Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!yunexus!xrtll!silver
From: silver@xrtll.uucp (Hi Ho Silver)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Change clock speed on 386SX motherboard?
Message-ID: <1991Jan6.224718.14039@xrtll.uucp>
Date: 6 Jan 91 22:47:18 GMT
References: <1991Jan5.040434.15650@d.cs.okstate.edu> <1991Jan5.192547.20804@d.cs.okstate.edu>
Reply-To: silver@xrtll.UUCP (Hi Ho Silver)
Organization: Yeah, right.
Lines: 25

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware, ong@d.cs.okstate.edu wrote:
$My question is, is there any remote possibility that the 386SX-16 
$will run at 20MHz.  The memory on the motherboard is ready to run at

   There is a possibility, yes, but I don't know how remote it is.  The way
most speed-sensitive chips are produced is in one batch.  They set a quota
of how many high-speed parts are needed and then they test each chip from the
batch at that speed.  Those which pass are marked for high speed operation;
those which fail are marked for low speed.  But once they have their quota,
the rest are not tested at high speed and are simply marked as low speed.
As I said, that's the common method; there's no guarantee that it applies
to the 386SX.

   Assuming the 386SX is produced in that manner, you could have a chip that
failed the test, or you could have one that's never been tested.  Do you want
to roll the dice?  Chances are pretty good that you won't damage anything if
your chip won't run at the higher speed, although the higher the speed, the
more heat is generated, so you'll want to make sure you have _lots_ of air
movement.  You could cause a chip to fail if it runs too hot; you'll certainly
reduce its life expectancy.
-- 
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