what kindof info do you need to help me?

[soundfx4]

Hey, I want to overclock my intel celeron 400 mhz as much as I can without having to buy any special equipment to keep it cooled down. Please help me out, I dont know what to do, thanks.

[marty]

It would be nice to know your motherboard brand and model.

One piece of "equipment" that you might agree to purchase is $2 of Radio Shack heat sink grease. It can help your heat sink to processor contact and depending on the heat sink it might help with the overclocking.

Also, don't rule out a better heat sink if the grease helps! They can be as cheap as $20 to $30 and might make all the difference in the world.

So give us the motherboard and we will try to help.

[soundfx4]

30 bucks?! That is more then I planed to spend if anything at all, but its not that bad :) well here is some info about my motherboard. it is a M6TLC it it says its a pentium II, but I have the little celeron sticker on the front, but I have been told they are basicly the same processor. It supports 33mhz PCI Bus speeds, I/O clock 8mhz for ISA Bus. Suppors 66mhz/133mhz AGP Bus. Hmmm, I cant seem to find any other info on it. Is this enough? If not, how can I find who makes my motherboard? If my mother board was made by the same people on the front of my computer, then PIONEX made it, but Im not sure, help me out please, thansks.

[Tim-]

It's made by Biostar.



http://www.biostar.com.tw/support/manual.htm

[soundfx4]

Yay! Biostar, cool,ok, so now what, now that I know who makes it, and I know what model it is, what do I do next?

[Tim-]

I'd start with downloading the manual, and then refer to some of the beginner's articles on the opening page. That will give you enough information to know what to look for, and enough background to know what you're looking at. Then, when you are ready for the specifics, you will be ready for the forum.

Then we can work interactively to help you achieve the desired results.

[marty]

Also you can try the program CPUCool. It allows some overclocking without pain from inside Windows rather than with jumpers and BIOS.

http://members.nbci.com/podien/

is the URL for Mr. Podien's CPU Cool.

[soundfx4]

Ok, great! I have read the manual, and I have already been inside it to upgrade ram and to put a cd-burner in it, so I pretty much know my way around it, Im still not an expert though :) but I am going to try that program also, if it is good enough, I may not need to go inside, but I dont know yet. Well ok, what do I do first?

[soundfx4]

soundfx5 (Feb 18, 2001 05:12 p.m.):
Ok, great! I have read the manual, and I have already been inside it to upgrade ram and to put a cd-burner in it, so I pretty much know my way around it, Im still not an expert though :) but I am going to try that program also, if it is good enough, I may not need to go inside, but I dont know yet. Well ok, what do I do first?

oops, it cost 13 bucks? Well I dont like to buy things online unless I absolutley have to, so lets go ahead and start with the instructions, if thats ok with you. And thanks :)

[marty]

You try CPU Cool for free. If you like it you pay the $13.

So choose configure and then CPU Clock Frequency to see if you can raise your FSB speed with the program. If you can, do it step by step from your current setting up a little at a time.

[OpenFriday]

as Tim- suggested go to "Beginers Guide To Overclocking" all your answers should be solved there. if anything read it over sevral times BEFORE even attemping an overclock. thats how i started.

[soundfx4]

huh? where is the begginers guide to overclocking? I looked for something like that when I came in, but I couldnt find it, let me know, thanks.

[marty]

Log on to the home page of Overclockers. Look at the list below the spot where you click on the Forums. Beginner guides is there!

www.overclockers.com/topiclist/index04.asp#beginner guides

[soundfx4]

Ok, thanks, and also, I looked at that program, and downloaded it. It says that it could damage my hardware, and that he is not responsible for any damage done to your computer, so I decided not to use that program for that reason. Even though I know I run the same risk, and maybe even greater risk while actually working on the inside of my computer, I would just fell more comforatable that way. But if anyone can tell me what the odds of it actually damaging my computer are, then I might try it. Thanks

[soundfx4]

Ok, I have just one quick question, what do you basically do when you overclock a CPU? Like do you change some switches, or change the Jumper settings? Or is it something else?

[soundfx4]

????? where is everyone? I havnt had to wait this long for an answer before? Are you guys stil here? You probably are, im just checking. :)

[Newbie_Doo]

soundfx5 (Feb 21, 2001 08:52 p.m.):
Ok, thanks, and also, I looked at that program, and downloaded it. It says that it could damage my hardware, and that he is not responsible for any damage done to your computer, so I decided not to use that program for that reason. Even though I know I run the same risk, and maybe even greater risk while actually working on the inside of my computer, I would just fell more comforatable that way. But if anyone can tell me what the odds of it actually damaging my computer are, then I might try it. Thanks

One nice thing about the overclocking community is that we are real big on accountability. When you undertake to modify your equipment, you assume ALL responsibility for whatever happens. While this is not hard to do, you need to really understand the basics. The members of this or any other forum will be happy to help you, but won't do your thinking for you. Please read the guides. Please read your manual. Please take responsibility for whatever you do to your machine. As with all modifications to the hardware/software/firmware, you run the risk of complications. A scalpel in the hands of a finely trained surgeon is a precision instrument. In the hands of a fool it's just a sharp knife. CPUcool is not the only way to go, but it IS one way. Messing around inside the case will have to happen at some point, and it's not just like installing an IDE drive. What you choose to do to your machine will have consequences, and not always positive ones. Overclocking, like life, is risky. Assume the risk, reap the rewards. You will find others here more willing to help you when you are more willing to help yourself.

Sorry to be so blunt.

[soundfx4]

hmmm, ok, I am going to a technical college here in a few weeks, so I am good. I am just wandering a few things. I found this chip that controles the FSB, it is an ICS, with this number on it 9148BF-04 the crystal near by has 14.3C83 on it. My manual (which I have read) says that this mainboard supports up to 33 mhz PCI Bus speed. And if CPUCooL is correct, then mine is currnntely set at 25 mhz. I am not asking for you to make decicions for me, I just want to know how to figure out what is safe for my motherboard. I am assuming that I can boost it up to 33mhz, but once again, I am just ASSUMING that from all the facts I have gathered. Please let me know, thanks

[Newbie_Doo]

First: The Celeron has a FSB speed of 66MHz. It is multiplier locked and you can not change the multiplier. In order to raise the CPU speed, you will need to increase the speed of the processor front-side bus. I am unfamiliar with your board, so I don't know if this can be done with jumpers, or if you have to use a software tweak. Ignore the PCI bus for now. You will not be changing the PLL chip either. Look in the manual for the jumper setings for different FSB speeds like 75Mhz, 85 Mhz, etc.. Before you raise the FSB speed, spend the $2-3 and get some thermal grease (heatsink grease, thermal compound) from Radio Shack and put a thin layer between the heatsink and the cpu cap. If your heatsink has thermal tape, get rid of the tape. Clean the cap and heatsink really well. Apply the grease. Now, use whatever means you have at your disposal to slowly raise the FSB speed and try to boot the machine. Take baby steps. Try to remember that a little is good, more might be deadly. It's worth the money spent to get a better heatsink. Try a local computer show, or ask a local shop. Buy online from a reputable dealer (check www.resellerratings.com for a dealer's integrity). We can guide you, but you have to have researched the basics. You need to be able to interpret what your machine is doing at each step, and check in here if you are stumped. We ALL started where you are now. We ALL had to learn the hard way. Read what the trailblazers have written, learn from it. The information is there for the taking, use it. Most likely, what you run across will be covered somewhere in the guides on the front page.

Good luck

[soundfx4]

Ok, sure, thanks. I will read all I can, and hopefully it will help me. Then I will go ahead and try what you said. And thanks for all the help your giving me, I really appreciate it. :)

[soundfx4]

hmmmm...I found a part in the manual about changing the actual CPU speed, and it gives a table displaying what jumper settings do what speeds, but I couldn't find anything that specifies FSB. Also, my computer runs at 400.9 mhz, so why does it say It can only get up to 333? Is it possible it is already overclocked some? I bought it at Sams Club about a year and a half ago. I am a little puzzled here.

[Newbie_Doo]

First, it's not uncommon for a manual or board to say it only supports up to a certain speed. Bios revisions are cheaper than rewriting a manual. Get a pad of paper and a pencil, a bright light, a magnifying glass if your eyes are as bad as mine, and take some notes about your system.

You will need to discover what model motherboard you have. It should be stamped somewhere on the board. Next, you said this is a celeron 400; is it square and in the same plane as the board (laying flat), or is it rectangular and standing up on edge? How much and what type of memory do you have? It should be stamped on your memory, or on a label on the stick. Can you tell what size power supply you have? How many fans does your case have, in addition to the one on the power supply? Check your manual, see if your board has adjustments in the BIOS for the Bus speed. Is it configured in the BIOS or with jumpers on the board?

Go to Radio Shack and pick up a tube of thermal compound (heatsink grease) It will cost you about $3.00 and will save you about $75 if you use it. If you don't, you may fry the CPU.

When you turn on your machine, your BIOS will put a identifying number up and it will say something like this "Award BIOS 1j9888-4356789" Write the number down. This number will help you determine what BIOS revision you have and may help you identify the board if you cand find the model number anywhere.

When you have the information, you will know a lot more about what your system is all about, you will have a good idea about the board's limitations, and we will have a lot better chance of helping you achieve your goal. Lastly, those Celerons max out around 550-600 if you are lucky. It will be a nice starting point for the basics of overclocking, however.

Good luck.

[DocClock aka MadClocker]

I am constantly amazed by how many people bypass all the good advice in the beginers guides on the main page, and are willing to take risks with their equipment by asking how to o'c and doing the first thing suggested...who know's if the answer is coming from somebody with a hangover....how would you know if the suggestion is ludicrous or not? by not reading the guides, you have nothing to base that what is posted will be right for you...sure it means a little reading...but the benefit FAR outweighs the effort used to read it, besides the guides are well writen, and very informative...and being an overclocker for some 7 or 8 yrs, I still paruse the guides to remind me of things that I have forgoten about....so I recomend the guides highly....they still help me out.
And welcome to the wacky world of overclocking..you are gonna have a lot of fun, or frustration, or both....I do :-)

[Newbie_Doo]

Doc,

I think your post is the fifth one suggesting reading the guides. Tim, Marty, OpenFriday, myself and you have all said this. I hope that the message is heard. I still go back and read them. In fact, I was going over the watercooling guides and tips today in the hopes that I didn't miss anything basic. They are a very valuable resource from people who have been there.

[soundfx4]

I haven't overlooked the guides, I just haven't got to them yet. I really don't know if I need them or not, I see a lot of pointless things in there, that I really cant see how its connected or how it will help me overclock my computer. So I am just going to forget the guides, I'm going to a technical school here in about a month, thought I would be there sooner, but anyway, I'm going to wait a while before I overclock my computer. But please keep this post up, so If I have any questions I can ask them. But don't worry I still may read the guides, I mean if you guys go back to them still, then obviously they are very useful :)

[soundfx4]

hmmm, actually I am gonna read the guides. I really honostley dont see how they can help, but what do I know, im a novice at this. Besides, reading cant hurt, it can only help.