p3 900

[minoukat]

I have a p3 coppermine 900 MHz (9*100MHz). Hewlett Packard ripped off all the jumpers so I used CPUFSB to OC it. I got it stable @ 1.01 GHz, but for some reason I can't get any higher ! My clock generator is ICS 924xxx-98. Also, as HP took off overclocking possibilities, I cannot increase the voltage (or maybe I can but haven't found out how !?). Please, I want to go higher, so please help !

P.S.: I touched the HSF, it was SOOOO cool (not under 0*C, but it was cool !)

[Jon]

You've got about all you're going to get in my opinion if you've got an HP. OEM PCs aren't made for overclocking therefore don't give good results, in the majority of cases.

I dount very seriously there is any way to get more core voltage out of that system so you're probably stuck no matter how cool the chip is...OEM PCs just don't have the options.

In my opinion, I'd scrap the motherboard and case and get one that allows for free overclocking and then get what you can out of it that way.

Being that the normal ceiling on Intel chips of that type is about 1.2Ghz you're probably close to the limit as it is. Having a high multiplier of 9 and the next FSB spec kicking in at 133, you'd be looking at a 1197 which is right at that ceiling.

For right around $150 you could probably do what you want with that chip and its salvagable parts.

[minoukat]

Isn't there a program to increase voltage on a mobo ? Or a mod I could do on that mobo ?

[funnyperson1]

if it is fcpga you could vidpin thereby changing the default voltage...thats about it i guess....

[minoukat]

I know the board is an ASUS. Now, could I download any ASUS BIOS to upgrade my current one ?

[Jon]

Never heard of a program that could manipulate core voltage and doubt very seriously it's possible. Abit had one for one particular mobo they manufactured but that is the only one of its kind I have ever heard of. Chances for something like that on an OEM PC are next to none.

I also doubt you'll find any information on a mod for voltage manipulation for an OEM PC. Overclockers tend to shy away from them therefore they aren't exactly tested in that way. Not saying there isn't one but I would assume not. Wouldn't even begin to know where to find something like that.

OEM motherboards are stripped down from having most of the components that allow the type of changes you are needing in order to save on costs and to keep buyers from messing them up for replacement (which costs them more).

Considering the chip in your system runs at a default of 100MHz FSB you're very lucky the board allows you to go over that at all for the overclock you have. Most are locked into whatever the bus speed the chip on it is running at.

[minoukat]

I could go to a max of 112 MHz FSB, but after that, the system locked up, so I thought I needed more voltage. And in CPUFSB they said the max FSB the clock generator would do was 140-150MHz ! Are there any bridges to cross like on AMD chips, that change your default voltage and ... ? (I don't know how to OC a p3 !)

[Jon]

You can wire the VID pins to get a few different default voltages. I have done this with a cC0 P3 1GHz to get 1.75V instead of the 1.7V it was at default.

Depending on what stepping your chip is it is possible to get 0.5V incrememnts all the way up to a 2.05V default setting. I believe the cB0's can only go straight to 2.05V though due to some internal connections to the VSS pin.

I don't have a direct link but Wild Andy C has instructions on doing this mod at his website here (http://www.wildandyc.co.uk). Just snoop around there and you'll find it...it applies to all Coppermine CPUs even though his demostrator chip was a Celeron.

[minoukat]

How do I know what default voltage or stepping I have ?

[Jon]

The default voltage will be imprinted on the chip itself so you'll have to take it out to tell. SiSoft Sandra should be able to report the voltage of the chip as well.

As far as which stepping you have, you will have to remove the chip and check the S-Code on that chip. It will be something similar to SL45Y, etc. You will need to go to Intel's website and check the chart they have available in their support section. Just match your S-Code to the one on the chart and it will tell you what stepping you have. Once again I don't have a direct link for it but I know it's posted here in the forums somewhere several times.

SoSoft Sandra may also be able to tell you this information through one of the information modules although I'd rather see for myself. It will show a cC0 being a C0 stepping, cD0 as a D0 and so forth.

EDIT:

WPCUID could also probably give you some of this information. You can get it from H-Oda's (http://www.h-oda.com) website. It is freeware.

[minoukat]

OK, just got some info from Sandra 2001, in CPU & BIOS Information, it says it's a cC0, and default voltage of 1.68V

[Jon]

Great! That's the best stepping for the VID pin trick as it gives the most voltage options, so head on over to Wild Andy's site and check out his instructions and diagram. It's not hard to do...just requires good eyesight, a steady hand and some patience.

Works like a charm though.


EDIT:

In the case you have stock cooling I would NOT attempt wiring for anything above 1.80V. I'm a little apprehensive about you wiring it up to that considering you probably have no temperature sensors and are relying on touching the heatsink which does not give anywhere near an accurate idea of what your actual core is hitting.

Personally I would spend some cash on a good heat sink and fan if you don't have one on there already before getting it up to 133MHz (considering it can and there is NO guarantee it will).

I just don't want you burning that thing up and if you don't have good cooling it's a possibility when overclocking for as much as a 300MHz +0.15V gain. Don't mean to scare you but I'd feel guilty if you killed it...

[minoukat]

Thanks ! I'll read the article when I come back from school tomorrow (I gotta go sleep right now !)

P.S.: How much will this cut off my p3's life ?

[Jon]

Life expectancy for that class of chip is probably in the vicinity of 10-15 years. You probably will, at most, cut it in half which by the time it will be long obsolete and you will want/need another anyway.

Be sure to read the 'EDIT' I posted in my last post too.

[minoukat]

I have a question. I put it @ 1008 MHz, and it always locks up. When I touch the heatsink (after a lock up), it is still very cold. Is the comp locking up because of the heat or because of not enough voltage ?

[Jon]

Could be a number of things. Touching the heatsink will not give you an idea on temps though. I can touch my SK6 and it's fairly cool but the readout is a warm 50C under load. You need readings from as close to the core as possible so simply feeling of the heatsink will do nothing for you to gauge the true or assumed temperature.

One of the things that I think of first is your memory. If that system is using PC100 memory then it could be crapping out on you. I doubt very seriously that if it is using PC100 memory that it will allow you to hit 133MHz FSB. You'll probably need to get some PC133 memory to run it more than where you have it now regardless
Otherwise it could be a voltage issue or, since your running your PCI devices out of spec, one of them may be failing at being run at too high of a PCI bus. It's unlikely at only 112MHz, though.

Heat could also be a possibility as those chips run pretty warm as it is with only a stock heatsink and fan. Not sure how good the overall airflow in that case is either as I know it's probably pretty cramped.

DO NOT OVERLOOK COOLING WHEN OVERCLOCKING! I can not stress this enough. You WILL need to upgrade the stock heatsink and fan if you plan on running it much higher speeds.

[minoukat]

I totally forgot my RAM ! I have 2 sticks of ram in my system, one 128 MB PC133, and one 64 MB PC100 that I took out of my Compaq. I'll try it again without that 64 MB stick and see if I can go any higher !

Edit : I removed my old PC100 ram, but still locks up @ 112MHz FSB. I think I need more voltage. The CPU is a cC0 stepping, and is a SL4SD donno what that is written on the CPU

[minoukat]

OK, I have a big problem (well, maybe not that big, but still pretty big !). I just took out my p3, to see the stepping and code and etc., and now, my system won't recognize my CD-RW and DVD drive ! In the BIOS it can't so what shall I do ?

[Phil]

Whats with all the posts minoukat? you trying to get your post count up or something?
As for your drives all I can suggest is to make sure all the leads are in their ports correctly, and maybe to try resetting the bios.

[minoukat]

Sorry about the posts, I didn't even notice it ! I'll remove some and modify the others !
About the drives, I did reset the bios, nothing, checked all the connections, still nothing. Anything other ?
Thanks

[Phil]

you've made the posts now you may as well leave them, I wasn't telling you off or anything just suggesting in future you use the edit post function when you have something to add.
Are you sure all you did was take out the cpu and put it back in again?

[minoukat]

Originally posted by Phil
Are you sure all you did was take out the cpu and put it back in again?

As hardware, yes. I did take off some cables (power cables, like the mobo connector, hard drive, CD cables) but I put them back before I rebooted. Would a reformat help in any way ? I don't really care to reformat now, cuz the hard drive is empty, so ... ?

Thanks for the fast answers ! :D

[Phil]

well if they aren't being detected by the motherboard a re-format wouldn't help.
Do they show up on the screen that comes up after the post but just before windows boots, the one that lists the cpu, memory, com port and ide devices?

[minoukat]

It always says : "Master Primary IDE Device : quantum ...
Slave Primary ID Device : none
Master Secondary IDE Device : none
Slave Secondary IDE Device : none"

So no. They are on the secondary IDE controller

[Phil]

try switching the ide cable from your hardrive with the one on your cd drives, if they then apear and the hardrive disapears then it's the cable

[minoukat]

Thank you Phil ! :D That solved my problem !!!!! :D :D :D

[Phil]

is your hardrive still working though?

[minoukat]

Yeah, everything is working great ! All cables are good, and every drive is working !
Thanks again !

[Phil]

must have just been a loose conection or something then