What is the best method of masking off the Celeron - B21 (FSB) pin?

[Herkulese]

Back in the early days of Celeron, before the BH6 MoBo, you had to cover the B21 pin in order to unlock the bus speed so that it could run at 100 fsb.

I want to upgrade my sons BH6 which currently runs a celeron 366@550. I want to use this celeron 366 on friends mobo that I figure will not isolate this pin like the BH6 does. Tom's Hardware had the instructions on how to unlock the bus speed by masking the B21 pin.

Did any of you ever do this and, if so, what was the best method, tape (what kind), finger nail polish, model airplain paint, teflon tape, etc...?
I need details please.

Thank you in advance for any and all comments.

 

[SinMen]

I had used Sharpie without any problem.

 

[Herkulese]

SinMen

Thanks a lot for the response.

Do you mean a Sharpie as in a Pen?
Also, if you wouldn't mind, could you give a bit more detail?
Did you do this for the Voltage as well?

Thanks again,
herkulese

 

[SinMen]

Yes, Sharpie the permanent marker. I used the fine tip one. Just find the B21 contact on your Celeron, and fill the copper contact until it's fully covered. Let it dry and apply a second coat. That's all it is. No need to change the voltage.
My 300 Celeron ran great for 2 years @ 450 until I gave it away. I was using the Shuttle VB601 mb if I remember correctly.

 

[Tweakmeister]

I used telfon tape. Works well!

 

[Herkulese]

SinMen

Thanks for the details on the Sharpie.


Tweakmeister

Where did you get your teflon tape?
How sticky is the adheasive?

 

[Jen]

nail polish would work as well



Jen

 

[WT]

hehe, funny thing ... I just retaped mine last week after popping the processor out to test another cpu. Its a 300A@450 that I originally used a VERY small piece of electrical tape on. It only has to cover the pin and then wrap ever so slightly over the cartridge edge so that it does not get pulled off when you seat the cpu. I have had ZERO problems with the tape and merely wanted to retape it with a fresh piece of tape. This is by FAR the easiest and most reversible solution, so I'd suggest it first. As a matter of fact, when my slotket arrives next week, this cpu moves to my wife's PC which, with an old LX board, cannot run the 300A@450 at a 100 fsb. I simply remove the tape and its a 300A again. I'd be worried about any solvent that you might need if you ever need to clean off the sharpie markings. Electrical tape or duct tape works just fine. I've used both. Ahhh, memories .... that 450A STILL runs Q3 and UT with ease.

 

[Herkulese]

Thanks guys, I will try the tape first.

 

[propellerhead]

I used plain clear plastic tape. Nothing fancy. Plain Scotch tape. It worked great and has been going great.

 

[WT]

Hmmm ... I tried scotch tape on a friends 300A with no luck. We then used electrical tape and it worked fine. Maybe you were using Scotch "Magic" Tape ?

Scotch "Magic" Tape

 

[Herkulese]

WT

Thanks for the heads up regarding your problems with the Scotch Tape method.

I have noticed, however, that electrical tape is not all that sticky, especially after you touch it with your hands.

Can you give a bit of detail as to how you cut the electrical tape and how you installed it?
For example:
1) When you cut the tape, did you use a razor blade, scissors, exacto-knife, etc.................
2) Did you have to wrap it around the edge of the board so that it would not ride up as you inserted into the slot?

 

[propellerhead]

First off, you have to be at a point where you're willing to buy a new CPU in case you totally screw this one up. I had my Celeron 333 @ 415 for about 2 years and was willing to replace it with a Pentium. But before that, I figured I'd try the pin 21 thing.

I just taped over the pin and had it wrap over the edge enough for it to not slide off when I insert the CPU back into the slot, but not too much to cover the other side. Then I took an Exacto knife and trimmed the tape to the required width. I often pressed on the tape to make sure it was still holding in place.

After looking it over a few times, I plugged it into the slot, and booted up to a Celeron 500 @ 100.

That simple.

 

[WT]

Thx prophead for helping him out. Electrical tape is sometimes weird ... I have a VERY sticky roll (probly old and quality stuff) but I also have a roll that wouldn't pick up an eyelash laying on a table (probly cheap quality tape). If you are worried that it won't stick, use duct tape. That stuff is the UNIVERSAL tool for fix-ups.


Ohh, forgot to mention .. yes, I used an exacto and I have used a utility knife too. I find a clean wooden surface that I don't mind marking up,( the top of my wardrobe closet) and cut off the smallest rectangle of tape. Make sure the tape is long enough but not TOO long in that it covers the pin above B21 (a big no no). Then use the exacto or utility knife to pick up the tape and transfer it to your thumbnail. From there, count pins til you find B21 and use your index finger to position the tape. I'm guessing on the actual size, but I'd say it was 1/16" by 3/16" in size. Again, make it so that it can wrap just over the cartridge edge of the cpu, which holds it in place as you insert into the SECC slot. This is NOT difficult, I just want to cover every minute detail for you so you won't have any problems.

 

[Herkulese]

propellerhead
WT

Thanks for the info and all of the details.
This is exactly the information that I was looking for.
The details are always what kill you if you don't have them.

Thanks again,
Herkulese

 

[Zap]

LOL, the machine I'm using right now to type this message is a 300A with electrical tape on it (for voltage, Shuttle HOT-661 runs 100FSB via jumper). Done a few CPUs like this using scissors and electrical tape. Sometimes I would have to reapply the tape because it would slide off when inserting it into the slot. Definately have to reapply if CPU is removed.