Why would you want to connect the athlonxp bridges?

I know it has something to do with overclocking, but how are all these other review sites overclocking without connecting the bridges? It is only necessary when your bios won't allow you to change the multiplier or something?

Without the bridges connected you cannot adjust the multiplier even if your MB supports this option.The review sites you ask about are overclocking by changing the fsb only.A few of them have connected the L1's.By being able to change both the fsb and the multiplier you can sometimes achieve better results as the fsb OC's all your peripherals also(some of which do not like it).A big reason for AMD becoming so popular and a favorite of all of ours is the fact that you can unlock it(if it's locked to begin with)to allow changing the multiplier.It really sucks that they did this!