Bios Q, and P4 1.8: how far can u push??

[ZightZar]

k i just got this dell 2300 (err hate dells but hey, was a present)... ive been trying to get into the bios so i can oc it.

Q1: how do i get into the bios on this dell.

Q2: how far can u push an intel P4 1.8 with stock heatsink and cooling :( ?? i got 768 sdr so i think ill be fine with that..

[markodude]

Welcome to the forums....

Q1 - Probably by hitting F1 or DEL during initial startup, although knowing DELL you may need to hit CTRL_ALT_F12_DEL etc all together (joke!)
Its unlikely that you will have any overclocking options in the BIOS at all.

Q2 WTF is 768SDR? U mean you have 768Mb of SDRAM? Thats a bad thing, as the P4 is choked using SDRAM. But it may be overclockable if its is good Samsung/Hynix/Micron SDRAM. I would imagine 150Mhz CAS3 will be the limit though

In order to overclock this PC you will probably need to find out the PLL IC and use something like SOFTFSB or SETFSB to manipulate, dont count on getting anywhere with this POS Dell though.

I suggest removing the 1.8A to see if its a C1 stepping, if it is then throw the motherboard and memory away and start again with a decent DDR mobo - if its a C1 it could go as high as 3ghz on stock cooling (maybe)!
If not stick with it and slap yourself for buying a dell and wait til u can afford to upgrade the processor/memory and mobo all at once!

[ZightZar]

yes i meant 768 sdram... and its expensive samsung (one 512 and one 256) ram... i wouldn't have got it, but this mobo only can support sd. I aint got the money to upgrade processor/mobo/graph card yet :(

C1?? i dont know what that is... i read that my mobo is a 7 step thing, but i dont know what C1 is or how u find out about if mine is one...

[ReTiCuLeX]

Use WCPUID to check if its a C1. When you open it you would see Stepping ID 7

[ZightZar]

i used sisoftware and it says the following:

Model: Intel(R) Pentium(r) 4 CPU 1.80GHz
Speed: 1.79GHz
Preformence Rating: PR1973(estimated)
Packaging: FC (little u looking thing) PGA478
Rated Speed/FSB: 1800MHz / 4x 100MHz
Multiplier: 18x
Generation: 7th(7x86)
Model Information: P4N (Northwood) Pentium 4 1.6-3G 1.5-1.6V
Recision/Stepping: 2 / 7 (9)
Stepping Mask: C1
Microcode: MU0F2724
Core Voltage Rating: 1.525V
L2 On-Board Cache: 512kB ECC sync. ATC (8-way, 64 byte line size)
L2 Cache Multiplier: 1/1x (equiv. 1794MHz)
Fron Side Bus Speed: 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Socket/Slot: Socket 478
Upgrade Interface: ZIF Socket


So if u can untangle that intelligible tangle of meaningless words and numbers and help me out, that be great (j\k i know some, but i dont understand most of it lol)

[Fluxer]

Originally posted by ReTiCuLeX
Use WCPUID to check if its a C1. When you open it you would see Stepping ID 7

Recision/Stepping: 2 / 7 (9)

Maybe that's it.

[jmsandrsn]

Yep, that is a C1 that you've got there.
Dell won't allow any overclocking options via the BIOS.
Assuming your CPU could run at 133 FSB at stock voltage (it almost surely could do so) you could run it at 2.4 GHz by insulating one of the pins. By insulating the pin, you prevent it from making contact with one of the socket contacts inside of the ZIF. It might be more of a modification than you're up to though.

[ZightZar]

i dont mind modding it, but there is this huge silver thing under that big green 80mm fan that is over the processor... is it the HS? i dunno, but it looks pretty hard to undo, but if someone can tell me how to get that off, i wouldnt mind modding my chip. it wont burn up anything just bu insulating it will it, and is there a BIG rish of F***ing up my processor if i do it?

[Lt. Max]

welll... that is probably the heatsink.. if u took off the heatsink... then theres the heatspreader that is on every p4 cpu. and newer celeron's/p3's as well. to take the proc outa the slot u move the lil bar next to the socket up and then carefully pull it out(it should almost slide out).. find out which pin u need to insluate b4 u do it tho.

[ZightZar]

OK ive just gotten that darn (scuze my french) heatsinc off and for the first time (got my computer last friday mind u) have finally had a peak at my 1.8A P4 (lol now i know its a 1.8A casue it said on the chip lol)... it so liberating to free your chips. Kinda like freeing yourself from whity tightys and going to boxerbrief, and knowing that you'll never go back (lol).

ok now that i can actually see the pin. i guess this is the next hardest part, because i have no godly idea on which pin to "insulate". when u say insulate, do mean break off, casue i dont wanna do that. and how du u insulate it, like put a peice of paper on in, or what?

[Big Nuttz]

WELCOME TO THE FORUMS
The chip you have will probably do well over 3GHz, but not in a Dell motherboard. There are no options to overclock. You need a different motherboard. Also if you have sdram you might wanna check into RDRAM or DDR. Most Dells have RDRAM or DDR.

..Edited for Drunkness...:beer: :beer: :D

[ZightZar]

well what motherboard can i get if i wanna keep my ram and processor? i can only spend >$100 on one... also i need one that has agp slot (i only have pci intagrated vid card, and i really need a new one...

[ZightZar]

oh and btw, Dell hasn't made their own motherboards in quite some time. 4 years ago is the last time ive ever seen a 'dell mobo'.... anyway, now dell uses different motherboard. some are from Gigabyte/quality mobos, but others (like mine) are made by MiTac. so can u clarify if u mean the motherboards made by MiTac are made so you cannot OC, or are u just repeating what you heard from someone? cause if u really CAN oc on my MiTac mobo thad be much better than buying a new one (even though ill have to buy a crappy PCI vid card though....)

[TommyTheCat]

I'll tell ya this...if you dont trash the motherboard/ram/heck, anything other than the cpu: **You'll get no where with the dell**.

So why dont you trade with me? I'll give you a 2.4Ghz for the 1.8, that will be about the overclock you would have gotten with it..

[ZightZar]

lol i thought u could clock this 1.8 up to 3 with good cooling and good ram?? err no thx. but any ways about how much to buy new Motherboard (remember, need to be under $100 and have agp slot) any buy new ram (i really dont know why, i though my runs fine with 768 sdram...) also dont know which kind to get (ram i mean), and where to get these items... help would be great.

[TommyTheCat]

1) the mobo (if good) will be over $120
2)the ram you have wont let you get to 3Ghz(why you say? because as you speed up the processor it will speed up your ram, and you'll burn it up trying to get it to run at any speed)
3)you'd either get DDR or RDRAM, I'm guessing many people wouldn't tell you to get RDRAM. The DDR will accept overclocking better.

[ZightZar]

ok so i should get a motherboard that handles ddr. ok.

next question, about how much should i get to make it worthwhile and how much will it cost?

my dell only has a 200 wat psu. will this be bad 4 ocing? if it is how much for better one?

know a good website to get these things from for low price?

[TommyTheCat]

www.newegg.com
www.pricewatch.com
www.directron.com

These are a few websites I like, but again, others will probably point you to more. Basically, you'll want at least 300W+. I would go with a 400W+ if you want a nice PSU.

Keep looking through all of the different threads for info over a few days. You'll see recommendations for different Mobos, Ram, Heatsinks, everything you'll want. And if you're going to do it right, the only things you'll keep from that dell are the optical drives, the CPU, and the floppy drive(just so you know). Good luck!

[ZightZar]

thx alot. help me verra much. can u tell me about how much u think ill have to spend on all of these thing? cause im on a budget and cant spend all that much for top o-the-line things :(

[Big Nuttz]

I'm sorry the BIOS and board made for Dell doesnt overclock. Maybe if you could hack the BIOS or possible mod the board you could overclock it. But as a rule of thumb you can not overclock Dell or Gateway.
Originally posted by ZightZar
oh and btw, Dell hasn't made their own motherboards in quite some time. 4 years ago is the last time ive ever seen a 'dell mobo'.... anyway, now dell uses different motherboard. some are from Gigabyte/quality mobos, but others (like mine) are made by MiTac. so can u clarify if u mean the motherboards made by MiTac are made so you cannot OC, or are u just repeating what you heard from someone? cause if u really CAN oc on my MiTac mobo thad be much better than buying a new one (even though ill have to buy a crappy PCI vid card though....)

[markodude]

Basically you are going to need a new mobo, case, DDR Ram and decent PSU if you want to clock that chip past 2.4ghz or so....I re ckon around $3-400 for decent stuff, ocing is not cheap!
You are probably best to swap it with a fellow overclocker and get a 2.4 or 2.5 in exchange, that way you wont even have to stress the CPU as it will be running at default, but will be a lot faster than your 1.8. It takes a lot of know how and good hardware to take the 1.8 to 3ghz.....

[micamica1217]

Originally posted by markodude
Basically you are going to need a new mobo, case, DDR Ram and decent PSU if you want to clock that chip past 2.4ghz or so....I re ckon around $3-400 for decent stuff, ocing is not cheap!
You are probably best to swap it with a fellow overclocker and get a 2.4 or 2.5 in exchange, that way you wont even have to stress the CPU as it will be running at default, but will be a lot faster than your 1.8. It takes a lot of know how and good hardware to take the 1.8 to 3ghz.....

I agree...

just to let you know of a few parts and the prices:

bd7II or p4pe mobo.....$90, $120.....I would get the p4pe
corsair xms3200 512meg DDR ram....about $200
you could get a good case that has a cheap 420w PSU on newegg that will work fine for you......about $70...it also has 2 case fans.

lastly, a better HSF will cost about $40-$60.

you can see how traiding your CPU might be better for you.

this is what I would do if I was you....

start to read alot about OCing.
come here often and ask questions.
start to save up your money.
after about six months start to look in the "for sale" forums....you can get some great buys there.
I have sold and bought some great things in thies forums, and the peeps are the best.

you might have to buy a few things new, but in the end you will save a lot of money and have one kick ass computer.
most of the parts can be reused, so this is a bonus.

I wish you luck no matter what you do, and feal free to PM me with any questions you may have.

mica

[ZightZar]

Wow thx for the info mica and other pplz.. im really startin to think about tradeing like you said, but im really not sure if it all that safe trading ppl... have ne of yall do it? casue all i really want to do is mod my comp so that i can have a rig that can play UT2k3 on high setting really well, and not having to upgrade 4 a while, and not spendin that much.

[micamica1217]

Originally posted by ZightZar
Wow thx for the info mica and other pplz.. im really startin to think about tradeing like you said, but im really not sure if it all that safe trading ppl... have ne of yall do it? casue all i really want to do is mod my comp so that i can have a rig that can play UT2k3 on high setting really well, and not having to upgrade 4 a while, and not spendin that much.

I would not say that traiding is 100% safe. yet most peeps here are not trolls and are very good traders....
I have traded a few times here and have nothing but good things to say...OK, maybe some peeps could leave me some feed back on heatwear.com but thats it.

I can't see your sdram with any stock (not OCed) cpu running ut2k3 great. what video card do you have in that "dull"???

if you feal unsafe buying from people from here, then you could try to buy whats called refubished mobo's and other parts....like video cards.

newegg.com lists things on monday morning, so take a look at what they have. (they sometimes go fast.)

a $120 mobo could go for $55 yet you might be missing a small part like the HS bracket.
people like me may have the missing parts, and be willing to send it to you for just shipping charges (and maybe a slight fee).

again, sdram will cripple a P4 cpu, so going DDR is the best bet for a gamer.

just start to save money now....
then ask me what case w/PSU to get.
new mobos will be out by then so we will have to see at that time.
your 1.8a will be great no matter what you get so keep it.
DDR sticks will only be cheaper then so thats good too.
if you need a better video card, then the 4200 128meg will be dirt cheap also.
lastly you could get the AX-478 and a quiet fan for great cooling of your cpu for cheap.(almost as good as the swiftys and alphas)

it's now time to do things right.
so play the waiting game and start to learn all you can.

(note to self: if I say the word "cheap" one more time, I know I'm going to feal like a cheap *****.:p )

I know it's hard to wait, but in a few months you will have a better rig then most peeps here.

mica