Is it safe to oc a AMD Athlon 2800 to a 3200?
2800 = 2080mhz (166x12.5)
3200 = 2200mhz (200x11)

Do u know if synchronizing the cpu fsb with the ram will boost perofrmance ram wise? Do I need to add voltage to my CPU?

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Alan

No, it's not safe. If you do, you void your warranty.

Yes, synchronizing is (usually) better. Increasing voltage is bad, unless absolutely necessary (decreases product life, even if the temperatures are well controlled).

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paul@pleaseohpleasedontspamme.slcentral.com
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems -- P. Erdos

Well I managed to overclock (by changing from 166x125 to 200x11). I didn't change voltage and it manages to run stabily. Would AMD be able to find out if I OCed my CPU or not? The temperature also manages to stay the same. I've tested it with 3Dmark03, Halo, and Aquamark3 and there is no signs of instability or any blue screens. My voltage fluxuates from 1.696V and 1.712V (I didn't add voltage to my CPU). Would this decrease the lifespan of my CPU?

I'd also like to add that it manages to post succesfully as an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ in Windows XP and in BIOS.

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Alan

Just because you don't see blue screens doesn't mean you aren't doing damage to your CPU. I believe that's the normal voltage (I'd have to check specs) -- and those fluctuations are normal. But, would the overclock decrease the life of the CPU? Yes. Chances are good that, if run at the higher speed for a long time, the expected lifespan might go from, say, 10 years, to, say, anywhere between 4 and 9 years or something. (Just a very off-the-cuff guess).

Would AMD be able to tell? Depends....I think your board allowed you to modify the multiplier without doing any work (on some you had to connect "bridges" on the chip)....so chances are, no, you wouldn't. Of course, that's very immoral and is pretty much akin to adding in "backup" copies (wink wink) of expensive software. But I digress.

But about the CPU....running it at a the higher frequency....I highly doubt you'd still be using that CPU by the time it burned out.

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paul@pleaseohpleasedontspamme.slcentral.com
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems -- P. Erdos

clocked mine upto 2.2ghz no probs all with standard cooling no probs

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Amd 2800 Barton @ 2.2ghz
Leadtek 5950ultra @ 491 & 983
768mb DDR 2100
2 x 60gb Deskstar HD

Overclocking the barton CPU is most of the times going nicely! I managed to overclock my AMD barton 3200+ @2200mhz, to 2310mhz (running it at 210 fsb, without raising the core voltage). Going to run it for a bit longer this way before changing more stuff. Although 32 bits is getting at its end, it still rules :-)

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Not All Who Wander Are Truely Lost

Building my first computer with a AMD2800Xp barton core.
Very new to building. Reading everything I can find that might be applicable. Biggest problem so far is finding out the right data on using a copper shim or not. The AMD site clued me in on how to apply the thermal transfer pastes to the processor core and all that detail, but still very confused about the shim use.
I bought a HSF fan unit with a copper contact plate for the processor. I would like to use it. Trouble is, I suspect the thickness of the shim itself is important. How do I know if the the shim thickness is right? Does it vary among manufacturers who say it is designed for an AMD socket A ? The last thing I want is a shim to elevate the HSF center processor contact point a few thousands off the core!
Mounting the HSF to the processor reminds me of learning to fly my plane on instruments alone. It only works if everything is working right, you pay attention, and have done it enough to be confident.
Very much in need of a co-pilot here who knows about shims!
Thanks!

As long as you seat the heatsink properly before securing it you have nothing to worry about. The shims were a big life saver when the original Socket A Athlons hit the market because of the high pressure required by the retention clip and the cores were slightly higher and more fragile. With all of my overclocking and swapping processors I haven’t found a shim useful. Another thing depending on where you get the shim it might be a bit higher than the core preventing proper contact or it may ground out some of the contacts on the chip’s surface. If you are hell bent on getting a shim make you get the plastic ones.
Secure one side of the clip and make sure the heatsink is seated squarely above the chip, then evenly and confidently apply pressure bringing the other end over the notches and let it slip in.

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Sheep!

i did my 2600xp to 2.3ghz today, standard cooler, standard fan, 2 x 120mm case fans. idle temp has gone up to around 42degrees centrigade.

i had to increase cpu voltage from 1.65 -> 1.843 and chipset voltage from 1.6 -> 1.65. it seems to be stable so far.

apparently syncronising ram and fsb is better, but i noticed better performance when my fsb was 333 and ram was 400 rather than 333fsb and ram333.

hope this helps? good luck! no two chips are identical so just have a play and see what you can get.