Overclocking The Voltage Of The Intel Core 2 Duo Series

By Billy Zype

You've finally decided to overclock that Core 2 Duo processor you have. Issue is, even with all the proper overclocking software and the right heat prevention gear for your components, your processor still can't output the necessary voltage to get this thing started. Instead of simply throwing away your motherboard and buying a new one, through using a variation on the "pin-mod" overclocking technique, you can easily alter the voltage with just some electrical tape and conductive ink.

All it will take is for you to jump a few pins on your Core 2 Duo CPU and you're done with the voltage overclock. These "pins" use to stick out of the processor, making a pin-mod like this a little bit more complicated, involving a paper clip and direct work on the motherboard. But now that the pins are simply flat on the board, all you need to do is bridge the right pins and you're good to go!

Before we begin, make sure to note what voltage your processor is. The default voltage of the Core 2 Duo CPU's will either be 1.2875v, 1.35v, or 1.325v and as this mod will work on any Core 2 Duo processor from the E6300 to the X6800, you'll want to take a look at the box it came in or online for which voltage yours is.

You'll be able to overclock your CPU to a voltage from 1.4v to 1.6v depending on what it's default voltage is. You don't need to perform a lower voltage modification to get to the higher one, simply establish what voltage you plan on overclocking your Core 2 Duo to and follow the instructions below it.

Begin by placing the chip on an area of static resistant material. The arrow on the CPU should be facing towards the lower right corner from the direction that you are viewing it. All of the modifications will be in the top left side of the chip. Use the electrical tape to cover the pins you won't be connecting, and the conductive ink to connect the proper pins as detailed out below.

Overclock from 1.2875v:

- Overclock to 1.41v: Connect the first set of pins at row two, column's three and four. Then the second set of pins at row's four and five, column four.

- Overclock to 1.46v: Connect the two pins at row two, columns three and four, then connect the pin at row two, column four to the pin at row three, column four. Also, you need to put piece of tape over the pin at row three, column six.

- Overclock to 1.51v: Connect the two pins at row two, column's three and four together, then connect the pin at row two, column four to the pin at row three, column four.

- Overclock to 1.56v: Connect the pins at rows two, three, and four, column four and then the pins at row two, columns three and four. Place a pin sized piece of tape over the pin at row three, column six. Also, you need to put piece of tape over the pin at row three, column six.

- Overclock to 1.6v: Start by connecting the pins at rows two, three, and four, column four. Then you should connect the pins at row two, columns three and four. You will need to cover the pin at row three, column five with electrical tape.

Overclock from 1.35v:

- Overclock to 1.4v: Simply connect the pins together at row three, columns six and seven.

- Overclock to 1.45v: Start by connecting the pins together at rows two and three, column four, then cover the pin at row four, column four with electrical tape.

- Overclock to 1.5v: The first set of pins are row's two and three, column four. The second set of pins are row three, column's six and seven. Place a pin sized piece of tape over the pin at row four, column four.

- Overclock to 1.55v: You will need to connect the two pins together at row's two and three, column four.

- Overclock to 1.6v: Start by connecting the pins at rows two and three, column four, and then connect the pins at row three, columns six and seven together.

Overclocking from 1.325v:

- Overclock to 1.4v: Connect the pins at row two, columns three and four, and then the pins at row three, columns six and seven.

- Overclock to 1.45v: Start by connecting the two pins at row two, column's three and four together, then connect the pin at row two, column four to the pin at row three, column four. Place a pin sized piece of tape over the pin at row four, column four.

View complete diagrams on overclocking a Core 2 Duo plus get the necessary overclocking software before you begin