Re: OT: CPU Speed and Temperature

[Nick Lidakis <nick.lidakis@verizon.net>]

Roberto Sanchez wrote:

>  I have recently purchased a new machine (Athlon XP 2500+ w/ 333MHz
>  FSB, 1 GB RAM, Radeon 9000 Pro).
>
>  I have manage to figure out that by messing with the chipset settings
>  in the BIOS I can change the speed of the CPU's opertation. I.e.,
>  setting a speed of 166 MHz comes up in the POST as a FSB of 333 MHz
>  and the CPU is detected as an Athlon XP 2500+. If I up it to 200
>  MHz, it show 400 MHz FSB and Athlon XP 3200+ in the POST. Anyhow, if
>  I run at the rated 333 MHz FSB, it occasionally locks up. I have
>  installed a Zalman CPU fan with a copper heatsink and two 80mm Antec
>  case fans (1 front, 1 rear, 34 CFM each).
>
>  What is the deal? Am I missing something? Please forgive my
>  ignorance but I don't have much experience with modern hardware, the
>  last time I custom built a machine was 7 years ago. I also have no
>  experience with AMD processors. I would like ot resolve this since
>  once I can get Sid running well I plan to install Gentoo on another
>  partition, and I will need to be able to run the processor with a
>  high load for that.
>
>  -Roberto Sanchez

Welcome to the wonderful world of overclocking. You increased CPU and 
FSB setings and made the machine run faster.
Which specific settings did you futz with? Did you increase the CPU core 
voltage to the point where it overheats and locks up?
Are you using generic high latency RAM that can't handle the high FSB?

Last time I checked, Zalmans were designed for quiet (some models are 
fanless IIRC) operation. Is your Zalman CPU cooler up to snuff when it 
comes to cooling
and overlocked processor? Then again, they make alot of different models.

I think it's best that you Google and look for info on overclocking 
CPUs, if you want to go that route. . Also go over to Tom's Hardware 
Guide (www.tomshardware.com)
and look up his everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-BIOS article. You'll 
find it most helpful.

I prefer stability and quiet operation myself. I'ts bad enough I have to 
listen to a siren (for 16 hours on a double shift) at work,
much less something that sounds like a 1940's model Hoover under my desk.