PCA Forums

predator i have a xp 2000 + and the guy thats is unlocking it can't get it unlocked

don't know what to tell ya. I've only unlocked 2 chips and both were Duron 1 Gig chips that u can do the pencil trick on to unlock them...

70chevelle:

I've unlocked two Athlon Palimino (1400+ through 2100+) XP chips, and it's not easy. You can't do the pencil trick to connect the L-1 bridges, like the T-bird enjoyed. Nope, you must fill the voids with non-conductive material, and then connect the L-1 bridges with conductive grease (again, not pencil lead). This requires a magnifying glass to properly see, and especially so you don't short the paths between bridges. Pencil lead does not work on the Palimino chips, as they require more conductivity (a better electrical connection with lower resistance) to short the bridges.

I strongly suggest this kit:

http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2/me ... ry_Code=OC

I bought a similar kit last year, and it works well. The latest Athlon XP Throughbred (2200+ and beyond) chips don't require all L-1 bridges to be connected. I believe they only need one pair on the end connected (#1 or #5, I don't remember which one). However, you have the Palimino chip, and that requires all five of the L-1 bridges to be connected.

Also, check out the September 2002 issue of Maximum PC, if you still have it. I don't seem to be able to find the article on-line at: http://www.maximumpc.com/
*&

Guys:

I did some double-checking on the Athlon XP Thoroughbred chips, and found that you don't mess with the L-1 bridges at all. Instead, you want to mess with the L-3 bridges, specifically L-3 bridge number 5. That's the one to connect for Athlon XP 2200+ and up (at least to the 2800+). Again, for the older Athlon XP Palimino series, you connect all five of the L-1 bridges....

ya well where can i get it unlocked

the guy that is unlocking it is using soder and wire

70chevelle:

If I were you, I would order that kit from highspeedpc, read up on the procedure at any number of on-line sites while waiting for it to arrive, and then I would sit down and do it myself. There is nothing like the satisfaction of doing something and succeeding at it.

If your buddy is seriously using solder and wire, then he does not know what he is doing; he may have already killed your chip in the process. If you are lucky, he only messed up the L-1 bridges, and removed the ability to unlock that chip. If you are not lucky, he has damaged the package and caused some internal trace melts from applying a hot soldering iron to traces that are not rated for this treatment. Get that Athlon out of his hands before it's too late....

Keep us informed as to what direction you are going.

What exactly does unlocking the CPU do for the user? Just Curious.. eGo

Ability to change multiplier settings so you can overclock without really adjusting your FSB.

Bigal,

Those pads will solder just fine. You just have to tack a small wire across. I have only done several hundred that way. We use Metcal equipment and we use B&L microscopes. It works very well.

I do agree that there are many hacks out there who should not have a soldering iron put in their hands. I have seen people try to use the Welller gun irons and others that could weld metal. Those are not pieces to use on a CPU. If you don't work on this type of stuff with the right equipment you will break it.

Saturn:

Based on what you said, I believe you. However, that seems like a risky way to connect those bridges, and it wouldn't take much to damage the processor. I think it would be much safer to use the unlocking kit, which can be easily removed should you either mess it up or if you need that processor locked again.

Personally, I don't know how you can hold that small piece of wire (what is it - 2 mm long?), which is hard to buy (what gauge - a strand of wire from a 22 gauge twisted pair?), and get it across that gap without having either a short to the ground bus within the gap, or a short to an adjacent wire. That takes some real soldering skills.

Anyway, ok. It can be done.

i got it unlocked and i'm overclocked two 1.740 max fsb with current v card

Bigal,

I have been in the business for 20 years and so has my wife who has much better soldering skills than anyone. We have worked on complete circuits that are no bigger than your fingernail. There is stuff we have worked on from here to mars.

You can use a strand from some 26awg stranded wire or even use some 40awg mag wire (harder to work with). I do have access to a lot of equipment that most people wouldn't be able to afford. I run the R&D labs for a large defense corporation.

I used to fill the gap but after doing some it was just as effective to jump over it. Use a tweezer to hold down the wire while applying the solder tip. My wife can do it faster than using condutive circuit ink.

Saturn:

You worked on spacecraft too? It's a small world. I used to work for Hughes - Space and Communications group. I was a component engineer, and then a system safety engineer. I saw the Galileo probe that was dropped into the atmosphere of Jupiter (http://www.seds.org/hst/JupGalPr.html), and we got our names listed on a CD-ROM that flew on another spacecraft. I've even been in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle. Those were the days....

Anyway, ok. You have the skill set necessary to work on the processors. Folks with your skills are one in a thousand, so most overclockers should stick with the unlocking kit - don't you agree?

70chevelle: Congratulations. How did you get your CPU unlocked?

It is a small world I work for Cubic Defense Applications, Inc. which used to be Cubic Defense Systems. I worked in a clean room for over 10 years. I have units on the shuttle (through sub contracts with Boeing,JHAPL, etc.) and lots of places. I do miss the space business, not many people understand S level parts.

I do agree unless you have a lot of good experience you should not solder on the processor. You would have been suprised what I saw on the " slot" processors that people tried themselves.

Anyway with no experience do not attempt to solder.