Which OC method is better? FSB or Multiplier?

[btvillarin]

I have a T-Bird 850MHz. I've tried to overclock to 1000 with 100fsb x 10.0 multiplier, but it wouldn't start at a 1000MHz. It starts at 700MHz. After looking through a couple posts, I know that it's the L1 connections; I've used a pencil, and a majority of what I've read has said that pencil doesn't last long. Do I have to order a conductive pen online, or can I just go to Radio Shack or something?

Plus, I'm wondering...which is better for your system? To OC the FSB (right now, I'm 850@1000 with 133x7.5), or to go 850@1000 with 100x10.0? Because if my components will last longer at 100MHz FSB, then I'll go buy the conductive pen. If not, then I'll stick to having the FSB overclocked...

Thanks for any replies and help that you can give.
---
Thank you all for enlightening me on this topic.

My System Specs:
Athlon T-Bird 850MHz
Asus A7V133
256MB SDRAM CL2
IBM Deskstar 75GXP 30GB 7200RPM
ATI Radeon 32MB SDRAM
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! Value
3Com Etherlink 10/100 PCI Network Card
Swiftech MC370-0A w/ Arctic Silver II

I wanted to overclock using the multiplier, actually, more than the fsb.

Can anybody answer my question about an better alternative to using a pencil for closing the L1 bridges? My last resort will be a conductive pen (can you buy one at Radio Shack or CompUSA or something?)...<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by btvillarin on 04/11/01 02:33 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Your components won't last longer at a lower FSB speed. I would rather be at 133x7.5 than 100x10, having a higher FSB is better than a higher multiplier, personally.

 

[btvillarin]

Why wouldn't they last longer? If they're slower, aren't they less stressed?

BTW, since I couldn't get past 850, does this mean that my cpu is locked? I can't understand why I can increase the FSB, but not the multiplier...

 

[ejsmith2]

On my a7v133, the pci divider kicks in at 120mhz. Anything below that, the divider is 1/3, anything above is 1/4. So at 120mhz, my pci bus is 30mhz, which is underclocked. When I finally get up to 133mhz FSB, my pci is running standard at 33mhz. I can take my FSB up to 141mhz, before my network card hates me. I usually leave it at 137mhz.

Overclocking your FSB (also known as overclocking your pci bus) will help, but it stresses your components. You're not likely to burn something out, but it just won't work. Hence, I think being able to change the multiplier is a better alternative.

But it really takes adjustments of both to get the computer stable, and what you want it to do.

 

[Bombastik]

I guess i'm lucky... on my system everything goes well up to 155Mhz, so it's a mistic mark.. works well at 154Mhz but doesn't boot ar 155Mhz.

The curious thing is that have a 256Mb TwinMOS PC133 (Cas3) memory... not PC150

And i think i can say my NIC is not touchy (it's a generic Realtek 8029AS Base2/BaseT).


Don't believe blindly in what you hear! - Play safe! Play hard!

 

[Tempus]

The RAM can be set to run at 133MHz no matter what the FSB is at. By the way, you should tell your RAm to run at CAS2 anyway. Even the cheapest CAS3 RAM can be set to CAS2 without any problems.

- I don't write Tom's Hardware Guide, I just preach it"

 

[peteb]

Actually that's rubbish if the conversation is still A7V133 or CUV4X. On an A7V133 the RAM must run a the FSB speed above 133. On a CUV4X you can set a speed multiplier of 4/3. ie RAM runs at 3/4 FSB speeds, or 1to1.

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