Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 28, 2008 at 9:48:51 pm
Thanks for posting this. But having the system clock going too fast seems like a bad idea. Lots of apps rely on it. Files are always time stamped. It could even cause problems with Time Machine or Final Cut's autosave.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 29, 2008 at 8:12:48 am
[Arnie Schlissel]"OK, I finally read the article, but it didn't say anything about internal temperature."
It's just prior knowledge I have. The way overclocking works is that you increase the system bus speed to a certain point where your machine becomes unstable. So in order to push it further, you need to increase the voltage going to the CPU which in effect makes it stable again so you can keep increasing the speed. But by increasing the voltage you are increasing the temperature.
The Intel Core 2 series (what the Mac Pro's Xeon is part of) is known for being able to overclock quite a bit without increasing the voltage. Regardless, this tool doesn't alter your voltage, so increased heat is not an issue. Even if it did, the Mac Pro already has excessive overkill in regards to CPU cooling.
[Arnie Schlissel]"Anyway, I'd be leery about doing this on a machine used for anything critical without rigorous testing."
Agreed. The system clock being off would concern me. Also, increasing the system bus causes your PCI cards to run at faster than intended speed. This could cause problems with a Kona, for example.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Michael Bloodgood on Jun 29, 2008 at 8:41:36 am
[Sean ONeil]"The Intel Core 2 series (what the Mac Pro's Xeon is part of) is known for being able to overclock quite a bit without increasing the voltage. Regardless, this tool doesn't alter your voltage, so increased heat is not an issue. Even if it did, the Mac Pro already has excessive overkill in regards to CPU cooling.
"
Slightly incorrect. The Xeon shares the Core Micro Architecture (which by the way is a marketing term) of the Core 2 Duo but is not a part of the Core 2 Duo series. The Core 2 Duo is an excellent overclocking chip. The Xeon is downright lousy. And when it comes to real overclocking (not this change the system bus with a program BS) it all has to do with the motherboard hardware and the BIOS (which Macs don't use a BIOS).
This is all a mute point anyway cause in non mac land, you don't overclock Xeons. Period. Motherboard designers don't build easy or extensive overclocking features into server motherboards which, lest we all forget, the Xeon is a server processor. Overclocking is for gamers.
I'm with Sean on this one, the things that this program alters is asking for kernal panics.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 29, 2008 at 9:09:16 am
[Michael Bloodgood]"Xeon is downright lousy. And when it comes to real overclocking (not this change the system bus with a program BS) it all has to do with the motherboard hardware and the BIOS"
I don't doubt what you say is true, but typically there's no difference between chips of the same type - a 2.6ghz Xeon and a 3.2ghz Xeon come from the same assembly line and are essentially the same (except for the clock multiplier and perhaps passing a QC test). My understanding is that the when overclocking any of these newer Intel chips, the memory will clonk out long before the CPU does.
But yeah, the whole idea is a bad one and almost pointless. It won't let you do things you couldn't already do. If you get a 12 minute render to take 9 minutes instead - I don't see any great value in that. If render times are really important one can always setup Qmaster. For serious improvements, this Snow Leopard 10.6 thing looks like it could have a major game-changing impact (that 12 minute render becomes 12 seconds).
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 28, 2008 at 11:26:27 pm
[Arnie Schlissel]"I'd be very careful about doing this kind of thing. In particular, you should probably keep a close eye on the internal temperature."
This won't affect the system temperature. That only happens when you increase the voltage to the CPU (which this program doesn't do).
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Lu Nelson on Jul 2, 2008 at 11:07:29 am
I think the problem with the system clock is that it could affect playback speed, sync etc. I think when you overclock with this utility the mac basically doesn't have a real sense of time anymore
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Zane Barker on Jun 30, 2008 at 4:31:18 pm
Dont be so sure, one day your machine will not turn on because you fried the processor and motherboard, sure they will start the repair under warranty, but once thy turn it on to test it they will notice your little hack, and then hand you the big fat bill.
Its not worth the risk.
There are no "technical solutions" to your "artistic problems".
Don't let technology get in the way of your creativity!
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 30, 2008 at 5:10:30 pm
This app cannot fry the motherboard or the processor. It is just software that runs in the OS. It doesn't increase core voltage, it doesn't increase heat generation. Even if it did
Worst possible case scenario is that you have trouble starting up your system disk and you have re-install OSX - upon which there will be no trace of this overclocking app whatsoever.
Again, I think using this app is a very bad idea for several reasons. But voiding your warranty is not one of them.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jun 30, 2008 at 9:39:01 pm
[Zane Barker]"I am sorry but anything that overlocks the CPU is going to generate more heat, thus increasing the possibility of frying the CPU or the logic board."
Don't be sorry. Just do some research and understand why you're wrong.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Sean ONeil on Jul 1, 2008 at 2:44:13 am
You're very misguided on this issue Zane. I'm sorry.
Yes, if a CPU is running at 3.2ghz, it will generate more heat than running at 1ghz. This is true for all CPUS. If you are rendering in Compressor, it will put out more heat than if it's sitting idle. Overclocking has nothing to do with it. The Xeon in a Mac Pro is rated up to 3.2ghz. That's why there are 3.2ghz Mac Pros for sale. So the temperature will NEVER exceed spec using this software based overclocker. It is physically impossible.
REAL overclocking involves increasing the core voltage. This is where significant excess heat comes from. This is where advanced cooling may be required. This is where you could potentially damage your computer.
But whatever, I don't know why I'm arguing with you over this. I'll make you a deal. If you can fry your Mac Pro's CPU with this utility, I'll give you 10 thousand dollars.
Re: OT- Over clocking Mac Pro utility by Chris Borjis on Jul 1, 2008 at 7:55:47 pm
[Zane Barker]"Dont be so sure, one day your machine will not turn on because you fried the processor and motherboard, sure they will start the repair under warranty, but once thy turn it on to test it they will notice your little hack, and then hand you the big fat bill."
I'm not the overclocking type of person anyway, as stability is paramount, but if it was something that would require "hacking" there is no way I would risk it.
for example, cracking open a playstation 3. no way.
