HighSpeed PC Athlon XP Unlocking Kit
Review by Paul

Products Supplied By: HighSpeed PC
Retail Price: $11.99 USD

Introduction:

With the release of the  Athlon XP processors by AMD a new problem for overclockers had awaken. Unlike the "older" Athlon Thunderbird processors where the L1 bridges could simply be connected with a few pencil strokes the XP processors have a "valley" in between each L1 bridge. Now as always there is a solution to this problem which makes it very simple and quite easy for enthusiasts to have the freedom of an unlocked multiplier. Unlike other methods which were mostly permanent the HighSpeed PC XP Unlocking Kit makes it simple with a well put together kit which is easily removable.

What's Included:

▫ 1 vial all purpose CLEANING AGENT
▫ 1 vial non-conductive GAP FILLER
▫ 1 vial CONDUCTIVE GREASE
▫ 1 pin applicator
▫ 1 6x Magnifying Glass (hands-free!)
 
▫ 5 Tape tabs for masking/cleaning
▫ Instruction sheet

Preparing the CPU:

Before you go an do anything with the kit it is recommended that the L1 bridges are completely clean and free of any obstructions or dirt. The best way to ensure this is to use an eraser and rub the L1 bridges clean. This will ensure that nothing will prevent conductivity between the bridges while unlocking the cpu. Also use the pin that is included in the kit and scrape the "valleys" in between the bridges prevent any dirt from getting trapped in there. Once the area is all clean it is now time to use the tape tabs that are included in the kit to prevent any possible mistakes such as crossing the bridges. First you place one tab of tape over the L3 bridge just to make sure you don't accidentally apply any gap filler or conductive grease on it. Next place a tab of tape over the top dots on the L1 bridges and as well on the bottom dots on the L1 bridges. This will prevent any chance of getting gap filler on the dots so that when you apply the conductive grease there is no gap filler in the way to prevent conductivity. Now that the processor is prepared lets got through the steps in using this kit.

Unlocking the Processor:

Step 1: After the processor is prepared for unlocking the first step of the unlocking process is to fill the gap or "valley" in between the L1 bridges. Simply slightly dip the pin in the gap filler placing just a drop of it on the pin and then fill each of the 5 "valleys". What this does is enable you to use the conductive grease and gain conductivity to each of the L1 bridges. After each gap is filled remove the tabs of tape to get ready for the next step.

Step 2: Once the gaps of each bridge are filled it is time to use the conductive grease. This is the most crucial part of the unlocking process. This step requires you to dip the pin in the conductive grease and connect each of the L1 bridges. What you must remember is to never cross the bridges with the conductive grease or it will not work. if this does occur though the great thing about this kit is that it is not permanent. If a mistake is made you can simply clean off the processor and repeat the process. This is basically the steps needed in order to unlock the processor.

Step 3: This next step is used to ensure that the kit worked. Place the processor back into the motherboard and test to see if you can change the multiplier. If you are successfully able to change the multiplier and boot into your OS then the process was a success. If you are not able to redo the process. This is the most likely situation which occurred to myself as well. It only took me two tries to successfully unlock my cpu. That is it. Three simple steps taken to easily unlock your Athlon XP multiplier.

Conclusion:

Once I had the multipliers on my Athlon XP 1800+ unlocked after only two tries I knew what a great success this kit is. With everything you need in order to unlock the multiplier and even a great magnifying glass at a price of $11.99 this kit is the best I have seen. There is enough material to unlock about 25 processors so this it is sure to last for a while. After successfully unlocking the multiplier it has been problem free for about a week now. The grease is supposed to last quite a while without having to reapply it frequently. So if you are an enthusiast looking for a simple, easy and affordable way to unlock your Athlon XP processor I certainly recommend the HighSpeed PC unlocking kit.

Pros:

▫ Great price, ease of use
▫ Unlocks at least 25 processors
▫ Thorough instructions included
▫ Magnifying glass included

Cons:

▫ Might require a few tries

Award:

With the review concluded the HighSpeed PC unlocking kit receives the HardwarePub Editors Choice Award.

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