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Toaster · 08-13-2000, 09:20 PM

Hi again folks,
How long a CPU will remain functional under overclocking conditions is moot. Intel for instance rates their CPUs to last 10+ years at rated speeds. I still see working 8088`s and these old puppies are in excess of 20 years old and still working.
So long as you dont exceed temp ratings or get over anxious with voltages, I don`t see a shortened life span. The reason is quite simple, the CPU lasts only as long as it`s used. As Hal suggests, most folks upgrade far earlier then a possible CPU lifespan. In other words, you have no worries about a short lived CPU.

As far as the P-III-EB 733 CPU, the biggest drawback is its "current" FSB requirement. At 133mhz FSB, many system boards become unstable above these speeds. There are NO overclocker friendly "Intel" system boards.
That is, if your system board was made by Intel proper, stop now and only dream. Only NON-Intel system boards overclock or have the options to do so. Remember, I mean system boards that were made "BY" Intel proper. Many system boards utilize Intel "chipsets" but are NOT built by Intel proper.
Example: Asus, Abit, and other system boards use "Intel" chipsets and are overclocker friendly.
The PIII-E CPU (copper-mine and Cel-mine) are the overclockers friend because they REQUIRE either a 100mhz or 66mhz CPU clock.
In my system for example, I have a PIII-E 700 which is clocked for 140mhz FSB which yields about 975mhz. This is a 275+mhz boost. I also have a Cel-Mine 600 that zipps merrily along at 933mhz. Thats a 333mhz increase. So...if you wished to overclock your particular CPU, your "target speeds" would be: 770 at 140FSB and 825 at 150FSB. Anything above 140FSB is risky and the number of "successful" attempts begin to dwindle rather rapidly because of high memory speeds and PCI bus speeds.
Bottom line, yes you "might" be able to O/C your CPU but your returns will be reduced before instabilities occur. The 66 or 100mhz units are the "target" CPUs because they offer better options and higher reliability under overclocking conditions.
Look at it this way, Intel offers a CPU with both a 100FSB and 133mhz FSB. They both come off the same assembly line. Why not just "crank-up" a 100mhz unit to 133mhz FSB?
Get the point?

08-13-2000, 09:20 PM	#7
Toaster Member (13 bit) Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Now in Phoenix, AZ. Where next? Only 8 states left to see. Posts: 4,661	Hi again folks, How long a CPU will remain functional under overclocking conditions is moot. Intel for instance rates their CPUs to last 10+ years at rated speeds. I still see working 8088`s and these old puppies are in excess of 20 years old and still working. So long as you dont exceed temp ratings or get over anxious with voltages, I don`t see a shortened life span. The reason is quite simple, the CPU lasts only as long as it`s used. As Hal suggests, most folks upgrade far earlier then a possible CPU lifespan. In other words, you have no worries about a short lived CPU. As far as the P-III-EB 733 CPU, the biggest drawback is its "current" FSB requirement. At 133mhz FSB, many system boards become unstable above these speeds. There are NO overclocker friendly "Intel" system boards. That is, if your system board was made by Intel proper, stop now and only dream. Only NON-Intel system boards overclock or have the options to do so. Remember, I mean system boards that were made "BY" Intel proper. Many system boards utilize Intel "chipsets" but are NOT built by Intel proper. Example: Asus, Abit, and other system boards use "Intel" chipsets and are overclocker friendly. The PIII-E CPU (copper-mine and Cel-mine) are the overclockers friend because they REQUIRE either a 100mhz or 66mhz CPU clock. In my system for example, I have a PIII-E 700 which is clocked for 140mhz FSB which yields about 975mhz. This is a 275+mhz boost. I also have a Cel-Mine 600 that zipps merrily along at 933mhz. Thats a 333mhz increase. So...if you wished to overclock your particular CPU, your "target speeds" would be: 770 at 140FSB and 825 at 150FSB. Anything above 140FSB is risky and the number of "successful" attempts begin to dwindle rather rapidly because of high memory speeds and PCI bus speeds. Bottom line, yes you "might" be able to O/C your CPU but your returns will be reduced before instabilities occur. The 66 or 100mhz units are the "target" CPUs because they offer better options and higher reliability under overclocking conditions. Look at it this way, Intel offers a CPU with both a 100FSB and 133mhz FSB. They both come off the same assembly line. Why not just "crank-up" a 100mhz unit to 133mhz FSB? Get the point?