COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OVERCLOCKING THE SAME

• US 20100199119A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Sun, Pei-Hua
• Application Number:
  US12/698,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/08 Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency

Abstract

A computer system includes a clock generator, a system chipset, a controller and a multiplexing unit. The clock generator generates a reference clock according to a plurality of setting values in a frequency setting table. The system chipset generates a piece of first clock control information and a first clock. The controller is used to switch the level of the control signal and generates a piece of second clock control information and a second clock. The multiplexing unit is used to receive the control signal to select either the first clock control information or the second clock control information to be a piece of main clock control information and select either the first clock or the second clock to be a main clock. The clock generator adjusts the setting values according to the main clock control information and the main clock to change the frequency of the reference clock.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a clock generator for generating a reference clock according to a plurality of setting values in a frequency setting table;

a system chipset for generating a piece of first clock control information and a first clock;

a controller for switching a level of a control signal and generating a piece of second clock control information and a second clock; and

a multiplexing unit to receive the control signal for selecting and outputting either the first clock control information or the second clock control information to be a piece of main clock control information, and selecting and outputting either the first clock or the second clock to be a main clock;

wherein the clock generator further adjusts the setting values according to the main clock control information and the main clock to change the frequency of the reference clock.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface electrically connected to the controller and generating an operating signal;

wherein when the controller detects the operating signal, the controller switches the level of the control signal and then generates the second clock control information and the second clock according to a subsequently detected operating signal.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a knob, and the operating signal is adjusted in the user interface according to a rotation of the knob.

4. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of keys, and the operating signal is adjusted in the user interface according to pressing of the keys.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) for receiving the reference clock and multiplying the frequency of the reference clock to generate an operating clock.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexing unit comprises:

a first switch having a first terminal for receiving the first clock control information, a second terminal for receiving the second clock control information and a third terminal electrically connected to the clock generator, wherein the first switch makes the third terminal of the first switch communicate with the first terminal or the second terminal of the first switch according to the control signal; and

a second switch having a first terminal for receiving the first clock, a second terminal for receiving the second clock and a third terminal electrically connected to the clock generator, wherein the second switch makes the third terminal of the second switch communicate with the first terminal or the second terminal of the second switch according to the control signal.

7. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the first clock control information and the first clock are transmitted to the multiplexing unit via a system management bus (SM Bus).

8. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the second clock control information and the second clock are transmitted to the multiplexing unit via a system management bus (SM Bus);

and the control signal is outputted via a general purpose input output (GIPO) pin.

9. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the system chipset is a southbridge chip.

10. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is an embedded controller.

11. A method for overclocking a computer system, comprising:

providing a reference clock according to a plurality of setting values in a frequency setting table;

providing a piece of first clock control information and a first clock;

switching a level of a control signal and providing a piece of second clock control information and a second clock;

selecting either the first clock control information or the second clock control information to be a piece of main clock control information, and selecting either the first clock or the second clock to be a main clock, according to the level of the control signal; and

adjusting the setting values according to the main clock control information and the main clock to change the frequency of the reference clock.

12. The method for overclocking the computer system according to claim 11, wherein the step of switching the level of the control signal and providing the second clock control information and the second clock comprises:

providing an operating signal via a user interface; and

switching the level of the control signal and providing the second clock control information and the second clock according to a subsequently detected operating signal when the operating signal is detected.

13. The method for overclocking the computer system according to claim 11, further comprising:

multiplying the frequency of the reference clock to generate an operating clock.