DX2-50 Nascar Discovery

I don't know if this is widely known or not, but I'll post it anyway. I have been running Nascar on a 486 DX2-50 (which was upgraded from an SX-25 with an Overdrive processor). Anyway, I recently found out that if you change the jumper on the motherboard from 25 Mhz to 33 Mhz, your DX2-50 becomes a DX2-66. I have checked this with diagnostic programs and my processor speed is at 69 Mhz. With the 50 Mhz processor I was only able to run the game in VGA mode with the only extra's being skids, paint and smoke. I was using FM sound also. With the extra 19 Mhz of processor speed, I can run VGA in stereo with everything on and it's fine. I can even run SVGA with minimal extras with virtually no chop. This could be a big help to the rest of us who only have 50-66 Mhz processors. Try changing that jumper and see what happens. IGN #70 Red Scorpion Barbecue Sauce Grand Prix Miskatonic Racing "Feel the Sting!!"

What you just did is called "Overclocking" the processor or "speed margining" in technical terms. And yes, it is widely known. There can be several dangers associated with overclocking your processor, overheating being the most likely one. Make sure you have a CPU fan attached. There's a Overclocking FAQ out there that can help (can't remember where). Marcos --

I know several people who have dones this an have experience short lived euphoria. All though you have gained 19Mhz in speed, you probably won't of gained 19Mhz in performance. The internal architecure of the chip is designed to run at 25/50 Mhz. If the clock is telling it to run at 33/66 then effectivly it is missing a beat. Think of it like this. Next time you've got a record going or the radio on listen to the music whilst watching a clock. If the tempo is anything other than 60/120/240 beats per minute then there will be short periods when the second hand moves in time with the music. After a few bars the second hand loses time until the next cyle when it comes back in. The processor is doing the same with your data. Every so often it is getting out of sync. Although you are getting synced calulations quicker than a DX250, you are not getting the full performance of a DX2 66. Be warned though that some processors may fail because of this syncro- nisation problem. If it works for you fine, go ahead, but I would warn others to be careful when trying it. You must be pretty hooked on Nascar to try and eek out that little extra bit of performance. Mind you, its probably a habit caught from too much time in the Nascar garage..... Regards Jed Neil Jedrzejewski PCS Internet 3 Hill View, Mill End, Northleach, Cheltenham, Glos., GL54 3HJ.

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>I don't know if this is widely known or not, but I'll post it anyway. >I have been running Nascar on a 486 DX2-50 (which was upgraded >from an SX-25 with an Overdrive processor). Anyway, I recently found >out that if you change the jumper on the motherboard from 25 Mhz to >33 Mhz, your DX2-50 becomes a DX2-66. I have checked this with >diagnostic programs and my processor speed is at 69 Mhz. With the >50 Mhz processor I was only able to run the game in VGA mode with >the only extra's being skids, paint and smoke. I was using FM sound >also. With the extra 19 Mhz of processor speed, I can run VGA in >stereo with everything on and it's fine. I can even run SVGA with >minimal extras with virtually no chop. This could be a big help to >the rest of us who only have 50-66 Mhz processors. Try changing that >jumper and see what happens.

I don't mean to be a party pooper, but if I were you I'd equip your system with an extra fan, and I'd also do a lot of backups. Running a system at 33% overdrive (25->33+) works fine... usually. But there are a lot of things in a computer system which are designed to work together, and especially in low-end systems, components are carefully selected so that the minimum cost goes into them. That means parts rated at very little (if any) over the actual operating speed, power supplies and cooling at the margins, and a whole load of other parameters I won't go into. If it works that's terrific, but it might not STAY working... -- Brian Wong Product Marketing Engineering

I thought all the CPU are fabricated at the same speed in the manufacturing process. Some of the CPU that passed the 66MHz test will be 66Mhz and if they cannot pass the test, the company will try to run the same test at lower clock speed. That's why we have 25, 33Mhz cpus. Maybe your cpu's failure is at a non-critical part (e.g. floating point unit) when you run the game, that's why you are ok. For the lifetime of the chip, I wouldn't worry about it. You will find your chip obsolete before it dies (new cpu are coming out quickly). Just my 2 cents. You wri> I don't know if this is widely known or not, but I'll post it anyway. You wri> I have been running Nascar on a 486 DX2-50 (which was upgraded You wri> from an SX-25 with an Overdrive processor). Anyway, I recently found You wri> out that if you change the jumper on the motherboard from 25 Mhz to You wri> 33 Mhz, your DX2-50 becomes a DX2-66. I have checked this with You wri> diagnostic programs and my processor speed is at 69 Mhz. With the You wri> 50 Mhz processor I was only able to run the game in VGA mode with You wri> the only extra's being skids, paint and smoke. I was using FM sound You wri> also. With the extra 19 Mhz of processor speed, I can run VGA in You wri> stereo with everything on and it's fine. I can even run SVGA with You wri> minimal extras with virtually no chop. This could be a big help to You wri> the rest of us who only have 50-66 Mhz processors. Try changing that You wri> jumper and see what happens. You wri You wriI know several people who have dones this an have experience short lived You wrieuphoria. You wriAll though you have gained 19Mhz in speed, you probably won't of You wrigained 19Mhz in performance. You wriThe internal architecure of the chip is designed to run at 25/50 Mhz. You wriIf the clock is telling it to run at 33/66 then effectivly it is missing a You wribeat. You wriThink of it like this. Next time you've got a record going or the radio on You wrilisten to the music whilst watching a clock. You wriIf the tempo is anything other than 60/120/240 beats per minute then there will You wribe short periods when the second hand moves in time with the music. After a few You wribars the second hand loses time until the next cyle when it comes back in. You wri You wriThe processor is doing the same with your data. Every so often it is getting out You wriof sync. You wriAlthough you are getting synced calulations quicker than a DX250, you You wriare not getting the full performance of a DX2 66. You wri You wriBe warned though that some processors may fail because of this syncro- You wrinisation problem. You wri You wriIf it works for you fine, go ahead, but I would warn others to be You wricareful when trying it. You wri You wriYou must be pretty hooked on Nascar to try and eek out that little You wriextra bit of performance. You wriMind you, its probably a habit caught from too much time in the Nascar garage..... You wri You wriRegards You wri You wri You wriJed You wri You wri You wriNeil Jedrzejewski You wriPCS Internet You wri You wri3 Hill View, Mill End, Northleach, Cheltenham, Glos., GL54 3HJ. You wri

What will happen of course is that the computers clock speed will be changed. You find that time will now be moving at a considerably enhanced rate. ************************************************************************* "Miserable mortals who.... at one moment flame with life.... at another moment weakly perish" The lliad Bk XXI L463, -Homer 700BC

>What will happen of course is that the computers clock speed will be changed. >You find that time will now be moving at a considerably enhanced rate. Incorrect. IWR #70 Red Scorpion Barbecue Sauce Grand Prix Miskatonic Racing "Feel the Sting!!"