O/C question for the 'Old Timers'...

[deadken]

Hi guys,

I have a question for the guys who have been around for a while. I am looking for an old software O/C utility. I used it way back when I had my PII 400 Mhz. I can't remember its name for the life of me (only: 'PowerColor' comes to mind, and that isn't it). I think its name was something related to a screen (something about color, resolution, monitor, or something like that).

A friend gave me an old Laptop. It is a Compaq 1277 and it will run the program that I want (a tuning program for aftermarket fuel injection). I am hoping that since it is a 433 K6-2 (4.5 x 96), I should be able to run it at 450 without a problem. Not that 17 Mhz will make a huge difference, it's just that a %4 gain is better then nothing and I think that FSB should make a larger difference then multiplier in this old PC.

I have found a site that shows what could be the jumper settings for multiplier and FSB, but I don't have the small bits needed to get inside the case. I might get a bigger HD (it has a 4.8GB) and maybe while I am in there I will try and reset the jumpers. In the meanwhile, I figure that if I could get an older overclocking utility, I might be able to play around.

For what it is worth I will mention that the program I need to run (while I am driving around in the car) monitors the sensors and will suggest changes to the map (the fuel settings that the ECU reads). I am told that the program will run on any laptop with Win95 and later. So, this will be more then enough and will save me $400 or so that I can spend on my car (rather then a laptop that I won't ever use after I get my maps straight).

-Thanks for any help, Ken

 

[alyarb]

you're thinking of powerstrip, and i'm pretty certain that program was for overclocking GPUs and not CPUs. to overclock a CPU from within windows, look for a program called SetFSB or clockgen.

realize that you will have to be able to identify your 15-year-old clock generator out of a rather exhaustive list for this to work. clearly more trouble than its worth as you do not need the performance.

 

[deadken]

I think you are right, 'PowerStrip' does sound very familiar. I don't remember using it to O/C the GPU though. That was my first Windows based PC and it had built in 'AGP' video. I think that I played with overclocking the CPU and ram thinking that if I burned them up, I would replace them with something better. I don't remember taking chances with the Mobo. I am not saying that you are wrong, I just don't remember it that way.

I didn't realize that I would have to select the clock generator from a long list. And you are right, it is probably much more trouble then it is worth. Of course, please understand that I just came in from the garage and have had my fill of 'tinkering' for today at least. I by tomorrow, I will probably have had my fill for the entire week. By next Friday, I might be itching to play around with something again and I will get some other silly idea.

I'll most certainly leave well enough alone. If I do change the HD, and I notice that the dip switches are readily available, perhaps I will raise the FSB to 100. But, that would most likely be after I am done with the laptop and I 'tweak' it for use as a Garage PC. I figure that I will clear a shelf and use an old external keyboard and mouse for when I am working on a car and need to look up wiring diagrams or some other info that would be available on the internet (I have already installed a wireless NIC I had lying around). If I don't need it for anything else and it won't take up much room, why not have it where I might use it (and not track dirt and grease into the house).

-Thanks for your help and suggestions, Ken