E2180 & ECS 945GCT-M/1333 @ Frys $78.99

[quadomatic]

Originally posted by: marathon

Originally posted by: disastinator
marathon,
For the purposes of the mod I took what's indicated in the retail box as my default voltage. I believe I read somewhere in the same article that that is what you take as your default voltage. I know CPUZ may report something different.

O.k. I see 1.35 on my box as well. But mine is max voltage, not default voltage. Does you box show both default and max voltages?

Just want to make sure I don't choose the wrong start point.

My box says max voltage 1.35v too. We're all using the E2200, so I'm assuming they all say Max Voltage.

I don't think this makes much of a difference in my case though, since I'll probably end up doing the 1.4v mod anyways.

I'm still going to have to find a substitute for the circuitwriter pen though...

 

[watek]

Originally posted by: quadomatic

Originally posted by: watek
I tried the bsel with the e4500 and ECS. Worked but was not stable. Picked up a refurbished Abit IP35-E at Fry's for $50! Now I'm stable at 333 x 10 with 1.39 vcore with retail HS. Looked around local fry's for the refurbished Abit IP35-E for $50!!!

WOAH, they carry stuff like that? I wish I knew that...I don't really feel like going back. It's a long drive for me.

Yeah wasn't around on the stock shelves but I asked if they still had any more Abit IP35-E's around and they had about 10-15 up on top in white boxes. Factory refurbished but with all the options on this board, price/performance this board wins .

 

[disastinator]

Originally posted by: marathon

Originally posted by: disastinator
marathon,
For the purposes of the mod I took what's indicated in the retail box as my default voltage. I believe I read somewhere in the same article that that is what you take as your default voltage. I know CPUZ may report something different.

O.k. I see 1.35 on my box as well. But mine is max voltage, not default voltage. Does you box show both default and max voltages?

Just want to make sure I don't choose the wrong start point.

My box shows max. I see the confusion between 'max' and 'default'. Essentially, in doing the voltage mod you are redefining the 'default' max voltage. The Intel Datasheet shows which lands need to be turned on or off to get the desired max voltage.

If you really want to be sure you can strap the VID6 thru VID1 lands to the proper high or low level signals to get the new desired max voltage but this is a lot of work. Since the factory spec says the max voltage is already set at 1.35v it is safe to assume that VID6 thru VID1 is already set to '010101' by default (thus the term 'default' corresponds to 'max'). Looking at Table 2 on page 15 of the Datasheet you only need to set VID5 to '0' to get 1.55v or VID3 to '0' to get 1.4v. These mods match the diagrams on the article.

 

[quadomatic]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2145398&enterthread=y

I extended the discussion on oc'ing using equipment from fry's bundles to another thread, since this is all a bit off topic, and this thread will soon die since the deal ends today, or is proly already OOS at most places.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: disastinator
One more tip: Use the stock HSF until you can boot to Windows and are able to run the stress test. The stock cooler is just a lot easier to mount and remove than most aftermarket coolers. Just be sure to stop the stress test when the temps get a bit high .. say high 50s. If you can run the stress test at all for a few minutes it's a good sign that with the right cooler your rig will remain stable.

I strongly disagree. You need to run the stability tests for 8+ hours, at the very least. If it's overheating with the stock cooler, then use a better cooler.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: disastinator
My box shows max. I see the confusion between 'max' and 'default'. Essentially, in doing the voltage mod you are redefining the 'default' max voltage. The Intel Datasheet shows which lands need to be turned on or off to get the desired max voltage.

If you really want to be sure you can strap the VID6 thru VID1 lands to the proper high or low level signals to get the new desired max voltage but this is a lot of work. Since the factory spec says the max voltage is already set at 1.35v it is safe to assume that VID6 thru VID1 is already set to '010101' by default (thus the term 'default' corresponds to 'max'). Looking at Table 2 on page 15 of the Datasheet you only need to set VID5 to '0' to get 1.55v or VID3 to '0' to get 1.4v. These mods match the diagrams on the article.

That's untrue. You need to load CoreTemp on the unmodded CPU, to find out the default VID, and then go from there. The default is likely not to be the max 1.35v.

 

[Bigbassfrank]

Thanks op,

Went to fry's at lunch today and picked up 2 sets of the e2200 & ECS boards for 85 per set...Showed the the combo code and it was no problem..

Thanks

BBF

 

[watek]

These boards drop the vcore, for example, default vore of 1.275, to around 1.21-123.

 

[jiffer]

Originally posted by: quadomatic
...this thread will soon die since the deal ends today, or is proly already OOS at most places.

I suppose this thread could be kept alive if the same combo comes back on sale in the next few days. Also, the associates at my local Fry's said they have plenty of E2200s in stock since it is a new item. Their older stock of E2180s is what they're out of now.

 

[Bigbassfrank]

Originally posted by: watek
These boards drop the vcore, for example, default vore of 1.275, to around 1.21-123.

the e2200 is sold at a discount , I checked newegg and it was almost 100..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...E16819116063&Tpk=e2200

So basically the board is a giveaway...What do you exspect for 85 out the door?

BBF

 

[jiffer]

Well, as it turns out, the E2200/ECS combo is not on sale again today (I'll check again when Friday's ad comes out). Today, the "cheap combo of the day" is a Celeron 430 Retail Box CPU with an ECS 945GCT-M V1.0 for $49.99. Is that a hot deal?

http://shopping.dallasnews.com...5&subid=19599994&type=



By the way, if anyone is concerned by the lack of a parallel port on these boards, there is a header for a parallel port on the motherboard, so all you need is a DB25F TO IDC26 parallel port cable (not included).

 

[userkc]

I also bought the Frys' E2200 combo. The combo works right off the bat. It was pretty decent in performance and much better than the BE2300 combo I got two days earlier. I subsequently return the BE2300 combo after the comparision.

Not only I compare the speed of booting and program execution, I also compare the power consumptions. I just run the combo in a barebone stage. just with a sata drive and 2GB of ram attached. From the power consumption point of view, the idle power I see on the BE2300 combo can be as low as mid-40W ( total system power from the AC line ). Peak power draws in the 80-90W.

The E2200 @ stock idle around 50W and peak power around 80-90W also.

Well, I don't buy the E2200 for stock performance. I want to get much out of the combo. Unfortunately, the 945GCT motherboard has no overclocking options. The previous E2140-P4M900T combo has the overclocking option. My lightly overclocked E2140 ( 2.2G Hz) combo so far has out-performed the E2200 in stock. Not much but noticeble. I guess it may contribute to the FSB increase.

Anyhow, I did the BSEL mod and the E2200 runs at 2.96G without much issue. The BIOS barfed at the incompatibility of the speed and the chip but boot continues. The cpuz, OCCT is showing the chip running at 2.9G and FSB at 1066. Super-pi 1M less than 23 seconds. Power consumption of the bare system has jumped to 56W and the peak power now approach 100W. I only wish they allow some degree of overclocking in the bios.
I have not find the right tool for the core temperature measurement. the core-temp 0.96 is showing <30c. I am not sure how much I can trust that with only the stock fan on my overclocked E2200.

Anyway, that's is pretty much what I have tested the combo so far.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: ricochet
Does anyone know how long this deal is good til?

This deal is already done. Fry's B&M ads run from Friday - Tuesday. Usually, they start with a long string of pages on Thursday and add new stuff each day through the cycle. Then they run different ads for Wednesday and Thursday.

The best Fry's ads I know are <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/Subcat.aspx?cat=3339&subcat=3525
">their ads in the San Jose Mercury News</a>. Bookmark the link, and check it every day.

Note -- Their deals may be different in other market areas. If you see something you like, get the SKU number, and call your local B&M to see whether the deal is good in your area.

They don't necessarily have the same deals at frys.com, but it's worth checking the same SKU numbers on their site. Their prices online for the same item can be higher, lower or the same.

 

[Ricochet]

Thanks, Harvey and Jiffer. I didn't actually get a chance to go down to FRYS because of my schedule so I missed the deal. I will keep my eyes open for other deals. FRYS always seem to have good MB/CPU combo.

 

[yeba]

I picked up the E2200 combo last tuesday and the last IP35-E refurb board for $49 (very cheap, comes with all accessories).

I was able to run the E2200 at 3.2 Ghz no sweat, its no match for my x2 am2 4000+ @ 3.2Ghz. However, I did not know about the infamous 'double boot' issue of the IP35-E. I think I'll keep this E2200 for now until the price of E8400 stabilzes. As for the IP35-E, it's a good board and a bios update can fix the double boot problem.

 

[quadomatic]

I'm surprised everyone is able to find IP35-E refurbs...I wish I had looked.

 

[jiffer]

The E2200 & ECS 945GCT-M/1333 combo is back on sale again for $78.99, good through Tuesday 1/29. Same terms as before.

http://shopping.dallasnews.com...5&subid=19625334&type=

 

[tuan209]

I got one of these combos last week and it seems like you can not overclock with these boards!

 

[htne]

Originally posted by: tuan209
I got one of these combos last week and it seems like you can not overclock with these boards!

Two words for you: "BSEL mod".

If you don't know what that is, Google is your friend.

 

[JosephBAdams]

Man, wish there was a Fry's in my area. I'd almost pay somebody just to go pick up one of these things. what's the best way to find out whether another region might have the same deal? (say Alpharetta for example)

How drastic of an improvement would this be over a Prescott 550 (3.4 GHz) processor running on a Dell board?

 

[tuan209]

I am sorry but I dont really want the hassle of modding up my mobo to oc the darn thing. I just wish I could up the fsb on the cpu to maybe 250.

 

[quadomatic]

Originally posted by: JosephBAdams
Man, wish there was a Fry's in my area. I'd almost pay somebody just to go pick up one of these things. what's the best way to find out whether another region might have the same deal? (say Alpharetta for example)

How drastic of an improvement would this be over a Prescott 550 (3.4 GHz) processor running on a Dell board?

People have said that this processor beats any Pentium 4 right out of the box, but I don't know myself. It is dual core though.

Also, if you BSEL and Volt mod it, it hits 2.9 ghz, and that would be pretty darn good, especially for the price. I picked up the bundle last sunday, but I haven't put it together yet. I need to pick up the rear window defogger kit from a local auto store so that I can do it. I probably won't get it put together for a couple weeks.

 

[Bigbassfrank]

Originally posted by: tuan209
I am sorry but I dont really want the hassle of modding up my mobo to oc the darn thing. I just wish I could up the fsb on the cpu to maybe 250.

you can, just get a better MB..

BBF

 

[AkumaX]

Originally posted by: tuan209
I am sorry but I dont really want the hassle of modding up my mobo to oc the darn thing. I just wish I could up the fsb on the cpu to maybe 250.

... you're not modding the mobo at all

 

[quadomatic]

Originally posted by: AkumaX

Originally posted by: tuan209
I am sorry but I dont really want the hassle of modding up my mobo to oc the darn thing. I just wish I could up the fsb on the cpu to maybe 250.

... you're not modding the mobo at all

Yea, you're just drawing circuits on the processor with conductive material, which can probably come off with alcohol.