Changing CPU or Overclocking a k6

[blackcatak]

Just aquired a 1236 Compaq for real cheap. Very slow though. It seems to be an odd speed, lists as a AMD-K6tm @262 MHz with a 64 KB cache & 96Mb of RAM. Anyone have any ideas for upgrades, Processors, Boards, RAM ect. ect.. I am new to laptops and am curious what can be done with this system. I installed Mandrake 8.1 & it runs allright but....... faster is better right. How can I get more out of it. I am not afraid to rip it apart to get more power. Open to suggestion.

 

[BA]

It's probably a 266.
Best upgrades would be a k6-2+ or K6-3+ and some RAM

 

[blackcatak]

can I just slap a processor in this or do I need to change anything?

 

[touchmyichi]

Why would you even waste money on a system that horridly outdated to begin with? Your best bet would be to get a reinbursment and to buy something actually worth having.

 

[blackcatak]

I just knida aquired it. Sometimes you just end up with stuff. Just trying to make the most of it. Even as is I can use it for something, but if I can speed it up I am all for it. I would love another system but $ is always a issue and I just can't justify buying a new laptop.

 

[BA]

a K6-2+ 550 can be had for $50 here. I got a K6-2+ from them a while back without any problems. You may be able to find one cheaper elsewhere, I don't know, and don't make guarantees.
If you can find one, a K6-3+ would be the way to go. In lots of stuff, they'll edge out a similarly clocked p3.

Googled, and found instructions for the upgrade. here

So you could slap in a processor, set some jumpers, and be off and running. hopefully.



So really, I wouldn't consider $50 for a 550MHz laptop a bad deal at all. Yeah, it's not the fastest thing out there, but it's fast enough to do most things, and a lot cheaper than a new one. (hell, it's faster than my tp240 and my GF's P2 366 Latitude)

 

[blackcatak]

Thanks for the tip. I think you are right $50 and some time for a pokey laptop isn't so bad a deal. Thanks for the links. I thought about trying to get a ITX bord in it but it just seems so small. I can surf with it and my wife can play some card games on our comute in the car. I think I got a good deal regardless. Thanks again.

 

[blackcatak]

bump for friendly helpfull people.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: blackcatak
Just aquired a 1236 Compaq for real cheap. Very slow though. It seems to be an odd speed, lists as a AMD-K6tm @262 MHz with a 64 KB cache & 96Mb of RAM. Anyone have any ideas for upgrades, Processors, Boards, RAM ect. ect.. I am new to laptops and am curious what can be done with this system. I installed Mandrake 8.1 & it runs allright but....... faster is better right. How can I get more out of it. I am not afraid to rip it apart to get more power. Open to suggestion.

Hmm, I dunno if you'll be able to swap a cpu in there. Laptops are generally, especially back then, not very upgradeable.

 

[crypticlogin]

Hmm, I dunno if you'll be able to swap a cpu in there. Laptops are generally, especially back then, not very upgradeable.

That's the great thing about the K6-based machines in that they used either desktop CPUs or (rarer) the pin-compatible mobile chips, the "+" series. If you got a desktop CPU, either desktop or notebook, a reasonably simple upgrade was usually just to pop in a mobile chip and update the BIOS for lower power, higher stock speeds.

And I can't believe those mobile CPUs are still fetching a decent sum on eBay! :Q I've got a fanless K6-3+/450 in a desktop for word processing and surfing, and it's stable and quick enough for what it does.

 

[blackcatak]

So will a k6-3 work allright. I can't seem to find over a 400MHz. Or would I be better with a 500MHz K6-2.

 

[TheCorm]

Doubt there will be much difference between a K6-3 400 and K6-2 500, my K6-3 450 was faster than my brothers K6-2 500.

 

[blackcatak]

Nice to know, that increase my search. Lost 2 on Ebay last night but oh well I'll find one cheap enough. Did they make a K6-3 higher then a 400?

 

[0roo0roo]

i'd just run it at default and be done with it. investing in these old systems is expensive. low end prebuilt systems after rebates or sales can be had for next to nothing. athlon xp+m/b combos at frys can be had for next to nothing. only way that system is worth upgrading is if someone practically gives you the parts.

 

[blackcatak]

Looks like I just got a good deal on a K6-2 550. I know the thing is still slow but for the price of the machine and a cheap chip I can surf in the living room and my wife can play with Linux on our daily commute (60 minutes each way) Also give me something to play with. I wish that I could just replace the MoBo in it.

 

[Deanodarlo]

Looks like I'm a bit late, but for any K6 advice go here

Or the K6 AMD zone forums.

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: blackcatak
So will a k6-3 work allright. I can't seem to find over a 400MHz. Or would I be better with a 500MHz K6-2.

The K6-3 only goes to 450 (the 500 never made it to market AFAIK)
The K6-2 goes upto 550
The K6-2+ goes upto 600 I believe ,as does the K6-3+....I think!

Btw the + series ran cooler

 

[FMann]

For a laptop, go with the + series. They were designed for mobile use and use lower voltages (you have to check for compatibility with your system) along with having power management features.

 

[blackcatak]

 

[blackcatak]

As far as a faster processor it might just be a moot issue. I opened the case and only found settings for a 300. Hmmmmm I am looking for settings now but am still unsure if this board is just to old. Thanks for everyones help and opinions on this matter. I learned alot about the K6 chips.

 

[KF]

Originally posted by: blackcatak
As far as a faster processor it might just be a moot issue. I opened the case and only found settings for a 300. Hmmmmm I am looking for settings now but am still unsure if this board is just to old. Thanks for everyones help and opinions on this matter. I learned alot about the K6 chips.

At some point the K6s transitioned from socket 7 to super socket 7. Super socket 7 could use 95 and 100 Mhz FSB (external buss frequency), and had multipliers that went up to 5.5. Socket 7 had 66 Mhz (and usually also 75 and 83), with multipliers up to 3.5

Since your computer says it is 262, it is probably a 75MHz buss with a 3.5 multiplier, since this is the only combo that comes out right. It may be that that computer does not have 100MHz frequency availlable. Then 6x 75 =450 would be as far as you could go.

Later K6s, like the ones you would probably buy, could use a 6x multiplier. AMD reused one of the old multipliers settings, and it would run at 6x when that was set. It slips my mind which that was. Possibly 2x. K6+s were intended for mobile use and had an interesting feature : they could be software set to different multipliers by running a little program. I have mine set to 500 by jumpers (5x 100) for convenience, and I run the little program to put put if up to 550. It will not run reliably at 600. (If I recall, it is marked as a 450.) In your case what that means is that regardless of the mobo jumpers, you can set it to any multiplier by running the little program. The program I have is for Windows (98) of course, but I'd be surprised if some linux guy didn't do one for linux.

K6+s ran at a lower voltage too. 2 volts, if I recall. Not many socket 7 boards could go below 2.5 volts, although maybe mobile ones did. I don't think you would want to overvolt a K6+ past 2.2V, although a lot of people have.

If you can get the heatsink off your CPU, it will say on the CPU what voltage it is supposed to be, and that is probably what the mobo is now set to. It also has the frequency and buss info.

 

[blackcatak]

I'm looking on the board and it seems to be (accourding to the screen on the board) set @ 66.6 (other choice is 60), Already at the 3.3VCC (2.5 is other option), set on "other" for processor (K6-300 is other setting) Unless I can come up with some other settings this might just be close to maxed. If nothing else it was fun to rip apart.

As for the processor it reads

K6 265ADZ*
2.1V Core / 3.3V i/o

 

[Assimilator1]

KF
Some S7 mbrds had multipliers above 3.5x ,my Asus TXP4 I had (TX chipset) went upto x5 & it also went down to 2.1v vcore ,mind you that was one of the best S7 mbrds you could get

blackcatak
I hope your not running your 2.1v K6 @ 3.3v!?:Q

 

[FFactory0x]

Why not check the "FOR SALE FORUM" Im sure you could get a cpu for alost nothing there

 

[KF]

Originally posted by: blackcatak
I'm looking on the board and it seems to be (accourding to the screen on the board) set @ 66.6 (other choice is 60), Already at the 3.3VCC (2.5 is other option), set on "other" for processor (K6-300 is other setting) Unless I can come up with some other settings this might just be close to maxed. If nothing else it was fun to rip apart.

As for the processor it reads

K6 265ADZ*
2.1V Core / 3.3V i/o

OK, we'll go with 66.6MHz for the buss. That means your CPU is running at 4x 66 = 266MHz. 4x is a multiplier from the later (or super socket 7) era. That makes things look favorable. A K6-300 would then be 4.5x 66 =300. For the core, 2.1 volts is close enough to use a K6+. The 265 on the chip means it was designated to operate at 265MHz. (266 would seem to be more logical.)

The I/O voltage is the voltage on the pins that communicate with external chips, like memory. Dual voltage is the norm for all but the earliest socket 7 CPUs, so this one uses 2.1 volts internally, and 3.3 externally. From what you say, there are no jumpers to set the core voltage, but 2.1 is OK as it is. A jumper evidently sets the multiplier to 4 (for 266MHz) or 4.5 (for 300MHz).

For the heck of it, you might try that to see if this CPU will make it to 300. It might.

Without more jumpers to set, you are stuck with 266MHz or 300Mhz, except for that little program and a K6+. Then you could get a 6x multiplier for 6x 66= 400Mhz. That's a 50% gain if it works. If it doesn't, it is more trouble than its worth, unless you are hobbiest that enjoys this type of thing (like me.) There is always a risk the BIOS is incompatible with a K6+. Although many mobos work right with K6+, some don't. When I was investigating a K6+ for my SS7 mobo, people had already deterimined the BIOS was incompatible, but luckily for me some guru had doctored the BIOS for his motherboard and I could use that. link to cpuspeed.o for linux. which changes K6+ multipliers