lv/ulv overclock showdown?

[DrMrLordX]

Okay, so we all know supplies on the 35W X2-3800+ SFF are low. Now Intel has announced two ulv Core Duo (Yonah) procs, the U2400 and U2500. You can read more here:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3380

The X2-3800+ SFF should run on any ol AM2 board so far as I can tell. As for the U2400 and U2500, the only desktop board that could theoretically accomodate them would be this overpriced beastie:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813137081

I'm told it's a pretty good board, but eh whatever.

So anyway, what're your thoughts? As delightful as the idea of 9W processor with a default FSB of 533 mhz may be, I can't see this CPU+board combo winning a bang/buck comparison with the X2-3800+ SFF. That AOpen board is $270, and the U2500 will probably come in at the same price. We don't even know if the U2400 or U2500 will be sold to anyone other than embedded device manufacturers.

In contrast, after the price cut, the X2-3800+ SFF should sell for $230 or so. How much for a good AM2 overclocking board? $100-$150? The goal here would be to try and beat a E6300 OCed to 2.8-2.9 ghz which means either the X2-3800+ or the U2400/U2500 would have to hit around 3.5 ghz . . .

Also, I've noticed that Anandtech has at least one X2-3800+ SFF chip on hand. It showed up in their latest Conroe feature. Why won't they overclock it for us?!?! argh!

 

[DrMrLordX]

Wow, this thread flopped.

Does anyone at least know anything about availabilities for the Core Duo U2400 and U2500 in socket 478/479?

 

[Furen]

I'd go for the E6300 if you can find a motherboard that fits your price range and overclocks decently enough. If you cannot then go for an X2, but it will draw more power.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Well not necessarily. The X2-3800+ SFF is a 35W processor at stock. It should be able to hit the 3 ghz range at a lower voltage than other X2s. Of course, if it tops out at that level, it will get smoked by the E6300 performance-wise.

 

[Furen]

I have not seen anything out there that says 35W X2s overclock better than the 89W parts. 3GHz is not that great unless the Conroe cannot get over 2.6GHz or so (basically if the motherboard sucks, which is why I said that you'd need a decent motherboard). Regardless, the E6300 will draw significantly less power than the X2, I have no doubt in my mind about this.

 

[formulav8]

Really depends on what transistors AMD uses on the EE 35w editions on whether they will OC better than the 89W versions. They could have used slower transistors which is what they use on Turion cpu's to help keep power consumption down. And of course, a cpu with slower transistors won't really clock as high as the cpu with the faster transistors. Thats why Turions aren't hitting high clockspeeds like the other cpu's. If the 35w CPU's are mainly a voltage drop, then they could oc quite well. My 2 pennys, could be wrong though. I'm not afraid to admit it.


Jason

 

[DrMrLordX]

I was thinking the same thing formulav8. Sadly, nobody out there has bothered to run even a casual OC article on the 35W X2 yet, even though the chip paper-launched in May. Anandtech has one and they won't test it.

 

[Furen]

If I remember correctly someone actually HAS done an OC article on the 35W X2. I dont remember where but I think it hit ~2.9GHz. I'll try to look for it.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Thanks, if you can get a link to that that'd be great.

2.9 ghz isn't too good, I was hoping for 3.2-3.5 but I'm not holding my breath waiting for it.

 

[dexvx]

Core Duo "T" series consumes less power than the x2-3800EE.

The E6300, eventhough it was a 65W TDP (confirm?) consumes power on par with the EE X2-3800:

http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q3/core2/index.x?pg=16

 

[DrMrLordX]

Interesting. The 35W X2 doesn't seem to be worth the higher price. I'd still like to see an OC article or two, or at least some results from a reputable forum poster. But we don't always get what we want *)

 

[dexvx]

Aopen board is extremely expensive. However the pros are:

1) Merom compatible (tested and confirmed on XS).
2) Very high quality board.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Yes indeed, dexvx. Any idea if the Core Duo "U" series will work on it as well? I suspect that those chips may only be used in embedded applications?

 

[dexvx]

Hmm...

You're gonna be very hard-pressed to find U chips in retail channels. The people buying Yonah's are rare enough, now trying to find a LV one? Personally, I dont think its worth the trouble going for a U over a T. The Power Consumption difference is minimal and NOT worth the price and rarity premium.

 

[n7]

There's really no question.

The E6300 is the way to go in power-efficiency, performance @ stock, or performance OCed.