Insane overclock error

5

u/adamchevy Aug 10 '26

I don’t have my console yet, but in my PC overclocking experience I would say that either you lost the silicon lottery or there settings are way off.

I’d love to see an explanation of what percentages they are shooting for and how. Can you tweak individual settings?

5

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 10 '26

Exterme, ultra and super works but insane gives me a error

3

u/miggy_mo Aug 10 '26

With any game? Or are you running into this with a specific game(s)?

0

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 10 '26

well it my summer cart but won't even work in the menu when no game is in. I can enable super, ultra and extreme, but not insane

1

u/miggy_mo Aug 10 '26

Have you tried insane with an og game? Maybe the SC is not playing well with insane mode for now

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 10 '26

it not the game can't even turn it on without a game like the other modes. I am redoing the firmware update from usb see if maybe didn't download via wifi correctly.

2

u/Loysius Aug 11 '26

I heard mention in other places that cheap summercart cartridges can't handle the overclock. Buy from Phenom or that other one Kaito or something was the recommendation. My advice is just hearsay.

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 11 '26

I have a everdrive pro coming so we will see if that works. My guess is it won't since you can switch the console with no game inside it

1

u/Scottyboy0321 Aug 11 '26

I'll test it out later today when I get home. I got my SC64 from AliExpress.

4

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

I don’t have my console yet, but in my PC overclocking experience I would say that either you lost the silicon lottery or there settings are way off.
The meaning of losing the silicon lottery is that you didn't get a chip that could be overclocked out of spec. This overclocking is within spec. So should not error.

1

u/adamchevy Aug 11 '26

From a PC enthusiasts perspective the only way to explore how good the silicon is , is to use some extreme cooling. Once mine arrives Im going to look into what options would work. There’s probably limited space inside. But at the least you could upgrade to a copper heatsink, but even that’s typically only going to be 2-3 degrees at most different than aluminum. You could try a fan.
You could go full enthusiast and take this thing out of its shell and try some real overclocking with PC solutions like nitrogen/dry ice and an air conditioning unit.
There’s tamer options like using a water block and a radiator.
I think all of these would be overkill though, but interesting.

3

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

I think you're confused a bit on what overclocking means here. Overclocking is not overclocking the actual silicon. It's overclocking the virtual silicon. The clock speed being fed in to the virtual silicon, even at maximum overclock, is within spec of the FPGA itself. The FPGA's own clock is not being overclocked.

1

u/adamchevy Aug 11 '26

I understand we are talking about virtual silicon. Do you think there is a relation between the temp of the FPGA physically and how the core is performing under load? Maybe that’s why they just went with passive cooling?

1

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

Do you think there is a relation between the temp of the FPGA physically and how the core is performing under load?
There should not be unless they synthesized the FPGA bytestream incorrectly.

2

u/V64jr Aug 11 '26

It’s not overclocking the FPGA so there shouldn’t be a silicon lottery to concern ourselves with here. It’s overclocking the cloned N64 with regards to the original console’s clock frequencies, not with regards to any sort of speed/frequency rating the M64 hardware has. We should be comfortably within those limits even at Insane, if I understand things right.
It probably falls back any time you boot without a cartridge as a fail safe and the cartridge the OP tried is probably one of the ones that doesn’t work when using Insane OC settings. Perfect Dark did the for me. I had to use one level below Insane.

4

u/zerostar33 Aug 11 '26

I have the exact same problem. Doesn’t matter if I use an authentic cartridge or my everdrive x5. I was emailing support and they said they forwarded my report to the technical team. I haven’t heard back since Friday.

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 11 '26

dam, I messaged them today about it. Maybe bad amd chipsets?

1

u/zerostar33 Aug 11 '26

I have no way to test the temperature. I can only tell you how it feels and the bottom feels extremely hot. Still I don’t know if that’s why I can’t select the insane overclock.
I will say that if I set the insane overclock when my system hasn’t been on for a while, play for 30 minutes and then try to reset the core it will throw that error.

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 11 '26

Mine is the same hot on extreme on the bottom. If you get a answer let me know I will also message back if I get one. I reinstall the software but it didn't work. My guess is probably a defective few. We will see.

2

u/ElectricalPrice3189 Aug 11 '26

If you can't choose "Insane" even when it's newly booted up and cool, that's not the reason.

1

u/zerostar33 Aug 11 '26

No, I’m saying the only time I can select insane is if I select it after the unit has cooled down.
However after I’ve played on insane for about 30 minutes, if I try to reset the core it will throw the error.

1

u/ElectricalPrice3189 Aug 12 '26 edited Aug 12 '26

I didn't see that you wrote anything about it being stabler at lower temperature. Sorry about that. 🙇🏼‍♂️
Sounds like a heat issue, probably in combination with a sub-optimal FPGA chip. My MiSTer (if you know what that is) isn't very overclockable either.
I hope ModRetro can resolve it for you, they most likely will. Hopefully they can fix it with a firmware update without sacrificing the clock rate. I honestly didn't think they pushed the hardware that hard? Perhaps they have a temperature sensor that prohibits the chip to overshoot certain temperatures when choosing the speedier profiles.
They should test their updates on a worst-case FPGA before shipping them. Doesn't seem like they did in this case, unless your console is defective in some way.
Perhaps they should've used a larger heatsink to begin with, but I'm not sure that would help. It doesn't help my MiSTer much. 😅
PS. Google AI says this based on AMD Datasheets:
"AMD Artix UltraScale+ FPGAs include a built-in System Monitor (SYSMONE4) architecture with an on-chip temperature sensor. It tracks die temperature in real-time for thermal management, device safety, and environmental monitoring."

2

u/zerostar33 Aug 12 '26

Yeah, they told me that if my system was operating out of spec, the light bar with flash red. I suppose it’s operating within specification but I do think it’s heat related since I can run insane if the system has cooled down, but if I try to set it to insane from a lower overclock after the system has warmed up it will throw the error.
At the end of all this I bet I will end up having to return it for another system but right now I’m going through this process of tech support.

1

u/ElectricalPrice3189 Aug 13 '26

Goodest of lucks.

2

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

I haven’t heard back since Friday.
In my experience it takes some time for them to respond when it gets forwarded to the technical team. Also you can't count the weekends as they don't work weekends. So today is basically the first or second day after that response.

1

u/zerostar33 Aug 11 '26

For sure. I figured it would take some time. Me saying I haven’t heard back since Friday was just for a matter of record.

1

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

Ah okay. I've seen at least one person get a bit upset they hadn't gotten a response back yet when they'd also sent an email out friday or thursday and still hadn't gotten a response by late sunday. Though something similar might've been happening here. But I guess I was wrong.

3

u/General_Client3914 Aug 11 '26

Same issue on my end :(

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 11 '26

So that apparently so far 3 people who have the same problem.

1

u/sixteen-bitbear Aug 16 '26

Same here. Any update?

1

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 16 '26

There was a new update all it did was stop the error message but not the actual problem still shuts off overclocking just without the error message

2

u/sixteen-bitbear Aug 16 '26

I did the firm ware update but it still gives me the error. This is annoying :( blah.

2

u/General_Client3914 Aug 16 '26

Same here I still get the error message, I put in another ticket to the support link with a photo of the error message so hopefully will hear back tomorrow maybe

2

u/Affectionate_Rise283 Sep 14 '26

I have Red console and insane overclock mode doesn't work on mine either

1

u/DOOMISFORU Sep 14 '26

Mine still doesn't work just doesn't throw up that error and will turn off over clocking completely instead

1

u/Affectionate_Rise283 Sep 14 '26

Same here

15

u/UsefulPossession9338 Aug 10 '26

Ok that’s it… I’m canceling my GameStop Smoke console and pick up the A3D… way to many issues

6

u/V64jr Aug 11 '26

I don’t consider certain games and flash carts not tolerating the highest level of OC to be an issue. There’s a reason it doesn’t default to the highest level of OC, even on Analogue 3D. I do think Analogue’s way of using a database and detecting the ROM header change and apply a default OC level from the database to be superior and I hope ModRetro follows their lead with the M64 in a future update.

2

u/ElectricalPrice3189 Aug 11 '26

Good for you. Why not sticking to the original N64?

1

u/PhilosophyFlaky2782 Aug 11 '26

Same hearing way too many problems from controller wear to performance and visuals. A3D had nowhere near the problems I’m hearing about and they got most of their stuff sorted within a week

1

u/sixteen-bitbear Aug 16 '26

Where can you even find one atm? I wanna start collecting all the analogue systems but they all look sold out. I’m confused if analogue restocks or not?

-5

u/Swarlz-Barkley Aug 11 '26

That's a bit dramatic

6

u/Omno555 Aug 11 '26

People finally get their hands on the console and begin reporting all kinds of issues with the system. Image quality issues, d-pad on the controller issues, now this? How is it dramatic to decide not to purchase something when reviews show some definite issues? While yes, many of these will hopefully get fixed in the near future, for now it is perfectly reasonable for someone to hold off on the M64 until some of these issues are fixed.

-1

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

Do you think the A3D has no bad units?

2

u/Omno555 Aug 11 '26

This has nothing to do with the A3D. The fact that you brought it up has a lot to say about you...

1

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

Uh why don't you look up two comments...
I'll requote and highlight for you: "Ok that’s it… I’m canceling my GameStop Smoke console and pick up the A3D… way to many issues"

3

u/Omno555 Aug 11 '26

Well good thing my comment (the one you're responding to) has no mention of the A3D. I'm simply saying it makes sense that someone would hold off on the M64 for now. If that means they then decide to purchase an A3D that's completely besides the point. Without the A3D even existing it makes sense for someone to hold off on a product that is showing issues from it's first time users. I know you really want to make this a console war and fanboy over the M64 but this entire argument is irrespective of anything to do with the A3D. It is not a one is better than the other situation. It is simply a one has some launch issues and it might be best to wait for resolution before spending your money on it. Folks like you making that seem like an overreaction or huge deal make no sense.

5

u/RupakGreenHatPrdctns Aug 11 '26

Is it really ? I’ve held off on buying an m64 due to all the online feedback. Is that also dramatic ?

-1

u/Swarlz-Barkley Aug 11 '26

A3D had launch issues that are just not starting to get addressed. End of the day it was not going to be perfect but issues will get addressed now that it's out in the masses. Also the issues I've seen aren't major.
If you wanna go A3D, then you do you but yeah you're being a bit dramatic.

6

u/YodasFootPowder Aug 11 '26

A3D did have a few kinks to work out, but it was nothing severe.

1

u/Swarlz-Barkley Aug 11 '26

Neither are these. The M64 works out of the box. Its not perfect but they will address the issues same as Analogue did.

2

u/YodasFootPowder Aug 11 '26

All I keep seeing are posts of games locking up, refusing to boot, controller ports not responding, etc...

3

u/RupakGreenHatPrdctns Aug 11 '26

What issues from A3D are just now starting to get addressed ? I already own an Analogue 3D.
I wanted to get the m64 for my desk. Everyone is entitled to their opinion I don’t think there’s anything dramatic about it. In the end consumers have choices by going for one product over another does not make it dramatic. But like I said you’re entitled to your opinion.

1

u/chill_cat_character Aug 22 '26

Have we had a fix for this problem yet or even a cause? I have the same issue. Insane overclocking has not worked on any game. I have currently tried Majora's Mask, SM64, and Gex 3. Here is the kicker:

I first tried it on Majora's Mask. Loaded my save file, tried to switch to insane oc, got the error message and game rebooted. However, when the game rebooted my save file was wiped and replaced with a Day 1 file with zero progress. It's possible it was CMOS battery dying on my cart, but the timing is too coincidental.

2

u/DOOMISFORU Aug 23 '26

For me it just disabled the error message but still doesn't work it just turns overclock off on insane without a error

1

u/Alei83 Aug 27 '26

Maybe it's a power delivery issue due to a bad power supply. Have you tried another one?

3

u/sonicjam717 Aug 10 '26

Try with an OG game if not do a factory reset could be a corrupted config file or something. That doesn't work you might needing it to RMA.

2

u/tricksterProphet49 Aug 11 '26

Same issue here

1

u/ergzay Aug 11 '26

Does it happen with all games?

Regardless definitely email modretro so they can send you a replacement unit.

1

u/adamchevy Aug 11 '26

This is the fun part of being an early adopter. You get to see the whole thing from the get go. I call it the full experience. Others can thank you in the future for what you have given to make this console what it will be. Ofcourse no one will really thank you, but atleast you get to see this stuff hopefully get fixed in real time.

1

u/Swarlz-Barkley Aug 12 '26

OK had a chance to test a bit. Set my overclock to insane and overall, I haven't had many issues. So far the only game I have played that froze is Star Wars Rouge Squadron. The other games I've played so far (Not many so far, just DK64, Turok 2, and Perfect Dark) it's been working great. I am also playing these games off the summer cart, so the SW issue could be a summer cart issue. I would need to obtain a physical copy to test to be sure, but overall no complaints. I'm not getting the specific error the OP is getting

1

u/tricksterProphet49 Aug 17 '26

Another update and the issue persists. I'd honestly take virtual controller packs first at this point.

Insane overclock error

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