CPU Clock Multiplier

Rockster,

I think I will stick with my MB for now. It is only an E-Machine and will need replacing eventually.

I did uninstall all (2) clock modifier and now have only 1, that does not need to be installed. You just click on the .exe file and it runs.

Last night I set it to 12x and it was running fine all evening without any problems and the temp was at 44c.

I will try other settings later. Whenever I set it to more than 15x in the past the temp went all the way to 61c. At that point I went back to 14x and the temp went down to 57c. that was when I was encoding a dvd.

I keep you posted on the other settings and temp.
Thanks Again
Sven

 

44*C sounds very reasonable to me. I would not get too concerned until the high 50's. Some CPU/HSF combinations will give quite low temps, others won't, no matter how carefully you apply the layer of thermal compound. It also depends on the ambient temperature in the room and air flow system through the case. That looks like a marked improvement, to me at least. If you occasionally run in 50's or 60's during intensive usage, I think that could be expected.

If you get consistent results (you are not "cooking" the processor) and want to start the clocking program automatically, you can put a shortcut in the Startup menu. Look for "Start a program each time you start Windows" in Help and Support.

Something that I mentioned before was updating the chipset drivers. I feel this is important to have the clocking program working correctly. I also feel it is important for running all the changes made by Service Pack 2 and more recent updates.
http://www.emachine-upgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socketa/l7vmm_downloads.shtml
VIA Hyperion Pro drivers.

I have replaced several motherboards on machines using OEM Windows. From memory, you get one change of motherboard, one change of CPU, one of HDD and one (maybe more) of graphics. It should just be a matter of doing normal activation again. I would be quite certain that you will not be challenged with a "ring Microsoft" unless you changed the HDD, that's when it might be seen as a different computer. You are entitled to upgrade or replace parts on an OEM machine (the exception would be a Hewlett Packard system for example, that has activation "built in ", it will only work on a HP system/motherboard).

Matt

 

Sven:

It would be smart to follow Matt's suggestions and I'd certainly concur on the 44° being very very acceptable. Let us know what happens when you run tonight at 14x? Mmmmmmmm, you were going to run at 14x tonight weren't you?

 

Hi Rockster, mattman


I just tried to run my clock multiplier at 14x, but I heard a click and then got the black screen. The most it will let me do is 12x.

So I went to the webpage to download the chip set driver and unzipped it.
I have never updated the chipset drivers, so I am not sure on how to proceed.
I found a setup.exe file. Do I just click on it and it will start the process?
Do I have to unload the old driver first? If so, how?

After I have updated the driver, I will start checking again on how high I can run this CPU.

Again, Thanks
Sven

 

Oouch...might go back to my Northbridge rantings.

Matt

 

Matt,
You may be correct about the drivers, but I have never updated the chipset drivers, so I am not sure on how to proceed.
I found a setup.exe file. Do I just click on it and it will start the process?

Thanks
Sven

 

Yes Sven, you have exracted/unzipped the files, it should just be a matter of running Setup.exe. If there is a Readme .txt or .doc file, have a look through it for any special instructions, but I think it will be straight forward.

As you are running the installation, you will see the option for uninstalling the various drivers as well. If, for any reason, the system does not seem to be working correctly after the installation, you can run those uninstallers. I have never had to run the uninstaller(s) though. You shouldn't have any problems.

Matt
PS, if you would like a confirmation of the installation process, check in Device Manager before running the installation and afterwards. It should update the IDE Controllers, the USB controllers and some of the "Bridges" under System Devices.

 

Matt,

I just installed the VIA Hyperion Pro drivers.
It was an uneventful installation. All went well and at the end it asked me to reboot, witch I did.
After rebooting I set the clock to 14x and got a blue screen. I booted again and set it to 12x and that was ok. Then I tried to up the clock from 12 to 14, but that gave me the blue screen again.

So even after the upgrade it will only let me set it to 12x.

Any other ideas?

I think I need a better BIOS.

Any one know of someone who is able and willing to write a custom bios?

Thanks
Sven

 

Hi Guy's, I have followed this Thread very closely as it is dealing with my next project.
I have a link here from AMD that might be of value to you.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1260_3734,00.html

For my two Penny's worth I would invest in a new Motherboard, this link also has AMD's recomended Boards.
hawk22

 

You might be interested in this Rockster

2600+: DKV3C [133] x 16 = 2133 MHz T-Bred B, Last letter of the code is B or
DKV3D [166] x 12.5 = 2083 MHz T-Bred B, Last letter of the code is B
except if the second letter of the code is Q -- then it's a DKV3D Thorton.
or

DKV4D [166] x 11.5 = 1917 MHz Barton, Second letter of the code is Q

2700+: are all DKV3D Thoroughbred B's (No A's, no Bartons).

2800+: DKV4D [166] x 12.5 Barton with second letter of the code being Q or
DKV3D [166] x 13.5 T-Bred B with last letter of the code being B (rarely
seen).

3000+: DKV4D [166] x 13 Barton or
DKV4E [200] x 10.5 Barton

3200+: DKV4D [166] x 14 Barton or
DKV4E [200] x 11 Barton

MHZ speed = [FSB] x multiplier

You can't tell the difference between multiplier locked and unlocked new
chips with a naked eye or through codes.

The best we have is:

.. All 2003 weeks 43 to 46 Bartons and Thoroughbreds are locked.

.. Some weeks 35 to 43 are locked, some are not, and that includes
Thoroughbreds, Thortons and Durons.

.. There are rare cases of post 2003 week 46 unlocked Bartons and Durons.

hawk22
one more

http://www.overclock.net/amd-cpus/168-amd-cpu-roadmap.html

 

Very nice link - thanks. As good an overview as I've ever seen in one place as it relates to what and when it was/is. Also some nice tidbits in your text. I always thought it was week 37 but this provides another interesting perspective. Again, thanks.



edit: If its there I haven't found it - am not seeing the 266 mobiles which were all unlocked.
I believe this is Sven's CPU.

 

Hawk22, Rockster,


Thanks for link. I think I will stay with what I got for now. If I run across a new bios I will get that. I can clock it to 12x and that is fine. I seldom do that anyways.

I went to that link where you say that is the processor that I have, and I think you are correct, but it did not make any reference to being Mobil.

After upgrading the chipset, I get now an error telling me something went wrong when I try to retrieve my mail in outlook express. Never happened before. Do I need to tweak something?
Thanks
Sven

 

Rockster,

I came across a program called" Modbin61.exe.

It lets me look inside the bios .bin file and make changes.
It is from Award Software.
I can make changes. But I can not find the part where it says anything about the processor.
Are you familiar with this? Any idea where to look for the CPU parameters?

Thanks
Sven

 

Sven:

I wouldn't have a clue. About the only thing I can say is that this is way beyond anything I would even think about attempting. Most of the time, programs like this are used to change a picture or create a custom message but issues beyond the most simple changes are best left alone.

Your board is not capable of running that processor at its rated speed and the custom BIOS that you are using never was able to run it at its rated speed, however, the fact that you can no longer run at a 14x multiplier with your "soft clocking" programs is an indicator that something else is also wrong. If (and a big IF at that) one could rule out drivers or the "soft clocking" software, the logical next areas of investigation would be PSU or onboard capacitors.

Personally, I have very limited experience with "soft clocking" programs and as stated before, If I can't hard set something in the BIOS, I won't go any further. Be careful.

 

Rockster,

I am careful, believe me. I do not want to end up with a paper weight.

That is why I am asking before I make changes.

I guess I will leave it as is for now. If you are correct and there is something wrong with my MB then I will replace it at the time of failure.

Thanks again

Sven

 

Hi Rockster, I have found it here as well, just scroll down

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_Athlon_XP_microprocessors
Multiplier 16.5

hawk22

 

Nice find Hawk.

Sven -
I'm not saying there is anything wromg with your motherboard. I believe the mfg officially stated it would handle up to a 2800+ Athlon based upon one of your earlier posts. You got a BIOS that was supposed to handle up to a 3000+. My only point is that it doesn't seem like that board with that BIOS is capable of running a 3000+. You can't manually set it to run at its rated speed and it won't auto-set to its rated speed. Thats the very reason why you are pursuing a soft clocking approach. Thats my only point in saying what I said a couple of posts ago. This isn't new news and it doesn't mean your board is bad. You already know that - I just don't anyone else to get the wrong idea here.

 

Rockster,

As you said in your post, the bios is the problem. I agree. That is why I was looking for a way to change the settings inside the bios.
However, I was able to set the clock to 16.5 and now I can not. The most I can get is 12.
Even the chip set upgrade did not help.
I have no idea what changed that will not let me run it at 16.5 anymore.
If you, or anyone else, can find someone who is able to modify the bios, please let me know.

Thanks
Sven

 

Sven, I think you will have difficulty finding somebody to "write" a new BIOS. Most often adventurous people test non standard BIOSes and may find one works. I think it was from one of your links that I was reading that modern BIOSes are rewrites of older ones because it is costly to have them written from scratch (and that is for the manufacturer).

Unfortunately, I have the feeling that the reduction (16 to 12) in clock settings is signalling that a piece of hardware is slowly failing. You can try to nurse it along at reduced settings, but me, I would investigate getting a new motherboard in the meantime. I saw a new PCChips motherboard for about US$40. It would probably run most, if not all of your current hardware until you wanted to upgrade. I might expect that somebody writing a new BIOS would charge more than that.

If I was in your situation, getting a new BIOS written would not be an option I would consider. Apart from the thought that hardware was failing, flashing a modified BIOS would be risky.

Just some things I hope you might consider.

Matt

 

Mattman,

you are proboply correct. i will look for a new MB, just in case this one fails.
Thanks again for your help
Sven