Overclocking with OEM board??

[bigredspecial]

I need help with overclocking my computer. I can find my way around hardware pretty good, but O/C'ing is pretty new to me. Don't flame me on this; I know most of the theory behind it, I just don't have experience with it.

My equipment:
P4 1.6, 400FSB (Williamet core)
Asus P4B266-L A
Intel 845 chipset
1X 512MB PC2100(DDR266) ram
Geforce FX 5200 ultra, 128 MB
550w Power supply
Windows XP home

A lot of this is crap, I know, but money is extremely tight right now so I need to make do. This is all in a Thermaltake Xaser 3 case(7x 80mm fans, so cooling is good).

My trouble is, that the motherboard and cpu were origionally from an HP(I know, I know... ). The motherboard is an ASUS, but being an OEM, the bios is extremely limited - I can't adjust the bus speed, voltage, etc.

I've read many articles about the retail version of the board, and apparently it's pretty good for overclocking. I also read an article with the same CPU, running at 150 bus speed(which works out to 2.4 GHz) at 1.6 volts, rock stable; even with the stock heatsink and fan.

I don't intend to go that high, as I have crappy generic ram. However, the ram runs at 133 MHz(effective), so I should be able to bump the FSB up to 133 from 100 without any problems right?


So what I need help with, is a way to unlock the bios (If possible). Is there anything I can do? Can I update the bios, clear the CMOS or anything? Like I said, there is a retail version of this board; is there any way to upload that bios to my board?

 

[bigredspecial]

Basically, what I need is definate confirmation that I can flash the retail version bios to MY board. I know where to find it, and how to flash the bios; I'm just waiting a go ahead.

If I can't do that, what are my options? I'm looking at programs to o/c through windows, but I'd rather do it the right way.

 

[bluntside]

:twisted: Heh, an OEM system is going to be hard to Oc because the company places restrictions and block the bios from such method, especially OC'ing.
You might be able to flash bios, but it could just be impemented right to the bios chip.
I've tried to OC a computer where I work and its worked, just cant overclock to an enthusiasts level. So barley noticable. It will not work unless you can solder in a new bios chip. :twisted:

 

[bigredspecial]

That's crappy...

Here's what I'm thinking though... I want to try the bios flash for the retail version, to see if that works. Am I at risk for screwing something up here?

I have the origional bios flash on a boot floppy. If I go ahead and flash with the retail flash (On a different floppy) and something does screw up, could I reboot and flash with the OEM bios from the other floppy?

 

[bluntside]

Flashing the BioS might work to a certain extent, but I know that all oem pc's are locked from oC'ing throught the bios hardware itself, not to mention that the laser cut any extensions to optimal performance through the mobo. My best bet would to be to get a new mobo then you'll be able to dynamic OC, but until now, your stuck :twisted:

 

[joefriday]

Sorry, but your Williamette is not a Northwood. The 1.6A would hit 2.4 GHz, but your wiliamette will be lucky to hit 1.9 GHz. Its vcore is already 1.75 volts.

 

[bigredspecial]

Tell me if I'm doing something wrong here(I'm hardly an expert), but according to MBM5, my Vcore is 1.51.

Accepting defeat, I tried my luck with Clockgen; with shitty ram, stock Vcore, and stock cooler(Even with the stock thermal tape), I'm now running at 1.86 @ 116 FSB, stable at 50 degrees, plus-or-minus 2. Even after 26 hours of prime95, temps only briefly hit 53 C.



SO, While It may not be as good as the Northwood, 1.9 is certainly not the limit - assuming a decent board were used.

 

[emd]

humm I have a northwood @2,4 stock in a via p4ma 533 mobo , elixir 256mb pc 400 do you think I can OC it and gain some performance?
or what thing have to move in the initial screen to OC?

 

[joefriday]

Hey bigred, are you SURE you don't own a Northwood 1.6A? If MBM5 is reading your vcore correctly, then that should be a Northwood 1.6, which should deffinately run on the 533 bus to get you 2.13 GHz, as I'm pretty sure your varient of the i845 chipset supports the 533 bus (it sound similar to the oem board in one of my Dells). I suggest you download and use CPU-z to verify if your cpu is a Williamette or a Northwood. If the Asus won't allow you to up the bus from 100 to 133 in the bios, you can try a pin mod to get you there. Certainly not the easiest, but not too hard either. Here's a link:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=1527123&enterthread=y

 

[bigredspecial]

Yep, it's a Willie; I downloaded CPU-Z to confirm.

NOTE: I tried posting screen shots with MBM5 and CPU-Z, to confirm it's a williamette, Vcore is 1.51, but aparently I need 100 posts before posting pics... gay.

CPU-Z Screenshot

MBM5 screenshot

The chipset (845D) does support the 533 bus and northwoods, but I got shafted on the cpu.

I'm quite interested in the pin method, thanks for the link. However, are you sure it will work on Williamette P4? I assume it adjusts Vcore along with the FSB, right? I tried a 119MHz FSB through clockgen, and the computer wouldn't post.

 

[KWH]

I have done this before, but you're taking a big risk: Find out through searching,(google MB #'s), who make that board. Search that makers website for the same board they sell. Order a new BIOS chip for it, swap in yours. I think I paid $25 including shipping the last time I did this. It opens a lot more features in the BIOS. Like I said, it's RISKY. I had great success doing this but YMMV. Good luck.

 

[joefriday]

I trust cpu-z, but I don't think MBM5 is showing the real vcore of your cpu. Its vcore is most definately at ~1.75 (physically impossible for it to be at less vcore without pin mods). Congrats though, a 1.6 to ~1.9 overclock on a Willy with an oem board is pretty impressive. 😀

 

[angry_ducky]

Yep, it's a Willie; I downloaded CPU-Z to confirm.

NOTE: I tried posting screen shots with MBM5 and CPU-Z, to confirm it's a williamette, Vcore is 1.51, but aparently I need 100 posts before posting pics... gay.

CPU-Z Screenshot

MBM5 screenshot

The chipset (845D) does support the 533 bus and northwoods, but I got shafted on the cpu.

I'm quite interested in the pin method, thanks for the link. However, are you sure it will work on Williamette P4? I assume it adjusts Vcore along with the FSB, right? I tried a 119MHz FSB through clockgen, and the computer wouldn't post.

Nice. That makes me want to overclock my Willy, as well.

 

[bigredspecial]

I have done this before, but you're taking a big risk: Find out through searching,(google MB #'s), who make that board. Search that makers website for the same board they sell. Order a new BIOS chip for it, swap in yours. I think I paid $25 including shipping the last time I did this. It opens a lot more features in the BIOS. Like I said, it's RISKY. I had great success doing this but YMMV. Good luck.

I already know all that, It's a P4B266-LA, made by Asus. Unfortunately, they don't make a board exactly like it... the P4B266-M is close, but there are a few differences.

I trust cpu-z, but I don't think MBM5 is showing the real vcore of your cpu.

Are there any other programs that (Accurately) measure Vcore? My Bios tells me nothing, and Cpu Z dosn't list it either.

Congrats though, a 1.6 to ~1.9 overclock an a Willy with an oem board in pretty impressive. Very Happy

Thanks, I'm impressed myself, given what I have to work with.