🚀 go-pugleaf

This is a report on overclocking using the 'how-to' guide in the
overclocking FAQ.  I bought a 66.6667Mhz TTL oscillator module from TECS
(La Trobe St, Melbourne ) for $11.00.  This was to replace the existing
50.0000Mhz Kyocera oscmod on my 486SX/25 motherboard.  A small roll of
desoldering braid from Jaycar cost $3. 

The whole process took two hours, including dismantling the PC and
removing the motherboard, and re-assembly.  The trickiest part, as I
expected, was getting the original oscmod off.  Desoldering braid is not
ideal but it got a fair bit of the solder off the four pins.  A
desoldering sucker might be better, but it's not worth spending $20 or
more just for one job.  Eventually I had to apply gentle leverage to the
oscmod with a screwdriver and remove one pin at a time.  The desoldering
braid cleaned up the pads and holes.  NB: Do note which way the dot or
cut-off corner goes.  I didn't and cursed my self, but fortunately my
board had an outline showing the corner.  The final job is to cut off the
excess pins with side-cutters. 

I put everything back together and ran Norton Sysinfo.  Bingo -- my PC is
now designated a 33Mhz machine.  Old vs new comparison is as follows: 

BEFORE:
                            *****************
                            *   CPU Speed   *
                            *****************

This       |
Computer   +****  35.8
           | 
INTEL      |
Pentium-66 +*********************  211.4
           | 
INTEL      |
486DX-33   +*******  71.2
           | 
INTEL      |
386DX-33   +****  35.9
           | 
           +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---
                50   100  150  200  250  300  350  400  450  500  550
                                      Computing Index
                                        
                         Main Processor: 80486SX, 25 MHz
                                         

AFTER:
                                *****************
                                *   CPU Speed   *
                                *****************

This       |
Computer   +*****  48.1
           | 
INTEL      |
Pentium-66 +*********************  211.4
           | 
INTEL      |
486DX-33   +*******  71.2
           | 
INTEL      |
386DX-33   +****  35.9
           | 
           +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+---
                50   100  150  200  250  300  350  400  450  500  550
                                      Computing Index
                                        
                         Main Processor: 80486SX, 33 MHz
                                         

Everything runs 20-25% faster.  I would rate it as a job worth doing with
the provision that it would be a definite advantage to have had some
experience soldering printed circuits.  I used a fine pointed temperature
controlled iron.  The tracks and solder pads on a motherboard are fine
and close together and your standard hardware shop 30-40 watt
chisel-pointed iron could be too brutal.  On my board the area around the
oscmod was not heavily populated, which made things easier. 

Bernie