How fast can I go?

[ViperMagic]

Im running a PII 300MHz. I'm really not sure what motherboard I'm useing, its a ABIT, I know that much. If someone can tell me how to find out, I'll do it and post it here. Anyway, can I get this up to 500MHz? Or 400? How much extra cooling would i need? Where are the L2 bridges on a slot processer? How do I increase voltage? Anything else I need to know to overclock this?

 

[ViperMagic]

OK i just made a Sandra report... forgot i had that little thing. I leavi it mostly unedited but i edidted out some to save space.


< System Mainboard >
Manufacturer: <<http://www.abit.com.tw>>
Multi-Processor Support: No
Model: i440BX-W977(BE6-II,BF6)

< Extended Mainboard Data >
Manufacturer: Abit
Model: GREEN AGP/PCI/ISA SYSTEM
Serial Number: 05/02/2000-I440BX-W977-6A69KA19C-RV

< Flash Memory Controller >
Location: Mainboard
Error Correction Capability: None
Number of Memory Slots: 4
Bank0/1 - DIMM1: Empty
Bank2/3 - DIMM2: DIMM 32MB/64
Bank4/5 - DIMM3: DIMM 32MB/64
Bank6/7 - DIMM4: Empty

< System Chipset >
Model: Intel Corporation 82443BX/ZX 440BX/ZX CPU to PCI
Bridge (AGP Implemented)
Bus(es): ISA AGP PCI USB SMBus/i2c
Front Side Bus Speed: 100MHz
ACPI PM Support: Yes


< System Clock Generator >
Model: Realtek RTM520-39D
Software Programmable: Yes
Read-Back Support: Yes
Speed Selected By: Software
Spread Spectrum Modulated: No
No FSB Speeds: 200
FSB Speed Range: 50 - 166MHz

< Environment Monitor(s) >
Model: Winbond W83782D
Version: 3.00
Mainboard Specific Support: Yes
Configured Mainboard: i440BX-W977(BE6-II,BF6)
Level 4/5 Support: Yes

< Temperature Sensor(s) >
Power / Aux Temperature: 24.0°C / 75.2°F

< Cooling Device(s) >
CPU Fan Speed: 6683rpm

< Voltage Sensor(s) >
CPU Core Voltage: 2.86V
Aux Voltage: 1.52V
+3.3V Voltage: 3.50V
+5V Voltage: 5.03V
+12V Voltage: 12.10V
-12V Voltage: -12.86V
-5V Voltage: -5.25V
+5V Standby Voltage: 5.00V
Battery Voltage: 2.56V


<<< CPU &amp; BIOS Information >>>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< System BIOS >>
< System BIOS >
Manufacturer: Award Software International, Inc.
Version: 4.51 PG
Date: 05/02/2000
Plug &amp; Play Version: 1.00
SMBIOS/DMI Version: 2.20
ID No.: FC 01 00
(EE)PROM Size: 256kB (2Mbit)

< Features >
Can be Updated (flashed): Yes
Can be Shadowed: Yes
Is Socketed: Yes
Supports APM: Yes
Supports ACPI: Yes
Supports Plug &amp; Play: Yes
Supports ESCD: Yes
Supports Enhanced Disk Drive: Yes
Supports Selective Booting: Yes
Supports LS-120 Boot: Yes
Supports ZIP Boot: Yes
NEC PC-98 Spec Compatible: No

<< Processor 1 >>
< Processor(s) >
Processor: Intel Pentium II @ 301MHz
Co-Processor (FPU): Built-in
Type: Standard
Performance Rating: PR361 (estimated)
Multiplier: 3x
Generation: 6th (6x86)
Model Information: P6L (Klamath) Pentium II 233-300 2.8V
Revision/Stepping: 3 / 4
Stepping Mask: C1
Microcode Version: MU063435

< Caches >
Internal Data Cache: 16kB synchronous write-back (4-way, 32 byte line
size)
Internal Code Cache: 16kB synchronous write-back (4-way, 32 byte line
size)
L2 On-board Cache: 512kB ECC synchronous write-back (4-way, 32 byte line
size)
L2 Cache Multiplier: 1/2x (equiv. 151MHz)

< Mainboard Upgradeability >
Socket/Slot: SLOT 1
Upgrade Interface: Slot 1/A
Supported Speed(s): 400MHz (or more)
Supported Voltage(s): 2.5V

< Environment Monitor(s) >
Model: Winbond W83782D
Mainboard Specific Support: Yes
Configured Mainboard: i440BX-W977(BE6-II,BF6)
CPU Fan Speed: 6683rpm
CPU Core Voltage: 2.82V

< Features >
Co-Processor (FPU) Built-in: Yes
Virtual Mode Extensions: Yes
Debugging Extension: Yes
Page Size Extension: Yes
Time Stamp Counter: Yes
Model Specific Registers: Yes
Physical Address Extension: Yes
Machine Check Exception: Yes
Compare &amp; Exchange Instruction: Yes
Local APIC Built-in: No
Fast System Call: Yes
Memory Type Range Registers: Yes
Page Global Enable: Yes
Machine Check Architecture: Yes
Conditional Move Instruction: Yes
Page Attribute Table: No
36-bit Page Size Extension: No
Unique Serial Number: No
Cache Line Flush Support: No
Debug Trace &amp; EMON Store: No
ACPI Support: No
MMX Technology: Yes
Fast Float Save &amp; Restore: No
SSE Technology: No
SSE2 Technology: No
Self Snoop: No
Auto Clock Control: No
IA-64 Technology: No

< Advanced Settings >
L2 Cacheable Range: 512MB
L2 Cache Grouping: 1 bank(s)
L2 Cache Latency: 0 clock(s)
Data Error Checking: Yes
Low Power Mode: Yes
Fast Strings: Yes
In Order Queue Depth: 8

Hope this help answering my questions WAAAy up there ^^

 

[CHHASmatroxuser]

You have one of the old Klamath core PIIs, you might be able to push it a bit, a friend of mine has had one running at 350 MHz, but I doubt you'll get much further without extreme cooling like peltiers.

 

[Nack]

What CHHA said. 350 is about as high as those ever go. I wouldn't risk the stability for the 50MHz (believe it or not, 350 is REALLY OVERCLOCKED for a Klamath processor). Also, 300Mhz was as high as the Klamath line ever went, so you have the last (fastest) processor that ever came off that line. Generally, the top of the line does not overclock much.

There is a cheap solution to your problem, though. With the current PII 300 installed, running at stock 300, flash the bios on your board to the latest version (carefully following the instructions on the Abit website). Remove the PII, and turn on the PC (in the alternative, you can clear the CMOS). Turn it off. Buy a cheap 100MHz bus Celeron 800 (coppermine Pentium III, only with 128k L2 cache instead of 256k) for about $75. Put it in a slotket FCPGA to Slot-1 adapter with heatsink/fan/thermal compound ($10). Put the slotket adapter (containing the Celery 800) in the motherboard. Connect fan. Turn it back on. Go into CPU SoftMenu and adjust the settings to user defined 8x multiplier, 100MHz FSB, 2/3 AGP clock, speed hold error disabled. Save and reboot. You now have an 800MHz computer. Overclock as possible. Some people have had good luck getting these things to over 1GHz. At any rate, 8X112=~900MHz should be a relatively EASY overclock.

Oh, almost forgot. Spend another $20 and add 256MB of PC133 SDRAM. The ram you are using now is probably PC66. It might work at 100MHz FSB, but why risk stability for $20. Be sure to get the low density kind of SDRAM. The high density stuff does not work in Intel chipset motherboards.

Voila, you have turned your 300MHz boat anchor/kids computer/tax donation, into a fast 900MHz functional computer, with 256MB of SDRAM, for about $100.

Good luck,

Nack

 

[Richardito]

I personally was able to overclock my unlocked PII 333MHz CPU to 464MHz (4.5x103). If I try to run it at 500MHz it runs for 2 seconds, then the system freezes. I can't get any higher even if I raise the CPU voltage to 2.6v, go figure.

 

[ViperMagic]

Thats not a bad idea Nack. I might do that. Then I run into another problem. Blow cash on upgrading this boat anchor (Seriously, I am considering using it for that.) or wait and see if I can get my hands on another $500 or so and buy a really fast one. Its 1am, and I dont think im in any condition to decide right now. I'll think about it in the morning. Im off to Everquest. Viper.