The OLPC XO gets overclocked, loses its innocence

It's safe to assume that if you're using one of OLPC's XO laptops, you're not exactly a speed demon. Still, you probably wouldn't mind squeezing a little more power out of that innocuous Geode CPU -- and now there's a way to do it. The cats and kittens over at OLPC News have discovered a way to (relatively) safely overclock your system using a shortcut at the open firmware prompt. At least one reader reports a 21.8 percent boost in system speed, and claims that bumping the 433MHz processor to 588MHz, and the 166MHz RAM to 233MHz has resulted in a much smoother ride with Ubuntu. Of course, if you decide to try this, keep in mind that just like overclocking the big boys, you could explode your system, restart the Cold War, or attract tons of vampires.

[spaceb @ Mar 27th 2008 2:06AM]

One step closer to run Crysis.

[Nathan @ Mar 27th 2008 2:14AM]

And two steps back for the effort to do away with useless memes.

[andres @ Mar 27th 2008 2:22AM]

3 steps back for mentioning blending so nobody else will

[michas_pi @ Mar 27th 2008 2:25AM]

But five steps forward for knowing that Doom will now comfortably run.

[Nathan @ Mar 27th 2008 2:26AM]

"Philanthropic smoke, don't breathe this."

[emailtabs @ Mar 27th 2008 5:48AM]

I for one welcome our lovingly crafted childfriendly thirdworld roming overlords!.

(Sorry!)

[Barbaric @ Mar 27th 2008 9:23AM]

And FTW, it looks like an iPhone rip-off. Apple invented overclocking.


(not really, its sarcasm)
Don't hate the player, hate the game!

[macona @ Mar 27th 2008 2:31PM]

@Barbaric

Actually the Mac was one of the first computers to be overclocked. I remember overclocking my Mac IIsi from 20Mhz to 25Mhz by desoldering the 40MHz cpu oscillator and installing a 50MHz oscillator. At that time intel chips were frequency locked with a PLL so I was told. I think this was around 1991.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Mar 27th 2008 2:18AM]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering did the person buy it just to overclock it? I mean if he knows how to overclock a computer, chances are that he's not a kid anymore. Sad.

[Nathan @ Mar 27th 2008 2:26AM]

What's sad about toying with a gadget? After all, that's what this is. If you find it so unbelievable that someone would take a device and try to modify it to do something it's not intended to do, or perhaps MORE than it is intended to do, then why do you even read Engadget in the first place?

[Reneer @ Mar 27th 2008 2:27AM]

Or maybe the person did the G1G1 thing and donated an XO to a child that needed it. And now has an XO of his own sitting around to tinker with and help develop so future iterations of the XO will be even more useful to kids who cannot afford other laptops.

[Ubuntu 7.10 WindowsXP @ Mar 27th 2008 2:29AM]

Yeah, because it is not like he just bought it for the whole "Give the charity" thing. Nobody gives to charity these days, Kero.

[cmonkey @ Mar 27th 2008 2:36AM]

566mhz, not 588mhz. It's not that 22mhz is a big deal; it's just that 588mhz isn't a possible multiple of the FSB.

[Shawn @ Mar 27th 2008 2:59AM]

All we need now is an NVDIA 9 series in this baby. Oh yeah!

[Adrian @ Mar 27th 2008 8:33AM]

It'll have to be the AMD 3870X2, the Geode is an amd processor after all

[fusion @ Mar 27th 2008 5:49AM]

UGLY MACHINE, LOOKS LIKE A 3 YEAR OLDS ABC VTEC COMPUTER

[Danger @ Mar 27th 2008 6:08AM]

Yes, but you type like a three year old.

[w00t @ Mar 27th 2008 9:05AM]

How appropriate, it will suit you perfectly :)

[emailtabs @ Mar 27th 2008 10:11AM]

You had a VTEC three years ago?

[Fusion @ Mar 27th 2008 1:22PM]

at least i have a macbook!!!!!! HAH

[barrywoods @ Mar 27th 2008 1:56PM]

Try to do this with you macbook, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBoghPvyhts#

I know for a fact it will not survive, I've fixed enough of them... Yea, it's kinda ugly, but so were the first gen iBooks.

[fusion @ Mar 27th 2008 6:34AM]

Ugly laptop, who would want to hack that, it's trash, fugly and no DANGER your the 3 year old you want the crappy machine. LOL

[r0d3nt @ Mar 27th 2008 12:38PM]

Why not?

[Chris @ Mar 27th 2008 2:41PM]

Next thing you know all those kids in Africa will be overclocking their OLPC's.

[Wwhat @ Mar 28th 2008 12:42AM]

Makes sense that you can Oc it since it's designed to be used in hot areas with no AC available.
I'm not sure it would be practical to try it if you are in some hot area though.

[Linh @ Mar 28th 2008 3:25AM]

@fusion: let go of daddy's computer and do your homework

[Asus Eee PC @ Apr 12th 2008 6:31PM]

Here is one that has been around awhile showing how to get it to 900MHZ safely - http://www.eeesale.com/Asus-Eee-PC-overclock-Benchmarks.htm