Evening Forum,

I see in the current computer tournament that a number of the units are overclocked. How easy is this achieved in the real world and what is involved.

I don't want and go balls up my Lyon or Genius modules. What are the practical frequency limits and would I need additional components like frequency crystals etc.!?

As an electrical engineer I do have a reasonable background in electronics and building electronic circuit boards.

However, as stated earlier, I would rather not blow hundreds of Euros on an idea?

Thanks All.

Hi,

the typical frequency limit for your lyon module set (if you are talking about a 68020 module set) is 24,576 MHz, but obviously some do not work above 22 MHz - don't ask me why.

You need the corresponding crystal of course and a CPU able to work at these frequencies. IIRC 16 MHZ CPUs will work up to 24 MHz. Next you have to change the display module too, as the original display don't support such frequencies. Unfortunately it seems, that these displays are not available anymore.

I never got such a module set, nor i ever tuned one. Maybe someone else can tell you some more. As you tell us about your reasonable background, you might simply swap the crystal and check out for the highest possible frequency, your module set will work without any other changes. I don't think, there would be any risk. I guess, your module set is working at 12,288 MHz at the moment? Just try a 18,432 MHz crystal to get a 50% speed up. Either your module set will run stable, or it just do not start. In the ladder case you may try some slower crystals.

Concerning the Genius module set i don't know anything about tuning opportunities. Isn't it a 68030 Module set, already working at 33 MHz? I guess, there is no reasonable tuning possible, as long as you don't want to spend thousands of dollars, changing the whole system to a fast 68060 CPU...

Kind regards, Willi

Yes, it's different in each module (board?). The Vancouver 68020 24MHz that participates in the online-wm runs at exactly 24.000MHz - 24.576 results in display problems after about an hour run time.

There seems to be only one module that was faster than 24.576: Julius (participant of online wm 2007/08 and 2008/09) claimed to have even 26MHz in his vancouver module. Alas, I never saw his module.

The Lyon 30MHz in the current online wm is something different: It's an old Almeria Tournament machine with a Lyon update given by H+G themselves.

Best regards,
Dirk

[lang=en]Hi Eber,
Do you now where I can find a tutorial for changing the quartz on a 68020 Lyon modul ?
Thanks[/lang]

I guess, there is no such tutorial available. As i told two years ago, i never tuned those 68020 module sets. But it should be quite a simple job. Just remove the cover from the keyboard module and locate the crystal. Then replace it by a faster one. But don't exceed 24,576 MHz, as your module set won't work at higher frequencies. The crystal's replacement is easy to do, if you are familar with solder pens.

After tuning the module set, your display module will not work any longer. The only workaround is to replace the display too, but till now i don't know where to get "faster" displays. As long as you can't replace the display too, it is simply nonsense to dream on 24 MHz for your module set. You may try a crystal of 18,432 MHz - maybe your original display will accept this frequency, but i can't promise. In this case your module set ist exactly 50% faster than before. Not really much, but you will already note a slight increment of playing strength.

That's all for this evening - i have to proceed with my job...

Kind regards, Wilfried

BTW: If you want to use my forum nick instead of my name, please make sure to use it in a correct way: EberlW and not Eber

[lang=en]OK , Danke Wilfied. Entschuldigung , aber Ich habe gedacht das war Eber.LW weil EberLW kann ich nicht aussprechen ![/lang]

[lang=en]Sorry Wilfried[/lang]

[lang=en]But Wilfried ,the display modul of the Genius 68030 really look the same and works at 33Mhz , is the inside changed ? they are hard to find anyway and if you have to buy the cpu modul with it ,it will cost way too much !(1700 E last ebay sale )
But is it simply possible to replace a 68020 cpu by a 68030 or even a 68040 ?
That would be great as those cpu are now cheap (obsolete but still possible to find)
Regards[/lang]

Hi dankal,

the Genius module works with 33MHz, but it connects to the display with a lower speed. I don't know exactly but I guess it's 16MHz - that's why the normal display module works with the Genius.

The 68020 modules connect to the display with their original clock speed - that's OK for their standard speed but becomes a problem if you put the clock speed higher than 16..18MHz.

A few years ago, there was a replacement display available that was able to drive higher frequencies up to 24Mhz that could be soldered into the display module. Unfortunately, these displays were quite sensitive to the higher voltage you need to drive the overclocked module (up to 6V), so many of them died. Today, we don't know any compatible replacement display that's able to drive 24MHz.

As a consequence, I wouldn't recommend tuning your module to 24MHz now. Better stay at a lower speed (16..18MHz) and stay with the original display. Then you also don't need to exchange the CPU with a version that's able to drive 24MHz (which would have been necessary with 24MHz since you can't drive the 12MHz version that high).

Regards,
Dirk

[lang=en]Hi Dirk
Thanks very much for those explenations. I guess it's no use to change the 68020 for a 68030 if it stays at 12 mhz. I will keep my Lyon at is original speed,its too bad because it is much stronger at 24mhz, it roars much louder!
Regards[/lang]