Overclocking dummie

[El gris]

Hi folks:

This is my first post to this forum. I would like to know if it's safe to overclock my old fashioned processor and the steps that I must follow to do it so. MOBO manual says that the processor speed can be adjusted using an utility on the bios called Speed Easy (but they don't recommend to do this overclocking). Shoul I accelerate from my original 233 Mhz to 266 safely? (for example) Must I buy a powerful fan to do it? Please help.

My system:

Processor Intel Pentium II 233 Mhz
Chipset Intel 440 LX
MOBO QDI Legend V / Award BIOS
192 MB RAM
Graphic Card Elsa Winner II Pro 32 MB RAM

[Dreadnaught]

Welcome to Sysopt!

I don't believe that you would be able to see any performance enhancement with such a small jump in speed. Personally I don't believe the benefits would be worth the risk. Now if you could gain 100MHz or so then it would be worth it.

Just my personal opinion and I'm no expert.

Good luck following which ever path you choose!

Later...Paul

[BBB]

Hi,

Recently I put together old P-166 MMX on the QDI motherboard with SpeedEasy. Original settings for this CPU are 66MHzx2.5. Since I could not change multiplier (even if I do change it in SpeedEasy it still takes 2.5... locked?), I had to change FSB. This is old board and supports only 66 and 75MHz FSB. I got it up to 75MHzx2.5=187.5MHZ with no problems at all. Actually this CPU worked on another board with 83MHzx2.5=207.5MHz very stable and for very long. And it is all with standard cooling (standard size of sink and fun).

In your case you have 66MHzx3.5. So, if you try 75MHz FSB you will get 262.5MHz and if you try 83MHz you will go up to 290.5MHz. I am rather sure that at 75MHz there should no be much of a problem. With 83MHz FSB - I don't really know... First of all maybe your CPU will not go that high. Maybe you have to increase voltage but in that case it can overheat...

I agree that there is not going to be tremendous increase in speed but when you increase FSB not only CPU is overclocked. Memory and PCI bus workes faster too which makes whole system faster.

Like I said 75MHz FSB should not be difficult to achieve. BUT be careful with 83MHz - I have seen reports that some older HDD had problems and data were lost... Also some video cards could not handle 41.5MHz PCI bus speed (at 83MHz FSB). Memory also can be weak link...

Well, in any case be careful and take one step at a time...

Good luck!

/BBB

[El gris]

Thank you both. Of course I'll be careful when I try to do something, if I do (that's my only computer and I love it so much, and don't have enough money to buy a new one).

Best regards. :)

[Ammok]

Hey dude, overclock it!
My first successful overclock was from 233 to 266 and it did it easy peasy. Now, before you fry your chips, the Intel 233 will go to 295mhz IF YOU COOL IT.
I never managed to get mine to run stable at 295 and I was a scaredy cat anyways. But it ran at 266 sweet as a nut.
Your increasing your speed by 15% and getting it free. If you go to www.tomshardware.com you might find some archives on this, because that's where I got all my info to do mine, you might also have to up the voltage to 3.2volts to get it to work, but these babies are rock hard. But do make only small steps at a time, if cannot acheive POST drop back immediately. Off the top of my head, I think Intel rated these CPu's as having a max working voltage of 4.5 volts, but you are taking a serios risk from heat damage if you get carried away.

Bon Chance, Good Luck, and go for it.
PS The potato is a very versatile vegatable, if you eat only potatoes for eight small tiny months, you could get an upgrade!. Also for the price of a sack of potatoes, you should be able to get some better kit second hand now, even PII 400's are struggling with DVD and game demands, never mind Win Xp.

If in doubt, wait until you got another PC. If you do fry it, I've got a Cyrix 200mhz that should fit your board I will let you have.

[El gris]

OK Ammok. Thanks a lot for your interest and your potatoes wiseful lines. I woill try to do something with my chips, just to probe them and myself; but, of course, I'm trying to have a new PC as soon as possible. If all crashes and failed I'll remember your Cyrix offer. :) :)

Thank you so much again.