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From: ong@d.cs.okstate.edu (ONG ENG TENG)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Why I lower my CPU speed to 17.5MHz
Message-ID: <1991Feb5.172330.27155@d.cs.okstate.edu>
Date: 5 Feb 91 17:23:30 GMT
Organization: Oklahoma State University
Lines: 37

Well, after reading my review on Knights of the Sky in rec.games.misc,
one of our regulars asked me why I lowered by 386SX CPU speed
down to 17.5MHz.  Since I have discussed the CPU speed question on 
this net extensively, I felt obligated to post my answer.

After upping my 386SX from 16MHz to 20MHz (without heatsink or fan), it
worked fine, and still will if I choose to run it at that speed.  But 
after many hours of continuous operation, my fixed-HD (I have a
fixed-HD and a SyQuest removable where I run off most of
my softwares, the fixed-HD contains most "standard" programs like
system programs, word processors, graphics editor, terminal emulator,
etc, only) my fixed-HD started giving disk-read error.  To get rid of
it, I simply do warm-boot (NO turning off the power). 

I don't think the problem is due to the 20MHz directly, but indirectly.
I know that it takes more power to run at 20MHz, and my guess is that
it somehow affects the disk.  I think if I re-low-level format the disk,
it would be all right.  But since I don't have any extra SyQuest cartridge
at this time to backup my fixed-HD, that will have to wait.  I know I
don't make sense, but bear with me.  Computers are sometimes funny that
way, and so must my reaction be.

Thanks again for all the folks who contributed to the
speed-up-my-CPU discussion.  Some said they have upped it to 20MHz outright
and has no problem since, some said I should not hold down my finger
to the CPU (how pertinent to the ultimate aim of the discussion I don't know),
some said hot-chips are the way they like them.  Any how, I got as many 
*solid* encouragements as I got *solid* discouragements to go 20MHz. 
You can make a case both ways.

If once again I encounter a game that demands 20MHz (yes, like
Wing Commander 2), I will most likely switch it up to 20MHz again.  I simply
have to pop my casing, unplug the 35MHz oscilator, and pop in the 40MHz
oscillator, whole thing takes 5 minutes.  Right now I got 2 40MHz and
one 35MHz oscillators and guess what... I am keeping all of them!

E. Teng Ong (ong@d.cs.okstate.edu)