Ddayton,

Thank you for using the Dell | Talk forum.

Try changing the CPU Speed setting in the bios.
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Enter Bios:
Using the F2 key the user may enter System Setup program.
If you are having trouble entering setup using this key,
press the F2 key when the keyboard leds 1st flash.
Also, (Ctrl-Alt-Enter) key sequence will still work.
Once you are in the System Setup Program (BIOS),
the top of the screen will read: Dell Dimension 8200

Changing the processor detection method:
Use the Down Arrow to highlight (CPU Information.)
Press Enter.
Have the (CPU Speed) setting highlighted.
Use the Right Arrow key to change it to either (Normal or Compatible.)
Once that is done, press the ESC key.
Press Enter on Save Change and Exit, and reboot the system.
Go back into the system bios and check the processor speed setting.

You may need to try either setting to see which one works the best.
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If the CPU speed is still not being recognized correctly, upgrade your system
bios and reset the bios settings.

Upgrading your bios:
1.Go to the following web page:

2.Type in your service tag, and click the "GO" button.
3.Click on the "Downloads" button.
4.Step 1...choose your operating system.
5.Step 3...choose "Flash Bios updates." and click "GO"
6.Click on "Dell Dimension System Bios."
7.Click on "Dell Dimension System Bios XXXXX" again.
8.Click on the file name: BD820005.exe
9.Download the file to your desktop.

Once you have downloaded the file, put a blank formatted disk in the system.
Double click the file, and follow the prompts to create the bios upgrade disk.
Once the disk is created, leave it in the system and reboot the system.
The Bios upgrade will occur as the system boots up, and reads the disk.

Entering Bios:
1.Using the F2 key the user may enter System Setup program.
If you are having trouble entering setup using this key,
press the F2 key when the keyboard leds 1st flash.
Also, (Ctrl-Alt-Enter) key sequence will still work.
Once you are in the System Setup Program (BIOS),
the top of the screen will read: Dell Dimension 8200

2.Resetting the default settings.
Press and activate the following keys.
(Capslock, Scroll Lock, Num Lock.)
When all three keyboard lights are lit, press the following keys.
( ALT-E )
With the keyboard lights lit, Clears the ESCD information stored in the NVRAM.
( ALT-F )
Resets all fields in the system setup to their factory default settings.
ALT-D With an individual field highlighted, resets the field to its factory default.
(ALT-B)
Exits System Setup, saving any changes, and reboots the system.
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If the problem still persists, you may want to verify the processor is working
correctly.
You can use the Intel Processor Frequency ID, to find the
speed, model and other information of your processor.
You can download the Processor Frequency ID at the following location.
http://support.intel.com/support/processors/tools/frequencyid/download.htm

If the Processor ID program gives you the same reading as the bios, then contact
the vendor your purchased the processor from and request a replacement.

I have a Dell Dimension XPS T600 fitted from new (December 2000) with a Pentium (R) III processor running at a clock speed of 600MHz. The Maximum clock speed for this according to Dell system Profiler is 1200MHz. BIOS is A11 release date 10/31/200.

Is it possible to increase the actual clock speed without changing/ upgrading anything else? 

If so how? (System setup doesn't give any option for changing clock speed - not that I can  see, anyway).

If not, what else would I need to do?

PS Powerleapers, I do not recommend the moderators suggested action on Powerleaped PC's. Put my computer into extreme slow down. As soon as I could after windows load, I went back in to bios and changed to "normal" and fortunately it is now running at correct speed. Scarey to say the least! I am running the latest bios. (I also get a boot message now that I just ignore with no problems so far, but it is definately something I would not try again).

Message Edited by dogin on 12-27-2003 12:27 PM

Message Edited by dogin on 12-29-2003 07:48 AM

OK, sorry, perhaps I should have started a new thread.

Thanks for the  reply, but must say I am a bit confused now -  by CPU do you mean the Pentium III chip, or is that just one of the items mounted in the CPU? I thought the CPU and Pentium III chip were same thing, mounted in the motherboard?

The Dell System Profiler says Maximum Clock speed for the P III is 1200MHz and Current Clock Speed is only 600MHz, so what needs to be changed to remove the restriction? Or am I stuck with 600MHz?

Message Edited by dogin on 12-29-2003 07:54 AM

OK, I'll get a new CPU.

 I misunderstood The Dell System Profiler to mean max clock speed of current CPU is 1200MHz but limited to 600MHz by something else in the system, rather than sytem max 1200MHz limited to 600MHz by CPU.

Thank you.