Pencil trick? Explanation please...

dcdomain

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
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Did a search on this and read through a couple of posts... but still don't have a good enough idea on this topic. I take it the graphite helps conduct current between the processor and the socket? I've read about defogger kits and what not...

Who came up with this trick? How do you apply it? etc... thanks.
 

jimmygates

Platinum Member
Sep 4, 2000
2,134
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Use a pencil and pencil in all of the L1 bridges on your CPU.

Defogger Kits and Conductor pens are just more permanent ways of doing this trick since some people have complained that the graphite from pencil degrades in conductivity over time so sometimes the computer would either a) have random lockups or b) have sudden reboots, booting up using default CPU speeds.



-Jimbo
 

Losty

Golden Member
Oct 23, 2000
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make sure that the four bridges don't touch one another...
so make it straight down the bridge. If they do touch each other it won't work and you can start over...make sure if you pencil it...to do a good job...i think a conductive pen is safer if you are working with expensive cpu's like tbird 850 up...
 

paulip88

Senior member
Aug 15, 2000
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The link from the previous post is the site of he person who discovered the trick (or at least told the world about it).

I would recommend using a more permanent solution like the defogger kit. Same principle, but just with something that is designed to last and designed to conduct electricity.
 

EvilHorace

Senior member
Oct 11, 1999
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My first attempts with the pencil trick failed, then I actually tested the continuity (resistance) of a 1/4" dark, repeated line of pencil lead on paper compared to the same distance with auto defroster grid paint (available at parts stores or a GM dealer in my case for about $15). Pencil lead has very poor continuity and I'm surprized it'd work well for anyone. Another idea is to get some cheap $3 magnifying glasses (Walgreens for reading), I used a 3Xs so you actually see what you're doing, then scratch off any extra paint that might flow between the bridges.

 

Regalk

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2000
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Still my pencilled L1 bridges have been going strong for 5 weeks now and still to see any problem that may require a remark.
 

GaryTcs

Senior member
Oct 15, 2000
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My firsr pencilling job went for about 4 weeks, too, but thats too often to remark it. Plus I got the added bonus of getting more mhz after the defogger kit was applied. It was enough to get me over 1ghz.
 

paulip88

Senior member
Aug 15, 2000
908
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Tincup,
No. The pencil trick does not work on PIII systems. There are no bridges to connect.