Looking for low-temp, good perf. CPU

[bluemax]

I'm building a machine smaller than a Shuttle which means cooling can and will be an issue....
Which means I have to be concerned about my CPU choice.

We all know AMD runs hotter as a general rule, but how MUCH more? Celeron 1.7 vs. 2.0 vs. P4 1.7a?
(A P4 Celeron would probably do the job for me...)

A VIA C3 Processor is a bit too weak for my needs, however. :frown:

 

[RanDum72]

How about Tualatin Celerons/PIII's?

 

[HokieESM]

If low power is REALLY an issue, I'd pick up a Tualatin Celeron (Socket 370).... a 1.3 or 1.4 GHz. Check out the BIG roundup at Toms Hardware for performance--I think a 1.3 P3-Celeron should probably run with a 1.7GHz P4 Celeron.... and offer much much lower heat output.

And if you've REALLY got cash, I'd pick up a P3-S (a 1.26 GHz or 1.4)... they're expensive, but they run relatively fast with low power output.

You MIGHT be able to get away with a P4 1.8A..... the power output is more than a P3 Tualatin, but it can be cooled relatively easily. And the Northwoods put out less heat than the Williamettes.

 

[Agamar]

If you want something that is supposed to run cool, what about those Via chips. Aren't they supposed to be low powerered?

 

[ObiDon]

How much CPU power do you need?

You could get something like a 1.3GHz Duron and underclock/under-volt it a little. You wouldn't even need an OC-friendly motherboard since the multiplier and voltage can be controlled through the bridges. It should be relatively easy considering the ceramic packaging.

It's also possible (but slightly tougher depending on your motherboard) with an organic-packaged XP.

 

[bluemax]

The VIA CPU does NOT have enough horsepower to run the apps I'd like.

And you're right about the CPU roundup... I'll look at it again - it's been a while.

So the Tulatin really runs that cool, eh? Wow... and the Tually Celerons are CHEAP! Sounds like a great option....
Though I was hoping for buying a mobo/CPU package a little more .... future-proof.

Then again, by going Tulatin, I need a uATX board Tulatin compatible but at least I can use my old SDRAM.
I will NOT buy a new socket370 board since they're about the same price as P4 boards!

 

[0roo0roo]

taullys run cool. underclock one and u might be able to get away with no cpu fan.. who knows. or maybe just the lower clocked ones at stock

 

[bluemax]

I know the new AMD Thoroughbreds use the same 1.5V and even a touch less dissipated wattage under 1800+...
So, are AMD Thoroughbreds about as cool as a Celeron Northwood?

 

[oldfart]

The Tually PIII and Celerons have the best performance/thermal output that I've seen. you can typically undervolt them to 1.2 - 1.3 Vcore as well.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

isn't there a TBred 1600+0 comin' ..? but the Tualatin is a good choice saw an Asus mobo(S370) that was DDR recently for cheap..

 

[Viper96720]

What about a mobile P4?

 

[oldfart]

The Tualatins use ~ 30 watts. I dont think you will find a CPU that performs this well while using so little power.

 

[wetcat007]

Via chips dont even need a fan!

 

[oldfart]

Yeah, they run cool but are dogs.

 

[bluemax]

Tulatin is real tempting! One thing bugs me though, and that's paying the same ~$100 CDN for a new board, but getting a P3-level machine vs. a P4-level!

If I'm going Tulatin I want a cheap, used board! I'm looking in Anandtech FS/T now.

If I can't get a Tulatin board, I might as well get the new P4 board from Asus with SDR/DDR slots, 1AGP/3PCI, USB2.0 and all the trimmings for $120 CDN. ($80US) I'll use a Celeron 2.0 on that baby and that'll be more than enough. And it's on sale this month.

 

[alkemyst]

TISU is a cheap one at newegg I think $55 or something (there is a post about it), 815E based board.

I went with the TUV4X (alot on ebay now) because of the Apollo Pro 133 chipset being able to address more than 512MB of RAM.

I just picked up a 1.4 PIII-S and had a 1.1A (running at 1.42GHz)...the Celeron went clock for clock with just about anything from AMD or Intel....the PIII-S I hear runs equivalent to about 200-600MHz higher chips...however the PIV does shine still in certain 'niches'.

My overclocked 1.1A can run at lower the stock voltage too, but I decided stock voltage was low enough.

 

[txxxx]

I was about to recommend the mobile Athlon Xp's then I realised the socket (mpga) is different...I wonder how good those low voltage CPUs' be at overclocking

 

[Markfw]

get any of the new thoroughbreds, and UNDER-clock it. Talk about cool... Especially with a good HSF like the Vantec C7040. Quiet and cool even OC'ed.

Edit, and your statement about AMD being hotter is NOT true anymore.

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
get any of the new thoroughbreds, and UNDER-clock it. Talk about cool... Especially with a good HSF like the Vantec C7040. Quiet and cool even OC'ed.

Edit, and your statement about AMD being hotter is NOT true anymore.

Sure it is! Stock AMD vs. Stock Intel, there's no contest, Intel runs cooler. Compare a Thoroughbred 1800+ to a P4 HT 3.06 and yeah, the AMD is cooler. Add liquid cooling, yeah AMD is cooler.

I just want out-of-the-box cool. That means Intel Northwood or the lower-end AMD Thoroughbreds. Or the coolest of the bunch, the Intel Tulatin.

Unless you can find me an AMD mobo that competes with
ASUS p4s533-mx with SDR/DDR/USB2.0 and all the trimmings that's nice and cheap and from a reputable company, I think I'll be getting a Northwood Celeron 2.0

 

[CraigRT]

They're not very powerful... but P4 Celeron 1.7's run very cool. I have 2 at work for order entry terminals and they run barely luke warm to the touch (the HSF).. i swear you could unplug the fan on these things and it would run fine..

 

[Viper96720]

The P4-M 1400Mhz 1.3v and 26watts. Uses 478 pin socket just doesn't have a heatspreader.

 

[thatbox]

Bah! My TBredB 1600+ does not run cool at all, even with a Thermaltake Volcano II! It's generally 46C, according to Asus Probe...

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
The P4-M 1400Mhz 1.3v and 26watts. Uses 478 pin socket just doesn't have a heatspreader.

Sounds great! But I'll bet it's not cheap either.... The Celeron 2.0 Northwood is probably more my price, and overclocked it would perform very well for everything I'm throwing at it.

 

[bgeh]

try getting the 1700+ T-Bred B 1.5v chips
i have it at XP2600+ speeds undervolted to 1.475v

 

[AtomicDude512]

Try an Athlon XP 1700 Tbred-B, mine runs with a crappy cooler at 39-44c.