PC Overclocking, Optimization, and Tuning - 2th Edition

Overclocking Intel Pentium Pro Processors

It is commonly supposed that Intel Pentium Pro processors are not suitable for overclocking. However, processors of this type run in overclocked modes just as well as other processors of the Pentium and Pentium MMX classes.

Everything that was said about the Pentium and Pentium MMX processors applies as well to the Intel Pentium Pro. The main goal of the overclocker when dealing with this processor is raising the host bus frequency.

Intel Pentium Pro processors are intended for use at a bus frequency of 50 or 60 MHz. Overclocking this type of processor requires that you set a higher host bus frequency — 66 MHz for example. The noticeable performance gain that you will achieve is due to both the higher clock frequency of the processor as well as the faster speed of data transfer by the host bus.

The most significant performance growth is achieved for Pentium Pro 180 MHz overclocked to 233 MHz, and for Pentium Pro 200 MHz overclocked to 266 MHz. However, this is not always possible by simply raising the bus frequency. As in the case of the Intel Pentium and Pentium MMX processors, you'll need to increase the voltage supplied to the processor to guarantee stability.

Taking into account relatively high prices of these processors, you must be very careful when increasing the voltage in the course of the overclocking procedure — although several cases were reported where processors of this type worked reliably at a voltage of 4.6 V for a long time period.

You must remember that an overclocked processor needs proper cooling.

Despite all the difficulties, Intel Pentium Pro processors are worth experimenting with to find the most effective overclocked mode as long as you take all the necessary precautions and always keep in mind how much the processor costs.

To analyze the temperature conditions of the computer more precisely and to estimate which cooling facilities are necessary, it is useful to have data on the power consumption. The table provided below contains data concerning the power consumption of Pentium Pro processors.