Best bang for the buck AMD or Intel CPU to overclock?

[Antoneo]

Hey guys, I've been out of the loop for a while which regards to CPUs and have a question. Hopefully, it'll be usefull to others as well

Assuming that I get a nice AMD or Intel motherboard that overclocks well, which CPU(s) out now have proven to be good overclockers for the money? Are there any P4 1.6A-type of chips out there?
I'm not partial to any one company and mobile chips (to be used on a desktop platform) can be included.

Reason being I'm planning to build a new PC, possibly SSF based, and I've a small budget to work with (would like to spend a maximum of perhaps $150 total on the CPU and it's cooling solution). But cheaper is always better ;P and I don't necessarily have to all of that on the chip even though it's a measly amount of money to begin with. I have to spend money on ram and motherboard too (possibly a SSF case) so I'll have to balance finances.

The point of this thread, of course, focuses on the CPU.

I forgot to mention the purpose of this computer, it'll likely be used to do some Photoshop, some rendering with 3D studio max, light gaming, and to play DVDs/Divx/xvid files using ffdshow's "quality" settings (HTPC). Most of these programs support hyperthreading but will hyperthreading be of real use to me or are real world benefits dismal? The reason I ask is because I don't want to push out AMD just yet, especially their cool temp mobile chips.

 

[Dman877]

A mobile barton, 2600+ 45 watt or 2400+ 35 watt will both do 2.4 plus with little effort. For intel, the 2.4A (prescot chip) is like 120ish I think and with a 30$ cooler should hit 3.0+ easily.

I'd go mobile barton though, just cuz they are totally unlocked and fun to play with. Don't need super fast ram to run 1:1 on em that way. You can prolly grab a cpu/mobo/cooler for 150$ too . From benches I'ves seen, a barton at 2.4 is as fast as a P4 from 3.0 to 3.2 depending on the apps.

 

[Markfw]

Sounds like a mobile Barton is what you need.

 

[Appledrop]

Originally posted by: Dman877
A mobile barton, 2600+ 45 watt or 2400+ 35 watt will both do 2.4 plus with little effort. For intel, the 2.4A (prescot chip) is like 120ish I think and with a 30$ cooler should hit 3.0+ easily.

I'd go mobile barton though, just cuz they are totally unlocked and fun to play with. Don't need super fast ram to run 1:1 on em that way. You can prolly grab a cpu/mobo/cooler for 150$ too . From benches I'ves seen, a barton at 2.4 is as fast as a P4 from 3.0 to 3.2 depending on the apps.

i thought 2500+ were the unlocked 1's?

 

[Antoneo]

Just a quick question on the Prescott core chips, are they worth buying? From what I have read so far, it seems to be difficult to cool and I think I read that the performance is rather dissapointing compared to current Northwood cores (ala early P4s to P3s). Correct me if I am wrong here.

Is it worth considering a Prescott core chip? Aren't there Northwood cores that would overclock just as well, for example a P4 2.4C (versus Dman877's recommendation of the P4 2.4A chip)?

I forgot to mention the purpose of this computer, it'll likely be used to do some Photoshop, some rendering with 3D studio max, light gaming, and to play DVDs/Divx/xvid files using ffdshow's "quality" settings (HTPC). Most of these programs support hyperthreading but will hyperthreading be of real use to me or are real world benefits dismal? The reason I ask is because I don't want to push out AMD just yet, especially their cool temp mobile chips.

 

[Dman877]

Azzy: All mobile bartons are unlocked, it was pre-week 39 2500+ desktop chips that were unlcoked.

Antoneo: Encoding + rendering + light gaming means intel imo. IF you can swing it, a P4C 2.8 with HT retail is like 160 or 170 atm and you can prolly oc it on the stock cooler to 3.2. I don't know which of those apps HT will help in though. The prescot performs very close to the northwood but it is very hot. The northwood isn't exaclty a cool running chip either but it's much cooler then the prescot. Despite their heat output though, the prescot's seem to oc very well, which is why I suggested the 2.4A.

 

[TStep]

I have a mobile P4M 1.6 512k L2 running at 2650mhz with a 221fsb on an Abit AI7 in dual channel memory. This cost less than $150.

 

[Concillian]

2.4A = 533 MHz FSB = lots of room for overclocking with basic PC3200 RAM
2.4C = 800 MHz FSB = PC4000 RAM (DDR500) is only 3.0GHz, you can always use a 5:6 or 2:3 divider though.

RAM is an important part of any P4 setup you plan to be overclocking.

 

[Zebo]

Intel should'nt even be in the same sentence as 'bang for the buck.' No bias just stating reality.. Until you get into the Northwood 2.6C and above aka 'real slim shady', they get beat bad by AMD chips in price AND performance. But since you can't afford a $170 northwood AMD is you only real option and it's a very good one.

Here is a setup for less than $100 which will scream.

Athlon XP 2200 $43
Overclock to 3200 levels...eg 2.3Ghz..
http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=7345


Shuttle AN35N $55
Highly excellent overclockers mobo with nforce2 chipset.
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=13-150-045&depa=0

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Sounds like a mobile Barton is what you need.

that's another good option mobile 2400 for $77 and Shuttle AN35N for $55 all from newegg.. total $132.

 

[user1234]

If you go with Athlon XP, get the excellent cooler by Thermalright SLK-900A (~ $30 but seems to be in short supply currently, sidewindercomputers.com claim to have them in stock though). I also have the Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo and can attest that it's great for overclocking and rock solid.

 

[carlosd]

Go mobile barton all the way. No way, P4 is not bang for the buck.

 

[Viditor]

A couple of things...

1. If you want to go SFF, be very careful with overclocking (very little area to cool things down)
2. SFF limits you to which mobo you can buy
3. With such a small area, case heat will become a major issue, so you don't want a Prescott or an AthlonXP. That leaves Northwood, Sempron 3100, and the A64s...the A64's will be the coolest. I believe the A64 2800s are blowing out right now in the $125 region, the Northwood P4c 2.4 800mhz is going for about $158, and the Sempron 3100 is going for about $115...

 

[Lithan]

Here's my recent chips.

2400+ xp-m ---- $70 ---- 2500mhz (crap)
2600+ xp-m ---- $98 ---- 2800mhz (Really good)
2800+ A64 Mobile CG ---- $202 ---- 2375mhz (Meh)
2800+ A64 Retail CO ---- $198 ---- 2375mhz (bah)
2800+ A64 Retail NC ---- $155 ---- 2350mhz (bah)
3200+ A64 Retail NC ---- $192 ---- 2600mhz (Nice)
2.8C OEM SL6WJ 30cap ---- $180 ---- 3700mhz (Nice)
2.26B Retail SL6Q7 12cap ---- $114 ---- 3800mhz (Very nice)


I say you have a few choices.

Xp? 2600+ xp-m (~$100)
A64? Grab a DTR chip (Start at 3000+ I believe) and a motherboard and cooler that supports it. (~$200)
Intel? 2.26B (~$115)

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: TStep
I have a mobile P4M 1.6 512k L2 running at 2650mhz with a 221fsb on an Abit AI7 in dual channel memory. This cost less than $150.

That sounds sweet, got any good benchies to share? TIA

 

[user1234]

Lithan, I very impressed with your last chip, the P4 2.26B which you overclock to 3.8GHz !!! I just don't understand why you say it's "very nice" while you call the A-XP 2600+ overclock to 2.8 GHz "really good" ? It seems to me that your P4 2.26B overclock is by far the most impressive, and finally it produced the one of the most powerful results here (probaby similar to the A64 @2.6 and P4C @3.7), so at $114 it's probably the best value investement. Also with the P4 2.26B you don't need fast memory since you start with 133 FSB (memory is the most over priced component today, but at least the standard PC3200 memory seems to be going down in price).

My question is what kind of cooling you used, and what mobo/memory ?

 

[TStep]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: TStep
I have a mobile P4M 1.6 512k L2 running at 2650mhz with a 221fsb on an Abit AI7 in dual channel memory. This cost less than $150.

That sounds sweet, got any good benchies to share? TIA

Unfortunately none of any worth. Just got it a week or two ago and time has been a premium (3 kids, many sport, but it keeps them out of trouble) I did Prime it for two days and all was well. Also I ran a quick SiSuck Sandra on it and it seems like it should (on par with a P4 2.66) with the memory tests fairing better of course due to bus speed. When I get a chance to test, I'll post.

Edit: not to threadjack, but I am considering giving this plus adding a Soft FireGL or SoftQuadro4 card to my father to update his old PIII AutoCAD machine or just selling it outright and slapping together a mobile Barton setup for him. Any advice on the differing cpu/mobo setups with CAD or similar experience?

 

[Zebo]

..

 

[Lithan]

Zebo: 2500mhz for a current barton Mobile is crap, Like I said almost all 2600+ xp-m's are doing 2600mhz or more on air these days, most will hit 2700, a good one will hit 2800.

As for the 2.26b... will a Prime95 stable 3.933ghz @1.6v on air cooling suffice?

And user1234, Yep the memory issue is why I bought it. Bh5 1:1 without extreme voltage.

 

[Lithan]

http://home.comcast.net/~iasa9/3933.gif


U R TEH OWNZORED!

 

[TStep]

Originally posted by: Lithan
http://home.comcast.net/~iasa9/3933.gif

Certainly a sweet chip:thumbsup:

 

[user1234]

Originally posted by: Lithan
Zebo: 2500mhz for a current barton Mobile is crap, Like I said almost all 2600+ xp-m's are doing 2600mhz or more on air these days, most will hit 2700, a good one will hit 2800.

As for the 2.26b... will a Prime95 stable 3.933ghz @1.6v on air cooling suffice?

And user1234, Yep the memory issue is why I bought it. Bh5 1:1 without extreme voltage.

great, so what CPU cooler model and which mobo are you using ? any other special components and/or considerations which helped you achieve this great result ?

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: TStep

Originally posted by: Lithan
http://home.comcast.net/~iasa9/3933.gif

Certainly a sweet chip:thumbsup:

 

[Lithan]

Right now I'm using slk900A and panaflo 39cfm 80mm. Was using a tornado for that SS. Board is a p4p800.

Quality PSU, Vdroop mod helped me get from 3800 to 3900mhz. That's about it. Under water and with a better motherboard and some high voltage, I'm sure I could break 4ghz stable quite easily.

 

[Appledrop]

hmm wtf.. i have 2.26b chip, and i fail at anything over about 2700mhz.. i use a Granite Bay MSI GNB MAX2-L mobo with matched pair crucial pc2100... This happens when both vdimm and vcore are 2.8v and 1.85v respectively...


help!


edit: changing voltages doesnt seem to do ANYTHING. i currently run it at 1.4volts and 2.5volts... at 2670mhz..?

i get about the same mhz when i up voltage!!!

bahhhh