How To Overclock The Core 2 Duo's Voltage

By: Billy Zype

Looks like you're finally ready to start overclocking your Core 2 Duo CPU. Unfortunately, after downloading all of the overclocking software you need and even buying cooling equipment to handle your overclock, you find out that the motherboard your Core 2 Duo is seated in just won't cut it. Plopping down the money to purchase another motherboard just isn't in the cards, so how exactly can you exceed that voltage limitation that they've set on your motherboard? Easy! Bump the voltage of your CPU up by just using electrical tape and some conductive ink.

This mod will work on nearly all of the Core 2 Duo CPU's by connecting a few points with the conductive ink. In the past, these points where actually "pins" that you would simply bridge within the motherboard seating to achieve a similar overclock in voltage, but without them there, the process of overclocking becomes a lot easier.

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: 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 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: Start by connecting the three pins at row's two, three, and four on column four together. Then connect the pins at row two, column's three and four. Place a pin sized piece of tape over the pin at row three, column six.

- Overclock to 1.6v: Connect the pins at rows two, three, and four, column four and then connect the pins at row two, columns three and four. Also, you need to put piece of tape over the pin at row three, column five.

Overclock from 1.35v:

- Overclock to 1.4v: All you need to do is connect the two pins at row three, columns six and seven together.

- 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: Simply connect the pins together at rows two and three, column four.

- Overclock to 1.6v: Connect the pins at rows two and three, column four. Then connect the pins at row three, columns six and seven.

Overclocking from 1.325v:

- Overclock to 1.4v: Connect the first set of pins at row two, column's three and four. Then the second set of pins at row three, column's 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.