Ahhhhh! XP's at 266MHz FSB no where to be found!

[RobsTV]

Building cheap HTPC's with NF1 and MCP-D chipset (same as MCP-T audio).
These allow me to use 1 stick of memory, since they are not dual channel.
Motherboards are the very popular Asus A7N266-VM. Max 133/266 MHz FSB (overclockable to 145MHz+).

Problem is, boxed XP's at 133/266MHz fsb are gone....
Anyone know a source that still has these in stock at a reasonable price?
The Sempron XP2400+ boxed is the replacement everywhere, but that is at 333MHz.

Other option that I may try is to do the jumper trick, so I can increase multiplier on a Sempron XP2400+ to 12.5, or end speed of 1667MHz (same as Athlon XP2000+ 266MHz).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[loafbred]

Looks like this store has some, I'll look some more and edit this post if I find some.

Atacom

Another, prices aren't low, but...

AxionTech

More here:

Spartantech

Has 2200+: KDC

Good selection here: zipzoomfly

2000 and 2400's: SVC

 

[Elcs]

Perhaps check the FS/FT forum?

Im sure someone wants to sell their old Palomino or T'Bred.

 

[MDE]

You can use an nForce2 board with only one stick of RAM. You won't lose much performance, if at all. I ran my Asus A7N8X Deluxe and Abit NF7-S with one stick of RAM each without any issues. Also, there's always the Mobile XPs but then you'll need a heatsink of your own.

 

[RobsTV]

Thanks for the links loafbred.
Seems I didn't look hard enough.
ZipZoomFly looks like best price at $73 delivered for XP2000+ boxed.
Sucks though, as you can get Sempron XP2400+ Boxed for $60 delivered at Newegg.

MDE, already have two NF1 boards on their way for $40 each.
Going with a pair of NF2 boards would have cost me another $50, and would not have had desired audio.
Prefered board was the now discontinued Shuttle MN31/N with MCP-T.
With these HTPC's, must also use mATX boards, which limits choices as well.
Plain and simple, there is NO mATX board produced or available any longer with MCP-D or MCP-T chipset.
Yes, I too have run 1 stick many times with NF2, but for reliability using onboard video and the DVB-S sat + HDTV cards, 1 stick does cause stability issues, especially with my memory picky A7N8X-VM's (no MCP-T/D). Even with my NF2 boards like MN31N, I use 2 sticks for reliabilty and stability, not for the 1-3% performance gain dual channel gives you.

The cheap 256 meg sticks from Outpost at $25 each is the other savings used in this HTPC package.
With NF2 I was spending around $45 for two 128 meg sticks.

I still am very curious to know if the Sempron would work in an older 266 board by doing jumper wire mod to set multiplier. Or are these locked and not possible?

 

[mamisano]

I would go the Mobile Athlon route... they are 266 FSB by default, and just pick up an aftermarket heatsink Besides, they run at a lower voltage than the standard Athlon/Sempron.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: mamisano
I would go the Mobile Athlon route... they are 266 FSB by default, and just pick up an aftermarket heatsink Besides, they run at a lower voltage than the standard Athlon/Sempron.

Yes, but they use the Barton core and may not be compatible with his motherboard. AFAIK not all motherboards are compatible w/ the mobiles.

 

[MDE]

I'm sorry, but having to run two sticks of RAM in an nForce2 board for stability is hogwash. My Dad's nForce2 system has been running one 512MB stick of Buffalo RAM for 6 months plus and has no issues at all, and has been up for three weeks without a reboot.

 

[mechBgon]

Last I checked, Mwave.com had the rare 266MHz-bus 2600+, if you want to really max it out: now $73 plus S/H, a bit more than the tempting $65 but still worth thinking about.

BTW if anyone needs a cheap home-user suite, they have Microsoft Works Suite 2004 for $40 on DVD-ROM, and that includes full-version Word 2002. It's OEM, so you must also remember to buy a 99-cent power splitter or some other type of hardware with it

 

[karlreading]

it would cost more than its worth but if things are really that bad ALL athlon MP's, even the 2800+ run a 266 FSB, i think its cause that was considered more stable for enterprise as 266 / ddr 2100 is certified / validated as stable fdor mission critical applications.
just a thaught.
karlos

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: RobsTV
I still am very curious to know if the Sempron would work in an older 266 board by doing jumper wire mod to set multiplier. Or are these locked and not possible?

I am 99% positive that the Sempr0ns are locked just as every other desktop SocketA processor AMD produces is.

If you're willing to do wire mods, I would keep an eye on the FS/FT forum. I bought a 1700+ for a friend just last week for $45. A JIUHB will do WELL over 2000+ speeds, I think at least 2400+ speeds are possible at reasonably low voltage like 1.65v. people will often sell these on eBay too. Wire mods or bridge mods will work on most of these.

Be sure you get one that can be unlocked, which most of the JIUHBs are, as they were the "hot" overclocking processor of early 2003, later in 2003 it was the Barton 2500+. All after 0349 (I think) are superlocked, and a few weeks before then some were.

These are actually quite plentiful if you look for them on FS/FT in various forums and on eBay.