Overclocking Duron Through Bios........

[MtX]

Hello,

Ive read some interesting posts here, searched some sites, and finally decided to overclock my CPU.... Im currently on an Asus A7V133 and Duron 600... I've read many sites saying you can OC the CPU by going to BIOS and increasing the FSB speeds.. Some other sites say you can get a pencil and connect L1 bridges on the CPU but using this method would require some extra cooling hardware..

I dont really want to spend any money on overclocking, so I decided to increase my FSB from BIOS.. It was set on default at 100, so I changed it to 105, and I have a 30mhz gain for my Duron, giving me a total speed of a Duron 630MHZ.. Most people suggest to increase the FSB by small increments of 1-2 mhz until your system is unstable, then go back to the previous stable speed. That is exactly what I did, except I had a problem. I increased my FSB from 105 to 109, giving me a total speed of 654 MHZ.. When i booted into win2k, there was a problem.. My sound was uninstalled, and a new screen popped up asking me to ADD NEW HARDWARE.. I rebooted, quickly reverted back to 105 for FSB..

Does anyone know the exact problem to this and why I get unstable problems??

[Byte Doctor]

When you overclock by increasing the FSB, you actually overclock more than just the CPU. On your motherboard, you are overclocking the CPU (of course) as well as the PCI and AGP busses. What is probably happening is that the sound card doesn't like running much faster than spec.

You may have better luck OCing the CPU by unlocking the processor and changing the multiplier. As to your statement that "but using this method would require some extra cooling hardware..", overclocking is overclocking, no matter how you do it, and you may need additional cooling regardless of the method you use.

Regards,

Byte Doctor

[Bovon]

Byte Doctor is correct concerning heat buildup from clocking a cpu, whether it be by fsb or multiplier increases.

However, the cpu will become unstable when run at frequencies higher than standard (in your case, 600 mhz) unless Vcore is also increased.

If Vcore is increased, heat generated by the core will increase by several degrees...this is more of an increase than by clocking by fsb only, leaving Vcore as is.

To do any real overclocking (and I understand, this is probably not what you want or need) you must unlock the processor (personally, I do not like the graphite method) and you must have a good heat-sink. You must have a well ventilated case. You must have a mainboard that allows reduction of other bus frequencies.

RAM may also need an increase in voltage as well. Some mainboards have voltage adjustments for the RAM some do not.

[Byte Doctor]

However, the cpu will become unstable when run at frequencies higher than standard (in your case, 600 mhz) unless Vcore is also increased.

Not necessarily so, Bovon. Although you may need to increase Vcore to achieve higher overclocks, you don't always. I'm running my T-Bird 1200 @ 1425 (150x9.5) at stock Vcore. (I decided that I would push it as far as I could w/o increasing any voltages. Not bad, if I may say so myself:D)

Regards,

Byte Doctor

[Jimstep]

You ran into instability. Not having devices installed is a form of that instability. Remember that when you increase the fsb, you are increasing the speed to the CPU, harddrive, video card, sound card...all your devices. When you increase the multiplier, you only effect the cpu. Sounds like 105 is your magic number.

[Bovon]

Originally posted by Byte Doctor
Not necessarily so, Bovon. Although you may need to increase Vcore to achieve higher overclocks, you don't always. Yes, you are 100% correct. The more I read (and re read) the question and my answer, the more I realized I had not stated it fully. I have had a few processors that had to have a bit of a Vcore increase just to run stable at stock frequencies, not to even mention any overclocking. These were mostly in the K6-2 types.

Most times, standard Vcore will work just fine to some point of mhz increase, then when instability occurs, try increasing Vcore.

Overclocking is not a simple. cut and dried technology. Any body who overclocks his or her system needs to be conversant with all of the problems that may be encountered, and know what to try to correct them.

[MtX]

I know nothing...... :(

I just want to OC from 600 to 700, but now I learn that I need to buy lots of cooling stuff, and also do lots of risky stuff!

[BargainBin]

Originally posted by Byte Doctor
On your motherboard, you are overclocking the CPU (of course) as well as the PCI and AGP busses.

I'm clear on that point, and have a related question. Does an ISA card experience the same increase in speed as the PCI cards?

[Bovon]

Originally posted by MtX
I just want to OC from 600 to 700, but now I learn that I need to buy lots of cooling stuff, and also do lots of risky stuff! You don't have to buy a bunch of stuff to do a little overclocking. To clock a Duron 100 mhz can probably be done just fine with what you already have on hand if the cpu is running cool enough at 600 mhz, it should run just about the same at 700 mhz.

What we meant mostly was, read and study what overclocking is all about. Understand the parameters associated with overclocking a cpu.

Then, you will feel more comfortable with what you are doing, and will succeed and know why you did.

We have guys that come here from time to time wanting some body to tell them each move to make..this is difficult and serves no purpose and the guy learns nothing..then when the project fails, they seem to want to blame the member here who tried to help.

SysOpt is a help place...a place to learn as well as some very good technical help when needed. It is not a step by step do it yourself guide.

[MtX]

Well... Im not sure if the environment plays a role in overclocking, but my system is in the basement, and it's pretty cool down there...... My basement is maybe 15-20 degrees or less.....