nForce4 Ultra Roundup: Charting the Mainstream

ECS KN1 Extreme: Overclocking and Stress Testing

FSB Overclocking Results

Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed
ECS KN1 Extreme
Processor:	Athlon 64 4000+ (2.4GHz, 1MB Cache)
CPU Voltage:	1.55V (default 1.50V)
Cooling:	Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 Heatsink/Fan
Power Supply:	OCZ Power Stream 520W
Memory:	OCZ PC3200 EL Platinum Rev. 2 (Samsung TCCD Memory Chips)
Hard Drive:	Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA 8MB Cache
Maximum OC: (Standard Ratio)	235x12 (Auto HT, 2-3-2-7, 1T, 2.85V) 2820MHz (+17.5%)
Maximum FSB: (Lower Ratio)	235x11 (Auto HT, 2-3-2-7, 1T, 2.85V) 2585MHz (+17.5%) Lower Ratios reset to Stock Multiplier

Reality bites when we begin overclocking the ECS KN1 Extreme, since the ratios that we had such a time finding really don't work very well. As long as we stay within about 1.5X of stock speed, the ratios work, but beyond that, the board resets whatever you set. That means that we couldn't get 10 or 9 to work with a 12X 4000+ CPU. The stock multiplier overclocking was competitive at 235 with top boards, but the inability to set ratios reliably had seriously limited bus overclocking. The best that we could do was the same 235 at 11, which we reached at stock 12X. This was really a disappointment for a board that we thought might break away as a great value. For stock performance, the ECS is fine; for modest overclocking, the ECS performs well; but for the enthusiast, the KN1 is anything but extreme.

Memory Stress Test Results:

Our memory stress test measured the ability of the ECS to operate at its officially supported memory frequency (400MHz DDR), at the lowest memory timings that OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 modules will support. All DIMMs used for stress testing were 512MB double-sided (or double-bank) memory. To make sure that memory performed properly in Dual-Channel mode, memory was only tested using either one dual-channel (2 DIMMs) or 2 dual-channels (4 DIMMs).

Stable DDR400 Timings - One Dual-Channel (2/4 DIMMs populated)
Clock Speed:	200MHz
CAS Latency:	2.0
RAS to CAS Delay:	2T
RAS Precharge:	7T
Precharge Delay:	2T
Command Rate:	1T

Using two DIMMs in Dual-Channel 128-bit mode, the memory performed in all benchmarks at the fastest 2-2-2-7 timings at default 2.6V voltage.

Tests with 4 DS DIMMs on an AMD Athlon 64 system are more demanding, since AMD specifies DDR333 for this combination. However, most AMD Athlon 64 motherboards combined with recent AMD processors (the memory controller is on the AMD CPU) have been able to handle 4 DIMMs at DDR400.

Stable DDR400 Timings - 4 DIMMs (4/4 DIMMs populated)
Clock Speed:	166MHz
CAS Latency:	2.0
RAS to CAS Delay:	2T
RAS Precharge:	7T
Precharge Delay:	2T
Command Rate:	2T

Tests with all four DIMM slots populated on the ECS KN1 Extreme boards required a 2T Command Rate with 4 DS DIMMs in two dual channels at a speed of DDR333. Despite the fact that AMD recommends DDR333 with 4 DS DIMMs, most motherboards do support DDR400 at 2T with 4 DS DIMMs.