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"DELL systems unclockable?"

Hi,

I have a DELL computer and when I go into the BIOS with the F2 key (well, I think it's the BIOS. It's called SETUP) there's only one blue page. There's quite a few things on this page like boot sequence, system time, cpu speed, memory info, etc, but I've noticed that only one option for each item can be changed. Like under "memory infomation" the AGP aperture size can be changed but the "system memory speed" can't. I was wondering if this was because I'm not in the BIOS or if simply DELL has put some sort of block on overclocking?

I've heard when people talk about the BIOS that there are a few page screens to it, but on my computer there appears to be only one.

I can't seem to change the speed of anything there. All the things with speed is coloured in blue and can't be changed.

WickedWare wrote:
> Windows 98

A gaping chasm in an otherwise flawless plan

That's interesting, Miser.

I think I'm gonna forget about trying to overclock this computer and instead make a more powerful one from scracth. Bit by bit... and use Windows 98 for the OS as I love playing old games (that's if todays graphics cards still support it).

Thanks for all the info here. I'm never gonna buy a Dell again!

WickedWare wrote:
> Everything on a DELL system seems to be always modified by DELL (I
> know my G-Force 3 card has been for a fact). I guess they don't like
> people messing about with their computers after purchase.

The real reason is so that you have to do all your upgrading and parts-replacement via DELL, who obviously charge a premium. For instance, a DELL power supply is exactly the same as a normal PSU, except two pins in the plug connecting to the motherboard are reversed, meaning you're locked into buying their motherboards and their PSUs. Fortunately DELL don't hobble their processors or RAM sticks, it would be too expensive to.

Dell systems are very difficult to overclock, that is if you can, so unless you really know what you are doing, which I doubt because you would not be asking if you did, just don't do it. You could quite easily end up with a dead PC.

Both them BIOS screens look similar to what I see except there's no sub pages to go into! Just a long vertical list of settings. I wish I had a digital camera to show you.

Everything on a DELL system seems to be always modified by DELL (I know my G-Force 3 card has been for a fact). I guess they don't like people messing about with their computers after purchase.

http://www.sine-wave.net/stuff/majorf-up/DSC02924.jpg is what you should see in the overclocking options.

If you flash your BIOS with an image for the motherboard model you have, you should get all your options back.

But then if Dell have modified your motherboard at all it will break irreperably.

I take no responsibility for what you decide to do :)

When you go into the bios you should normally see a blue screen with a number of sub menus that you can access by highlighting them and pressing the enter key.

Like this:

http://home.datacomm.ch/h-w/students/ pics/bios-award-screen.jpg

Hi,

I have a DELL computer and when I go into the BIOS with the F2 key (well, I think it's the BIOS. It's called SETUP) there's only one blue page. There's quite a few things on this page like boot sequence, system time, cpu speed, memory info, etc, but I've noticed that only one option for each item can be changed. Like under "memory infomation" the AGP aperture size can be changed but the "system memory speed" can't. I was wondering if this was because I'm not in the BIOS or if simply DELL has put some sort of block on overclocking?

I've heard when people talk about the BIOS that there are a few page screens to it, but on my computer there appears to be only one.

I can't seem to change the speed of anything there. All the things with speed is coloured in blue and can't be changed.