Overclocking...

[surrealchereal]

I figured we were going way off topic to the last thread, and I figured I'd start a new one.

So in the bios, is the clock speed referring to the Ram speed?
Why are there numbers like 7,8, 10? for multipliers.. I'm going from memory and that's not always to reliable.. ;)

What does setting the clock speed do, I guess is my question.

Also if I should just go read something instead of discussing it in a thread, (where I will understand it better) Mods, just let me know.

[NDC]

Why are there numbers like 7,8, 10? for multipliers..

Those numbers are related to the processor multiplier. Let's take a processor running at 800Mhz with 100 Fontside Bus for an example.

800 divided by 100 = 10 (meaning the multiplier for this processor is 10.0.)

Let's take the same speed processor running with a 133 Frontside Bus:

800 divided by 133 = 6 (meaning the multiplier for this processor is 6.0.)


and so on....

A way to overclock would be to raise the frontside bus, also known as external clock speed. If you have a 800Mhz/100FSB processor, raising the FSB from default 100 to let's say 110 would give you the following clock speed...

8.0 x 110 = 880Mhz.

But to keep an overclocked system with stability, it's ideal to keep your PCI and AGP as close as possible to their default speeds which are:

AGP = 66Mhz
PCI = 33Mhz

Now this is where you need to look in your BIOS for PCI/AGP deviders. Some maiboards have this option and some don't. As for ABIT, this is standard in the SoftMenu III.

If you set the PCI divider at 1/3 with 110FSB, it would bring the PCI clock speed to 36.6Mhz. Some mainboards have preset values where you can add FSB in increments of one, and there are mainboards where it will have individual settings for AGP and PCI divider such as the Abit BE6-II. The important thing I noticed is that PCI doesn't like to play nice when you overclock and run the PCI ports over 39Mhz. I've seen some systems that don't play nice at even 36Mhz. This will all depend on the hardware you are using in the PCI slots. A very finicky device to name off my head are SCSI cards... They definetly don't like overclocked PCI slots in most cases...

[surrealchereal]

And ya know what? NDC, that was complete and told me everything (I think ;) ) That is exactly why I hate to read technical stuff. They drone on and on and what it all boils down to is a few points.
I think you just wrote the best explanation I've ever read. :)

Now to just get the nerve up to do it... I would hate to kill one of my prized cows.. ;)


If I do we will have a BBQ! :lol:

[NDC]

Glad the info was helpful! :)

Just keep the processors as cool as possible and keep the PCI and AGP port in a safe range, and you should be fine... :)

[surrealchereal]

Yep, cool.... I'm having a real problem with my Tbird.. it's hot,
My b/f even drilled the front of the case out to give the front fan more air and added a new heatsink fan.. but it's hot.
It's 131* now, but will go up to about 150 by this afternoon as the room temp increases with the day.. Course that's also my ECS board, which doesn't offer much in the overclocking department. I prolly need a new case... but if I do that, then I'd need another board for the old case.. :lol: Catch 22.

[NDC]

Well, you might consider purchasing one of these (http://www.2cooltek.com/tt900.html) for your system. It's quiet and it definetly makes a difference on your processor temperature. With 80CRM air flow with 26db noise level, you can't go wrong. I've punched holes on the side of the cases before, but with standard speed 80mm fans, it really didn't make a WOW of a difference in my opinion. However, with the bay cooler, I saw a dop of about 4~5C.

Currently on my new system case (http://www.xtremepccentral.com/vbforums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=814), I removed the bay cooler and added a high-speed 120mm fan on the top of the case and this made a world of difference! I added a switch for the fan and tested running the system with the fan on and off and the difference is about 6~9C. I'm running 2 x FOP-32's with a 2 x 4500rpm fans on a dual P3 1Ghz (I couldn't hang with the YS-Tech stock fans because they were too loud!) and here are my current processor temperatures as I type this message....

[jadison]

I need to find that Overclocking article I wrote several years ago, although it's mainly for Socket 7-based systems (as they were the top/mid-range systems back then). I had it on a website I made with Geocities, once I find it I'll edit it and post it in the Articles section. Surreal, OC'ing really isn't that difficult to understand. With the right tools and enough of an OC, you could have your herd running at warp speed in no time. :lol:

Seriously though, one thing I cannot stress enough in this department is PROPER cooling. Case fans, HSF's, Bay Coolers all help...but make sure you have the fundamental Thermal Compound applied in between your CPU and HSF. I've used the basic stuff you can find @ Radio Shack, Arctic Silver 2, and a few other generic brands, but if you don't mind the extra cents go for Arctic Silver 2. You may also consider lapping your Heatsink and/or CPU once you have that Thermal Compound handyt. Lapping is just smoothing the surface of the Heatsink and CPU so that it's PURE flat...allowing for optimal heat transfer between the CPU and the HS. The Thermal Compound just acts as a conduit for that heat to travel faster and more efficiently through this "system". And, if you're real Hardcore you'll Water-Cool your system! :cooldude: Forget about a measly 100-150MHz OC, we're talking 500-700MHz OC!!!

I actually setup a mini-AT Water-Cooling rig a couple years ago, tons fun and I learned a good deal. CMonster helped me out a good deal, as did his website: http://www.comppwizz.com

I'll dig up that article soon! :)