Asus P4T-E with the ICS clock generator

[imgod2u]

Now, I assume that the "new" Asus P4T-E boards use the ICS clock generator that's able to do 133MHz FSB and beyond. And I'll assume that the older boards aren't being produced anymore and eventually, it'll get to the point where it'll be very unlikely that you'll get one that doesn't have an ICS clock generator. Does anyone care to make a guess as to when that is? I really don't wanna buy one of these boards only to find they can't run beyond 133MHz FSB.

 

[Bingo13]

My November 2001 boards all have the ICS chips opposed to an early February 2002 board that had the Cypress chips. I would say that it is a toss up as to which chip you will get.

 

[Clevor]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you check around the web, it seems the OLDER boards are the ones with the ICS chips. I am pretty sure Asus is aware of people OCing the ICS boards and are only putting Cypress chips on the latest ones. They are probably saving the ICS chips for a new model board supporting PC1066.

How do I know Asus is on to this? I am in Japan, and last weekend, I saw one store liquidating two stacks of P4T-E boards for $94 US. They normally go for $177. I checked the boards out and they all had ICS chips! They were labeled 'junk' boards with no Asus warrantee. All brand new.

I checked all the stores and they were now selling a newer lot P4T-E with a different box label, and they all had Cypress chips.

I couldn't resist and picked up one of the $94 P4T-E boards, as a backup to the ICS board I already have. That one is a used board but with Asus warrantee. I also was able to find a Malay 1.60a at one store, for $144 US. Man, I got lucky that day.

And tell ya something else, I notice on the newer batches of Northwood 1.60a, the label on the retail Intel package does not specify location of manufacture!!! So now you can't pick a Malay chip; you don't know what's in the box. The only other 1.60as around were the Costa Rican chip.

 

[KenAF]

Clevor,

Damn, I should find that link for you...

There was a Japanese overclocking message board where they were discussing....a few places where one could buy the 2.26GHz and 2.4GHz P4's. Apparently, they're available now in Japan and Taiwan...if you know where to look.

 

[GrumpyMan]

So if the chips have nothing on them then they are Cypress chips or not? Mine don't have anything on them.

 

[shadow]

If you want the P4T-E with ICS clockgens check out ATACOM, quickly cuz they're probably already out.....

 

[Clevor]

Grumpyman, the ICS chips have really faint lettering and are difficult to see. It helps to have a magnifying glass and to tilt the board to reduce the glare on the chip.

Atacom could very well be selling the ICS boards because they will go through the trouble to check the lot, or guarantee CPU steppings and location of manufacture (but you will pay for it).

Here in Japan, another way to get the board is just insist on the display or demo board! That is usually one of the first run boards and has the ICS chip on it.

 

[GrumpyMan]

Well I looked very carefully with a high powered magnifier with a light and saw nothing on the chips whatsoever. I've read at asusboards.com that some rambus chipsets have Tx. Inst. chips on them which also o/c well. It might of been on the Abit board though that they were talking about. I am at 133 fsb however with no problems yet on Samsung Rdram.

 

[imgod2u]

Well that sucks. Any other RDRAM-based boards like the Asus? With the same features like the the 3/4 memory divider and voltage tweaks up to 1.7 or 1.8V?

 

[adrianhall]

I've got a P4T-E with the CYP chips - do these chips only affect overclocking the memory or the whole board? I was planning on getting a 1.6a and bumping upto 2.1 but leave the memory at it's default 400 using the 3x memory multiplier. I also want to leave PCI and AGP at default so it's either 100 or 133.

Is this possible?

 

[adrianhall]

Bump....

Anyone?