Opty 170 for more than 14 hours at 2900MHz and 1.4v. What's nice about having a dual-core CPU and 2GB of memory is that you run can dual-Prime and still use your computer for other things.

Tech Aid

A very useful tool is the Soyo Tech Aid. It's a debugging card that you can stick in any PCI slot. It will run a complete diagnostic test during boot-up, and can tell you which piece of hardware is causing problems. Saves a lot of guesswork.

Opty 170 at 3GHz

I'm testing a second Opteron 170 (0550VPMW). This one seems to be very good. Can run dual-SuperPi at 3GHz and 1.4v. Not Prime stable at that voltage though. I'm running dual-Prime right now at 2.9GHz and 1.4v.

I'm having second thoughts about putting the Tuniq HSF on my board. It's very heavy. Think I will test it first on another board that's sitting flat on a table.

TeamGroup Micron

Been playing with the TeamGroup Micron modules for a few hours. Having trouble getting them stable at DDR540 with 3-3-3 timings. They run Memtest fine at that speed. But not Prime stable. Moved to divider testing. More results later. On Friday nights I'm usually very tired, so I may be able to figure this out tomorrow.

Opty testing

More testing of my Opteron 170, this time at 2.8GHz. It can complete dual-SuperPi at that speed, but it's not Prime stable, mainly because of the amount of heat generated. With watercooling, that should change.

2GB

I ordered a TeamGroup Cronus kit (2X1GB) with the Micron chips. Hopefully will get it before the end of the week. I used to have a pair of Crucial Ballistix which also had Micron chips. That pair did DDR608 with 3-3-3-8 timings.

Update: Just got the RAM today (Friday). Will test it this weekend.

3.5GHz

Took awhile you get this, but I finally managed to get my Opteron 148 to complete SuperPi 32M in under 21 mins at more than 3.5GHz.

Default VCore

I'm running my Opteron 170 at default VCore (1.31v). I lose a little CPU speed, but the idle temp drops to around 27-28C. Running dual-Prime the load temps are 43-44C. That's a lot more acceptable to me. I think the IHS is not making good contact with the core. Still, I'm not going to remove the IHS. I'd rather keep everything intact, in case I decide to sell the CPU later on.

Second opinions

It's been about a month since our cat got out of the pet hospital. He is doing very well. I can't stress enough the importance of getting a second medical opinion if your pet is very ill. Two vets said there was no hope for our cat. We finally took him to an animal heart specialist who had a different opinion. One of the first things the specialist recommended was taking our cat off all the pills that another vet had insisted he take. He still takes one medication (it's actually a nutritional supplement) and that's it. Yesterday my wife and I watched with amazement as our cat was chasing birds in the backyard. He still has a heart problem. But at least he's able to lead a normal life again.

So close

Now that I have the dual-core running in my daily system, I put my trusty Opteron 148 back in the benching rig. I'm so close to getting it to complete SuperPi 32M at 3.5GHz and under 21 mins. I've bettered my old best time with this chip by 18 seconds.

Fond memory

I found this photo on the internet awhile back. It brought back fond memories for me. The Milk Farm was a restaurant along Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento. Many travelers going to and from the Nevada casinos used to stop there to eat. My late parents and I were among those travelers. The restaurant closed a long time ago. But the sign still remains.

Hot

I ran dual-Prime on my Opteron 170 for more than 14 hours. The CPU gets very hot. Idle temp is around 30C. But load temps while running Prime will get as high as 55C! This is with VCore at 1.39v (1.425v in BIOS) I was running the test in a closed case with the heater on in the house. I'm hoping the Tuniq HSF I ordered will help lower the temps a little. The Tuniq is big and heavy. It weighs more than the Thermaltake Big Typhoon.

Update: I switched to my old Thermaltake Venus 12 while I wait for the Tuniq to be delivered. The Thermaltake has variable speed control for the fan which goes all the way up to 6400RPM. 3500RPM is a little easier on the ears. ;)

I must say it is nice to be able to run dual-Prime and still do other things with the computer.

Components

Here's a complete list of the components in my new system:

Mountain Mods U2-UFO case
Opteron 170 0550UPMW
DFI NF4 Ultra-D (Rev. AD0)
G.Skill PC4800FF
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 NCQ SATA (2)
EVGA 6600GT
OCZ Powerstream 520W (SLI version)
Zalman CNPS9500
Yate Loon 120mm fans (7)
Sanyo Denki 120mm fan
Sunbeam rheobus
NEC ND-3550A DVD burner

Still looking for a good 2GB memory kit. Maybe TeamGroup Micron (if I can find it) or TeamGroup UCCC.

I'm not satisfied with the performance of my Zalman 9500. It's fine for single-core cooling. But I need something a little better, so I ordered the Tuniq Tower 120. Hopefully that will keep me happy until I'm ready for watercooling.

Finished

My new Opteron 170 system is finally up and running. Have not had much time to play with it because I was busy reinstalling Windows and a lot of programs. Seems okay so far. Running at 2.7GHz with 1.36v at the moment. As many people have found out, the dual cores run hot. May need to consider watercooling sooner than later. The UFO case is fantastic. Having all that extra room makes a big difference for me. The case takes up half the space under my desk, but I still have room to stretch my legs.

CPU arrives

My Opteron 170 0550UPMW has finally arrived. :) I now have all the parts for my UFO system. Will finish the build this weekend.

Nature

Saw this photo in a local newspaper. I like it very much. A storm blew through the region yesterday. I think it was the poet Wordsworth who talked about how children have an almost mystical relationship with nature, something they lose as they grow older. I sometimes feel that way about myself. But every now and then I have moments when I feel very close to nature.

Fuyumi-chan

I have followed this Enka singer's career for many years. Sakamoto Fuyumi began performing professionally as a teenager in 1986. Her debut song, Abare Daiko ("Wild Drum") was a big hit. She sings it at just about every concert to this day and even gives a brief performance on the Taiko drums. What I like about her is that she has both spunk and charm. If you've ever watched one of her performances, you'll understand what I'm talking about. She often teases the audience in a very girl-like fashion. Also, many Enka singers will stand in a fixed position during the entire song. Fuyumi, on the other hand, is constantly moving around the stage in a very dance-like fashion, using her hands to help convey the meaning of the songs. With most performers, this can be forced and quite annoying. But with Fuyumi, it's not.

Enka music is very much an acquired taste. Some have described it as the Japanese version of country music. Many of the songs deal with lost love. I've also heard the term "Japanese torch songs." That's a pretty good description too. Enka has been on the decline in recent years. But there are still many good Enka singers and Fuyumi is one of them.