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Intel Puts the Lock on Overclocking

Posted by michael on from the stop-in-the-name-of-love dept.

Patrick Schmid writes "Intel included an overclocking-prevention mechanism into the 915/925 chipsets. So far, only Asus and Gigabyte know how to override it. You can start from the beginning or jump to where we discuss the overclocking lockout."

3 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Agreed by nelsonal · · Score: 5, Informative

    Several years ago some white box OEMs were selling overclocked systems as though they contianed the rated chip. I don't know how common it was, but that was the offical reason that Intel clamped down hard on the practice. When it was just geeks in their houses saving a few bucks it was a minor loss (probably good advertising--Intel generally has the better manufacturing process and most overclocking headroom), once frad was diluting their brand and really reducing revenue they stepped in and put a stop to the practice.

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    Degaussing scares the bad magnetism out of the monitor and fills it with good karma.
  2. The article in a nutshell by l33t-gu3lph1t3 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Within the 915/925 chipset is a function that halts the function of the cpu should the cpu-chipset bus speed deviate outside of the acceptable tolerance (5%) of the rated bus speed. This affects both overclocking and underclocking the bus. The "fix" mainboard makers are considering is not much more than a small hack that allows for another 10-15% deviation from the nominal bus speed.

    Analysis: this is nothing new. Intel retail mainboards have *never* allowed overclocking, and their processors have been multiplier-locked since 1998.bottom line: the lock is there for stability concerns. If you want to overclock a socket-T processor, use a mainboard with a different chipset.I'm sure Ali, SiS, VIA, and Ati would love your business.

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    ------- "From bored to fanboy in 3.8 asian girls" ----------
  3. Forget overclocking, I want to underclock by MalikChen · · Score: 5, Informative

    I really don't care if they stop me from overclocking because I don't do it. I don't do intensive CPU tasks, so I have no need for it.

    But, what I do is UNDERclock my CPU so that it runs cooler, thus needing fewer/quieter fans. I don't need all 2.4ghz, so I send the FSB and voltage down a bit. And then, instead of hitting 45 celsius when idle and fans blazing, I get around 40 degrees, and can't hear the fan at all. If I need to do something intensive, I just reboot, change to default and flip the switch that turns the fan on "high" mode.

    If they are locking the FSB, voltages, multipliers, and everything else, this doesn't just prohibit overclocking, it stops tweaking at all. Which, in some form or another, is a fundamental need for most of the /. community.