Overclocked Lynx?

[Tempest]

Check this out:

 

http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/01/28/1...tid=186&tid=207

 

It's a slashdot article on Gamespy's top 10 portables that didn't make it (which to them is basically anything other than a GBA, but I digress). Read down through the comments or do a search on 'overclocked'. There's a guy who claims he overclocked his Lynx to 1.5x speed. Is this actually possible?

 

Tempest

[Susuwatari]

I recall rading something somewhere but it may not be for Atari Lynx but rather a Lynx computer.

[SteveW]

I remember reading something about that years and years ago. I never really delved into it, though.

[+Mitch]

I seem to remember that somebody posted about overclocking the Lynx here about a year ago. Try doing a search of the forums and see if anything turns up.

 

Mitch

[chris_lynx1989]

i have a lynx one that is running at 25mhz now, so it can definitely be

done with one! it does definitely speed up the games on a lynx. the game

music and sound does not respond well to the faster speed though. it just

speeds up things 1 1/2 times the normal 16mhz the games generally are

running at. the sound and music comes off very fast like the stuff has just

inhaled helium and all. a little weird.

i like to turn my unit on and run battle wheels at 1 1/2 times normal speed

while i'm in the "super car mode". you can "really" blow the other cars on

the screen away fast! i'd like to see what several units like this would be

like when comlynxed up on battle wheels and some others.

games being programmed like this would not be very practical for most of

the lynxers out there though. you'd have to have several folks out there

with their lynx being done like mine is. also, you would have to modify a

howard board to be able to make games for it at the new speed. not a

practical thing for most people out there to do for the lynx.--the lynxer

[Susuwatari]

Ok can you remember how it was done? I'm assuming it's a swap of the oscillator?

[chris_lynx1989]

sure, i can tell you how i did it.

1.you need to get you a 24 or 25 mhz crystal.hard to find at radio shack

2.you really need to get you a lynx that is a model 1 or a 1 1/2. now.

a lynx 2 is too hard to do this to--i've tried it! very difficult to do.

3.you need to remove the small shield below the cart slot of the lynx 1 by

desolding it. there are four points on it to desolder---compared to the 10

that are on a lynx 2 unit!

4.remove the crystal by desoldering it on the two contact points

5.solder your new crystal in the same position

6.put back your shield and resolder it

you'll now have a lynx running at 24 or 25 mhz. it will now be running at

only 24 or 25 mhz. you should have more than one lynx when doing this.

if you have other questions,send me a private message here on aa.

---the lynxer

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I have known about this for awhile. I also remember reading that some games simply didn't take to the new speed at all. On some you just get a black screen..but can still hear it..on others..you get a nice fast gameplay experience..but the sound either is totally botched...or heliumed or it doesn't play sound at all.

 

I have even heard of people rigging up two crystals with a switch so they could swap back and forth.

 

[chris_lynx1989]

i had and still have my setup for a two crystal version--it was not a very

practical thing on my lynx 1. you have to ravage a lynx two to do it.

i have used my 25 mhz lynx with all my games with no problems like you

are describing. i only get the helium thing on my lynx 1. i had no other

sound,graphic or loading problems on a model 1.

some of the problems you describe sound like one of the "cheap ram"

models that jack made up later on in 1992/3 with the lynx 2 units.open a

couple of these and look at how they really did cheapen a lynx 2 unit up

after around 1991. the copper really did slowly disappear in them.

i tried doing this to my lynx 2 and ended screwing it up trying to get that

damned magnetic shield off. it is not an easy task to do. i've considered

trying it again here several years later now. i have several lynx twos to

try this on.--the lynxer

[+-^CrossBow^-]

I am not sure what shield your referring to? I have opened up my lynx 2 several times. It does have a square of copper foil in there about 3x3 inches I believe? Is that what your talking about? Instead of unsoldering that, I would find it easier to clip it as the solder joints to remove it. Then to reapply you could just either solder it back to where you cut it...or use some trace wire and solder that ontop of where you cut. I dont' know, I could be wrong about the inside, but I seem to picture that in my head.

 

[chris_lynx1989]

i'm meaning the big rectangular(shiny) steel shield on the opposite side of the sheet copper you are describing.

the copper piece you are talking about is what i was referring to above earlier. some of the lynx twos had bigger and heavier sheeting ealier on.

the later ones went to a thin foil-like copper sheet. i'm even thinking that

an early model two unit i have does not even have it soldered to the main

board. it is part of the main board,and bonded to it to boot. i also have a

couple that are like the one you describe.--the lynxer

[pjbrooksbank]

I have modified a lynx 2 to have a switch placed

just above the volume control. I drilled in the

middle of the two ridges. I can switch in a 20Mhz

crystal. I was aware that you could insert 24Mhz

but decided this might make the games too fast.

 

Switching the crystals over during the game doesn't

work. You have to switch off then change frequency!

 

cheers

pete

[pjbrooksbank]

I have modified a lynx 2 to have a switch placed

just above the volume control. I drilled in the

middle of the two ridges. I can switch in a 20Mhz

crystal. I was aware that you could insert 24Mhz

but decided this might make the games too fast.

 

Switching the crystals over during the game doesn't

work. You have to switch off then change frequency!

 

cheers

pete

[chris_lynx1989]

i took one of the neck strap clips loose on the right side(facing the front of

my lynx) and cut a hole in my unit there for a sub-mini switch.

yes,you lock up the lynx if you try to switch the speed without shutting off

the lynx first.--the lynxer

[SwedenLynxer]

Realy...who needs to overclock the Lynx?? Just put a Turbo Sub cartridge in your Lynx instead