PIII CU L2 Cache...

[blcjr]

I'm getting the urge to upgrade the CPU on a machine I use for flight simulation: Soyo 6ba+ IV, with PIII 450@567. I'm wanting to get the best bang for the buck, and plan to stay with 100 FSB CPU's. The new CU's, like the 600E, only have 256 L2 cache, right? Has that been a significant factor in their performance?

-Baz

 

[BurntKooshie]

the "E" Denotes Cumine. "B" denotes 133FSB (really, a lower multiplier, for use with the 133mhz bus). Yes, the restructure of the L2 cache is the major improvement, though there were supposedly other things like relayouts and such (lowers die size and such).

 

[blcjr]

Well, I guess what I was asking, is if I have 512k of L2 cache on my 450, if I go to a 600E will the smaller 256k cache negate any of the performance increase I'd otherwise expect? I.e., maybe it is naive, but how can the 256k on the 600 be as good as the 512 on a 450?

-Baz

 

[Ulysses]

It shouldn't. The Coppermine cache is supposed to be much more efficient and is integrated physically with the chip core.

If you want to max o'clock then you should specify an Intel Pentium III Coppermine CPU from the cB0 stepping in the FC-PGA form factor and designed to run on a 100 MHz system bus. Accept no substitutes, and if you have to use that chip in a Slot 1 motherboard then get a 'slotket' made by the same maker as your board. See:

http://support.intel.com/support/processors/pentiumiii/ssalist.htm

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=196333

P.S.
Some 700/100 - 750/100 cB0 CPU's are doing 933/133 - 1000/133. This is an excellent time to upgrade your CPU.

 

[they call mr big]

the coppermine processor with 256k cache full speed cache is faster than the 512k of half speed

 

[blcjr]

Ah, I forgot about the new cache being full-speed.

Why is the FC-PGA a better choice for o/c than a Slot 1, all other things equal?

Ulysses, I looked at that intel list, and my mobo isn't among the ones with an "approved" converter.

Finally, how's the best way to go about being sure one is getting the right stepping. Are there vendors good at assuring users that they are getting what they want?

TIA.

-Baz

 

[DataFly]

FC-PGA chips cool better in general because the die of the chip has been "flipped" upside-down so it can transfer heat to the heatsink/fan more effectively. They can also be used in both slot 1 and socket 370 motherboards (use in slot 1 requires an adapter).

Onvia seems to be shipping cB0 chips to most people not in or near California. You can get one for $215 after using the two $25 off 200 coupons from http://www.techbargains.com. If you don't get a cB0, you can return it for another one as long as the box is unopened.

Edit: I just realized you said your mobo isn't among the ones with an aapproved converter. That shouldn't make a difference; any slocket should work, though some better than others.

 

[Eug]

"Why is the FC-PGA a better choice for o/c than a Slot 1, all other things equal?"

Unless you can set voltage from the BIOS, with a Slot 1 card you're stuck with the default voltage. With a proper slotket you can set the "default" voltage that the motherboard sees to anything you want.

 

[felix88]

You can get fcpga chips in the slot 1 format. They sell them at Frys.

 

[blcjr]

Double post. The server acted weird on my last night, and I didn't realize one of my tries to post had gone through. Hit the post button this morning without checking the thread.

Thanks for the replies that were posted in the meantime.

-Baz