overclocking a p4 Options

[Maccabee]

Is this a good processor to overclock? I have watched countless videos and read tutorials on how to overclock but until i try it I wont fully understand it so I thought id have a go. But I wanna play it safe as possible cause even though this was a free computer I dont want to fry it.

heres the info:

cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 1
model name : Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 1.80GHz
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 1793.349
cache size : 256 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 2
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm up pebs bts
bogomips : 3586.69
clflush size : 64

And it is a premade hp computer from around 02. So heck, it may not even be able to overclock. also, how do I update the bios? do I do that from the os? I have no clue. and ive got all the paperwork for this baby so Ill try and find the mobo manufacturer and update before I get started.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Can't overclock from the BIOS unless you install a custom one, but you should be able to do some software overclocking.

You can't update the BIOS from the OS. Look up "BIOS flashing" for instructions on that.

Also, I think the 1.8 GHz ones are Willamettes. They're pretty good for overclocking, but the best overclocker is by far the Pentium IV Prescott. I've seen those hit up to 8 GHz.

[Maccabee]

I asked /g/ after I posted here and they all said it was a waste of time cause it would get to hot, and that p4 were the worst for overclocking. were they right?

[heyo-captain-jac...]

/g/ is filled with trolls. You have to word your questions really good for advice.

That or they thought you meant the Phenom X4 1.8 GHz, not the Pentium 4 1.8 GHz.

[Maccabee]

Ok so where do I start? Is there any good overclockcing software for linux? im running ubuntu 9.10.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

nothing really great, but check this out

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=arti...m=598&num=1
Not exactly what you're looking for, but it's semi-related.

[Maccabee]

Well then I guess ill have to take something that isnt really great. what is there?


edit:
also I got a little more info from sudo dmidecode | more

CODE

Processor Information
    Socket Designation: PGA 478
    Type: Central Processor
    Family: Pentium 4
    Manufacturer: GenuineIntel
    ID: 12 0F 00 00 FF FB EB 3F
    Signature: Type 0, Family 15, Model 1, Stepping 2
    Flags:
        FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
        VME (Virtual mode extension)
        DE (Debugging extension)
        PSE (Page size extension)
        TSC (Time stamp counter)
        MSR (Model specific registers)
        PAE (Physical address extension)
        MCE (Machine check exception)
        CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
        APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
        SEP (Fast system call)
        MTRR (Memory type range registers)
        PGE (Page global enable)
        MCA (Machine check architecture)
        CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
        PAT (Page attribute table)
        PSE-36 (36-bit page size extension)
        CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported)
        DS (Debug store)
        ACPI (ACPI supported)
        MMX (MMX technology supported)
        FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore)
        SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
        SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2)
        SS (Self-snoop)
        HTT (Hyper-threading technology)
        TM (Thermal monitor supported)
    Version: Intel® Pentium® 4
    Voltage: 0.0 V
    External Clock: 100 MHz
    Max Speed: 2400 MHz
    Current Speed: 1800 MHz
    Status: Populated, Enabled
    Upgrade: ZIF Socket

So atleast now I can see that the max is 2.4.
So if I were to boost it up to 2.4 would the current cooling i have now be sufficient?
It has a plastic vent going from the cpu to the fan. I guess it is there to help cool the cpu, even though if you ask me it looks like it is preventing airflow.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Current cooling may or may not be sufficient. Is it active or passive cooling (ie. heatsink only, or heatsink with fan, watercooling, etc.)

[Maccabee]

Current cooling may or may not be sufficient. Is it active or passive cooling (ie. heatsink only, or heatsink with fan, watercooling, etc.)

heaatsink and fan.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Then it will be enough for light overclocking. Not sure about that half a gigahertz you're looking at.

Your best bet as far as overclocking is to install a custom BIOS, which can be extremely dangerous.

[Maccabee]

ya, especially since it is a premade I dont think its gonna work. Ill just drop it.