Unlocking the Tbird bridges necessary?

[fergus]

Newbie question regarding the 200fsb Tbird 900 and any KT133A, 133fsb, mobo with multiplier, voltage, and fsb tweak capabilities:
Does the mobo's tweaking capabilities override the CPU's locked multiplier and voltage? Or do I have to unlock the CPU if I need to increase voltage and/or multiplier? I'm considering the Abit, Soltek and epox mobo's. My goal is to get my 900Tbird running at 133fsb.
Thanks!

 

[Poof]

The multipliers on a T-bird are locked by default (ie., the L1 bridges are open, although a few unlocked "samples" may be out there). Thus in order to change the multiplier, you'd need to unlock by covering the bridges with some conductive material (eg., pencil graphite, conductive pen, rear window defogger stuff).

For the voltage or FSB, you won't need to do anything to the CPU per se as long as your mobo allows you to set these values. There are bridges that can be manipulated on the T-bird for increased voltage if necessary.

If you want to hit that 133Mhz FSB, then be prepared to get some MEGA cooling!

 

[vss1980]

Does the motherboard over-rule the locked multiplier? No.

Does the motherboard over-rule the voltages? For the majority of them, yes.

Any CPU's that are multiplier locked must be unlocked for oc'ing.

 

[bhess]

I think I understand what he is asking. Can't you just treat it like a p-3 900 and just change the fsb? Then you wouldn't have to unlock it.

 

[paulip88]

bhess,
You could do that. But the fact that you can change the multiplier means that you should do it. The only reason why people do this with Intel chips is because it is difficult to get around their multiplier lock.

 

[fergus]

Thanks for the answers! I'd rather not adjust my fsb down because I want to run at 133. If I don't adjust the multiplier while at 133fsb I'll be seriously oc'd and will require extreme cooling.
Thanks!

 

[jhalada]

fergus,

Unlocking the multiplier will give you a lot more flexibility in overclocking.