Intel locks overclocking features

Chicago (IL) - Rumors, that Intel's new chipset 915/925 platforms do not offer much of a FSB overclocking margin, have been circulating for some time. As Tom's Hardware Guide was able to confirm, Intel went one step further: The chip giant adjusted its hardware to prevent any overclocking.

It is no secret that Intel was not quite happy that its past chipsets offered huge overclocking ranges which allowed industry and users to use technologies Intel had foreseen to provide at a later point of time. Most recently, the E7205 (Granite Bay) could be overclocked close to FSB 800 months ahead of Intel's 865/875 chipset launch.

Intel's startegy is to integrate an overclocking limiter into the MCH chips: If the CPU clock exceeds the threshold that, according to our test results, exceeds ten percent of the specification, the required Phase Lock Loop (PLL) will - which is a simple way of throwing a spanner in the works, as it renders the system crashed.

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Wolfgang Gruener
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Wolfgang Gruener is an experienced professional in digital strategy and content, specializing in web strategy, content architecture, user experience, and applying AI in content operations within the insurtech industry. His previous roles include Director, Digital Strategy and Content Experience at American Eagle, Managing Editor at TG Daily, and contributing to publications like Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware.