How far can I Safely overclock my 1.2 ghz Amd cpu go??

[toomnymods]

I'm new to overclocking but ive been reading the forums for a few days and finally got in my swiftech 462b cooler for my 1.2 ghz cpu. I'm just wondering how far should i try to push my cpu? any advice would be greatly appreciated..
System specs:
Asus A7m266 v.1004 with bios 1004_02f
1.2 ghz Amd cpu w/ 266fsb
Swiftech 462b cpu cooler w/80mm delta fan
256 mb of pc2100 ddrsdram (samsung)
3dcool's tornado 2000 case w/ 2 - 90mm intake fans, 2 - fans in the back for exhausting the air (not counting the powersupply fan)
Windows 2000 w/ Sp-2 installed
Soundblaster live platinum 5.1 Sound card
Hercules Prophet 2 ultra 64 mb ddr

I have the latest 4 in 1 drivers from Via as well as all other updates from all the manufacturers, (Amd,Nvidia,Asus,Etc.) This system is very stable no problems, can you give me any ideas on how far you think my cpu can be over clocked and what type of voltages to run?
Thanks

[mrpcman]

as far as it goes until your computer won't start any more. Just keep upping the speed until it can't go any farther.

[toomnymods]

I'm trying to do this the safe way,lol isnt their anyone that can help a newbie with the voltage,fsb, and multiplier settings? As far as i know i got a kick a$$ cooler so i think i should be able to hit 1400mhz easily, but i dont want to increase the voltages to all my pci devices how can i overclock without doing this and stressing the whole system
Thanks,

[Ridenow]

Do a little at a time, only change one setting 1 notch at a time. I recommend Multiplier, FSB then voltage if needed. After you change voltage you can try changing multiplier again. There is no real method, just try it. If it works keep going.

[mrpcman]

yup. it's different for everyone.just take it slow. One you get the heatsink and everything on there good, the odds of you actually frying your cpu through overclocking is very very slim.

[castle lager fan]

The one thing you should do is watch the temp of your CPU the whole time. Also check the temp of your northbridge. AMD specs 95C as Max for CPU. I would get carefull beyond 70C. Remember these temps are when your system is under full load. Use Sandra or something. I don't know if your MB hs temp sensors for CPU and NB. I will also check case temp. Remember to check at different ambient temps.

Sounds like you have great setup (love your Heatsink need to get one for myself).

Let me explain. I just have my "virgin" setup up this evening. AMD 1.33(266) Samsung Mem (PC2100), FIC AD11 MB, Cooler Master EP5-6I11 with pad (no artic Ice), Realtek GeForce 2 Pro (64MB), IBM 60GB DTLA, el cheepo case with 1 push and one pull 80 mm fan, 650w PSU.

Ambient temp 25C
Case temp 37C
Northbridge (F+H) 32C
CPU (at IDLE!) 52C goes to 60C+ under load

SO I CANT overclock with thess temps, too high. Case flow sucks and CPU cooler sucks!

So to answer your question, if you stay at 1.75 V core and do not exceed 70C CPU under load you will only end up with unstable system. No real damage to component. Just reset down with speed and go.

For real high clock speeds people increase core CPU volts to 1.85 or higher. This is when the temp shoots up, power consumption goes wild (make sure your PSU is 450 W or better for the wild times) and obviously risk of damage.

Use artic silver with cooler and burn it in with Sandra or some other tool. If you set the multiplier to 12 you will get 1.466. STart with 11 and you will have 1.33 ( same as my stock)See if it is stable and then proceed. You can then start playing with the FSB, etc.

I prefer to get all my drivers and BIOS settings sorted out first, before increasing any frequencies. See the performance benchmarks you get with SANDRA before and after.

My "virgin" system is
CPU 3748 and 1843
Mem 649 and 820
MM 8347 and 7276

Not the best, but it took some work to get it there with the AD11 MB. Drivers and settings. The best mem setting I could get was 8-8-6-2-2-2-2.

Have you got an AMD 760 NB or VIA?

I prefer to get as much performance out of a system not just empty HZZZ. Maybe I'm still to old school UNIX.

Good luck!

[oc jason]

Aircooled probably 1.5 gigs

[toomnymods]

castle lager fan (May 13, 2001 01:06 a.m.):
The one thing you should do is watch the temp of your CPU the whole time. Also check the temp of your northbridge. AMD specs 95C as Max for CPU. I would get carefull beyond 70C. Remember these temps are when your system is under full load. .


Thanks for such a detailed lenghtly response, as far as i know the asus a7m doenst have cpu clock multipliers, i'll have to mod the board to enable this option, they decided not to have them right before the boards were shipped out the door, u can see where they are supposed to be but thier not there..
just for right now i advanced my fsb setting to 140 in the bios ran sisoft sandra lots of my tests did little better says the 1.2 ghz is now a 1.26 temps didnt move any which kinda suprised me.. i even played quake 3 for 30 min.. no lockups and my idle temp is 89f after quake 3 for 30 min is 93f guess pretty good, considering before i added the swiftech cooler my cpu temps were in the high 120's just at idle

Have you got an AMD 760 NB or VIA?

i have the amd northbridge

[castle lager fan]

I have an AMD 761 NB and VIA 686 SB. Aparently good combo. The AD11 was a bit bitchy to setup. Have you checked your benchmark with SiSoftSandra? I found it very usefull to get the right setting for my BIOS and drivers.

Pitty about the multiplier. If you can look at upgrading, it looks like some people got 1.5 GHz pretty easy with aircooled systems. So that can be a good mark to aim for.

PS I put in a bigger extracter fan on my cheap case and some rounded cables dropped the temp to 33C in the case and the CPU down to 48-53C.Still waiting for my proper cooler (MC462 way to go) and better case. I will aim for 1.66 GHz, but will see if CPU holds out. Oh and sorry my maths let me down set multiplier to 11 for 1.46GHz, not 12 (thats my aim).

[toomnymods]

Just an update on the progress of overclocking my Amd Cpu (code is Axia0108spfm)...
After pulling apart my case and taking off my Swiftech 462b, I went ahead and closed the L1 bridges on the cpu using a conductive pen. Really easy.. Then I went ahead and started working on the cpu multiplier mod (Soldering a 5 pin dip switch into the place where it should've been located if Asus wasn't such a$$hole$ and decided to remove it at the last second) that was the easy part adding that, now the 470 ohm resistors is gonna be a diffrent story.. those things are so damn small, lol ohh well probably finish that tommrow, wanna take light steps into this unknown territory to make sure I dont mess nuthing up.. Will keep u guys posted.
Laterz

[castle lager fan]

Good luck and take it easy with small steps. TBirds make ugly keyring holders!