Overclocking an AMD Duron 800

[marshahu]

Is it possible overclocking the AMD Duron 800 to at least 1.2ghz or higher. I am using an FIC AZ11E motherboard. I have a spare cooler which was originally used on an AMD Atlon XP 2000+ so will this be sufficient to cool an overclocked Duron 800 to about 1.2ghz? I remember seeing an article in a really old Personal Computer World magazine that stated that it was possible to overclock these processors by using an HB pencil and drawing over some parts of the processor. Then once these parts have been drawn over I can then overclock the processor.

How do I go about overclocking my unlocked Duron 800, can I set some jumpers on my motherboard and change some settings in the BIOS? If so how do I go about doing this and will there be any extra requirements in order for the final result to be successful and stable.

Thanks for your help so far

PC Spec: AMD Athlon XP 2000+, ECS K7S5A Motherboard, 768MB SDRAM PC133, Sparkle nVidia Riva TNT2 M64 32MB AGP Graphics Card, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 6.1, Windows XP

 

[phsstpok]

Changing the multiplier on your Duron is the only real way to overclock with your motherboard which has a VIA KT133 chipset.

Closing the L1 bridges with a pencil will unlock the multipliers.

Looking at the chip the L1 bridges look like this

.::::

Make them look like this

.||||

That's it. Just reinstall the CPU with new heatsink and start overclocking. Change the multipliers. Start with 9.5X and work your way up. Increase VCore as needed or go straight to 1.85 volt if you wish (assuming your motherboard permits). 1.85 volt won't hurt a Spitfire Duron at all.

Play with FSB a little if you want. With the KT133 chipset some people could hit 116 Mhz with good memory but 110 Mhz was more typical. My Abit KT7 would only work up to 106 Mhz.

You probably won't reach 1.2 Ghz. (I'm sure you won't). 1000 to 1100 Mhz was typical using air cooling for those old Durons (mine included).

Cooling is not a big problem. Durons like to stay under 60 degrees C but that's pretty easy to accomplish.

<b>A mind is a terrible thing</b>

 

[marshahu]

Thank you for your advice

My SDRAM in my sisters PC is PC100 purchased from PC World Component Centre - what is the maximum that this type of RAM will be able to achieve? If I obtained SDRAM PC133 will I be able to reach the FSB speeds of 110 or above?

PC Spec: AMD Athlon XP 2000+, ECS K7S5A Motherboard, 768MB SDRAM PC133, Sparkle nVidia Riva TNT2 M64 32MB AGP Graphics Card, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 6.1, Windows XP

 

[phsstpok]

I couldn't tell you. Some PC100 memory might not overclock at all. PC133 memory is kind of overkill on that motherboard but at least you don't have worry about your memory limiting you. I'd try overclocking with the memory you have first.

I'd unlock the processor the lower the multiplier so the CPU is effectively "underclocked". This way you can test how high you can go on FSB speed. When the system becomes unstable lower the FSB a couple mhz.

Get a copy of Memtest86 so that you can check the reliability of your memory as part of your testing.

If you get to a point where your system won't POST and you can't change the settings back then the first thing to try is the Fail Safe boot. Hold down the INSERT key when you turn your system on which should then boot with safe parameter but whithout changing the ones you set in BIOS Setup (well not all of them anyway). You must reset them yourself though. This particular Fail Safe boot only works on systems with the Award BIOS.

If it doesn't work then you have to clear CMOS memory. Sometimes there's a jumper on the motherboard. If not you can remove the battery and unplug the power supply for say thirty minutes. That will reset the system.

<b>A mind is a terrible thing</b>