CPU Overclocking Guide

Over-Clocking the CPU

Before start, I should tell you the options we will be changing are under the Advanced Chipset Features and Power Settings sections of your BIOS. While this guide is aimed at over-clocking AMD Athlon processors in particular, it should still be very informative for Intel Pentium-Based system owners.

We will start with adjusting the multiplier (clock ratio) and FSB (front side bus) to determine your clock speed. The formula for calculating a processor's clock speed is:
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| Clock Speed = FSB * Multiplier |
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For example, if you are using an Athlon XP 2000+, which has a 133.4MHz FSB and a multiplier of 12.5, we can calculate that 133.4MHz * 12.5 = 1667.5MHz, the actually speed of your processor.

PAY attention to your Vcore voltage. An overclocked-system need more power...While increasing your voltage, also check your temperature.

If you're fortunate enough to be running a motherboard that doesn't have a lock on the multiplier, decreasing the multiplier will allow you to raise the FSB dramatically for a better over-clock. The only boards I know of that allow you to do this without first unlocking the chip are some of the boards using the Nforce2 chipset. For example, setting a AthlonXP 2000+'s multiplier to 11 allows for a 200MHz FSB, pumping out a 2.2GHz CPU speed in the end. This makes the speed equal to a 2600+, for a near fraction of the price, though one would need to raise the Vcore to about 1.85v, which will require decent cooling. Also, you want to lower your RAM frequency to as low as possible, and RAM timing/latency to Optimal, which will automatically set itself based on your FSB/Multiplier settings. All this is also a reason why you should change and little options as possible at a time, so when the system doesn't POST, you know what is causing it.

For you guys:-
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CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (Socket 939, Manchester Core)
CPU Stepping: CDBHE 0607TPMW
Mainboard: DFI LP NF4 Ultra-D
Memory: 4x512MB OCZ Platinum EL PC3200 (TCCD)
Memory Timings: 2-2-2-5-2T
Memory Clockspeed: 200MHz
CPU Clockspeed: 3003MHz
Vcore: 1.45V
Cooling: Asetek Vapochill LS (Phase-Change)
PSU: PCP&C 510 Express
Other Notes: This is my 24/7 config. Chip will do 3.1GHz, but requires a fair bit more voltage. This stepping is cold bug free.

tHE rESULt:
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