First Overclock, Need help understanding

I

IkeRay

New Member
I have ALWAYS been a pre-built person, always on a compaq/hp or an Apple. I recently had trouble with an older celeron computer that was having a reset problem and eventually got to find out it was the motherboard. in the process or figuring out the motherboard, I have acquired some "upgrades" and all in all this will be a free fix.

SO, now I have upgraded the processor from a 1.2ghz to a 1.4ghz but more importantly, I have an aftermarket board and not an OEM one, meaning I have an option in the bios to overclock.

I need help on how to go about this. I read some articles and attempted to first change the frequency to 133mhz from 100mhz but the computer won't post. so I pull the battery, and try again. I changed the multiplier the second time and reset the frequency but it didn't post a difference in CPU speed and again won't post >_<.

the board is a Gigabyte GA-6IEML the processor is a 1.4ghz Tualatin Celeron. The RAM is 512mb SDRAM 133mhz (2x256mb), let me know if you need to know anything else.

If it would be better to use the 1.2ghz (which I read on another forum), I still have it, but plan on selling it to offset the "upgrade". I also don't care how fast I get it, I am just trying to get the hang of overclocking so when I get a dual core in 3 months time or so, I'll be able to overclock that myself.


EDIT: Just realized, you'll need power supply specs. Its a 500w OCZ StealthXStream (or streamxstealth, which ever).
 
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seriously, nobody?

I tried to increase FSB by 1 (101mhz) and it showed the cpu at 1.41ghz but wouldn't get past the memory scan (ie wouldn't load). I have realized that the celeron's have their own multiplier (apparently a x14) so changing that in bios won't change anything, I upped to 16x and it still says 14x so I must have to change the FSB.

I also changed the freq to PCI and AGP to fixed 33/66mhz after increasing the FSB by any amount, but still nothing.

the Memory is 133mhz Samsung 256mb. the CPU reads "1400/256/100/1.475" which I translate to mean 1.4ghz/256L2/100Mhz (FSB)/ 1.475v...tell me if I'm wrong.

is my problem in that the CPU won't read past 100mhz FSB or something else entirely?
 
To Be honest with you.. 1.2 ghz? Seriously? That's a pretty slow cpu speed, maybe that's for the mac not the celeron? And only 256 mb of ram? I would consider personally rebuilding a new computer all together.
 
techjunkie08 said:
To Be honest with you.. 1.2 ghz? Seriously? That's a pretty slow cpu speed, maybe that's for the mac not the celeron? And only 256 mb of ram? I would consider personally rebuilding a new computer all together.
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I plan on building a new computer, just don't have the money until tax return time. at that time, I'll be building a core2duo or quad (will decide when the time comes and whats cheapest).

I just want to learn how to do it before hand so I can just DO it, not learn then.

well, its 2 sticks of 256mb but they are both EXACTLY the same is what I meant.

The 1.4ghz is the "new" processor upgraded from the 1.2ghz. it may be "slow" but it works plenty of fast for what its used for. It's mostly used by my daughter as a learning tool or to simply play avi's/dvd's/streaming videos. it does it quite well, but it will be retired from the streaming videos when I build a new one, the 2.4ghz P4 will take over that job. This computer will probably end up in my daughter's room as her personal computer until another upgrade and she'll get the P4. I'm not in the business of tossing what still works...


so, any input on the overclocking? like I said, the multiplier does nothing since the celeron has its own multiplier, and any upping the FSB causes the system to freeze at the memory check and not even let me get back into the BIOS, I have to pull the battery.
 
I feel bad your not getting any love from us fellow forum goers about your problem IkeRay.
Although I'd love it if I had the knowledge or experience to help you ... I do not.
I am indeed interested in the solution.
Good Luck
Phil
 
Yea i too, like psteph, would be glad to help if i knew how, but as i dont i'm hoping that somebody else does so i can read this too and find out the ins and outs of overclocking. Hope someone can come and offer a hand.
 
I mean, I have read TONS of information about overclocking, and as far as I understand it you simply need A) a non-OEM board (or a Bios version that allows overclocking), B) CPU and RAM that match FSB, ie 133mhz FSB CPU and PC133, and C) enough power to handle it.

Like I said, I have been playing with it, and it runs just fine at 100mhz FSB (with a locked 14 multiplier) but if I even increase it to 101mhz FSB, it doesn't get through memory check during post.

I went so far as to download Gigabyte's EasyTune 4 (the one compatible with my system without causing BSOD) and it let me get up to 112mhz FSB (which was 1568mhz) but I never saw it post in either PCWizard or under windows property. and when I would reset the computer, the BIOS would say its still at 1400, so apparently the software was supposed to update the bios (I did click live update), but just makes you THINK you are doing it. But the system DID lock up when I tried 115mhz (1.6ghz) and required me to restart computer.

Am I missing something to overclocking, or are my components just not able to be overclocked?


ALSO, after I "overclock" with easytune, my processor seems to be running at 50+% always, even at idle if its anything above 108mhz. when its 108mhz or lower, it runs at 0-4% idle.

this may be an odd question, but can you UNDER clock? the benefit is if you're having a heat issue with stock speeds can you drop the mhz by 5 or so? since there shouldn't be significant difference between 1400 and 1330, but it could drop the temp by 5-10*C, right?
 
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so I played around with easytune4 a little more and learned that the auto optimized brings the FSB up to 108mhz and thats it, but if I go into advanced and raise it to 110mhz, it causes a "fuzz" sound to the speakers, and every mhz higher just makes the sound that much worse. I can go to 109mhz, but then my heat starts to actually climb, while at 108mhz the heat stays steady at 35*c. this is with stock cooling.

PCwizard2008 DOES recognize the overclock (it says 1400 currently at 1512mhz), but even if I do the "live update" it doesn't change my BIOS, and I know my motherboard is capable of live bios updates.

so, now that I know the motherboard and processor can handle 108mhz, why can't I do this in the BIOS without the system freezing? is it my RAM isn't able to overclock this much? currently the RAM timing is at 3-2-2-7/9 and I can only increase it to 3-3-3-7/9, do I need to do that in order to overclock the motherboard, or is there something else?
 
Have you got the processor running at stock voltage?

Plus PC Wizard live update is only for the program not the bios. PC Wizard doesnt not change anything in the bios. Its just a system info. and small benchmarking tool.
 
StrangleHold said:
Have you got the processor running at stock voltage?

Plus PC Wizard live update is only for the program not the bios. PC Wizard doesnt not change anything in the bios. Its just a system info. and small benchmarking tool.
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its at stock voltage as far as I see, PCwizard says its at 1.45. how would I increase the voltage to overclock? in the Bios, the voltage settings are locked. I thought it was because it said "case open" but when I reset that, it was still locked...

I read someone saying things about jumpers on other motherboards, but I'm not seeing what they're talking about, does my mobo have CPU jumpers?
 
Did you say this computer is a prebuilt? Most prebuilts aren't supposed to be overclocked. If its making noise, just stop. If you don't have the correct hardware you shouldn't be overclocking. Plus your on older hardware right? Your not going to get a big clock like newer setups.
 
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teamhex said:
Did you say this computer is a prebuilt? Most prebuilts aren't supposed to be overclocked. If its making noise, just stop. If you don't have the correct hardware you shouldn't be overclocking. Plus your on older hardware right? Your not going to get a big clock like newer setups.
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firstly, it WAS a prebuilt (I just said I'm used to pre-builts), this one has a new motherboard, an aftermarket one, hence why it has the bios options to increase FSB.

Like I said, I'm not looking for a HUGE clock, just experiment with it so when I upgrade my computer in <6months I'll be able to do it without much hassle.
 
IkeRay said:
firstly, it WAS a prebuilt (I just said I'm used to pre-builts), this one has a new motherboard, an aftermarket one, hence why it has the bios options to increase FSB.

Like I said, I'm not looking for a HUGE clock, just experiment with it so when I upgrade my computer in <6months I'll be able to do it without much hassle.
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The prebuilt system probably can't handle OCing even with a new mobo, i.e. you still have the same PSU i assume. To OC you really should have decent parts and nothing out of a prebuilt system should be used besides CPU and GPU. What it sounds like is that the system you have is just not capable of it. And with your vcore locked you wouldn't be able to get very far anyway. But, if its any consolation, you got the right idea, just not the right parts.
 
Backwoods166 said:
The prebuilt system probably can't handle OCing even with a new mobo, i.e. you still have the same PSU i assume. To OC you really should have decent parts and nothing out of a prebuilt system should be used besides CPU and GPU. What it sounds like is that the system you have is just not capable of it. And with your vcore locked you wouldn't be able to get very far anyway. But, if its any consolation, you got the right idea, just not the right parts.
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well, the only thing from the original system is the hard drive, optical drives (cd-r and dvd-rom) and CPU. the PSU is a 500w OCZ, so thats not the problem, but I think you nailed it with the locked voltage. I'm thinking the problem is the celeron, the board locks the voltage on that processor most likely...oh well, I did what I set out to do, understand overclocking.

I'll probably be posting in 2-3 months to either ask for help or brag about my first REAL overclock (with my new core2duo computer).

thank you for your help.
 
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