many thanks to all who contributed - i think i will just have to "bite the bullet" and accept that clock speed MUST be correct, even though ALL these dowloaded programmes say otherwise.
Since expanding to 512Mb RAM, it is a totally different machine (for an AMD) and as my daughter seems happy now, I will leave well alone - apart from disabling that dastardly on board video and fitting a "cheapie" graphics card.
This will leave me to concentrate on my new build P4 (if I ever get round to buying all the bits), before my P3 dies. :blink: