i want to overclock my athlon 2500+ to 2.2 GHz because it lets me use my 400MHz ram to its full potential. I have an Vantec aeroflow heatsink(copper core) on it. it runs at 32 degrees. now when i am not overclocked its stable but when i overclock it to 2.2 GHz it is stable and runs at 32 degrees still but after like 5 minutes then it just shuts off without warning. No overheating warnings the heat doesnt even move it just shuts off. please help. My Comp Amd Barton 2500+ Abit NF7-S MOBO Crusial 512 mb PC3200 GeForce 4 Ti4400 420 watt p/s

You need to raise the core voltage of the CPU, you're asking it to do more work without giving it the power, consult your motherboard's manual/website for info on how to raise the "vcore". Be aware that raising the vcore will bump up temps, but with 32C I think you'll be fine ;-) I don't suffer from insanity, I embrace it.

Another possible culprit is your RAM. Bump up Vdimm a notch to see if it happens again. Your mobo and chip should be very easy to be OCed to 2.2 GHz even without touching Vcore.

Vcore and vram are crucial here, you will find that if you up your vram to 2.7 and up your vcore to, say, 1.7 - 1.75 you should be fine. If that works, which it should, you may be able to go a bit further, once you attain stability at 2.2GHz, try increasing the FSB 1-2MHz at a time. For this you will probably need to increase vram to 2.8. Just remember, you can keep increasing your vcore, so long as your temps remain at an acceptable level, additionally, make sure you take the ambient and case temp into consideration. BTW, for future reference, if your computer sh!ts itself after 5 minutes of operation, it ain't stable. Adam

I'm running the same combo at 10.5x219 with stock voltages and it's rock solid stable. It can also run stable at 11.5x200 at stock voltages. So I think Vcore~1.65-1.7V should be ok for you, Vdimm=2.7~2.8V should be fine too. Remember your board's max Vdimm is only 2.9V if you haven't modded it. Another thing you may want to check is your NB cooler. See if it's loose or not doing its job properly. Just a side note: Apple computers may or may not suck, but their big flat panel monitors are the best :).

TXH, what board and cooler are you using? Have you modded the board in any way? Adam

I'm using a NF7-S 2.0 and unlocked 2500+, plus 1GB dual channel (don't laugh at me on this, I got a great deal on these sticks) TwinX 3200LLPt. My cooler is a SLK-947U with a smart II fan with a home made (card board) intake hood connected to a front intake fan. There is another front intake fan to cool other components and also a rear exhaust fan. My temps are 37C idle and 44C load with RT~24C. I haven't modded the board and don't plan to. With 1:1 CPU ratio, I've got great performance out of the set up.