P3 800E or P3 800EB

[Ralf1]

I'm going to buy a new processor! Both versions of the P3 800 are about the same prise. Which version shall I buy???
Is it better to buy the 800E and then try to overclock up to near FSB133? Any advise?

 

[compuwiz1]

Yes, it's better to buy the 100MHz one, then try and overclock to 133MHz fsb. Now, the sad part; it most likely won't happen. You've got better chances of getting 933-1GHz out of a 700E, than you do with that chip. The 800 / 133 chip has no headroom. If you could run it at 155MHz fsb, you'd only get 930, and that would be asking alot of that chip, your ram and the rest of your system.

 

[toph99]

just to clear things up a bit, incase you didn't know this:
PIII 800E - Coppermine PIII which runs on a 100mhz fsb
PIII 800EB- Coppermine PIII which runs on a 133mhz fsb

if you're going to overclock, go with the 800E
but i agree with compuwiz, chances are you aren't going to hit 133, but you never know if you can find a 700E, go for that, much better chances, as he said

 

[KR]

If it's a PIII 800 you've decided on, I agree with Russ to go with the 800E 100MHZ FSB version. I just did that exact upgrade and not knowing what to expect from the chip, I opted for the device which would be the easiest option - and still be reasonably fast if it didn't overclock at all.

With the 800 at factory defaults you still have an 800 MHZ system - not too shappy and certainly better than 700. With mild overclocking of just 117MHZ FSB I was nicely able to hit 936MHZ @ 1.7V while still using my old PC100 RAM - it's crappy ram so I was limited to CAS3 @ 117MHZ but still a giant leap in speed from my C300a@450 - and still able to use my BX6 Rev2 motherboard. I've invested in a $10.00 golden orb HSF so will be trying to get stable at 992 MHZ (124 MHZ FSB) which is still within spec for my PC100 RAM at CAS3 - so the entire upgrade which has more than doubled my system speed is costing less than $200 (plus tax, shipping, etc.

Personally, I opted for a conservative approach with an acceptible fall-back position of having an 800MHZ system even if nothing overclocked. Turns out I got mildly lucky and have a mildly overclocked system at 936MHZ. Works for me.

As Russ always says - your mileage may vary

 

[Ralf1]

Thanks a lot for the Info. It's not an easy decision to take!
Right now I'm considering buying a P3 700E even though it's just 14$ less than the P3 800E.
I hope you all agree on buying the boxed version?

 

[compuwiz1]

Yep, if you can get a boxed version, try and be sure it is an SL45Y, to be sure it's at least cB0 stepping. cC0 would be nice, if you can find it, but they're tougher to find and more money.
The S spec for those are SL4M7.
I've gotten quite a few good cB0's from Googlegear

 

[vvvvvv]

700s are way better

 

[aceO07]

i have a 800eb.. i sometimes wish i could go back in time and get a 800e instead.. but that's ok.. i'm happy with it. don't need crazy speed for my daily tasks. oc'd it to 900mhz stable at 150cas2.. yay! anyways, if i had to change it, i'd have got a 800e instead.