• Kijo
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Topic: Overclocking the N280

I know this has been discussed quite a few times in other topics, but i was unable to find the specific answer to what i was looking for.

I have an N10Jh, with a N280, with the FSB at 166 at stock.. but only able to go x10, no x12 is possible on the N280.. as i am sure most here already know.

I have been overclocking my N10Jh over the past few days.. incrementing from 1.66ghz, to 1.7, 1.75, 1.8, 1.85.. stress testing along the way.  12 hours of Prime95 came back with no errors at 1.85ghz (FSB at 185), and the cpu temperature did not hit 70c.. max was 67c, but it seemed to hover around 65c or so most of the time on full load.

Also did some benchmarking with 3dmark06 at 190 (1.9ghz) and it seemed absolutely fine, though i have not had a chance to stress test it with Prime95 overnight yet.

After looking on this site, i have noticed people with the N280 seem to be encountering stability issues very early on.. often around 1.75ghz (fsb 175 x10).. and this has kind of made me want to back off a bit, so i generally just use SetFSBTray as and when i need it for Fallout 3 to go up to 1.75ghz.. but do i really need to be this conservative?  I was pretty confident 1.9ghz would have been fine, and possibly could have gone up to 2Ghz..

What i want to know is this: is it essentially stupidity to run this kind of processor at 200 x10 all of the time?  Am i risking the longevity/lifespan of the unit, regardless of if the system is stable under 12+ Prime95 hours of testing (and beneath 75c temp of course)?

When i use Prime95, i basically keep everything on default.. i do the 'torture test', then i use 'Blend (tests some of everything, lots of ram tested)', with the default '2' torture test threads running.  Am i using Prime95 badly? Is 2 threads, while effective for dual core processors, giving me a very conservative stress test?

Basically my only doubts are about the longevity of running this processor at 185+ FSB, and the chance that i have been using Prime95 badly.  I am not an experienced overclocker, as is probably evident, and i sat reading lots of threads on this and other forums before having a go.. would just like some clarification/advice on these two points if possible.

Cheers.

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2 Reply by darkjeric (edited by darkjeric 2010-02-03 11:46:12)

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Re: Overclocking the N280

As long as you don't increase Vcore (which you can't on any N10), the only thing you need to worry about is temperature. The warmer it gets, the faster it breaks, that's how easy the reasoning is  smile

Now, the Atoms were built to withstand 125° Celsius, so if you take a very healthy margin, it's safe to say that anything below 90° won't decrease your lifespan noticeably. Maybe it'll break a year sooner, but that's considering it lasting 24 years instead of normal 25 years then, so nothing to bad.

As long as it's not crashing or overheating, it's running fine  wink

Don't make me "touch" you :-D

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3 Reply by Crossbourne (edited by Crossbourne 2010-02-03 08:56:23)

  • Registered: 2009-07-26
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Re: Overclocking the N280

I don't think it is possible to use Prime95 "badly". The normal use is blend with 2 workers running (as N280 & N270 has two threads).  When we overclock with SetFSB, the RAM timings are still the same, so the RAM tries to keep up with all the information, now that it has a higher DRAM freq. That's why usually Small FFT tests are run, as they only force the CPU (and therefore only check for errors related to CPU). If you get no errors during blend tests, then you have a really stable system (being a notebook). Because it also means that your RAM is capable of handling the same timings even with higher frequency.

AFAIK, the N280 & N270 is capable to withstand temperatures as high as 100C. Unless you reach really high temperatures (which is kinda hard as the N10 packs a really efficient fan), it shouldn't have any effect on the CPU (unless you are overvolting, which is a different thing).

Although, I'd like to say that it is better to not keep the N10 overclocked at all times. Because the chance of having a BSOD is always higher when you overclock. But that's my opinion.

edit: Gah darkjeric, you beat me to it.

Asus N10Jc @ 2.06 Ghz - XP / 7 Dual - 2GB 667Mhz RAM - WD Scorpio Blue 250Gb - FSB:DRAM 1:2 - CVV 1.1V

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  • Kijo
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Re: Overclocking the N280

In that case, i think i will keep going then.. see if i can have much stability at 2ghz once i get there.  My only worry was 200 FSB seemed really really high compared to what N270 overclockers had (i guess because they have a higher multiplier), but if there is no fundamental risk of having a high FSB other than temperature, i will keep going!

Just one thing to clarify, you both mentioned vcore/voltage being another factor...

I have been working with Core VID of 1.025v throughout all of the overclocking i have done, but i was only able to get this figure by going 'super performance' on Power4Gear.. if i keep it on 'high performance', Core VID is only 0.950v.  I guess this does not strictly qualify as increasing the vcore..?  (Sorry, probably seem like daft questions, but just want to make sure.. new to this).

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5 Reply by darkjeric (edited by darkjeric 2010-02-03 11:45:48)

  • From: Belgium
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Re: Overclocking the N280

That doesn't really count. You do it by software that's provided with the machine, so you're practically guaranteed the CPU works perfectly OK with 1.025V, which it certainly does. Increasing the Vcore would be you going into the BIOS and increasing the number manually, but this is something that can't be done from the stock BIOS, or any custom BIOS I've seen.

So happy OC'ing, and let us know how high you get  wink !

@Crossbourne: Haha! Nice try, but I'm faster  tongue

Don't make me "touch" you :-D

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  • Registered: 2009-07-26
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Re: Overclocking the N280

What Power4Gear does is not actually "Overvolting" but "Undervolting". I don't know what is the actual CVV of N280, but it is 1.1V for N270. For me, while the CVV stays at 1.1V during Super or High Performance modes, it goes down to 0.9V (with the multiplier lowered to 6x) at Quiet Office or Battery Saving modes. It also goes down to 0.9V as Intel SpeedStep lowers down the multiplier to 6x if the CPU is idle.

As darkjeric said, it is not possible to increase N10's CVV from its BIOS. You might want to try it through hard modding, but I'd recommend against it, as you don't need it. smile

Just one thing, other N280 users have said that it is not possible to go over 200 FSB (somehow although you move up the slider in SetFSB, it doesn't change the FSB frequency). Let us know if you can find a way to pass 200 FSB somehow. Other than that, go have a blast. smile

@ DJ: You may be the forum god, but I'll catch you soon enough. tongue

Asus N10Jc @ 2.06 Ghz - XP / 7 Dual - 2GB 667Mhz RAM - WD Scorpio Blue 250Gb - FSB:DRAM 1:2 - CVV 1.1V

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  • From: Belgium
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Re: Overclocking the N280

Me, forum God? I think Mr.Web has such a lead on all of us we will never catch him  lol
But we're starting to go off-topic, sorry for that  wink

Don't make me "touch" you :-D

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  • From: Texas
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Re: Overclocking the N280

Dear darkjeric,

Its not about Quantity, it's about Quality, You and many others around here know so much more about computers than i ever have.  However, I do know much more than i did 15 months ago.   tongue   

Back to Bidness

N10J-A1 ~ 128gb ssd ~ 2gb Sodimm, W7

Here's to you ! Best Business Partner Ever - Brittany-Marie ~  2-2-1998 to 10-2-2009

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  • Kijo
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Re: Overclocking the N280

Well, just thought i would let you guys know how it went.  I did 26 hours of stress testing at 1.9ghz (1902 or so) on blend.. and prime95 showed no errors, maximum cpu temp was 68c but most of the time i checked in on it it was down at anywhere between 52-64.. usually in the high 50s (must have a bloody good fan on it..).

It looks like 1.9ghz is my limit, as immediately after going to 1.95ghz, the system starts to freeze up most of the time.. though i would have taken 1.9ghz before starting this anyway, so i am pretty happy with how it went.  I get 1744 on 3dmark06 with TinyXP Rev09, and Fallout 3 runs nicely at 1.9ghz for me.

Thanks for helping me out with the questions, though i do have just one more... as mentioned in a earlier post, seems it might not be wise to just run at 1.9ghz for the sake of it at all times.. i think ideally i will just use SetFSBTray to go to 1.9ghz whenever i want to play Fallout 3, maybe FFXI, or something that is somewhat demanding for stock.  Is it safe/acceptable to only OC rarely?  No danger of stressing the system by flicking from 1.6-1.9 suddenly? I am assuming that the absolute worst that can happen is an overheat and shutdown anyway, but i am under the impression that now i have done a decent amount of stress testing at 1.9ghz.. i can just flick to it and use it as and when, regardless of how infrequently?

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  • Registered: 2009-07-26
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Re: Overclocking the N280

Try it. I increase the clock rate with increments of 60 Mhz, but AFAIK, it is possible to overclock the cpu directly. You've even done stress tests for a day, I don't think flicking the clock from 1.6 to 1.9 will stress the system any more than those day-long strees tests. smile So, I'd say yes, it is acceptable to only OC rarely. I only OC when me and my friends are going to play L4D2 or some other kind of OC-requiring game.

Asus N10Jc @ 2.06 Ghz - XP / 7 Dual - 2GB 667Mhz RAM - WD Scorpio Blue 250Gb - FSB:DRAM 1:2 - CVV 1.1V

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  • From: Belgium
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Re: Overclocking the N280

Yep, same story here. I only OC when I need to, and that's when recording my week-long studies or for gaming. I always throw it from 1.6Ghz to 2.1Ghz in one go, doesn't seem to do anything wrong  big_smile

Don't make me "touch" you :-D

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  • From: Texas
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Re: Overclocking the N280

go to the oerclocking sticky and work your way through it, get to the end and you will know alot, i am not good at it - sorry   tongue

fingerprint reader - install it - go to start menu - open it - register fingerprints and what settings you want and you are set to go.   cool

latest bios is 218 i believe for my n10j, you will have to look up bios for your model and os, you can also use search function on the menu bar above for more posts on the subject

welcome to the forum

N10J-A1 ~ 128gb ssd ~ 2gb Sodimm, W7

Here's to you ! Best Business Partner Ever - Brittany-Marie ~  2-2-1998 to 10-2-2009

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  • From: Texas
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Re: Overclocking the N280

farlyf
see if fp reader shows in programs and features and a folder "UPEK" on your C drive,cause you may have to uninstall it later or delete it.

go to upek website and download the version you want use, i would use the older version protector suite ql, not the newer beta version.  after installed an icon will usually show up on the taskbar or behind the hidden icons tab. click on it and you should be able to do the registration etc...

if u cannot maybe others or asus could help   hmm

N10J-A1 ~ 128gb ssd ~ 2gb Sodimm, W7

Here's to you ! Best Business Partner Ever - Brittany-Marie ~  2-2-1998 to 10-2-2009

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  • Registered: 2010-03-10
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Re: Overclocking the N280

i tried with my N10jh after reading this topic .
If Prime95's running , i easily reached 2.0GHz with no error in about 30 mins. But strangely , everytime i turned Prime off , it's freezed n had to restart ( even in 1.75 Ghz ) .
Anybody know why ? Please help

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  • From: Belgium
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Re: Overclocking the N280

trungbk wrote:

i tried with my N10jh after reading this topic .
If Prime95's running , i easily reached 2.0GHz with no error in about 30 mins. But strangely , everytime i turned Prime off , it's freezed n had to restart ( even in 1.75 Ghz ) .
Anybody know why ? Please help

You need RightMark-clock. The reason why your PC crashes when it's idle (when you quit Prime95) is Intel's SpeedStep. This technology lowers the multiplier (ergo the clockspeed) and the voltage of the CPU when it has nothing to do, preserving more power. But that's exactly what you don't want to do when OC'ing, you need every bit of stability you can.

Thankfully, although SpeedStep is a hardware implementation, it's being controlled by software. And software can be bypassed big_smile

RM-Clock is a CPU information tool, but it also contains some other features. One of those features is the HLT-command, that tricks Windows into believing that the CPU is being hammered for the full 100%, while in fact it has nothing to do. When Windows believes the CPU is working, SpeedStep will not kick in and your CPU should just keep running @2.0Ghz

Mind you, it's only a trick. The HLT-command doesn't really put 100% load on your CPU, so performance isn't in any way diminished while running it.

Don't make me "touch" you :-D

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  • Registered: 2010-03-10
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Re: Overclocking the N280

It's work like charm . Thanks you so much .
It's a little inconvenient , but fine for me ( only OC when play game ) . big_smile

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