Overclocking...with software?

Ok...I have a Dell Dimension 8250, and a custom PC I made myself. I'd like to get into overclocking, but I'd like not to mess up the 4 1/2 Grand I put into my custom PC, so I'd need to start with the Dell. Obviously, dell doesn't include any jumpers or setting in the BIOS that will enable you to overclock...is there possiby any other way to do this? I'd imagine that software overclocking is possible, though It would either have to be loaded before the OS, or after it initializes... I have WinXP home (it came with it) on the machine now, and am rather flexible and open to ideas with what I can do to it. Any ideas or thoughts are welcome.


-koadmunki

 

Here's couple to check out & some info:
http://www.palmpower.com/issuesprint/issue200102/overclocking.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=420
http://www.geocities.com/enigmadeadsouls/softfsb.html#softfsbdown

 

You could look for hacked bios for your mobo,that unlocks all the hidden features,I doubt you will find one because there isnt a demand for them,so the prog prob havnt made one,and dell hardware is all match so there is no need to have a high range of voltages and frequencies for compatibility,i'm interested to see how you fare though.I'd love to see a pic of the insides of a $4500 Pc.

 

OOOppps double post.

 

That's a good idea about the hacked bios....I'm gonna hafta do some digging around for that one. I checked the websites posted by ASUS there, and they show some promise. I checked out the bios features, and it has the option to change all the voltages and clock frequencies and such, but they're all blocked off, so I can't change them. I can change the processor "options" from normal to compatible, but that doesn't allow me to change any settings, and it makes everything run slower'n crap. Any idea how to unlock those features? I'll look for that bios. By the way...as for pics for the inside of that PC....not quite what I wish they'd be...I was dumb at first and spent a pretty penny buying parts that weren't what I thought they were....It's a nice system, but not nearly what it could be.

P4 3.0eGHz
320GB - HDD
Plextor PX-716A DVD+\-RW
Case is all modded out (looks like a low rider with a motherboard
Nvidia Geforce FX5800GT (piece-o-junk)
It only has 512MB of ram....saving up for 2gigs of super low latency from Corsair...so hopefully soon on that one.)

 

You will have to do alot of digging,I have had a little look around,it seems dells mobo are stripped down retail ones so they have less features and in turn cost dell less to make,so any hacked bios for your mobo,although it may look the same as a retail version of the same chipset,could cause it to become a pile of junk.

 

I couldn't agree more, I found a few programs that load at boot before the OS, but they we're of little use since they dont work on XP (piles of junk) Gave directions on how to make a boot disk to get around the XP problem, but it didn't work, so whatever. I think you're right about the whole hacked BIOS thing. I couldn't find any, and I was up till 3:30 trying to. (yay! hehe) And you're also correct about the stripped down motherboard thing, because I'm fairly certain mine was an Intel board before Dell got their hands on it...and don't worry, I'm not concerned about it turning into a pile of crap, since I feel that's all dells are in the first place I'll keep searching for something, but I feel this may just be a dead end. I know a new motherboard is Really what this thing needs, but I just don't have the clams for it right now, so it's back to the drawing board for this one!

 

You can use some softs for OCing in Windows OS :
CPUFSB, CrystalCPUID, RightmarkCPU, they active base on IC chip with name Winbond or ICS......