Best upgrade option for ASUS TUSL2-C

[paopao]

Would anyone recommend me the CPU I can o/c on my ASUS TUSL2-C mobo? I currently have P3-700 @ 933 with 512 PC133 RAM.

Hopefully I can get to 1.5G range (or better) with this mobo.

 

[bacillus]

the celeron tualatin 1.2GHz has a reasonably good chance of o/clocking to 133fsb!

 

[paopao]

I checked overclockers.com, and for Celeron Tualatin 1.2G, there are 65 records. I guess that's efficient for me to go ahead. Do I need a cracked BIOS or crack 1 pin off the CPU (read somewhere) to make the o/c working?

 

[oldfart]

The C1.2 does not always make 133 FSB. For a TUSL2, that is important since it has no 1/4 PCI divider below 133 FSB. For instance, if you could only get stable @ 130 FSB, your PCI would be @ 43.3 MHz, which is too far out of spec. You are better off going for a C1.0A or C1.1A. You have to be SURE it will make 133 FSB.

 

[paopao]

Does o/c a 1.1A need any extra work like bend a pin on the CPU?

 

[Tates]

I tried both the 1.0a and the 1.1a and I prefered the 1.0a at 150Mhz fsb. In most cases, you need the vid pin trick to push these babies. I found the 1.0a at 1500Mhz(10x150) more stable than a 1.1a at 1551(11x141). Ran a couple degrees celsius cooler as well.

In any case, a 1.0a at 150fsb should outpace a 1.2 at 133mhz. You can pick up a retail 1.0a for around $66 shipped.

 

[paopao]

Can this mobo support P4 based celi (i.e. 1.6G)?

 

[Tates]

Can this mobo support P4 based celi (i.e. 1.6G)?

No, the new P4 Celerys are 478 pin and the TUSL2-C supports 370 pin P3 FCPGA & FCPGA2 chips.

 

[Auric]

Still not made up yer mind huh?

Like Tates sez, get the 1.0A if you want to overclock the system for higher memory bandwidth and can be sure to acheive it otherwise get the 1.1A.

I can't say about the pin mod because mine never needed more of a voltage increase, and besides the ST6 can be increased more over default since a recent BIOS update.

 

[paopao]

Just ordered celi 1.2G from newegg. The mobo is currently running 133 FBS with P3-700 @ 933, and I really hope it will run well with the new chip @ 1.6G.

The fact being a overclock hobbist, I can't resist to push this mobo to the fastest possible speed before I retire it.

Now I just keep my fingers crossed...

 

[oldfart]

I hope you get a good chip that makes it to 133 FSB. If not, you are in for a headache.

 

[AkumaX]

get a p4 1.4ghz 512kb cache!

 

[paopao]

Originally posted by: AkumaX
get a p4 1.4ghz 512kb cache!

Yeah, but I made a mistake to buy this mobo 2 months ago ($108) when my ASUS CUBX got mysteriously fried. Now seems I need to upgrade the CPU after all, but I got stuck here with the Socket 370...

I'll wait to upgrade in 1yr and half. If 1.2G doesn't work, then I'll return it for a 1.1G. LOL, overclockers hassle

 

[AkumaX]

oops, i meant p3 1.4ghz 512kb cache!!! (fcpga2 s370 tualatin)

 

[boyRacer]

You're a stubborn little boy aren't you... LOL... i do hope you get a good chip... those things barely pass pass 133 let alone reach it. i had to pick between a 1.1a and a 1.2a about a month ago... picked the 1.1A from newegg too and it went to 1.5 right away with the mod to make it work on a coppermine board. no problems so far... best upgrade i ever had for $65. My FSB is at 139 and my PCI is only at 135... good luck to you... keep us updated.

 

[paopao]

BoyRacer,

I guess I am truely lucky... so far. The cpu runs 1.6 out of the box, and I only increased the voltage by one notch at 1.525. Windows 2000 boots up without any complaint, and I am runing Prime torture test, the temp at 52C with stock hs/fan with peak cpu usage.

Very sweet so far. I am going to run Morrowind and GTA3 a little later to see if the games are stable. Then I am going to replace Radeon LE with the new Ti4200, I may be happy with it for another year!

Thank you for all of your great advices, and this truely the best place on the internet...

 

[boyRacer]

Wow... lucky boy eh... makes me think back to whether i shouldve gotten the 1.2 also since i got it from newegg as well... LOL... but i'm not a very lucky person so i should just be quiet... well good luck... hope it keeps running like that!

 

[oldfart]

Good job. It seems the yields on the Celeron-T's have improved quite a bit. People are getting better results with the 1.0A - 1.2's than they were when they first came out. The Celeron-T @ 1.6 GHz is a nice running CPU!

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: oldfart
Good job. It seems the yields on the Celeron-T's have improved quite a bit. People are getting better results with the 1.0A - 1.2's than they were when they first came out. The Celeron-T @ 1.6 GHz is a nice running CPU!

Oldfart, maybe I should just shut up!!! LOL!

Part of the reason I waited was I was hoping that the later production CPUs would work better. When I get back from my trip to CA later this month, I'll tear down my system and see what happens with my 1.0A... after reading this thread, I almost wonder if I should've gotten a 1.1A? I'm also hoping I can avoid the VID pin wire trick - I've heard a number of folk who were able to boot with out it at OC FSB.

 

[paopao]

I have yet to update my recent upgrade with Celi 1.2G to you folks...
At 1.525 V, the Prime torture test would fell sometimes, though not frequent, I decided up the voltage to 1.575. Now all runs ok... ehh, with the case opened.

Please see this sreenshot

ASUS Probe reports steady 50C at peak CPU usage; 45C idle with the case opened. As soon as I closed the case, the temperature jumps up about 10C, sometimes over 60C. Note that I have a mid tower with 250W PS, 1 fan in front and another fan on the side of the case. Off course, with the stock hs/fan, this maybe normal, but when the CPU heats up, it's no longer stable. GTA3 can't even load a saved game (loading... then dump to desktop). Morrowind still runs stable, but I didn't play long enough to tell. When I opened the case and wait the CPU to cool down, I can start GTA3 with no problem.

Note that I live in San Francisco; it's always pretty chill here so I thought I could get away with the default hs/fan. I also noticed the temps in idle and peak are very close, unlike the old P3-700 (35C ~ 55C) with golden orb.

I may need to replace the hs/fan in order to close the PC case Any suggestions? BTW, the Intel fan, once installed, almost impossible to take it off... without break the mobo Sometimes I keep asking myself, why should I bare all these troubles just to save $30 (for a P3-1.4G)? LOL. Well, you may say 1.6G is better than 1.4G, and it¡¯s 133 FBS¡­ I guess so!

Stepping SL5Y5, Made in Philippines, Date: 11/01/2001

 

[chrisjor]

good luck on your overclock...my only comment is that I feel the TUSl2-C is one of the best mobo's I have ever had. I have a P3 1ghz I just assembled a few months ago and I like it better than any of my 5 other rigs, including my Epox 8kha+ with XP1600 and my new p4 1.6a/asus p4b266-c!!!!! Very stable, simple board to use.

I have a P3 733 (370) in an older gigabyte board (AT even!!) I will be buying another TUSL2-C for this chip.,

 

[boyRacer]

I don't know if i read that correctly but it seems like you have no exhaust fan and if you can reach up that high with a def HS/FAN... you got one hell of a chip. Little more airflow and you should be good to go.

 

[paopao]

BoyRacer,

I do have 2 exhaust fans: one in the front of the case, another on the side. Anyway, now I have the case opened, and positioned a quite but large fan against the CPU area. The temp is around 45C now the whole time. Every application/game runs smoothly.

Anyway, I am pretty happy. Either I am lucky or as chrisjor pointed out, the TUSL2-C is a great mobo.

To end this upgrade "saga", I will share this with you:
The Celi 1.2G cost me $78 with free shipping from newegg. I sold my P3-700 on the eBay for $79 + $7 S&H.
I just love eBay, from time to time...