OK, Alfie, RAB and Paul...you got me into this!

[RAB]

Now that you got a little mo fo, what did you get your overclocking up to?
RAB

[Bixler]

Ohhh! RAB you bad boy! Tempt me why don't ya! I'm so happy (and My wife especially) to have the case back on, that I haven't tried.
Oh, by the way, in the "I can't believe I was that stupid dept." I nominate myself--when putting in the new sink I tested the fan config with some smoke. Yep, you guessed it, front case fan was backwards so both ends of the case were blowing out. Duh!! Had to give back half an inkling for that one.

----but since you asked (evil grin) being familiar with my problems with FSB settings, the next multiplier would take me to 95x5=475. Remember, 100X4.5=450 isn't an option 'cause of my substandard memory stick that won't run at that speed. I have multipliers available through dip switches in .5v increments, and FSB settings of 66, 75, 80something, 95, and 100.

Will a K6 III 400 go that far? When I was playing with my one good pc100 memory stick, I got a "windows protection error" immediately past the bios screens on boot up at 450. Of course that was with the OEM fan/sink, but I assumed (dangerous) that since it BSODed immediately, that anything above 100x4.5=450 couldn't happen. (The Bios at that time did pick my proc. up at 450 prior to the BSOD though)

Advice??? And what do I get for it, since I'm not a gamer and running a g200?

[RAB]

Tim,
We have to change those last two statements. We've got to get you a game and a G400. If we don't, you'll end up doing something stupid with your computer, like doing your taxes.

Seriously, with a K6III CPU speed is more important than FSB speed since the III has the main cache on chip. The faster you run it, the faster the CPU talks to the cache. Your old K6-2 was the opposite. The only way for the CPU to talk to the cache was through the FSB, so FSB speed was more important than CPU speed. Now this is a little simplified, you can get better performance with a K6III at 112 FSB, but you don't have that option.

That being the case, try 4.5x95 first. If that works try 5.0x95, but that's pushing it. Even 5.5x83 is worth a try, but 4.5x95 will probably work as well since the 83 is just too much of a drop in FSB. To get any improvement without constant crashes and BSOD's, you will probably need to increase the CPU voltage by 0.2 to 0.5 volts. But with that bad ass fan, that shouldn't hurt anything. Its fun to try, but if you don't get any improvement, don't worry. You can still do your taxes at 380mhz

BTW, is it snowing there yet? Looks like we're in for a big one. Get the firewood ready, put the computer box out the window and run the keyboard, mouse and monitor back inside. That should get you up to 500mhz with outside temps in the teens.

RAB from cold Atlanta

Brrr!!! I thought we lived in the south to get away from this.

[RAB]

The K6-III 450 I have is a 2.4 volt version, too. So far, I've had it up to 2.7 volts with no damage, but I backed down because I couldn't get 500 mhz stable. I guess I've got PC105 SDRAMs and they just aren't stable enough to go over 450.

RAB

[Bixler]

It may be a day or two before I post back with any results...and if the power holds out in the midst of the oncoming ice.

One last Q: Should I leave multipliers and fsb settings alone as I step through the .1v increases in the CPU? (Currently @ 95X4.5 and CPU @ 2.4???

[RAB]

The extra voltage tends to stabilize the higher speeds. So start at 2.4 volts and if it boots, but won't run stable, bump it up .1 or .2 to see if that keeps it going. If its stable, just keep it at 2.4 volts. thats the coolest. The higher voltages run hotter as you might imagine.
RAB

[Bixler]

RAB: It is an evil concept when you think about it--the computer as a tool with which you do work. We must at least keep up appearances, you know. I view gaming as a vice, much like herion or crack, that I am deathly afraid of...being the compulsive personality that I am, If I pick up the sword, I may never lay it down. So it's fear not snear when I say I'm not a gamer.

Back to topic. If the power holds out, I may just have a little time to experiment. My K6III 400 runs on a 2.4v core...is it safe to boost that? I've got .1v increments through dip switches.

FYI, I'm currently running at 95x4.5=428,

So 83x5=456 is possible? Even though 100x4.5=450 is not? HMmmm! I'm getting another inkling.

Weather wise, the south of the US is going nuts. We've had one or two flakes and schools have already shut down. Get ready RAB, it's coming your way!! It really does look bad on radar.

[Bixler]

RAB: You may have created a monster here. Have always been an upright citizen who followed instructions, you know. Next I'm gonna have to buy a Harley, I suppose.

I've been happily tinkering with the various options, and have succesfully clocked the sucker to 476Mhz (95x5). I had to bump the cpu voltage up to 2.6v to do it, but have been stable for an hour or so with the case off. Just a slight warming trend that I can feel on the Alpha Sink/Fan.

At 95x4.5=428 Sandra gave me 1336 Mips & 511 Mflops.

At 95x5.0=476 Sandra gives me 1425 Mips & 573 Mflops.

5.0x is the last multiplier on my M/B so that's about gonna have to do it, since I cant go above 95 FSB 'cause of my memory.

You wouldn't suggest dropping memory back to AGP Speed and then pushing further on the CPU would you?

I'm poised and ready with those mattress tags.

[Wombat]

I think that the 5x95 is the optimal setting for what you have. Slowing the memory down just isn't worth it.

[Bixler]

Hey Wombat. I've been watching closely, and am still playing around. Kinda like being stuck in a groove you can't get out of.

Had a lockup while burning a CD. When I rebooted, the bios stopped me from getting to Windows with a message about a divide error.

Taking RAB's advice about higher voltages on the CPU, I've now stepped it to 2.7...that's up from a spec of 2.4. Can't tell yet whether the lock up was 'cause the 2.6 voltage overheated the CPU (I kinda doubt THAT,) or whether I didn't have enough voltage to keep the CPU stable at 475--I suspect the latter.

But what do I know...I lost one inkling over the fan business the other day. Oh, and while I was inside my case again, I found some space in the back and mounted a couple more fans. One on the outside of the Power supply blowing out (I now have a fan on the P/S inside the case sucking air from the case, and a fan on the outside of the P/S blowing out. Then I used my old OEM CPU fan (a little 1 1/2 incher) at the top back to assist in getting rid of heat collecting at the top of the case.

The extra fan on the P/S especially seems to be doing a good job.

[Bixler]

Thanks to Greebe, I got the courage to boost the core on my new K63400 to +.4v and seem to be running stable at 476Mhz. Case off still. Hmmmm, this gets real addictive.

[KvHagedorn]

Hi Tim..

Smoke? you had to use smoke?
If you had a REAL case fan, it'd either blow the papers off your desk (if installed backwards) or suck them onto the case (installed correctly). Much more obvious that way.


------------------
Kind Regards,

KvH

[Bixler]

KV:

Nevermind that I can HEAR my computer from down the hall now...Silence be damned!!! I can do 476Mhz 6.5 hrs with the case off, and stable. OH God...is this how it's gotta be??

Jord. I think I hate you now! (The MURCer with his case off and a room fan blowing on his guts.

Achievable performance is worth any price.!!!???

we'll see how long the W.A.F. will last here.

[Alfie]

Tim,
What are you doing,man!
You get a fan and now you've joined the ranks of the overclockers!
What's next,Quake Arena?On line gaming?
What's this world coming to?

[Bixler]

LOL Alfie.
It's RAB!!! It's all his fault!!
I'm a good boy! The Devil made me do it. Hehehe.

Stay tuned, this could be another monster thread before I kill this new K63.

Seriously, it's been instructive, fun, scary, and nuts. --I've just been seeing what this new AlphaHO cooler would let me do, happily poking this poor orphan to it's outer limits. Maybe it's just a Freudian desire to force myself into a REAL upgrade instead of these little half steps.

What I've learned is that the damn thing will run at 476mhz, and now that I've tasted the speed, I just can't let go.--I've stepped over the line. Pandora's Box has been opened Muwahahaha!

Bottom line, though, is that I just can't get enough air in the right place to keep it rock stable. The Soyo board mounts the CPU right near the top of my mid tower ATX case, and over 3-4 hours enough heat collects at the top 2 inches or so to destabilize the poor thing. But I've tasted the speed and my inner child has taken over my otherwise circumspect and mature personality. (Heh!)

Case off, and I'm good to go for as long as I want running a core of 2.8v (+.4v over spec) and clocking at 95X5=476Mhz. If only my ram could handle 100 Mhz, I'd settle for 450 and close the case.

Oh, well. I'll prolly have to settle back at 428. :-P