Overclocking Newbie Question

[geoffkin]

I just got a computer with a PIII 500E. I have never tried overclocking before. I looked in the BIOS and could not find where to bump up the system speed from 100 to I believe I want 112. I heard that will give me 560 and it's real easy to do, but I can't find where to do it. THANKS! ~Geoff

 

[jblondi]

Depends on the motherboard, be more specific. There is usually a cpu configuration in the bios where you can control the Bus speed. I need more info to be able to help you at all.

 

[geoffkin]

6ABX2V LUCKYSTAR MOBO.

The main board utilizes Intel 440BX, supports AGP graphic Port, SDRAM, Ultra DMA/33, Bus master IDE and USB port.

 

[atomicbomberman]

never heard of that brand so I really can't say

 

[jebus]

Try checking your manual, if you have one. Or try finding the manufacture's web site and try finding a downloadeable manual from there. Or you can always try asking support from the manufacture.

 

[Zzzt]

There are a heck of a lot of boards out there that don't allow you to change the FSB speed in BIOS. Try looking for jumpers on the motherboard.

 

[geoffkin]

OK, I figured out it is a jumperless design.
I found the "CPU Settings" in the BIOS! I should have remembered I'm blind to details when it gets into the early morning hours!

Can someone please confirm if 112 MHz is the setting I want?
And what "CPU Ratio" do I want?
THANKS!

 

[PlunX]

Well, hopefully you already know that the final speed of the CPU is the bus speed (seems as though you're wanting to try 112MHz) multiplied by the ratio. So.. First, try a ratio of 5. 112*5=560. So, your final speed of the CPU will be 560MHz. If you feel comfortable with that, you might want to try a ratio of 5.5 or even 6.0.

 

[geoffkin]

Thanks! It works great at 560. Are there any dangers of trying for faster by going to 5.5?

 

[Grminalac]

sorry guys you can't change the clock multiplier of the CPU. You can only boost the FSB to overclock.

 

[Killer Ape]

Yes. The danger is that there is no other multiplier other than 5 for the P!!!500E. They're locked by Intel. So even if your mobo tells you you can change it, it will either default back to 5 or not POST. If you've got high quality PC100 SDRAM or PC133 SDRAM and your mobo allows you to adjust the core voltage you can try any FSB speed your mobo allows. Just bear in mind that:

1. You'll probably need to up the voltage a little to get stable at higher speeds. Don't go past about 1.85v without really good cooling. Don't go past ~2.0v AT ALL.

2. The BX chipset limits you to 1/2 and 1/3 PCI multipliers, and 1/1 and 2/3 AGP multipliers. This means you will start running your PCI and AGP buses at whacked-out speeds as you increase the FSB, which can make sensitive peripherals (like your HDD or vidcard) go :Q.

3. I already mentioned the RAM speed thing right?

4. Know that technically you just voided your Intel warranty by overclocking the CPU (Sorry).

5. This is BX Overclocking 101 stuff. Search the forum. Many others have had very good results with P!!!s, particularly the 500E, 550E, 600E, 650E, and 700E.

Good luck.

 

[tigger80]

I'd say RAM is one of the limiting hardware other than the motherboard that will limit you to overclock that cpu. If its the coppermines it will easily hit over 600mhz with good cooling and good RAM.

 

[Wik]

Just start taking the FSB up one step at a time. If it does 112 try 115 or 120 what ever the next step is. If it does not post at a step then bring the voltage up .05 and try again. Keep going untill voltage does not help. If the ram is generic PC100, you would be lucky to hit 124FSB. You can change the multiplier if you want but it won't effect anything, it will just stay at 5.

 

[geoffkin]

I have it running at 133 FSB!? Is this possible with Kingston PC100 valueRAM?! I guess it is, because I just played UNREAL for 4 hours at 667!!! Will this overclocking wear on my processor at all?

 

[Dark4ng3l]

yes it will your cpu wil probably last around 7 years instead of like 10.

 

[geoffkin]

Well, my 133's "useful" life was 3 years! So I doubt I'll keep this one for 7! LOL

667, when I only paid $175 delivered for my 500E WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

[geoffkin]

Is it common to have PC100 RAM that can run at 133?! Even the RAM that came with the computer is making the grade! The 128 MB Kingston I bought for like $79 at Computers4sure or whatever with the Rebate deal a while back!

 

[Killer Ape]

In general, RAM quality steadily increases as the production processes get better in order to produce faster RAM for next gen hardware. PC100 is getting phased-out in favor of PC133, PC150, DDR SDRAM, etc. So if your RAM is relatively new, it may well be marginal PC133 marked as PC100.

It's similar to what happens with CPUs, where (again, in general) the later production runs of a given proc tend to overclock higher than earlier versions of the same cpu.

The other thing that may give you a little more OC headroom is if you can change any CAS settings that are currently at 2 to 3. It's better to leave them at 2 if the system is stable, but in some cases you can get a little higher FSB speed by going to CAS 3.

 

[Wik]

I have had my system running a 140 FSB for over a year now. All the drives and cards all work great yet. It worked great with my PII350 and now this 550e.