FAQ Project, your questions (and answers) wanted....

[Mr B]

Hey gang, we could use your help in assembling the questions and answers for the FAQ Project. This topic is usually one of the busiest in the forums, and I see tons of different questions answered daily. If you've got any questions you'd like to see in the FAQ files, please post them here in this thread, along with the answer you received.

You help is gratefully appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Mr B
Team Intel

[Pinky]

Good idea.

Hmmm.... where to start?!

1 -- What are acceptable temps for an Intel CPU?

2 -- What are intel specs and how can I use that information when overclocking? (cB0, cC0, etc)

3 -- Can I unlock the multiplier?

4 -- How do I increase my Front Side Bus and why does this help?

5 -- Who's Mr A?

I personally don't keep track of these answers; I tend to store most of my hardware info in my head. I have rarely referred to Intel's site and find it cumbersome to use. I typically adjust voltage as an increase in %, not merely statistical value (otherwise I'd be pushing my temps to 80C all the time since this is Intel specs for my cpu, when it really isn't a practical number). Unfortunately, with all the new processors being released, it will be difficult to keep our own for the forum.

I wanted mostly to acknowledge the good idea and leave my $.02

[Zuck Gou :)]

I got one...

Why doesn't speed x work on my CPU when in the database it does?

:)

[Katabatik]

I don't know if this could belong in a faq type document but I've always wanted to know what procs overclocked the best percentage wise. Not nessicarily the average but lets say on a PIII 800: 10% oced to 850, 30% oced to 900, 40% oced to 950, and 205 oced greater. It just seems like an easier way to make a descion on what cpu to buy.

There will be more

|0|

[William]

keep em coming, good ones so far!

[Carmine_Paterno]

i got a few.....

1. Why don't many people have a Pentium 4 if there @ 1.8ghz?!?

2. Why does someone have a slower clock speed than me, yet there computer is much faster? (front side bus issue)

3. I just bought a brand new computer, and it won't overclock, why not?

4. I have a Celeron @ 1ghz, and my friend has a P3 933. Why is his faster than mine?

As you can see, i have gotten an amd. But i will still be around the Intel section!

[batboy]

Giving this a bump to the top. We need more suggestions. Thanks to everyone who responded so far. There were several ideas that we hadn't thought of yet. On behalf of the Team Intel FAQ committee, I'd like to thank you.

[Shadow ÒÓ]

bump

[William]

Shadow ÒÓ (Jul 07, 2001 05:59 p.m.):
bump

so this is how one goes about getting to the next star :D.

Just want to echo Batboy's comments, the suggestions so far have been great and have put forth many questions that we had not even considered. I have one to add.

Why should I choose an Intel CPU?

A basic question, but a good one that tons have. Could go into a little more detail, but this question is so basic, i think we were about to miss it.

[Godfodda]

Mr B (Jul 06, 2001 06:09 a.m.):
Hey gang, we could use your help in assembling the questions and answers for the FAQ Project.

Well, if you're looking for question for a FAQ file, how about a FAQ? "How do I overclock chip X?"

[DAppel]

Another one :

"Why doesn't my chip, here in Brasil, overclock as well as the ones in Europe ?"

Btw :
Pinky, who's MR. A ? ? ?

I'll sure take a look at this FAQ when it's done...

[CrystalMethod]

"what HSF should I use?"
"what is this I hear about breaking off a pin on my cpu?"
"I'm new to oc'ing, What's the first thing I should do?"
"Where can I get an unlocked Intel cpu?"
"Does raising core voltage really help oc a cpu?" (this one could be used by either the AMD or Intel FAQ committees)


..."what is the velocity of an unladen sparrow?"...

[most deaf]

how about, how big a diference does a good mobo make in overclocking a cpu

[[Oc]acaridans]

how about

1. what is meant by S code and week?
2. why do some people have external temp sensors on there chips?
3. what is a slocket?
4. why do i have to be mister pink?

[outhouse]

1 how do i vidpin for more CV.
2 how much CV is to much.
3 what's the highest temp i should run my CPU while overclocked.
4 how do i round my own flat ribbon cables for better air circulation through my case.

Well thats a start i think of more and post later.

goodluck

[William]

whats the best slocket to use?

Gotta post them while they are still fresh in your mind :D

[batboy]

I had not thought of the sloket stuff before and that should be included (added it to my growing list), but I wonder about the wisdom of making actual brand name recommendations, which is more subjective and often a matter of opinion. As fast as new computer products come and go, maybe we should stick to things like pros and cons of a slotket, what features to look for when shopping for a slotket, what jumper setting work best, and things of that nature.

[William]

we can always name more than one. I don't have any qualms naming an actual brand as our preffered pick or something like that. We are not being paid to do any of this(drats!) so we won't really be biased, just some guys speaking from expierience.

[Mr B]

CrystalMethod (Jul 08, 2001 01:37 a.m.):
..."what is the velocity of an unladen sparrow?"...

What, an African or a European swallow, then??

Look, it's not a matter of where it grips it, it's a simple matter of weight ratios...... ??? ??? ??? ???

Mr B

[qc]

I think that you first gave the explanation of this abbreviations like -
HSF, CV, FSB............... or iven FAQ

[William]

shadow did an abbreviation list for the front page although I can't find it. I am sure someone else can find it.

[The Doors]

What you think about black screen (before Post) and BSOD into Win?

[William]

some great contributions here, time for us to start doing our part and actually write this thing.

[William]

Shadow ÒÓ (Jul 09, 2001 04:29 a.m.):
bump

ditto

[Mr B]

qc (Jul 09, 2001 06:50 a.m.):
I think that you first gave the explanation of this abbreviations like -
HSF, CV, FSB............... or iven FAQ

Only if you tell us what "qc" is... LOL

Mr B

[Pinky]

DAppel (Jul 07, 2001 11:08 p.m.):

Btw :
Pinky, who's MR. A ? ? ?



Mr. B's counterpart that whispers all the right answers into hear ear :)

[William]

well the obvious question now is who and where is Mr. C? And is Mr. C or Mr. A an AMD fan?

[The Doors]

What you think to suggest ALL to report temps @idle and @full load of theyr systems with Ambient temp?

[quark]

heres one i needed when i first started overclocking.........
how do i get my computer to post when ive upped the speed too much and it wont reboot!!!!!!!!!!!

[William]

shove

[qc]

Mr B (Jul 10, 2001 07:08 p.m.):
qc (Jul 09, 2001 06:50 a.m.):
I think that you first gave the explanation of this abbreviations like -
HSF, CV, FSB............... or iven FAQ

Only if you tell us what "qc" is... LOL

Mr B

QC is Quality Control.
:)

[Mr B]

William (Jul 11, 2001 02:55 p.m.):
well the obvious question now is who and where is Mr. C? And is Mr. C or Mr. A an AMD fan?

Well, Mr C would be Wild Andy C...of course! lol

Mr B

[Newbie_Doo]

BUMP

[Mr B]

Anthony,

Are you "Mr A" ? ???

Daniel is obviously "Mr D" (Has to be. There's always someone reading one of his posts and goin' "Wha chu talkin' 'bout Mr D?? (Remember the sit-com "Diff'rent Strokes w/ Gary Coleman?? lol) )

I Bet we've got a whole alphabet of 'em in the forums..... ???

Mr B

[Pinky]

I'd be Mr. Z since the 'P' would most deservingly go to Placid.

Thump

[theflyingrat]

What do you all think about posting some stuff about memory in the FAQ...I know quite a few people ask questions about RAM timings, CAS settings, etc. after they've boosted their FSB pretty high. Also, information about PCI divisors could probably be useful to quite a few people.

[funnyperson1]

actually brad name reccomendation for some things would be smart such as memory....you want to get brand name...also heatsinks because for example someone warned me away from the golden orb, and now i am happilly running a nice fan/hs just have a list for memory:
Crucial
Mushkin

hs/fan
Alpha(quite expensive, but it is the best!)
Globalwin
Vantec

[William]

i'v got dibs on Mr. W!

[Mr B]

William (Jul 13, 2001 04:37 p.m.):
i'v got dibs on Mr. W!

LMAO ! ???

Fair enough, William .... =)

Mr B

[William]

funnyperson1 (Jul 13, 2001 04:18 p.m.):
actually brad name reccomendation for some things would be smart such as memory....you want to get brand name...also heatsinks because for example someone warned me away from the golden orb, and now i am happilly running a nice fan/hs just have a list for memory:
Crucial
Mushkin

hs/fan
Alpha(quite expensive, but it is the best!)
Globalwin
Vantec

those are more a thing for some of the other FAQ teams such as cooling and the memory team, but I am sure one of them will see this and I am sure they will get in there.

[theflyingrat]

How about a comparisson (as far as Intels are concerned) what exactly the performance differences are between Celerons, Pentium IIIs, and Pentium 4s, and what the best strategies and tricks for overclocking each one, as well as listing a reasonable "ceiling" for each type?

[Lancelot]

People have asked me how to know if a system is 100% stable, I found out that the following apllications could help determine that a system is never 100% when your convinced it was!

- 3DMark 2000/2001. It means nothing if it loops for an hour, usually it locks up during the second hour (@1024x768)

- SETI@HOME. It always seems to run fine, even when other apps are crashing my system, it's just good for testing stability with full-load CPU temps.

- Playing lots of videoclips at the same time and letting them loop can even crash a default clocked system!

- Using a DOS-based (bootfloppy) application like Powerquest DriveImage which moves vasts amounts of data, can lock-up nicely when you was convinced it was 100% stable! (and no, I don't wanna go into my BIOS to set things to default every time I make a backup, it just has to be stable!!!)

- I'm mainly using win2k, but every time my kid-son boots up win98se to play a few 3D games, it turns out she needs more Vio or Vcore.

- Videorendering is also a nice stability test! Like rendering .avi files to .mpg.

[ebola]

dont forget to add to the list that the intel heatsink is a piece of crap, katami chips only do 600, coppermines are green with a blue core, celeron 2s cant be run on a dually board, secc means single edge contact cartrige, intel markets it chips to retards, everyone in the blueman group is gay, currently the pentium 4 is a joke, wait till .13 micron technology, tualatin is a chip and town in oregon, willamette is a waterfall along the tualatin river, bla, bla bla...

[Mr B]

ebola (Jul 15, 2001 05:08 a.m.):
dont forget to add to the list that the intel heatsink is a piece of crap, katami chips only do 600, coppermines are green with a blue core, celeron 2s cant be run on a dually board, secc means single edge contact cartrige, intel markets it chips to retards, everyone in the blueman group is gay, currently the pentium 4 is a joke, wait till .13 micron technology, tualatin is a chip and town in oregon, willamette is a waterfall along the tualatin river, bla, bla bla...

Absolutely not true!!!

I heard they were bi... ???

Wow, I've been so busy tearing into the box and upgrading, I'd clean forgotten 'bout this one.

BUMP you go!

[William]

geez me too, and who cares about Blue Man Groupd other habits, I love their music!

[AmbientFiction]

I forgot what I was going to post for the faq. I'll leave my space here in hopes I can remember.

[vimal]

Perhaps the FAQ should include several links from intel.com, specifically the Sspecs and the processor datasheets. I love the links to sspecs from the processor database, but I usually end up going to intel.com and surfing their large(read:slow), overly decorated, and highly counter-intuitive web pages to get to a datasheet. I would love to have a direct link to all of these consolidated into one page.

Celeron SSpec:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec/icp.htm
Celeron Datasheet:
http://developer.intel.com/design/celeron/datashts/

PII SSpec
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec/p2p.htm
PII Datasheet:
http://developer.intel.com/design/PentiumII/datashts/

PIII SSpec:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec/p3p.htm
PIII Datasheet:
http://developer.intel.com/design/PentiumIII/datashts/

PIV SSpec:
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sspec/p4p.htm
PIV Datasheet:
http://developer.intel.com/design/Pentium4/datashts/

Links to the actual product pages themselves could be added as well, but IMHO they are pretty useless.

[William]

good suggestion Vimal.

BUMP!

[William]

one large BUMP!!

[CrystalMethod]

Originally posted by ebola
dont forget to add to the list that the intel heatsink is a piece of crap...
I've had great results with a stock Intel HSF, minus the thermal pad of course, and therrmal paste instead. It was however a lapped HSF from a 933EB, on a cel 800, so that might have had something to do with it. Got up to 922Mhz. Not too shabby for an Intel HSF.