Two other older AMD CPUs could be similarly unlocked:
- AMD K6-2+ with 128K of L2 cache can be converted to a K6-3+ with 512K. The CPU has a heatspreader that can be carefully removed revealing a series of zero-ohm resistors, moving it to the right location unlocks the cache. The CPU is still bound by binning as to whether or not it can be overclocked well.
- AMD Athlon XP could be overclocked with the "pencil mod", using a pencil to draw a conductive trace between two pads on top of the CPU, no delidding required.
It is, but pick-and-place robots like to work with zero ohm resistors compared to small pieces of wire. Also makes it easier to change later, you just swap reels.
In a sense that's correct, but "jumper" suggests these are deliberately components you can change whereas "Zero ohm resistor" is likely intended to be permanent.
In PCB manufacturing, a jumper wire is just a wire soldered between two points. A designer might or might not install jumper pins like those you refer to.
Regarding the use of a 0-ohm resistor instead of a jumper wire: wires are rather annoying to deal with in pick-and-place machines, while a 0-ohm jumper can be reel-loaded like any other part.
- AMD K6-2+ with 128K of L2 cache can be converted to a K6-3+ with 512K. The CPU has a heatspreader that can be carefully removed revealing a series of zero-ohm resistors, moving it to the right location unlocks the cache. The CPU is still bound by binning as to whether or not it can be overclocked well.
- AMD Athlon XP could be overclocked with the "pencil mod", using a pencil to draw a conductive trace between two pads on top of the CPU, no delidding required.