My Next System

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
986
0
0
Hey guys, I'm brand new to overclocking, so you'll have to bear with my ignorance. I'm planning to build a New Box at the end of July and I'm considering the Athlon 64 4600+ X2 (AM2), but I'm also eyeing the 5000+. Now, to my knowledge, it's the same core - but I'm really trying to keep the price low.

I'm going to stick with stock cooling and I'll be running either 1 or 2 GB Dual Channel DDR2 @ 800MHz.

How feasible would it be to OC a 4600 to 5000 speeds?
 

soydios

Platinum Member
Mar 12, 2006
2,708
0
0
It would be very feasible to overclock the 4600+ to 5000+ speeds. You could even do it using the stock heatsink.
 

acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
0
Check this out: Isolate and Consolodate! It is a great guide to overclocking an athlon 64 and should answer most (if not all) of your questions. You should have no problem at all ocing the 4600 to 5000 speeds however if you're serious about going thru with this, go for the 3800 and oc it to 5000 speeds instead! (savings of over $300) To do this however, you need a better cooler, my suggestion: the scythe ninja for $35 shipped.
Lets review:
1 Buy a 3800+ X2 and a scythe ninja
2. Read Zebo's Guide
3. Overclock it to ~2.6ghz
4. Have fun playing games to their full potential.
5. Welcome to the forums!
 

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
986
0
0
OMG - I did not realize that the 3800 has the same core... That's like a 30% overclock - you really think I could do it? It would save me like $150 - $200 after the prices drop.

EDIT: So you guys must know someone with that setup - how hot will it run OC'ed to 2.6 GHz with a scythe ninja?

Also - When I get to the OC, I might ask some stupid questions - Zebo's guide looks easy enough, but, like I said, I've never done this before.

EDIT: I'm not crazy. I was thinking of the 939s where the Toledo picks up at 4400 and Manchester goes to 4600. The differences between the two being the L2 Cache. My question is why does Windsor have only 2x512k L2 Cache when Toledo had 2x1MB? Seems like that's a step backwards...
 

acegazda

Platinum Member
May 14, 2006
2,689
1
0
might want to PM zebo, he's an expert. Should be something in the ballpark of 45c load and 25c idle stock and 50c/30c oc'ed?
 

Furen

Golden Member
Oct 21, 2004
1,567
0
0
AMD is phasing out all the 1MB l2 parts, probably in order to reduce the average die-size for the mainstream parts.
 

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,352
23
91
Originally posted by: inspire
How does that affect performance?

not by much...im not sure of the exact figures, but ive read that 99.9% of people dont notice the cache loss (1MB to 512KB) and if you overclock, you definitely WONT see it at all.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,894
12,954
136
The manufacturer will probably have the best data available as to which cases can accept the heatsink and which can't.

As an aside, if you really want to overclock on AM2, you might want to look at some of the 65W or 35W processors. There's a 35W 3800+ out there (though it's scarce) and there are several 65W X2s out there as well. The only difference between them and standard 89W X2s is the default vcore. They may or may not have more overclocking headroom.
 

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
986
0
0
Why would AMD mainstream a CPU with higher power consumption? Are there any differences (performance-wise) between the 89W, 65W, and 35W models?

EDIT - Doesn't seem to be any performance difference - just a price difference of almost $115 right now. Maybe, just maybe that will drop off once Conroe hits - if they're even still available. I'd definitely like to get my hands on a 35 W CPU...
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,894
12,954
136
They didn't mainstream a CPU with higher power consumption. They mainstreamed CPUs with lower power consumption (the 65W EFF parts and the 35W SFF part) for specialized users that needed lower power consumption and lower heat output for SFF PCs and the like. All the original X2s are 89W parts (or higher).

And yes, if you can find them, the low-power CPUs do cost more right now. The price delta should shrink once the X2 price cuts arrive.
 

cmrmrc

Senior member
Jun 27, 2005
334
0
0
Originally posted by: inspire
OMG - I did not realize that the 3800 has the same core... That's like a 30% overclock - you really think I could do it? It would save me like $150 - $200 after the prices drop.

EDIT: So you guys must know someone with that setup - how hot will it run OC'ed to 2.6 GHz with a scythe ninja?

Also - When I get to the OC, I might ask some stupid questions - Zebo's guide looks easy enough, but, like I said, I've never done this before.

EDIT: I'm not crazy. I was thinking of the 939s where the Toledo picks up at 4400 and Manchester goes to 4600. The differences between the two being the L2 Cache. My question is why does Windsor have only 2x512k L2 Cache when Toledo had 2x1MB? Seems like that's a step backwards...

yes, you could get the 3800 and oc to 5000(2.6ghz)...but if you go 4600/5000, you could get them to ~2.8-3.0ghz. If you don't mind the additionnal ~200-400mhz, get the 3800 and oc it to 5000.
 

Skott

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2005
5,730
1
76
Originally posted by: inspire
Sorry for the double post, but that Scythe Ninja is huge - will it fit in a standard mid-tower case?


You dont need the Ninja to get that kind of cooling. I've seen people do it with XP-90, Xp-120, Si-120, 9500, and some other hsf. Most OC posts I have read about the 9500 seems to be the most common hsf in use today. It in itself isnt small but will fit mid tower cases. I'd be more worried about it being compatible with the mobo than the case because not all mobos fit the big hsf. You got alot of options so explore them carefully before buying.
 

DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,894
12,954
136
Originally posted by: cmrmrc


yes, you could get the 3800 and oc to 5000(2.6ghz)...but if you go 4600/5000, you could get them to ~2.8-3.0ghz. If you don't mind the additionnal ~200-400mhz, get the 3800 and oc it to 5000.

Eh? Aside from the 3800+ having a lower multiplier, the odds that a 4600+ or 5000+ will actually OC higher than a 3800+ are pretty low.
 

Polish3d

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2005
5,500
0
0
Originally posted by: secretanchitman
Originally posted by: inspire
How does that affect performance?

not by much...im not sure of the exact figures, but ive read that 99.9% of people dont notice the cache loss (1MB to 512KB) and if you overclock, you definitely WONT see it at all.


If I'm not mistaken though, in games and such the extra cache is worth about 200mhz. (check out the 5000+ w/ 512kb getting beaten by the 4800+ )
 

Skott

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2005
5,730
1
76
From what I have heard of the 5000+ is that it isnt all that great for overclocking. Its not a bad chip or anything but its kinda at its head as is and doesnt go too much higher in OCing from what reports I seen so far. Better to get a 4400 or 4800 and OC it past what the 5000+ can do IMO. Cheaper to do that way too if you are an OCer. You could even get a 3800, 4200, and do the same as with the 4400 and save even more money. Of course if OCing isnt your thing then you have to revert to buying the most processor you can with your alloted budget.
 

secretanchitman

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
9,352
23
91
Originally posted by: inspire
So how high do you guys think a 3800+ Windsor will OC with Air Cooling? With Liquid Cooling?

air cooling? prolly around 3Ghz with air cooling, prolly even more with water cooling.

though i dont know what frequency/stock Ghz a 3800+ windsor is on.