Athlon 64 2650e/2850e 15W/22W single-core, low-power $5 AM2 processors...

[waltchan]

The most difficult low-power AM2 processor to accept, overclock, and move on. I made a huge mistake purchasing the ASRock N68C-GS4 FX board with both AM2/AM3 and DDR2/DDR3 combo support, and should have gone with the plain and regular AM3 ASRock N68-GS4 FX instead, and put in the 45W Deneb X4 Athlon X2 220 with 2 cores disabled unlockable to Phenom X4 720 that I have, or 20W Athlon 170u.

ASRock claims the AM2 N68C are their #1 best-selling AMD motherboard for 5 years running (no, it isn't any of the FM2 boards). These N68C AM2 boards took 75% of ASRock sales volume and profit between 2008 and 2012, and it's ASRock's most-famous board similar to Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3. Very easy to find parts if I have one N68C failing.

I refuse to put in any AM3 processor in the N68C-GS4 FX because this board is designed and presented to customers wanting to take advantage of the $5 shipped AM2 Athlon processors selling on eBay right now. Otherwise, I wouldn't mess with N68C-GS4 FX model in the first place. AM2 joins in the rank with LGA775, but AM2 boards are much easier, cheaper, and convenient to find than LGA775.

So I started with a 15W Athlon 2650e 1.60GHz, which runs on 1.05V stock, and it can be overclocked up to 2.14GHz stable max. Then I tried a 22W Athlon 2850e 1.80GHz, which runs on 1.15V stock, and it can be overclocked up to 2.33GHz max, to my disappointment (only less than 200 MHz gain from 2.14GHz 2650e). Technically, Athlon 2850e is the fastest and best low-power 22W AM2 processor I can get.

I did try a dual-core Athlon 5050e 2.60GHz and single-core Athlon LE-1660 2.80GHz (fastest AM2 single-thread speed up to 3.10GHz max), but it runs way too hot (AMD set them at 1.40V stock voltage), despite it's rated 45W. Undervolting these processors are a huge mess and difficult to find the right stable voltage, and even if I did, it's never less than 1.275V, and it still runs like a heater (still too hot with the 80+ bronze power supply that puts out).

I also don't like the AM2+ Athlon 5000+ (unlockable to Phenom FX-5000 Deneb quad-core) and Phenom Agena and Toliman because they are expensive, bad value compared to Athlon/Phenom AM3, run incredibly hot, and it entices me to overclock the memory RAM speed from 800MHz to 1050MHz using PC2-6400U. The regular AM2 Athlon don't have the ability to overclock memory RAM speed, so it runs much cooler.

My rule is if the PC runs too hot, it is too fast for me. Am I right? So I'm stuck with Athlon 2850e for now. If anyone can recommend me a better and energy-efficient AM2 processor, please post. :hmm:

 

[cbn]

Amazing, Newegg still sells that board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157581

2850e passmark: 486 CPU marks ---> http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+2850e

So how do you set these computers up?

Windows or Linux?

How about drivers for the iGPU?

 

[waltchan]

Amazing, Newegg still sells that board:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157581

2850e passmark: 486 CPU marks ---> http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Athlon+2850e

So how do you set these computers up?

Windows or Linux?

How about drivers for the iGPU?

This ASRock N68C-GS4 FX board (notice 4 at end, it's the 4th generation design) is the most-capable, longest-lasting, and highest chance to run it for your whole life due to enormous amount of CPU support (up to 95W). From 2006 Sempron 2800+ Manila (Pentium 4 era) to 2016 FX-8370E Vishera max (10-year CPU support availability compatible), this board grows and attaches with you. I estimate about 15 years (2030) the FX-8370E will touch $10 price on eBay, and N68C boards will remain in high-demand. I wouldn't be surprised if N68C is still available in 2020.

Reliability and durability rate a little low-end here. ASRock is well-known in cheapening and cut-cost in manufacturing more aggressively than Asus and Gigabyte (only to maximize their profit and sales), and their N68 boards show clearly. The CPU socket holder is made out of cheap white plastic tabs, which has a high-failure rate in cracking and snapping off after 1-2 years from taller and heavier heatsinks. They also use cheap non-surface-mount capacitors on top of CPU socket, which have tendency to leak and explode if they overheat or overclock too much.

Yes, CPU benchmark is low, but if I overclock it up to 2.33GHz max, it's around 650 single-thread score. Works A+ performance with Windows XP 32-bit, but so-so performance with Windows Vista, 7, and 8 64-bit. I guess I'll live with it.

GPU is integrated Nvidia GeForce 7025, which is lower-end than Radeon HD3000, but the best basic GPU for AM2. It also only has IDE SATA support (no AHCI), controlled by nForce 630a SATA II chipset.

 

[JWade]

have you tried the 3250e 1.5ghz x2?

 

[Hi-Fi Man]

AMD's K8 and K10 CPUs were stupid easy to undervolt so I would use that Athlon 5050e and undervolt it. They usually go down to about 1.3-1.35v. I'm not sure what heatsink you are using because these CPUs do not run hot at all.

My socket 939 Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (90nm) undervolts to 1.3v at stock.

Check Fernando's nForce drivers for AHCI support.

 

[skipsneeky2]

I remember absolutely adoring the EVGA Nvidia chipset motherboards for 775 and the C2D stuff.Bought the second best one the green one to move some Pentium 4 stuff onto a more respectable motherboard out of a dead Dell

The cheap ECS boards i swear must be still selling?The ones with 6000 series graphics?Like one of the plagues out of Egypt it ended up everywhere lol.

 

[Shivansps]

ASRock N68C-GS4 FX is crazy, it supports from a Sempron 2800 to a FX-8320E.

The Nvidia 7000 series motherboard sells a LOT even today, thats because neither AMD or Nvidia ever released a new chipset with igp for the AM3+ socket.

I have a Sempron LE-1100 as a home NAS with fan off, and its painfully slow, i whould not recomend anything like that to anyone, still those LE are K8 based, their do they job for NAS, but not for anything else.

STILL you MUST remember something, AM2 or AM3 socket is not power efficient, the CPU may be low TDP, but you must count the TDP for both the NB and SB, no to mention that those cheap MB have less efficient power designs.

If you want power efficient things you need to go SOC, either BT, Braswell or AM1 Kabini, needless to say that a Sempron 2650 will trash the 2650e/2850e at a lower overall TDP and Power, and the J1800 does the same to the 2650.

I think you want SC perf, but you will get none of that with a single core cpu.

 

[skipsneeky2]

Buddy of mine used to buy dirt cheap non working computers with AMD cpus and typically he would conclude the motherboard obviously was the cause.This Asrock motherboard was his go to board and it appears for good reason.

A 10 year lifespan as far as cpu support goes?Damn impressive.

 

[Shivansps]

Buddy of mine used to buy dirt cheap non working computers with AMD cpus and typically he would conclude the motherboard obviously was the cause.This Asrock motherboard was his go to board and it appears for good reason.

A 10 year lifespan as far as cpu support goes?Damn impressive.

AM2 cpu have some fault on them, the K8 based ones, i have this happen to me with 2 CPUs, the problem is HEAT, at some point they start to heat up for no reason, until they are unusable because they shut down because of heat.

I heard there are maybe 2 reasons for that:

1) Motherboards not longer giving the correct vcore anymore in AUTO mode, and you have to set it manually to stock or lower levels (this actually worked for me), and its not motherboard fault.

2) You will have to remove the IHS because the grease that transfers heat to the IHS is dried up. (Im not really sure, i did not double check this).

 

[VirtualLarry]

AM2 cpu have some fault on them, the K8 based ones, i have this happen to me with 2 CPUs, the problem is HEAT, at some point they start to heat up for no reason, until they are unusable because they shut down because of heat.

I agree. I've seen that too. And it's not just the heatsink clogging up with dust. I put on a brand-new AMD 125W heatpipe cooler, and the AM2 CPU in question was still running too hot.

 

[Shivansps]

I agree. I've seen that too. And it's not just the heatsink clogging up with dust. I put on a brand-new AMD 125W heatpipe cooler, and the AM2 CPU in question was still running too hot.

Well on my case i was able to fix it by manually setting the vcore to 1.25v on a X2 5000+
It went from 60°C idle to 30°C... there something broken about the vcore AUTO, and its not the mb.

 

[myocardia]

Then I tried a 22W Athlon 2850e 1.80GHz, which runs on 1.15V stock, and it can be overclocked up to 2.33GHz max, to my disappointment (only less than 200 MHz gain).

You need a new calculator, my man! 2.33-1.80= 533 Mhz, which is a 29.444% overclock. Not awesome by any means, but definitely respectable, especially for the stock heatsink, and most likely the stock voltage, I'm guessing.

 

[Hi-Fi Man]

Most of the 65nm Athlon 64s use thermal paste between the IHS and die which results in the higher temperatures once dried out. Most of the 90nm Athlon 64s are soldered though.

Auto voltage has always been "broken" on AMD CPUs since K8.

 

[waltchan]

have you tried the 3250e 1.5ghz x2?

Too expensive, priced over $20 and very poor value compared to $10 AM3 Athlon 170u with one core disabled (most can be unlocked known as Athlon 270u).

 

[waltchan]

Well on my case i was able to fix it by manually setting the vcore to 1.25v on a X2 5000+
It went from 60°C idle to 30°C... there something broken about the vcore AUTO, and its not the mb.

Is this the Athlon 5000+ 2.60GHz Windsor or 2.20GHz Regor/Deneb? There's two type available sharing same model number.

I have the Athlon 5000+ 2.20GHz Regor based on Deneb cores (can be unlocked to Phenom FX-5000 quad-core), and vCore runs at 1.40V. Stock speed at 2.20GHz only needs 1.05V at minimum.

 

[Shivansps]

Is this the Athlon 5000+ 2.60GHz Windsor or 2.20GHz Regor/Deneb? There's two type available sharing same model number.

I have the Athlon 5000+ 2.20GHz Regor based on Deneb cores (can be unlocked to Phenom FX-5000 quad-core), and vCore runs at 1.40V. Stock speed at 2.20GHz only needs 1.05V at minimum.

Winsor, its the only K8 that could have the heat problem like others have and since its 90nm its definately vcore based, Regor and Deneb are K10 based.

 

[cbn]

GPU is integrated Nvidia GeForce 7025, which is lower-end than Radeon HD3000, but the best basic GPU for AM2.

Walt,

Are you referring to gaming performance?

The reason I am asking is because according to this link GeForce 7025 supports H264 and HDCP:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/mobo_gpu_features_benefits.html#gf7nf5

....And according to the following link HD3000 only has partial H264 support--> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_700_chipset_series#Integrated_graphics. HDCP was reported not to work on the Gigabyte 760G (HD3000) board--> http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=37480855&postcount=15

 

[Shivansps]

guys seriusly, the AM2 socket is not good, for anything today, its just not power efficient and the IGPs are old, kinda killing the idea of making a power efficient device with it.

I use a LE-1100 NAS, yes, but just because ive already had the stuff lying around my home, buying USED AM2 for a power efficient use is just noncense to me, you are just better off with a Sempron 2650 or a J1800.

 

[cbn]

STILL you MUST remember something, AM2 or AM3 socket is not power efficient, the CPU may be low TDP, but you must count the TDP for both the NB and SB, no to mention that those cheap MB have less efficient power designs.

If you want power efficient things you need to go SOC, either BT, Braswell or AM1 Kabini, needless to say that a Sempron 2650 will trash the 2650e/2850e at a lower overall TDP and Power, and the J1800 does the same to the 2650.

The CPU issue (and motherboard power consumption) aside, I have to wonder how well this GeForce 7025 iGPU performs in Linux Mint 17.2 compared to Kabini/Socket AM1?

Re: Last time I used E1-2100 and Sempron 2650 (socket AM1) H264 decode wasn't working.

 

[waltchan]

guys seriusly, the AM2 socket is not good, for anything today, its just not power efficient and the IGPs are old, kinda killing the idea of making a power efficient device with it.

Excluding Athlon 2650e, 2850e, and 3250e that I see here. They run pretty cool and never reach over 45 C even when overclocked at the max.

 

[cbn]

ASRock N68C-GS4 FX is crazy, it supports from a Sempron 2800 to a FX-8320E.

According to the CPU support list here, it also supports Opteron 3300:

http://www.amd.com/en-us/products/server/opteron/3000/3300#

which includes two 65 watt Piledriver octocores with either 2.3 Ghz or 2.6 Ghz base clock and 3.3Ghz or 3.6 Ghz turbo.

 

[waltchan]

Walt,

Are you referring to gaming performance?

The reason I am asking is because according to this link GeForce 7025 supports H264 and HDCP:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/mobo_gpu_features_benefits.html#gf7nf5

....And according to the following link HD3000 only has partial H264 support--> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_700_chipset_series#Integrated_graphics. HDCP was reported not to work on the Gigabyte 760G (HD3000) board--> http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=37480855&postcount=15

I'm actually not sure. I only do basic tasks and never play games. But I can say the GeForce 7025 gives killer VGA graphic performance better than Radeon HD3000.

 

[waltchan]

Oh wait, actually it's FX-8370E (not FX-8320E) the fastest and max processor you can put in this ASRock. Third post updated.

Maybe we should purchase one of the slooowest 2006 Sempron 2800+ 128KB cache Manila (SDA2800IAA2CN) and see how it stacks up with FX-8370E. What a journey...

 

[cbn]

Oh wait, actually it's FX-8370E (not FX-8320E) the fastest and max processor you can put in this ASRock. Third post updated.

The spec on FX-8310 (3.4 Ghz base with 4.3 Ghz turbo) is actually 100 Mhz better than the base clock on FX-8370E (3.3 Ghz base with 4.3 Ghz turbo). Though some say the FX-8370E comes from better wafers.

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series FX-8310.html

http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/Bulldozer/AMD-FX-Series FX-8370E.html

 

[waltchan]

I like this one, $27.55 shipped with only AM3/AM3+ support (N68-GS4 FX) for refurbished:

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch.asp?scriteria=78796BA&pagetitle=ASROCK N68-GS4 FX Socket AM3+/ NVIDIA GeForce 7025/ DDR#.VZompmfH82w

Add AM2 support jacks up $20 in price for N68C-GS4 FX (no refurb at this moment). Hmmm...