Packing tape safe?

[Finalnight]

My mobo straps memory dividers so I did a BSEL mod on my E7200 to get 1:1 and 5:6. Since I was out of electrical tape, I used packing tape. It works fine but am I risking anything by using packing tape, ie it melting or something?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't get it. Don't you only tape off the chip temporarily to paint the bridges, and then remove the tape?

 

[Finalnight]

No, on many mobo/cpu models, you can simply insulate a BSEL pin with tape to trigger the FSB change. I taped BSEL2 to go from 266->333.

 

[Zap]

I suppose there is a risk, but probably the only result would be the mobo pin pushing through the tape and contacting the CPU, causing you to lose your OC.

 

[myocardia]

...

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Using paking tape for a BSEL mod is every bit as smart/safe as using packing tape with your other electrical appliances. I'll let you decide if it's worth saving that big ol' $1.99 for a roll of electrical tape.

I dont know, my packing tape did a good job on reconnecting my fans in one giant loop on one molex plug lol.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Using paking tape for a BSEL mod is every bit as smart/safe as using packing tape with your other electrical appliances. ....

Not quite the same .. Unless your other appliances are running on a couple of volts and a few micro amps...

What does the mod do ? Isolate a pin from ground ?

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: Diogenes2

Originally posted by: myocardia
Using paking tape for a BSEL mod is every bit as smart/safe as using packing tape with your other electrical appliances. ....

Not quite the same .. Unless your other appliances are running on a couple of volts and a few micro amps...

What does the mod do ? Isolate a pin from ground ?

QFT. The unique properties of electrical tape don't hold an advantage here, unless the mobo pin has edge(s) sharp enough to pierce it in which case it'll just lose the o'c. The voltage is low enough that the thickness from an insulation perspective isn't a problem, and unlike some wire wrap jobs you don't need the tape to stretch and conform to non-planar surfaces.

 

[Finalnight]

Yeah, pretty much, the Core 2 processors use 3 pins to determine whether a chip is a 200/266/333/400 FSB. By putting the tape over it, you are changing the BSEL2 pin from Low to High.

Also, my major concern was if heat would affect the tape. I am unsure how hot the backside of a LGA775 chip gets at the outer edge of the packaging where this pin is located.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Finalnight
No, on many mobo/cpu models, you can simply insulate a BSEL pin with tape to trigger the FSB change. I taped BSEL2 to go from 266->333.

Oh really. What about with a 200 CPU? Can you tape to go to 266 or 333, or do you need to paint too?

Edit: Researched. It appears that a 200->266 mod requires more than just tape, it requires painting. link

 

[myocardia]

...

 

[Finalnight]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry

Originally posted by: Finalnight
No, on many mobo/cpu models, you can simply insulate a BSEL pin with tape to trigger the FSB change. I taped BSEL2 to go from 266->333.

Oh really. What about with a 200 CPU? Can you tape to go to 266 or 333, or do you need to paint too?

From a cursory look at the data sheets, the tape only option works for 1066 processors only, ie E6000 series, E7000 series, Q6000 series.

For the rest:

E4000
http://download.intel.com/desi...or/datashts/313278.pdf

E2000
http://download.intel.com/desi...or/datashts/316981.pdf

Oh, and electrical tape is 2.99 here, lol, I am pissed I used to have tons of the stuff. kids, let this teach you to never lend out your tools or supplies, you will never see them again.

I will probably switch to electrical tape next week when my "borrowed" AS5 is returned to me. Or I might due a liquid rubber/plastic cap, not sure yet. Luckily, the BSEL pin is a signal pin, not a power pin.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Diogenes2
Not quite the same .. Unless your other appliances are running on a couple of volts and a few micro amps...

I don't know who told you the above is correct, but they were out of their mind. An overclocked dual-core C2D pulls more than 50A. The voltage might be low, but @ >50A of current, $1.99 for a roll of electrical tape is in order.

I thought we were talking about the BSEL pins.. ?

They are not involved in the loads you are referring to ..

 

[Scottae]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Diogenes2
Not quite the same .. Unless your other appliances are running on a couple of volts and a few micro amps...

I don't know who told you the above is correct, but they were out of their mind. An overclocked dual-core C2D pulls more than 50A. The voltage might be low, but @ >50A of current, $1.99 for a roll of electrical tape is in order.

No its not...such low voltage... the packing tape can insulate just as well as the E-tape a lil different thatn AC 120v 50 Amps... all he is doing is keeping a small amount of voltage from reaching its target. Only issue would really be the heat of the CPU degrading the Tape wich the Electrical Tape holds and edge in temp.. but they are both subject to puncture prolly more so for the Electrical tape due to its more elastic and not so rigid nature.

So the answer to the OP is really NO you wont risk anyting except loosing your OC

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: Finalnight
Yeah, pretty much, the Core 2 processors use 3 pins to determine whether a chip is a 200/266/333/400 FSB. By putting the tape over it, you are changing the BSEL2 pin from Low to High.

Also, my major concern was if heat would affect the tape. I am unsure how hot the backside of a LGA775 chip gets at the outer edge of the packaging where this pin is located.

Typical electrical tape is vinyl, not particularly heat resistant!

 

[mindless1]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Diogenes2
Not quite the same .. Unless your other appliances are running on a couple of volts and a few micro amps...

I don't know who told you the above is correct, but they were out of their mind. An overclocked dual-core C2D pulls more than 50A. The voltage might be low, but @ >50A of current, $1.99 for a roll of electrical tape is in order.

It is a logic level signal used for bus selection, not power supply. Even if it were power, the 50A is irrelevant as the insulation is a factor of voltage alone. 10,000 amps of power at 1V is better insulated by a piece of tape than 20mA at 20V. Worst case is the tape gets knocked off because the CPU is removed and reinstalled too many times and then it merely uses the stock bus speed instead.

Something more temperature resistant than either type of tape would be nail polish. Use the tape to mask the area around the contact and put down a couple thin coats, removing tape and letting it dry thoroughly between each coat.

 

[myocardia]

...

 

[Finalnight]

Alright, took out the CPU last night, packing tape was still there and looked fine. But I replaced it with electrical tape certified to 88*C. Also put in my recovered AS5. Tidied up all the wiring, closed it up and my latest build is complete.

Got it running stably @ 3.47 Ghz w/1460 Mhz FSB and the memory is running @ 730 Mhz on a 1:1 divider @ 4-4-4-12.

Passed Memtest and 20 mins of IBT maxing out at 59*C.

I think it is good to go now.

 

[demiurge3141]

Originally posted by: Finalnight
Alright, took out the CPU last night, packing tape was still there and looked fine. But I replaced it with electrical tape certified to 88*C. Also put in my recovered AS5. Tidied up all the wiring, closed it up and my latest build is complete.

Got it running stably @ 3.47 Ghz w/1460 Mhz FSB and the memory is running @ 730 Mhz on a 1:1 divider @ 4-4-4-12.

Passed Memtest and 20 mins of IBT maxing out at 59*C.

I think it is good to go now.

no way, you should go higher!

 

[nyker96]

I doubt it will melt, the melting point of that thing is high. umm actually on second though, maybe the cpu is too hot for something like a regular tape. even electrical tape might not withstand high temp since they are not made for temp resistance but rather electricity insulation.

 

[Finalnight]

The tape I bought says on the front that it is rated to 90*C actually. If the back of my chip gets that hot, I got other problems to worry about.

I have it running at 1.26v, didn't really want to take it higher, I figured 3.47 rock stable is fine for me.