Overclocked?

[GizmoFreak]

I've inherited a used computer. This may be a stupid question, but how do I know if it's been overclocked?

 

[Ralidan]

... i don't know much about the techinal things to look for, but the first thing that popped in my head is take off the heatsink, and look for Arctic Silver 3.. if it wasn't OC'd there really isn't a need for it.. worth a shot!

 

[BG4533]

Actually.... I use Artic Silver on all of my computers, whether I overclock or not. I am sure a lot of people do as well, it is good for a little extra even without overclocking.

What kind of computer/ processor is it? If it is an AMD, check the L1 and other bridges to see if there are any pencil marks, conductive materials, etc. If there are it has been overclocked. Someone could have just upped the FSB on the processor in which there is no real way to find out.

Brian

 

[obeseotron]

Unless its still overclocked, I would find it impossible to tell (except for an unlocked athlon).

 

[Alphazero]

Take a look at the production code on the die to get the stock speed. Compare with the actual speed.

 

[0roo0roo]

check fsb speed. generally most comon oc method.


and look here, artic silver is over rated

paste is paste. tooth paste on the other hand is awesome

 

[GizmoFreak]

It's a Pentium 3 on an Abit VH6 motherboard.

It's currently running at 800mhz on 133mhz bus.

I'm trying to figure out whether this is an overclocked speed.

 

[GizmoFreak]

Is it possible to underclock?

 

[ai42]

Is it possible to underclock?

Very doubtful since the fastest FSB on P3 is 133mhz. Dosen't really sound like an overclock either, as you would have to push a P3 600mhz to 800mhz which not an easy thing to do. Probbably just a stock speed.

FYI the only way to overclock P3s are to push the FSB (unless you can get an engineering sample which is rather difficult to find).

 

[GizmoFreak]

I was having problems with the computer randomly restarting at 800mhz. It's definitely not a software issue as I've tried multiple formats and os installs.

When I took down the processor to 600/100, it seems to be quite stable again.

 

[PlasticJesus]

Is it possible to underclock?

Underclocking is certainly possible. My system is a P3 933 underclocked to 700 megs.

Why? Don't do the gaming or SETI thing anymore and have a V5 5500 in AGP on a BX chipset. Possibly no real risk of ruining the V5, but 700 megs is plenty for us at our house.

To clarify, is your question whether or not it's overclocked right now or whether or not it's been overclocked sometime in the past?

 

[GizmoFreak]

I'm wondering if my computer is currently overclocked at 800/133, since it's considerably more stable at 600/100.

Did I receive an overclocked computer? Or am I currently underclocking?

 

[PlasticJesus]

I'm a Slot-1 guy and for a Slot-1 it's as easy as reading the markings on the processor. But that doesn't answer your question. I would think that Alphazero gave you the answer. Isn't the processor marked somehow? Surely there are markings that either flat-out tell you or numbers that you can use as cross-reference in some chart somewhere.

I'm not real smart on such things anymore. A quick read on the VH6 tells me that you can do something like adjust memory speed settings in the BIOS. I would assume that you've played around with such things.

I guess the best motherboards are the ones you get for free. Certainly doesn't read like something I would buy.

What kind of memory does it have in it? Not that that would necessarily answer the question. But then again, if its PC100 it makes it more likely that the processor is overclocked if you're doing the 6 x 133 thing.

You're not making this harder than it has to be, are you?