My first CPU overclocking experience so far =)

[Christopher Blue]

CPU: AMD T-Bird 700 MHz stock speed
Mobo: MSI-6167 no FSB OC options available without mods
Power Supply: 250W

When I first got my GFD and Alpha p7125 w/Sunon fans I was not ready to put on the new HS/fans and the GFD did not seem to be working. However, when I cranked the voltage up to 1.85 from 1.75, I was able to run stable at 800 MHz and then 850 MHz.

After I found the GFD to work, I underwent installing the 7125 and Sunons. I first cleaned off the HS and heatplate with 91% isopropyl alcohol and then applied Artic Silver II using my finger inside of a Ziploc bag. I had some trouble attaching the HS at first, but in the end the tapscrews were holding it tightly against the heatplate. The fan-cover was even more of a pain as I had bent some of the heatsink's shafts and that made it tougher for the screws to go in, however in the end I was able to get both the fan-cover and the fans in rather snugly.

When I booted up the computer with the new fans I was delighted to hear that they were about as loud as the stock fan was and of course much better (they had better be! ). After fiddling around with a few things and some GFD tweaking, I was able to run 850/1.85 stable and then 900/1.95 stable (after a 15 minute CPUburn test at high priority) which is where I am at now, 900 MHz. Yippie!

The main thing that is bothering me is that I couldn't even post at 950/1.95 the last time I tried so I am afraid I might not reach a GHz as hoped. But, I am not out of options yet with a 2.05 voltage setting! I will post more as it happens.

P.S. Yeah 3D Mark 2001 scores are scaling very nicely with my Radeon 8500

[VidmanII]

Max that voltage dude and get on with it. You're getting nice results so far for that 700. I had a 900 and only got it to like 1100 on a similar config as you have there. With that Alpha you have no worries about cooling at all. That it is one sweet HS. I miss the big fella. I always liked slot cpus better than socket as you could those BIG mofo dual fan Alphas on them and forget about any cooling probs.

[Christopher Blue]

Does anyone here have any experience with removing the heatplate and then directly attaching the heatsink with the CPU core?

BTW, after reattaching the heatsink, I was able to run 900 @ 1.85V.

[NascarFool]

If you've never removed one , don't do it. The heatspreader with the HSF should keep it cool. My last 800@1000 never went over 90ºF.

[Zak33]

Dont bottle it...rip that heat plate off!

The metal clips that hold to the 4 metal rods ar hard but not impossible. You gotta bend one of the "tongues"on each of the four ON THE SAME SIDE ie all the ones on the right ! And then the clips slid off that way. Then when it goes back together, you only have one set of the "tongues" to bend back to original and next time it has to come off you can do the other ones. WATCH OUT FOR A SCREW DRIVER SLIPPING.cut cardboard and slide it behind the "operation zone"! Hey while thay are off, re bend em for a bit more pressure.

Once its off you got a load of new options........like making sure the heatplate even TOUCHES the cache chips on either side of the CPU core.

Mine was so far off it pained me.I used washer as shims to get the cache chips to touch.

Once mine was off, I cleaned it, balance the heatplate back on the core, got my camera out and took a few photos of just how big the gaps were. I also cut air holes in the plastic case behind the cache chips, then cut a square hole in the case where the Athlon badge HAd been, in line with the Core, used the original fan off the heatsink to blow into that hole (superglue to hold it) and the air went in, round the PCB ad cache chips and back outta the holes I cut . In fact the nices way of making holes behind those cache chips is with a Drill and make 3 or 4 that overlap like a clover leaf!

I loved messing with my old 550..it went to 700. It WAS a 550 core ..once the heatplateis off you can read WHAT core you got.it might be a 900 anyway which means it'll go higher.

The good old days *sigh*