Overclocking a Pentium 4 1.7GHz...

[Fatality]

Hey fellas.

I have a Pentium 4 1.7Ghz (yes, old processor) and I'd like to know if I can possibly inch it up a little bit. This computer was previously my moms which she purchased like 5 years ago lol. I'll list the specs on the bottom. Anyways, I'm new to overclocking and I was previously reading a site (http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_cont...=p41700&page=3) and I was wondering how I can get it to the speed of 1954MHz because I don't want to break anything. The 2.0GHz overclock on that site stated that it would crash over long periods of time so I'm going to be safe and go with the 1954MHz. Can someone give me possible steps on what I would have to do to overclock this a tad. Thanks for your time.

Also, yes, the system is old that is why I am upgrading.


Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.4GHz
256MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 32MB

I don't know the motherboard but I could've swore it's Intel AGP945 or something?

[glc]

MUST know the motherboard model - is this a name brand PC?

You will never notice the difference with that mild an overclock.

[Fatality]

How can I find out my motherboard?

[glc]

http://www.belarc.com/Programs/advisor.exe

You haven't answered whether it's a name brand computer yet.

[Fatality]

Well I got that program, it ran the scan, and the only thing I could find with the name similar or motherboard I got this.

Board: Giga-Byte Technology Co., LTD 8IDX3 1.x
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 08/29/2001

Also, when I restarted my computer recently it said I have a Intel 845 Chipset.


This is a custom-made computer my mom got customized back in the day.

[glc]

Yes, it's overclockable using bios settings. Your stock FSB is 100, you can increase that A LITTLE AT A TIME. A FSB of 115 will give you 1954 MHz if it can get that high. You must be prepared to accept component failure and/or total hard drive data corruption if you want to try it, that's part of the overclocking game. Download the manual and refer to page 48 - what needs to be increased is the CPU Host Frequency.

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/M...l&FileID=15195

[Fatality]

Well, that video card I said I might get in the other thread...will this processor be able to hold that in your opinion or would I have to overclock it a tad?

[glc]

The processor has nothing to do with the video card. I'm more concerned whether your 250 watt power supply will be able to handle overclocking and/or a stronger video card.

What are you trying to do - improve your gaming performance or do you just want to play around and overclock because you can? If you are trying to improve gaming performance, you need more ram, a stronger video card (a lot stronger than what you are looking at), and a stronger power supply. Jacking up the processor from 1.7 to 2.0 Ghz, you will never notice the difference and that old socket 423 processor will just run hotter.

[Fatality]

Well, yes I am getting more RAM. This computer will be use for basic internet browsing, music, just your everyday computer. It needs to be updated and that is all I am worrying about for now.

[glc]

If gaming is not essential, don't waste your money on a video card, PSU, or your effort in overclocking. Add more ram and you will see quite a difference when you try to multitask. That would be the single best improvement.

The board has 3 ram slots, it takes standard PC133 SDRAM, and you can use 512mb modules. This stuff should be compatible:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161630

I would drop $50 on one of those before even thinking about anything else. That will triple your ram. My sister has an old Dell 1.3 Ghz P4 with the same video card as you, and she only had 256mb. I dropped 512mb more in it and it made a HUGE difference. Upgrade your ram first, see how it runs, and go from there.

[Panama Red]

I'm having a hard time seeing the risk/investment/reward of this project. If you have money just laying around and you want to do this just to gain knowledge, then have some fun. But why spend $50 on ram, $40 on a 350 watt psu and $60 on an 8x video card that will run at 4x and then OC the whole thing and risk data corruption on the hard drive? You're going to spend $150 and still have an old, slow (by comparison to today's technology), obsolete piece with new parts you can't even use in a new machine if something were to fail. You can blow that old timer away with something like this emachines as an every day pc.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1166840382546

Personally, I wouldn't invest any money in that old timer. Heck, that's 3 sockets and about 5 cpu revisions old for an Intel platform.

[glc]

True, but I feel it IS worth 50 bucks for a ram upgrade for use as a basic computer. $150 is not worth it though. I still have customers using P3's for that use, but we have the ram maxed out.

[Panama Red]

Agree on the ram upgrade. Like you, g, I was just concerned about the other two pieces of hardware and the desire to OC in order to improve peformance.

[Fatality]

Well, I will also play light 3D games which I play Flyff which runs decent on my computer. When you guys say gaming you mean like the latest games, nah. The highest graphic game I'd play is CS: Source which with this video card I get around 25-30 stable FPS. I feel that this card would at least up it to 40-45 which is perfect.

[glc]

Okay, but a card and PSU is going to set you back another 100 bucks.

[Fatality]

Well yeah. I have around 100 dollars to do this but your saying that I'll need to buy a PSU and card? I'd really like at least 256 MB RAM in this . I'll try and get more money

[Katreat]

Max out your RAM like GLC says before you even consider anything else. It is the single biggest upgrade you can make with an old computer like that and you will notice substantial improvement. Do the ram first and then re-eveluate the situation.

Kat

[glc]

If you have 256 ram now, a 512 module will cost you $50 and bring you up to 768. This is a good number to work with. That will leave you with $50 - save it till you get another $50 and then consider a PSU and video card. Here's a decent PSU that can handle any reasonably priced AGP card you can throw at it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

[Fatality]

Well thats a very nice and cheap power supply as of the 350W one I linked you all to. It was 61.99 for 350W :O. Well anyways, I might be getting more money soon, like around 50$, so I'll be able to buy that PSU and the card and RAM. For the RAM though, would buying another 256 be alright? Yeah, 512MB would be sweet but would 256 show some improvement? If I do get more money than I thought for some reason, I'll try and fit in 512 more.

[glc]

Do the 512 - no sense in filling all the slots. Make that your priority, trust me. I'd really like to see you have a total of a gig.

[Fatality]

My friend has 512MB of RAM and I see him multitask pretty nicely. But yeah, the most I'll ever get in RAM is 1 gig, no more really needed. But let me ask you one question, since this computer is so old and probably within the next year it might just...die...I just want to ask, what in a computer makes it end? The power supply? Because I don't want to buy a video card, RAM, and a PSU and the motherboard is coming to an end or something and then I have to buy a new mobo. The processor I don't mind because I can buy one that's even better than mine for pretty cheap but mobos I really know nothing about.

Also, do motherboards last a long time because the look like a piece of hardware that can last substantially long?

[The_YongGrand]

Put at least 512MB RAM there - you might see the major difference. Overclocking will not help if instability occurs. That's an old Pentium 4 PC there you have - putting too much upgrades might leave you an amount that is enough for you to buy a new set of combo upgrades.

[Jose Suarez]

Originally Posted by Fatality Hey fellas. I have a Pentium 4 1.7Ghz (yes, old processor) and I'd like to know if I can possibly inch it up a little bit. This computer was previously my moms which she purchased like 5 years ago lol. I'll list the specs on the bottom. Anyways, I'm new to overclocking and I was previously reading a site (http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_cont...=p41700&page=3) and I was wondering how I can get it to the speed of 1954MHz because I don't want to break anything. The 2.0GHz overclock on that site stated that it would crash over long periods of time so I'm going to be safe and go with the 1954MHz. Can someone give me possible steps on what I would have to do to overclock this a tad. Thanks for your time. Also, yes, the system is old that is why I am upgrading. Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1.4GHz 256MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200 32MB I don't know the motherboard but I could've swore it's Intel AGP945 or something?

Yes it can crash, you need to keep the temperature cool, go to Pcclub.com and check out the cpu heat sinks, get yourself a copper plated heat sink and a huge cpu fan if possible, but i recommend not to over clock in a stock PC such has Emachines, or Dell.
I haven't over clocked a P4 but I performed and overcloking on a PIII from 350Mhz to 650Mhz in a slot 1, but I did it jumper wise just like in the old days good times, but in your case it will be done on the bios, you can test each frequency if the pc is stable in one frequency keep it there, if not lower by 100mhz or 50 and check cpu temperature keep it below 90F, and have some OS overclock monitoring software wile using the pc, here is something cool you can do with a Nvidia Geforce, go to wallmart and buy Nvidia GeForce 4 Mx4000 and download its overclocking utility it probably comes with the CD and oveclock it from 275mhz to 350mhz if posible maybe less, and screw in a fan to the heatsink the Videocard and you sholud be able to play some of the hotest games.

[Fatality]

How can I find out what type of RAM I would need to buy? I seen 168-pins and 240-pins and all this, can anyone explain this to me? I never got it.

[Fatality]

Well, I just found out what type of RAM my motherboard supports (168-pin SDRAM). In the book it says that I have 3 DIMM slots and that all three take the following:

16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB 168-pin 3,3V SDRAM DIMM


Now that means that I need a 168-pin RAM stick? I was searching newegg and found that 512MB of RAM is about 38-40$ for Corsair. I looked on the side for 168-pin RAM and they had one that was 75$ . Is this right? Or is it just Corsair that charges a ton for 168-pin RAM?


Update: Found this RAM, only 9$ more which isn't bad ($48.99). (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161630) It also got great reviews for the last 10 reviews. Would this be nice for me?

[glc]

If you scroll up to one of my previous posts (post #10), you will see that you have chosen the exact same ram I recommended to you............

[Fatality]

Oh, my bad. Well the link I posted, is that fine?

[glc]

It's the SAME link............

[Fatality]

My bad again From time to time checking this thread I forgot all the links you posted. I feel like an idiot...well anyways thanks for all your help, it is much appreciated.