Overclocking Intel

[Steve]

It looks like Intel is finally getting over their aversion to overclocking. It's about time. Overclocking a 3ghz P4 with an 800mhz FSB will leave AMD in the dust. Which is what I presume this is all about. Check it out.

Control Center (http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/software/dcc/index.htm)

[Abbadon]

Looks verry familiar to the system already in place on some MSI mobo's, their "core center". There was a thread about it here some weeks ago. This intel-thing does look a bit more elaborate...

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23592&highlight=MSI+core+center

[Steve]

Looks verry familiar to the system already in place on some MSI mobo's, their "core center".

I know. But MSI coming out with software to overclock their boards doesn't surprise me. INTEL not just letting their chips be overclocked, but actively encouraging it, surprised me. They have a fairly long record of discouraging any attempt at overclocking their chips.

Both Intel and AMD have used overclocking as an excuse to void their warranty. I'm wondering, since the program is made by Intel, if they're going to drop that policy too.

So here we have Intel making chips that will back off on speed, automaticlly, if they get to hot and selling a program that lets you overclock from within Windows, avoiding rebooting into the BIOS. It's certainly a change of attitude for Intel. I like it.

[Abbadon]

Ah yes indeed, quite the turnaround for Intel. Of course, now that I think about it: it had to happen. The overclocking scene beeing one of the more mentioned advantages AMD has, intel would be rather stupid not to enter into this.

I like seeing companies move like this, keeps 'm on their toes ;)

I doubt their warranty will cover use of it to overclock though. I mean: if the warranty starts coverings this they'd have to put a maximum on it or people would keep overclocking 'till their cpu's blow up, then order a (free) new one from intel. I think that would be called "Bad For Business" :D

[Budfred]

I'd be real surprised if they didn't sell it with a statement that using the software voids the warranty since they can't control how high someone will push it......:eek:

Edit: Yeah, what Abbadon said...:)

[Steve]

people would keep overclocking 'till their cpu's blow up,

That's the point with Intel chips. They will automaticlly lower their speed if they get to hot. I'm not sure you CAN fry them. They will just shut down.

[mjc]

Actually I think people would keep trying until the blew the something on the mobo....'cause I think Steve is right, the P4 would keep fighting the oc damage by dropping down.

[Mark Miller]

Just curious, in real term stuff that you do with a computer [except for games] whats going to change?
Mark:confused:

[Abbadon]

What exactly do you mean by real term stuff? Essentially: nothing changes immediatly. You just have the abbility to easily overclock your machine. I am surmising this technology will only appear on new versions of mobo's so in essence: no one will NEED this, as modern mobo's with their proc's are fast enough to do... well, just about anything and any program that is out there.

However: in one or two years, when the system you buy now becomes low end you will be able to use it for some time longer because due to the overclocking you will be able to squeeze more performance out of it.

Even today, a real use for it will be for gamers to run games at top notch porformance. Same goes for people who do other system-intensive things (like video editing I guess).

Also: it's fun to tweak your machine to its maximum capabilities :D (well, that's what I think anyway ;) )

[killercow]

Just something I've seen before:
Sure, there's those nifty large heatsinks with large fans
Sure, There's thermal compounds (ie. Arctic Silver)
Sure, there's liquid cooling
but, have you seen liquid nitrogen cooling?:D

I saw this somewhere (i think on techtv) they took a 2 or 2.2 ghz pentium 3 or 4 and took a tube on top of the processor and filled it with liquid nitrogen an oc'ed it to 4.5 GHz for a few minutes before they had to remove the nitrogen due to condensation or extreme cooling or something. If someone found a way to make this commercially available to the public, like water cooling, we could be seeing 10GHz processing speed from a 3GHz

[Steve]

Mark, I'm not really sure what you mean. Why would someone want a faster processor? I noticed that you have a 1.8ghz chip. Well, why not a 1ghz chip? For that matter, why not a 500mhz chip? Most word processing, web surfing, e-mail could be handled quite well with a 233mhz chip.

What I'm talking about here is geeking out! Testing the hardware. Getting to know what your hardware can and cannot do. Why buy a Porche and only drive it at 55 miles per hour? ;)

[Mark Miller]

True, true, I forgot where I was:D The geek part of it explains it all. Sorry I even questioned it :D :D
Mark

[Budfred]

On the other hand, if I have a car that gets me where I want to go without any hassle and represents normal level of function, why would I want to risk blowing it out completely to get 5% or less extra speed capability that I will never really need???

People who overclock are probably like people who tinker with cars to get them just a wee bit faster, even if it really isn't useful in normal usage. I don't mind anyone doing that, but I certainly have no need to do it myself and wouldn't want to risk my equipment on such a modest improvement in speed. If I could get double the speed, as in the examples given, I might go for it....

[Steve]

If I could get double the speed, as in the examples given, I might go for it....

But probably not. You're the wet blanket of overclocking if ever there was one. ;)

[Deagle]

LOL...but seriously, to me the reasons that people OC are:
1-bragging rights, 2-wants more performance from their parts(like me);)

[Steve]

And Bud', you just don't get it. You can't "blow it out completely" with an Intel P4 chip. Intel has built into the P4 chip the ability to sense temp. and reduce speed if it approaches a harmful temp. As MJC pointed out, it's the motherboard that would probably go if you over did it.

And why would you risk your precious mobo? Well why would you risk a speeding ticket in a Porche? ;)

[Budfred]

I get that Intel has built protections into the CPU, but as you have pointed out, you can still blow out other equipment. I am not into risking that for an imperceptible gain. I am also not into driving a Porsche and risking a speeding ticket, so it is probably just my careful nature.

As for being "the wet blanket of overclocking if ever there was one", I will gladly accept that title if I can help slow down one overly enthusiastic, but naive, soul enough that they learn a lot more about what they are doing before they start. I still remember when CPUs were much slower and harder to come by, but some young adventurous souls burned up the only one they had trying to get another Mhz or so out of it....

For those of you who like to drive a Porsche fast and overclock your CPUs with knowledge to back it up... HAVE FUN!!!:D :D

[Steve]

Bud'...I see that you're not into risk. At all. But you lay it on really thick.

why would I want to risk blowing it out completely to get 5% or less extra speed capability that I will never really need???

Most overclocking starts at 10-20 percent and goes up from there. And 10 percent IS noticable. And that is just to start. If overclocking made no difference, no one would do it. But it does make a difference. A noticable one. I'm not sure if you have tried it, but from your posts I presume you haven't. I doubt that you're so unaware as to not notice a 10-20 percent increase in your computers speed. Not to mention a 30 percent increase.

Some people have never gone over the speed limit. I think that speaks for itself.

[sleddog]

Couple of points...

Asus builds into their motherboards the capability for system shutdown whent he CPU gets dangerously hot -- for example the relatively low-end A7V8X-X board for AMD chips (http://www.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7v8x-x/overview.htm) available for under US$70.

Modern Intel chips are overclocked by raising the frontside bus (FSB). The clock multiplier is locked and cannot be changed. Overclocking by only raising the FSB is limited, and potentially dangerous. When the FSB is increased the system bus often increases as a result, which means you're overclocking other components like your harddrive, videocard, etc. If Intel is going to get serious about overclocking then they will need to allow changes to the multiplier.

AMD chips can be overclocked by raising either the FSB or the multiplier. It just takes a little pencil work to unlock the capability to change the multiplier. When you raise the multiplier you affect only the CPU, and don't run the risk of "blowing something else up".

For example my Duron 600 (6 X 100 MHz) has been running happily at 900 (9 x 100 MHz) for over two years, with the system bus (and related components) chugging along at the standard 33MHz.

It is easy to see a performance increase going from a 600 to a 900MHz processor. With today's highspeed processors, I doubt if overclocking will have such an obvious effect.