Overclocking

[USSEnterprise]

How do you overclock a PC's CPU without irrepairably damaging it? If I wanted to overclock my MAME pc's processor from 300MHz to 500MHZ or my main PC from 1.6GHz to 2GHZ, how would I go about it. I just really dont want to damage anything.

[babydickonboard]

that depends on alot of factors.....amd or intel?....what model cpu?....stock heatsink/fan? (probaly).....type of motherboard your using?......that information will help out alot.

[USSEnterprise]

My MAME PC is an IBM 3000GL with a 300MHz Pentium II with 512K cache and a  stock motherboard. It is a slot 1 processor with a fan about 4 inches away.

My main PC is a Pentium 4 1.6GHz w/ 256K cache,  on an Intel "Dublin" motherboard

[RayB]

These days, they say it's not really worth overclocking. Why? Because for the cost of extra cooling, you could just buy a faster chip in the first place.

That said, a simple Googling of "overclocking" will get you the info you want.

[ChadTower]

DO NOT forget the L when googling on overclocking.

[USSEnterprise]

overcocking?

[MnMCaputo]

For you, overclocking would have to been done using the jumpers on your mobo, very close to your cpu, there should be a strip of them, probably about 5 - 6 rows side by side.  Read your mobo book or download off the net, and change your multiplier if your at 300 mhz, your multiplier is probably 4.5 so change it to 5 or 5.5,  or change to fsb from 66- 75 ( if your motherboard supports 75mhz )    Now as for cooling, some of the older p2 heatsinks didnt even put fans on them, and if they did, it was a crappy 20-40mm fan that blew hardly any air.  You'd be surprised how just ghetto mounting a 60 - 80mm  over the heatsink, how much cooler it keeps your rig.    All that being said.  There is NEVER a guaranteed or completely safe way to overclock.  Its very doubtful that you will have any problems.  But it is a posibility

[markb]

I doubt whether you will be able to get that level of overclock, 300 - 500mhz and 1600 - 2000mhz is a fairly hefty jump. This isn't just because the CPU probably wouldn't take it but also the memory you are using and a few other factors as well such as mobo suitability etc.

A 10% push on the FSB speed is fairly easy by changing the jumpers (as mentioned) or in the bios, but the chances are if you push this more, one part of the system will probably get a bit flaky and you'll start getting system hangs. There are workarounds for this but thats when it gets a bit trickier.

If however you are interested there are plenty of sites out there this being one of them:-

http://www.ocforums.com/

Some excellent beginners guides on there

[Scott84]

Also, overclocking can sometimes mess the motherboard cant it?

[krick]

I've overclocked (or attempted to overclock) every computer I've ever owned.  I have yet to damage anything.

I imagine, that if you had a CPU with really poor cooling that you *might* be able to damage it by overclocking, especially if you increase the core voltages WAY over the specs while trying to do it.

I have never heard of anyone damaging a motherboard while attempting to overclock.

[krick]

My MAME PC is an IBM 3000GL with a 300MHz Pentium II with 512K cache and a

[USSEnterprise]

System Info
Model : Trigem Dublin
Chassis Type : 1X
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
 
Processor
Number Of Processors : 1
Type : Intel Pentium 4 1600 MHz
Processors Bus Speed : 400 MHz
 
Motherboard
Manufacturer : TriGem Computer, Inc.
Model : Dublin Rev. None
CPU Slot/Socket Type : mPGA-478
Chipset Vendor : Intel i845 Rev. 4
Bios Manufacturer : Phoenix Technologies LTD
Bios Version : 6.00
 
Graphics
Model : nVidia AGP NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500
AGP Speed : 4x
Monitor : Plug and Play Monitor
 
Storage
Hard Drive 1 : Maxtor 2F040L0
Size : 39.21 GB
Hard Drive 2 : SanDisk Cruzer Mini
Size : 0.12 GB
 
Memory
Total RAM Installed : 384 MB
Type : SDRAM DIMM PC133
Used RAM Slots: 2 of 3
 
Peripherals
USB Version : 1.1
 

[USSEnterprise]

I'm not sure it will run on the IBM, because at the moment, it is running Debian Linux

[Tiger-Heli]

I've overclocked (or attempted to overclock) every computer I've ever owned.  I have yet to damage anything.

I imagine, that if you had a CPU with really poor cooling that you *might* be able to damage it by overclocking, especially if you increase the core voltages WAY over the specs while trying to do it.

I have never heard of anyone damaging a motherboard while attempting to overclock.

Depends - I had a Pentium 200 that I overclocked to 225 Mhz by changing the FSB from 66 to 75 IIRC, but the mobo didn't have the proper dividers for the PCI bus.  Worked fine with my WD (I think) HD.  Then I upgraded to a Maxtor HD and it took six hours to load Windows.  I called Maxtor CS and they said that could cause the problems and would also void the warranty.  Set it back to 200 and used it with no problems for a couple more years.

YMMV.

[krick]

System Info
Model : Trigem Dublin
Chassis Type : 1X
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
 
Processor
Number Of Processors : 1
Type : Intel Pentium 4 1600 MHz
Processors Bus Speed : 400 MHz
 
Motherboard
Manufacturer : TriGem Computer, Inc.
Model : Dublin Rev. None
CPU Slot/Socket Type : mPGA-478
Chipset Vendor : Intel i845 Rev. 4
Bios Manufacturer : Phoenix Technologies LTD
Bios Version : 6.00
 
Memory
Total RAM Installed : 384 MB
Type : SDRAM DIMM PC133
Used RAM Slots: 2 of 3
 

Well, you have a Trigem Dublin motherboard.  According to this page...

http://www.emachineupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socket478/dublin.shtml

...it *should* support Northwood processors.  I think that it only supports ones with a 400MHz front side bus and they top out at 2.8GHz.  Here's a search on the Intel page...

http://processorfinder.intel.com/scripts/list.asp?ProcFam=483&NoNav=NO&CorSpd=ALL&SysBusSpd=5095&MfgTech=ALL&step=ALL&cache=5887&PkgType=ALL&btnFOS=Filter+on+selections

Here's a little more about the Trigem Dublin, including BIOS upgrades...

http://www.elhvb.com/mboards/TriGem/

http://www.emachineupgraders.info/

From what I'm finding on the net, overclocking isn't really an option with that motherboard.  Unless you can find a setting in the BIOS that allows you to increase the CPU front side bus, I don't think you can overclock it.  If you do find that option, you will probably need to change the clock divider on your memory so that it doesn't get overclocked and unstable.