ECS: RD480 in the Extreme

FSB Overclocking Results

Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed
Processor:	AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego) AMD Opteron 170 (Toledo)
CPU Voltage: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ : AMD Opteron 170 :	1.475V (1.4000V default) 1.400V (1.3000V default)
Memory Settings:	2.5-3-3-7 1T - (12x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (10x) 2.5-3-3-7 1T - (9x)
Memory Voltage:	2.8V
LDT Multiplier:	5x - 240HTT, 4x - 285HTT, 3x - 315HTT
Memory:	OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition
Cooling:	Zalman CNPS9500
Power Supply:	PC Power and Cooling 850 SSI
Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+	238HTT x 12 (2855MHz) +19%
Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Athlon 64 4000+	320HTT x 9 (2879MHz) +60%
Maximum CPU OverClock AMD Opteron 170	285HTT x 10 (2850MHz) +42%
Maximum HTT OverClock AMD Opteron 170	315HTT x 9 (2835MHz) +57%

Our 4000+ CPU posted average results in the stock multiplier overclocking test. We noticed an anomaly with this particular CPU after upgrading the board to the latest BIOS revision 1.1d. During testing with the original BIOS revision 1.0e, we were able to reach a stable overclock of 251HTT x12. We could still reach this level with the 1.1d BIOS but the board would not complete our benchmark test suite. We ended up dropping all the way down to a 238HTT setting before the board could complete our test suite. However, our maximum HTT level attained with the 1.0e BIOS was 265HTT x9. The board clearly shines with the 1.1d BIOS resulting in a benchmark suite stable setting of 320HTT x9.

This is clearly an impressive showing by the ECS engineering group at this time. We did not have to change our memory timings as they remained at an impressive 2.5-3.-3-7 1T level throughout testing at the 320HTT x9 setting. Also, voltage only needed to be increased to 1.475V and remained consistent throughout testing. We did not notice any abnormal or out of range voltage fluctuations with this board.





Our Opteron 170 posted excellent results at the stock and lowered CPU multiplier settings. We did not notice the same anomaly with our Athlon64 4000+ CPU at the stock settings. At these overclocked settings the system was able to complete all of our benchmark test suites three consecutive times and run Prime95 for a minimum of four hours without issue. Overall the board would make a very good platform for overclocking, though it could still use additional voltage options for the memory and chipset.

Memory Tests

Memory stress tests look at the ability of the ECS KA1 MVP to operate at the officially supported memory frequencies of DDR-400 at the best performing memory timings the OCZ PC4800 Platinum Edition will support.

ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/4 slots populated - 1 Dual-Channel Bank)
Clock Speed:	200MHz
CAS Latency:	2
RAS to CAS Delay:	2
RAS Precharge:	2
RAS Cycle Time:	5
Command Rate:	1T
Voltage:	2.7V

The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 2 DDR modules in Dual-Channel mode at the settings of 2-2-2-5 at 2.7v. We were able to operate the memory at this configuration up to a 226HTT x12 setting. We will now install all four available memory slots that results in more strenuous requirement on the memory subsystem than testing 2 DDR modules on a motherboard.

ECS KA1 MVP Stable DDR-400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 slots populated - 2 Dual-Channel Banks)
Clock Speed:	200MHz
CAS Latency:	2
RAS to CAS Delay:	2
RAS Precharge:	2
RAS Cycle Time:	7
Command Rate:	2T
Voltage:	2.75V

The ECS KA1 MVP was very stable with 4 DDR2 modules in Dual-Channel operation at the settings of 2-2-2-7 but required the command rate be increased to 2T along with a voltage increase to 2.75. We tested memory modules from several different suppliers with the same results.