Best 266MHz FSB Processor to OC to 333MHz FSB

[lycurgus]

Best 266MHz FSB Processor to OC to 333MHz FSB
Hi All,

This is the deal. I'm currently running an XP1700 Tbred on a K7N2G-L m/b with PC2700 DDR. I had hoped to OC it to 333MHz FSB, but it turned out to be an 'A' rather than a 'B' Anyway, I'm looking at a CPU upgrade in the near future. Given the costs of processors I'm thinking about getting a 266MHz FSB processor and OC'ing it to 333MHz FSB. I can get a XP2000 or XP2200 Tbred or an XP2200 Thorton cheap. Which of these would be my best bet? I don't want to do the wire trick, meaning I will probably only have a partially unlocked processor (above or below 12.5?). With the Bartons now being locked, will the Thorton also be totally locked? Will the XP2000 be a TbredB? or might it still be an 'A'? I'm not interested in going above 333MHz FSB, since for one thing I'm actually using the integrated video. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

[myocardia]

You'll definitely want to get the Thorton, since it's actually just a Barton, with half of the L2 cache disabled. All Thortons should do much higher than 333, since the slowest Barton runs at 333fsb at stock speeds. And yes, all new AMD chips are multiplier locked these days, but that isn't anything to worry about, since OCing through the fsb is where you get your results from.

 

[lycurgus]

Thanks for your reply. Would the Tbreds also be completely locked? In this case I was actually more interested in possibly lowering the multiplier (if necessary) to make sure it's stable at 333MHz FSB. I was particularly concerned with the Thorton that, with it being multiplier locked, it might not handle the clock speed with the higher FSB and higher multiplier.

 

[myocardia]

Lycurgus, all of AMD's new chips are multi locked these days. But, the Thorton's should all do a minimum of 333 fsb, since they are actually Barton cores, and the slowest Barton has a 333mhz fsb. And I've yet to hear of a T-bred B that won't hit 166 (333DDR), but anything's possible. I would buy the Thorton.

edit: My T-bred B will go over 200fsb, and still pass Prime95 torture test. If all you're wanting is 333, I can't see you being disappointed with either proc. The Thorton's should be easier to cool, though, since they have a larger die.

 

[InlineFive]

And if you are lucky it is sometimes possible to mod the Thorton and enable the additional cache.

 

[lycurgus]

Thanks for your replies guys. I don't have much doubt that the Thorton can do 333MHz FSB. My main concern is with the resulting clock speed if the multiplier is locked. The XP2200 Thorton will be doing 2.25GHz rather than the rated 1.8GHz. Also, although I had heard that the Bartons are now locked (and therefore the Thortons likely too) I hadn't heard anything about the Tbreds also now being locked. I don't really plan on any processor mods to enable the additional cache or unlock the multiplier.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: lycurgus
Thanks for your replies guys. I don't have much doubt that the Thorton can do 333MHz FSB. My main concern is with the resulting clock speed if the multiplier is locked. The XP2200 Thorton will be doing 2.25GHz rather than the rated 1.8GHz. Also, although I had heard that the Bartons are now locked (and therefore the Thortons likely too) I hadn't heard anything about the Tbreds also now being locked. I don't really plan on any processor mods to enable the additional cache or unlock the multiplier.

Lycurgus, find me a reliable website selling unlocked T-bred B's, and I'll buy you a case of beer, since all of the T-Bred B's are now locked, like I said in my last post.

edit: And what exactly is wrong with your cpu being faster?

 

[INemtsev]

I think he's worried about the high overall speed of cpu causing high temps and short life......and putting fsb out of spec will often cause hdd corruption...

 

[myocardia]

Sure, that's possible (pci bus out of spec), and since he still hasn't told us what motherboard he has, we can't find out. But, the stock hsf's that come with the new AMD proc.'s have no problems running cool at 2.25ghz.

 

[lycurgus]

M/b is in the original post, K7N2G-L. Since it's nForce2 it has the PCI lock, so that's not an issue. But it's not a 'sure' thing that it will be stable at 2.25GHz, is it?

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: lycurgus
M/b is in the original post, K7N2G-L. Since it's nForce2 it has the PCI lock, so that's not an issue. But it's not a 'sure' thing that it will be stable at 2.25GHz, is it?

i had an applebred duron 1.8 that wouldn't do 2.25 w/o some voltage increase, i'd have to guess the same for the thorton 2200+ (1.8)

the thorton 2000+ (1.67) was a sure bet for me (3 out of 3 2000+ did 2.083 for me) but wasnt for some other member on this forum

also, one of the thorton 2000+ went to 2.2ghz for me (12.5 x 176 fsb) on my kt333 mobo, which i'm currently running atm, 100% stable.

i never tried the other 2, but i wouldnt doubt they'd clock similar. the pci is out of spec, 35 vs 33, along w/ the agp, 70 vs 66, but i've run much higher before (from 37-41+ (highly not recommended due to data corruption) and agp (83-89)

i've tested once a while ago the difference between 66 and 89 on agp video card, it was something along the lines of 8000 -> 8010 3dmark2001 points

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: lycurgus
M/b is in the original post, K7N2G-L. Since it's nForce2 it has the PCI lock, so that's not an issue. But it's not a 'sure' thing that it will be stable at 2.25GHz, is it?

Nothing is guaranteed in OCing, man. If you want sure, you have to be willing to spend the money for whatever's the top performing chip at the moment. BTW, since your board is an nForce2, you can run any fsb you want, you don't have to worry about it making it all the way to 333. Of course, 333 is no problem at all from what we've seen thus far. Oh, and the guy who couldn't get his XP2200 to 333 was trying to do it with a Palomino, not a Thorton.

 

[lycurgus]

Thanks for all the help. Yes, I realize there's no 'guarantee', but it sounds like the Thorton XP2200 is my best bet from what you're saying.