GUIDE: Modding an AMD K6-2+ CPU to a K6-3+
In this tutorial, I'm showing my method of modding a K6-2+ CPU (which has 128 KB of L2 cache) to a K6-3+ (with the full 256 KB of L2 cache). As shown in the video, all you need to do is move one of the resistors and, if you're lucky, you will end up with a perfectly functional K6-3+ CPU. Back in the day, AMD was very sneaky, and on more than one occasion, they sold higher tier CPUs disguised as lower tier (especially because their yields with the 180nm lithography process were known to be particularly good). This only works for "plus" type CPUs, so if you have a standard K6-2, don't even attempt to do this, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK! The CPU die of a standard K6-2 completely lacks the L2 cache, so there is nothing to activate. BIG WARNING: There is no guarantee that your CPU will be stable following this procedure. In my case, I was very lucky and it has worked flawlessly 4 out of 4 times, however, I've only modded 570 MHz K6-2+ CPUs (which are higher quality silicon, with a higher chance of having a fully working L2 cache). Your mileage may vary, especially if you try and do the same with lower clocked SKUs (although there are certainly people who have had success with slower clocked CPUs as well). Also, this procedure obviously involves a certain amount of risk, so I'm in no way responsible if you damage your CPU!
In this tutorial, I'm showing my method of modding a K6-2+ CPU (which has 128 KB of L2 cache) to a K6-3+ (with the full 256 KB of L2 cache). As shown in the video, all you need to do is move one of the resistors and, if you're lucky, you will end up with a perfectly functional K6-3+ CPU. Back in the day, AMD was very sneaky, and on more than one occasion, they sold higher tier CPUs disguised as lower tier (especially because their yields with the 180nm lithography process were known to be particularly good). This only works for "plus" type CPUs, so if you have a standard K6-2, don't even attempt to do this, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK! The CPU die of a standard K6-2 completely lacks the L2 cache, so there is nothing to activate. BIG WARNING: There is no guarantee that your CPU will be stable following this procedure. In my case, I was very lucky and it has worked flawlessly 4 out of 4 times, however, I've only modded 570 MHz K6-2+ CPUs (which are higher quality silicon, with a higher chance of having a fully working L2 cache). Your mileage may vary, especially if you try and do the same with lower clocked SKUs (although there are certainly people who have had success with slower clocked CPUs as well). Also, this procedure obviously involves a certain amount of risk, so I'm in no way responsible if you damage your CPU!