I BELIEVE I WAS SOLD AN OVERCLOCKED CPU W/O KNOWING IT WAS OVERCLOCKED

[Amedeo602]

Here's the deal: I bought a 1.4 ghz tbird, an assu a7a266 mb and 512 ddr ram

Anyways, I get the stuff home and put the system together, but it doesn't work right. After trying various things I found out that the CPU was overheating, so I gave it some extra cooling and booted up into win etc etc...

anyways, i loaded asus probe and was looking around and I found this useful little tidbit:
Max Speed 1200 Mhz
Current Speed 1400 Mhz

Needless to say, I got a bit curious. So I decided to run Sandra's CPU&BIOS Info module. Here are a few lines from it:

Processor AMD Athlon(tm) Processor @ 1.41 GHz
Model Info. Athlon (Thunderbird) 650-1.2G 1.7-1.8V

Looks to me like the the CPU has been overclocked before I bought it .... and this kind of pisses me off cuz I paid for a 1.4, not for a 1.2 overclocked

Any ideas as to where to find out for sure if this is an overclocked CPU?

And if so, then I think this is illegal...right?

This is my first post...I'm gonna try to attach a file to it (a pic of Sandra/Probe) so if it doesn't work let me know :-)

[[Oc]acaridans]

the chip should have numbers on it, that you can look up to get the speed.
Did you buy this on line? or a shop?

[Amedeo602]

I bought it from a store at a computer show. (Yes I kept the receipt.)

Another thing: thing thing is hotter than hell. Right now the case (FULL TOWER ATX) is open and in the air conditioning and the CPU temp is 61 C; MB temp is 36 C ....if i close the case it overheats and freezes.... =(

oh...and the chip doesn't look normal....it's got 4 black (rubber?) things sticking out of it in the corners....

[wildone]

Welcome to the forums
dont let those programs alarm you , when those programs were wrote the highest thunderbird processor was 1.2 so they couldnt see the future therefore they dont know their are faster chips out , my 900 said the exact same thing as yours does , dont worry,also on your temps useing asus probe depending on your bios you should take away like 10C so your temps arent as bad as you think
wildone

[wildone]

Amedeo602 (Jul 01, 2001 10:17 p.m.):
I bought it from a store at a computer show. (Yes I kept the receipt.)

Another thing: thing thing is hotter than hell. Right now the case (FULL TOWER ATX) is open and in the air conditioning and the CPU temp is 61 C; MB temp is 36 C ....if i close the case it overheats and freezes.... =(

oh...and the chip doesn't look normal....it's got 4 black (rubber?) things sticking out of it in the corners....


Those rubber things are pads ,DONT remove them they protect your core from the HSF , are you sure that you installed your hsf correctly,did you apply some kind of thermal paste?is this your first computer that you built or did someone else build it for you?please give us a rundown of whats in the whole system
wildone

[Trinity]

I wouldn't worry about the chip, but check and see if it says anything on the chip. Those rubber feat are normal, they prevent the core from cracking when you put the heatsink on.

[Amedeo602]

1.41 Ghz CPU
512 Mb PC2100 micron ddr ram
asus a7a266 mb
30 gb wd 7200 rpm hdd
32mb geforce2 gts/pro video
soundblaster 5.1 x-gamer audio
toshiba cd-rom
toshiba cd-r/cd-rw/dvd-rom
nic (forget the brand...not 3com)
and, best of all.................

A 56k MODEM!!!!! (to be replaced when the hicks around here decide to create a cable isp)


------------

I built the system, and I was sure that the hsf was on right (it looked right @ least, i put the raised part on the raised part of the socket)....i used the gay pink thermal paste stuff, but i plan on getting a Tt cooler soon w/some arctic silver 2 or another good paste so it actually works right...........

-------------

Thx for the info about the progs, i got a bit pissed there for a bit (thinking that i didn't have any overclocking to look forward to as it had already been done....not to mention the difference in price between a 1.2 and 1.4)....my bios is 1004 if that's of any help

[Nagorak]

A 1.4 GHz CPU just runs REALLY hot. That's probably your problem with crashing right there. Most of us OC'ers take good cooling for granted, it's easy to forget that normal people are sold hot running CPUs too and might not realize that their cooling is not adequate.

My Tbird 1 GHz runs at 1.4 GHz. It's basically a 1.4 GHz chip because I run it at default voltage and its rock solid. It still runs pretty hot...if I touch my WBK heatsink under load it is somewhat unpleasant (it will not actually burn me). I'd suggest getting something other than a thermaltake heatsink. If you do go for tt be sure to buy the Volcano II not any of the orbs (wtf was the Volcano I, btw?).

[bdf24]

Amedeo602 (Jul 01, 2001 10:57 p.m.):
A 56k MODEM!!!!! (to be replaced when the hicks around here decide to create a cable isp)

I know exactly how you feel. I've been waiting for cable internet service for about a year and a half now. Still waiting. I can't hardly take this 56k modem anymore. Theres just to much stuff to download and to many Online games to play to run a 56k modem anymore! You log into a Death Match in UT and you'll get creamed cause everyone else is running highspeed internet. It's no fun!

[Rob Cork]

I don't think you mentioned what hsf you have, but if you're running anything 'generic', or even something like a coolermaster or an orb (and especially with that pink thermal goo) the 61C doesn't surprise me too much. I expect you'll find lapping the base of the heatsink and using some better thermal compound would help you get down to somewhere in the 50's, but you'll need a better cooler in the long run, especially if you plan on ocing. Like Nagorak said, don't bother with the orbs if you're going Tt, and if I were you'd I shell out 30 bucks or so and get a top of the range cooler like the Thermalright SK6 or Millenium Glaciator. I suspect the volcano II just won't cut it at those speeds and voltages.

[el]

that is one hot mofo! 61C is too hot and that asus probe is probably hurting you system more than it helps! they look cool but can cause crashes. I would look at your cpu and post the code it should have 14000AYHJA or something like that not 1200xxxx.

[Amedeo602]

The asus probe isn't an actual probe...it's just a software program that runs off a chip in the mb that records temps and fan speeds

as for heatsinks, what kinds would you guys recommend? i'm not an overclocking nut, but i do like to experiment occasionally.

and...i'd get the cpu code right now except i just got home from work and i have 2 jobs...i have to be at work in about 15~25 min....maybe i can get it tonight...thx for the help guys

[el]

oh yeah I mean the asus panel sucks! Don't get anything with a delta screamer on it or you will be sorry I think www.coolerchips.com is the cheapest place and if you mention overclockers.com they will give you a free bit of thermal compound. I don't think it is artic silver but if you are crazy overclocker man than it should be fine.

[FRANK]

Refer to the following attachment and compare to your own CPU to see exactly what you have;

[Da Whip]

El, What kind of advice is "Don't get anything with a Delta Screamer".? Delta's save more systems than they kill peeps ears. Some of the comments about the Delta are way overstated, yes they are loud, but find another fan that even competes.
If you want quite, get a Mac.
Just one other thought, you were not sold an overclocked CPU, there is no way humanly or otherwise to sell a 1.2 that is 1.4 . Unlocking bridges, jumping off bridges and standing on your head , will not achieve that. You got bad readings.

[KATOOMER]

You just need MO power supply have you read the new recomendations for AMD 1.33 and 1.4 ghz chips
go to http://cluboverclocker.com and read up on the 1.4 test.
page three will answer all your Questions

[Duron Overclocker]

Check the L1 bridges. they are on the right side. if there is anything between them it is unlocked to overclock. AMD cuts them apart -w- a laser.

[Ridenow]

Nice Pic, Frank!

As to HSF, I like Global Win. They are cheap(relatively) and almost all of them work very well. There are better ones out there if you look.