I followed the steps outlined here:

Since there are so many people now that own Dell Dimensions of one kind or another due to the different deals that have been offered in the last few months, I figure this could come in handy.

While Dell offers no overclocking options whatsoever in the BIOS and in fact uses a PLL that was supposed to be designed to not modifiable, it turns out that one can still overclock.

Step 1) Check to see if the Dell uses the ICS 952601 PLL. See either:
http://www.podien.onlinehome.de/FSB.HTM
http://mitglied.lycos.de/podien/FSB.HTM
for more information.

Step 2) Download and install cpucool available from:
http://www.podien.onlinehome.de/CPUCOOL.HTM
http://mitglied.lycos.de/podien/CPUCOOL.HTM

Step 3) Run cpucool and go to Functions->Change front side bus/change CPU speed

Step 4) Under PLL manufacturer, pick ICS and under PLL type, choose 952607

Step 5) Click on the Fine tuning button

Step 6) Adjust the Frequency using the buttons at the top and adjust to a reasonable overclock value.

Step 7) Hit Freq Set and the system will be overclocked immeadiately. However, not all programs will register it, but CPU-Z and benchmarks that don't rely on processor cycles will show it.

Step 8) Reboot, and then all programs will recognize the new speeds

http://www.telusplanet.net/~sulee/DellOC.png

This procedure has worked for the Dell 400SC and a Dimension 4600. It should be no different for other Dimensions.

Credit goes to:
http://www.aaltonen.us/forums/viewtopic.php?t=572
for figuring out the procedure to overclock.

Note: Since the Dell has no temperature, voltage or fan readings, and I'm not even sure if the motherboard will lock PCI/AGP speeds, you have to be careful with your overclock. And since you can't adjust voltage and memory settings, you probably won't get the large overclocks that are possible with enthusiast level motherboards.

Edit in 2004:

One thing you can do to ensure that the CPU is not overheating is to download CPUMSR from:
http://www.cpuheat.wz.cz/html/Download.htm
This utility can monitor the real-time status of the P4/Celeron's throttling mechanism and will indicate if it is exceeding the thermal limit (~72C).


Also, I find that if you shutdown the system for a period of time, it will refuse to boot up when you power-on. Pulling the power plug can and then restarting should enable it to restart without problems.

Edit in 2004: It seems that later BIOS have fixed this problem.

Finally, of course overclocking voids Dell's warranty.

and managed to OC my CPU by 20mhz. However when I tried going up by 100mhz to 3.3Ghz it worked for a few seconds then the whole system hung.

On other forums like this:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showth...4&page=2&pp=10

They managed to up it by 300mhz without crashing, how come mine dies so easily?

[LunaMeister (x3m)]

Originally Posted by ComradeSnarky

I followed the steps outlined here:

and managed to OC my CPU by 20mhz. However when I tried going up by 100mhz to 3.3Ghz it worked for a few seconds then the whole system hung.

On other forums like this:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showth...4&page=2&pp=10

They managed to up it by 300mhz without crashing, how come mine dies so easily?

Have you checked your temperature?

Although all of you have the same system, same heatsink,

But we are in singapore, temperatures can be quite different from theirs.

My CPU doesn't have a temperature sensor , but 100 mhz should't produce too much heat right?

[lanc3r]

glad u found the guide yourself

Originally Posted by ComradeSnarky

I followed the steps outlined here:

and managed to OC my CPU by 20mhz. However when I tried going up by 100mhz to 3.3Ghz it worked for a few seconds then the whole system hung.

On other forums like this:

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showth...4&page=2&pp=10

They managed to up it by 300mhz without crashing, how come mine dies so easily?

Forget about OCing a Dell!

You may be able to up your FSB. BUt.......

1. You can't up the V-core.

2. You can't adjust ram voltage.

3. You may not be able to adjust ram latency.

4. Dell uses shitty ram which won't get you very far.

5. Dell uses shitty mainboards which become unstable when you OC them.

[LunaMeister (x3m)]

Originally Posted by ComradeSnarky

My CPU doesn't have a temperature sensor , but 100 mhz should't produce too much heat right?

yes forget to add,

Branded PCs normally can't clock well.

Some BIOS are even locked to prevent o/cing from using BIOS.

It starts becoming unstable at 3250mhz, at 3240mhz it still runs fine. *sigh* it can't even take 50 mhz of overclocking...

[bliondi]

you mite wanna move over everything in that PC to a real clockable board and you'll see better results

[international]

keep in mind bro...some branded PC cpu are FSB locked therefore I would recommend the person to contiue using the current computer, wait for a new one or get a new one now.

but yea...I dont think his one is locked therefore maybe a good P4P800 could be a nice noobi OC board.....other ones also

[yantronic]

You can strike some Hynix often in branded systems, so it is a matter of the mobo, Vcore and cooling.

[international]

Originally Posted by yantronic

You can strike some Hynix often in branded systems, so it is a matter of the mobo, Vcore and cooling.

VCORE options and VDIMM options are all locked on branded computers

[lanc3r]

of coz a hardmod would work

[yantronic]

Originally Posted by LaNc3r

of coz a hardmod would work

Some OEM boards are just normal boards, with blocked BIOS options (eg ABIT mobos found in Compaqs).

That means you can theorically flash it to the maker's BIOS and get it to work like one.

[yeeth]

you'll either have to try flashing bioses one by one or open up the case to look at it ba(which voids wty)...
and i got infineon brand rams in my old acer, and the motherboard had caps twice as big as those in my p4p800se. (in both diameter and height )

[international]

Originally Posted by yeeth

you'll either have to try flashing bioses one by one or open up the case to look at it ba(which voids wty)...
and i got infineon brand rams in my old acer, and the motherboard had caps twice as big as those in my p4p800se. (in both diameter and height )

what do you mean by the size of caps???