WD 1200JB 8 meg buffer drive with 40 MHz PCI bus?

[oldfart]

Anyone ever run one of the WD 1200JB or other "Special Edition" drives on an overclocked (~ 40 MHz) PCI bus? Any problems?

 

[Dug]

Good question. I would also like to know because I would like to pick up this drive.

 

[menderchuck]

what are the possible consequences? I don't want to seriously mess up my HDs

 

[Eug]

<< Anyone ever run one of the WD 1200JB or other "Special Edition" drives on an overclocked (~ 40 MHz) PCI bus? Any problems? >>



As far as I'm concerned, ANY drive run at greater than about 37.5 MHz is a disaster waiting to happen. I try to keep drives to 10% overclocked or less (Ie. <= 36.7 MHz). Some drives may run fine at even at 41.5 Mhz, but don't count on yours being one of them, regardless of the brand and model.

 

[sharkeeper]

<< As far as I'm concerned, ANY drive run at greater than about 37.5 MHz is a disaster waiting to happen. I try to keep drives to 10% overclocked or less (Ie. <= 36.7 MHz). Some drives may run fine at even at 41.5 Mhz, but don't count on yours being one of them, regardless of the brand and model. >>



Good advice. With an 8MB buffer, the possibility of data corruption is far worse.

Cheers!

 

[LukFilm]

What FSB is 37MHz and 40MHz PCI bus? Over 150? Because that's what I want to run at...

 

[oldfart]

I run a 158 MHz FSB now, 39.5 MHz PCI. My IBM 60GXP has never complained. I was wondering if the WD drive is as tolerant.

 

[Eug]

<< I run a 158 MHz FSB now, 39.5 MHz PCI. My IBM 60GXP has never complained. I was wondering if the WD drive is as tolerant. >>

Like I said, it's potentially a disaster waiting to happen. It might work fine, but then again it might not, and in 2 months you may end up kicking yourself (unless you have adequate backups). Only time will tell and YMMV.

I have found my IBM drives more tolerant than others, but 39.5 is really pushing it. (I haven't tested any recent WD drive though.)

 

[Mavrick007]

What about going lower than 33Mhz for PCI bus? Couldn't you possibly go with 158/5 to give you 31.6Mhz? That would be an underclock but it would be safer wouldn't it?

I see some of the new boards being made with the Pci/AGP bus being locked in so you can't change them. I like that idea a bit more cause all you have to worry about then is basically fsb and memory.

 

[Eug]

<< What about going lower than 33Mhz for PCI bus? Couldn't you possibly go with 158/5 to give you 31.6Mhz? That would be an underclock but it would be safer wouldn't it?

I see some of the new boards being made with the Pci/AGP bus being locked in so you can't change them. I like that idea a bit more cause all you have to worry about then is basically fsb and memory. >>

Dunno about that board, but 31.6 makes me much more comfortable than 39.5. Mind you I had a Quantum that didn't mind 38.3(much) but got flaky at 30 MHz.

 

[oldfart]

My board actually does have extra dividers, but I've never got them to work with any stability. I can use the PLL16 setting for a 158 FSB/29PCI/58 AGP. If I go to 160 FSB I can get 30 PCI/60 AGP. Again, never could get it to work well. System is solid as a rock with the current setup.