Is my CPU locked?

MR_MU53NDO

MR_MU53NDO

MR_MU53NDO

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ok, so i know it sounds like a stupid question, but i'm new to computer building.

so to build my new machine on a low budget, i pinched the Q6600 processor from my old Dell XPS 720. the only problem is, i heard from somewhere that cpus put into branded machines are on purposely locked, although i wasn't too sure about that.

Anyway, so i went into the BIOS the other day, and all the cpu figures (like freq, speed etc...) are greyed out. i have a feeling that it may be locked, but just to make sure, can someone confirm this (or prove me wrong). also, i there any possible way to unlock a locked cpu?
 
I have not herd of CPU being locked, its usually the motherboard which has locked features, what is the motherboard your using?


(Edit: as troops mentioned below the multiplier will be locked upward)
 
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It will be multiplier locked, it will be the dell bios that is locked down with few features.
In a decent overclockable motherboard it will be ok, although still locked multi upwards, not down.
 
hmm... Asus claims it has overclocking functions, through this thing called "turbo boost", but it doesn't appear to do anything when i toggle between on and off.
 
Just has a look at the manual if you go into the BIOS, go to advanced and then AI Overclocking and change this to manual this should allow you to make adjustments to the FSB. I should have mentioned the Multiplier would be locked upward.

Its been a while since I overclocked the Q6600 :(
 
Thanks for the help. i'll see what i can do on the bios. gotta go and do something, but when i do what you said, i'll tell you what happened.
 
right. i did a tiny bit of tweaking. the multiplier as you said, can't be changed, and fluctuates between 6X and 9X. i've upped the cpu host freq to 333mhz, and the pci express freq to 100. on control panel it still says @ 2.40ghz, but CPU Z says that it's between 2997mhz and 1998mhz (keeps changing). i increased the CPU Vcore by a bit, but mobo only allows in strange increments like +50mv and +100mv.
 
The multiplier changing is normal, Intel Speedstep, see my thread below.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17972811

At the moment slowly do what your doing, I suspect the motherboard does not have much overclocking options, but will give a slight boost.
When increasing the FSB check your ram speed, as this will increase as well, you might need to drop the ram multiplier down or change the ratio.
 
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