Need ADVICE... Just got two new CPUs, P3 866 and P3 800 FCPGA... need stable overclockable...

[RDSport323]

motherboards that will run at the required 133FSB... I already have the ASUS P3V4X, but I dont like the jumper options.. so any other motherboards have good overclockability for these CPUs?

thanks!

 

[ErikP]

The Asus CUSL2-C is a good board from what I hear: based on the Intel 815EP, good overclocking options (using jumpers or BIOS), and pretty stable. One thing to note though: it only supports up to 2 double-sided DIMMs.

Only problem is that the EB PIIIs aren't really friendly overclockers: because of the 133MHz FSB, the multiplier is pretty low, so you need a really high FSB for good results.

 

[RDSport323]

awww....

I would think that with a CPU that supports 133 FSB, that it would be a lot easier to overclock... but I guess I am wrong... There's no way of changing the multiplier? we could only change the FSB? This is beginning to become confusing! but I have heard a lot of good things about the ASUS CUSL2-C... I might look into getting that one..

Another question... if I wanted to run dual CPUs in my setup, do they ahve to be Identical? or could one be for example 866 and 800? Can't I change in the BIOS to have the 866 run at 800, so they are both identical CPUs (sorta)? And what are the benefits of having a dual cpu system?

thanks ErikP.. i appreciate the info.

 

[ErikP]

The problem with a FSB of 133 is that you can make it higher, but the PCI bus speed will go up as well, and there's no option to alter the FSB/PCI divider. For example, if you go to 166 FSB, your PCI bus will be 41.5, which is pretty high. You can lower the speed of your memory (ie a ratio of 133:100:33 for FSB:MEMCI), but the PCI bus will still be the problem.

Because of the low multiplier (which is locked on all PIIIs, btw) an increase in the FSB speed will result in a relatively low CPU speed change. For example, for a 800EB, the multiplier is 6. So for every 1 MHz FSB increment, the CPU speed will increase 6 MHz. For a 800E, this increase is 8.

As for SMP, Intel recommends using identical steppings of CPUs, which implies that they must have the same frequency. You could mix steppings, but the CPU speed has to be the same. Intel doesn't recommend mixing steppings, and doesn't test all possible configurations. Check http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumiii/intnotes.htm#7 for more info.

 

[RDSport323]

ok, now that REALLY sucks... that means I can't really push it too much... well, let's see, with my 866, you think these PCI cards could handle it? I have a Netgear Network adaptor, Diamond MX400 Sound Card, and a Symbios Logic SCSI-2 card.. I also have an Elsa Vanta 32mg AGP card...

Will these cards overclock well? or should I just scrap the idea of overclocking? I also have Infinieon memory 256 PC 133/CAS 2...

thanks for a;; the help

 

[ErikP]

I can't tell you what PCI speed your cards can handle, because I just don't know However, you can try by starting at 133, and then incrementing by small steps and performing some (basic) tests, if Windows starts up. If you come to a setting that doesn't work anymore, take a step down.

You can rule out the memory being the bottleneck by using the 133/100/33 setting. The memory clock will start at 100MHz then, something your memory can definately handle.