Athlon 2500+Barton from fall 2003

techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
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I've got a system (Rig 2 in the siggy) with the Athlon 2500+Barton running at stock speeds. One I replace the power supply and vid card, I'd like to look at overclocking the CPU. I've noticed people saying that this CPU had an unlocked timing clock on it, but at some point during production they locked it. I purchased my Barton September 2003 FWIW.

As for memory, I have two unmatched sticks, 1 512 Geil PC3200 and 1 512 Gigaram PC3200 (both CAS2.5).

What are my overclocking options? I'm not out for extreme O/Cing, but something safe and stable, perhaps 3000+ speeds.

Old power supply (current) is an Antec Smartblue 350W, but having burned out 4 video cards now, and replaced the memory (Buffalo RAM) and motherboard, I have a new Fortron 450W going in tonight along with a Ledtek 6600GT video card.
 

Mogadon

Senior member
Aug 30, 2004
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All the Bartons post week 39 are totally locked.

Your chip's stepping will be similar to this: AQZFA0342UPMU

The bolded part displays which week of 03 the chip was produced in. If this number is less than 39 your chip is unlocked and you're ready to overclock. If not you'll only be able to overclock by raising the FSB.

Edit - It really doesn't matter when you purchased it as suppliers have big stocks. I had a Barton 3000+ that I purchased sometime in 04 but it was a pre-week 39 chip, it just depends on whether you're luck or not. (Obviously if you purchased your chip before the 39th week of '03 your chip will be unlocked).
 

LiquidImpulse

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2005
2,062
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Originally posted by: techwanabe
I've got a system (Rig 2 in the siggy) with the Athlon 2500+Barton running at stock speeds. One I replace the power supply and vid card, I'd like to look at overclocking the CPU. I've noticed people saying that this CPU had an unlocked timing clock on it, but at some point during production they locked it. I purchased my Barton September 2003 FWIW.

As for memory, I have two unmatched sticks, 1 512 Geil PC3200 and 1 512 Gigaram PC3200 (both CAS2.5).

What are my overclocking options? I'm not out for extreme O/Cing, but something safe and stable, perhaps 3000+ speeds.

Old power supply (current) is an Antec Smartblue 350W, but having burned out 4 video cards now, and replaced the memory (Buffalo RAM) and motherboard, I have a new Fortron 450W going in tonight along with a Ledtek 6600GT video card.

:Q
 

techwanabe

Diamond Member
May 24, 2000
3,145
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Originally posted by: LiquidImpulse
Originally posted by: techwanabe
I've got a system (Rig 2 in the siggy) with the Athlon 2500+Barton running at stock speeds. One I replace the power supply and vid card, I'd like to look at overclocking the CPU. I've noticed people saying that this CPU had an unlocked timing clock on it, but at some point during production they locked it. I purchased my Barton September 2003 FWIW.

As for memory, I have two unmatched sticks, 1 512 Geil PC3200 and 1 512 Gigaram PC3200 (both CAS2.5).

What are my overclocking options? I'm not out for extreme O/Cing, but something safe and stable, perhaps 3000+ speeds.

Old power supply (current) is an Antec Smartblue 350W, but having burned out 4 video cards now, and replaced the memory (Buffalo RAM) and motherboard, I have a new Fortron 450W going in tonight along with a Ledtek 6600GT video card.

:Q

Yeah, each of the first 3 lasted about 3-4 four months each before artifacts and eventual failure. The 4th card is a different model by ASUS and lasted much longer but has been locking up and articfacting some lately. I also replace a stick of memory and the mother board. All that is left is the Antec Power supply that came with the Lanboy case, SmartBlue 350W. Maybe it was over volting or something, who knows. I now have the Fortron 450W installed and new video card.

Looks like I'll have to remove the HS/F to see the serial number on that CPU.