Best Ever Bang for the Buck Overclocking CPU

[Mattd46612]

Just like to hear peoples opinions on this. XP-M or I heard PIII tualin (sp?), Venice, FX????

 

[Matt2]

After having oodles of probs with my Venice setup, I finally got it to hit 2.7GHZ. Very nice.

But I'd have to say the best overclock I ever got was the AthlonXP T-Bred in my signature.

For a while it was stable 2.2GHZ. Not bad for a 1.47GHZ CPU. Plus it was only $50 new!

 

[wfn]

mmm, i'm a dual processor person so the 1.6ghz xeon gets my vote, cant beat the 100+% overclock on air.

 

[n7]

A lot of people will say the older CPUs before my computer savvy time were the best, but from what i can recall:

1700+ Thoroughbred
P4 2.4A (Prescott)
P4 2.4C (Northwood)
2500+ Barton (before they locked the multi)
2500+ Mobile Barton
3000+ Winchester
3000+ Venice

 

[Mattd46612]

Geez a 1.6 Xeon that can hit 3.2 on air!?!?!

 

[wfn]

Originally posted by: Mattd46612
Geez a 1.6 Xeon that can hit 3.2 on air!?!?!

And the best part they work at 800MHz FSB and have HyperThreading. Actually, 3.2 is quite conservative. Even with my RAM I can do 16x208MHz=3.33GHz and if I wanted to get some more voltage friendly memory I could probably do 216x16 since I did the vdimm pomona pot mod on my PC-DL. Here's a couple of pics:

Validated CPU-z
Pic of the box

 

[fr]

Celeron 300A -> 450MHz+

 

[Some1ne]

Of the CPU's that you're likely to end up using in a current desktop system, I'd say the Athlon64 3000+ (Venice core, although Winchester does pretty good too). The Venice should be able to hit between 2.5 and 2.7 GHz (40% to 50% overclock) on air. Also I've seen reports that the entry level P4 dual-core chip (the 820 I think) can overclock to around 3.6 to 3.8 GHz, which isn't too bad. It's not the same percent increase as the Athlon64 chip, but given the competitive pricing on Intel's entry-level dual-core chips it could still offer a lot of performance for the money.

 

[Chaotic42]

Celeron 300.

 

[natto fire]

celery

/thread

 

[Matt2]

CeleryA most definately if we're talkin about back in the day, but c'mon T-Bred 1700+ gave you a 2.2GHZ CPU for $50.

 

[SynthDude2001]

I agree on the T-Bred AXP 1700+...$50 ($45 for mine) and you have a 1.47GHz chip that can run stably at 2.4GHz (~64% overclock) for years, as mine has...the best "bang for the buck" ever, IMO.

The oldskool Celerons are probably next in line...the 300A and such.

 

[Duvie]

I have 3 of them....

paid all about 140-180 bucks for them but surpassed the top chip available at default vcore and at prices of 700-1000 bucks (at the time)

1.6a@2.74ghz...at time best cpu was the 2.4a......It did 2.53+ at default vcore...


2.4c@3.5ghz...at time 3.2cwas the best (no pressies out) I think for near 700....It did 3.4ghz at default vcore...I only had to boost is .06 to get to 3.5ghz...could possibly have done more if I could have dealt with heat...


3000+@4200+ (1.8ghz@2.66ghz)...paid 139 for the chip...does 2.5ghz at default vcore...At the time the best of course was the FX55 at near 1000, but the best 512kb chip was 2.4ghz for near 500...


I think if I had to vote the 1.6a is my favorite

 

[Shlong]

From my purchases... Celeron 300, P4 2.4c, Mobile Barton (to lesser extent Barton 2500), and A64 3000.

 

[MrCodeDude]

P4 1.6A was a pretty good OC for me. Got it up to 2.4GHz, friend got his to 2.6GHz. I only paid $120 for it too. Only Intel processor I've ever used in a built system.

 

[keeleysam]

Don't get an A64 300+, get a 3200+. The 10x multiplier really helps.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
Don't get an A64 300+, get a 3200+. The 10x multiplier really helps.

It really only helps if you have a crappy mobo that has trouble hitting HTT speeds.

It's a safer bet that you'll get a great OC with the 3200+, but i've noticed they top out about the same speeds.

 

[Dman877]

Celeron A
TBird (AXIA) just about every 1.0 would hit 1.5
Northwood 1.6 - 1.8 would all do 2.7+
Mobile Bartons

 

[yacoub]

I still have a Celeron300A somewhere as a keepsake for the memories.

After that, probably the Thunderbird Athlon chips and one of the PIIIs, I think the 800Mhz one? Then later the Barton-core XP 2500+. Now the Venice core A64s.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: wfn
mmm, i'm a dual processor person so the 1.6ghz xeon gets my vote, cant beat the 100+% overclock on air.

Seconded, I'm not aware of another processor ever that was able to hit a 110% overclock on air. On top of that they were cheap too. ~$120 for the pair.