Project 620: The CPU
My P3-500 is a "Box" CPU. This means that
it's a retail unit that comes in a box *no kidding*. To get the Pentium III-500 to 620Mhz
require some major cooling. Something the factory Intel cooler couldn't do. So that was
the first thing to go.
A word of warning: If you remove the factory
heatsink you will lose the 3 year Intel warranty, so make sure you can live without it
first.
This was the most difficult part of the project, as it involves
stripping the CPU down to bare PCB and modifying an Alpha P125 heatsink that wasn't
designed to go on a Pentium III. The Alpha P125 was the only heatsink that could get the
Pentium III stable at 620Mhz. it's sheer size is the key to it's cooling power. This thing
is just plain big! The two Y.S. Tech fans do a great job of removing the heat off the
heatsink, which does a great job of removing the heat off the CPU. The Alpha P125
allowed my Pentium III-500 to run at 620Mhz with the L2 latency set at 1 rock stable.
Since I have already posted articles on how to remove the factory
heatsink and convert an Alpha P125 to work on a Pentium III, I won't bother to reprint it.
Instead click here to find out how I removed the
factory heatsink. Click here to find out how I converted the
Alpha P125 to work on the Pentium III.
The Pentium III-500 used for Project 620 carries the following
specs:
- Product Code: BX80525U800512ESL3CD
- FPO/Batch #: 99101075
- MM #: 821843
- Pack Date: 03/29/99
Generally speaking, retail CPUs overclock better than OEM CPUs. This
is not a hard and fast rule however. The best way to ensure that you get a good CPU is by
establishing a good relationship with your local computer store. Believe it or not, most
computer stores like to overclock their CPU and see what it can do just as much as you do.
If you have good relationships with them, they will set aside a really good CPU just for
you.
My computer store lets me pre-test the CPU before I buy
it. Now you can't do this by just walking into any computer store and say "Give me 5
CPUs. I want to test them all and take the best one." They'll tell you to get lost
because they don't know you. However, build up a friendship with a store and good things
will come your way. I received an email from one computer supplier telling me they got a
Celeron 366 that can run at 550Mhz at 2 volts with a stock heatsink and wanted to know if
I wanted it. They let me have first crack at it before anyone else. You can't get this
kind of treatment unless you build a friendship with your computer supplier.
The other way to get a good CPU is by buying them from
sources that will sell you "guaranteed" CPUs. These vendors have tested the CPU
at overclocked speed and will assure you that it will run at the higher speed. However
these CPUs always command a higher price. I remember one vendor selling SL2W8 PII-300 for
more than the price of PII-400! The other problem is very few vendors sell guaranteed
Pentium IIIs. Most sell Celerons.
Another good way is to find out the week that a good
CPU was made. That's why I show the specs on my PIII-500. If mine will do 620Mhz, then
chances are that another one made from the same batch will also do 620Mhz. Overclockers.com has a nice
database of CPUs listed by weeks and S-Spec. They will help you find the good weeks. Then
it's just allot of calling around to computer store asking if they have that CPU in stock.
Next Page: The Video Card
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