Poll northwoods 1.6A or 1.8A which is better?

[alkaprim]

Recently I built two northwood systems ,both based on asus P4S333 mobo.
First was 1.6A , overclocked like charm 2.32GHz at stock volt,
runs benchmarks at 2.4 (1.55v) probably'd go higher.
Second was 1.8A despite upping voltage to 1.6v wont even post at 2.4GHz
Runs stable at 2.23 (1.55v).
They're both retail box malays, motherboards are same.
At 2.4 with 1.8A I'm not overclocking anything but cpu,why no post?
Was mine 1.8A unlucky dud? ,or there is pattern emerging ?
If you have system with either chip please vote, it maybe of help
to anyone plannig to buy one.
How far yours overclock(stressing important breakpoint 133 fsb)

 

[Strawberrymom]

the 1.8's seem to need more voaltage. I had to go up to 1.8 to get it to post stable

 

[kulki]

thank god someone started this post.
I have been worrying about this issue for days now
Cant decide whether to go for 1.8a or 1.6a.
I am a virgin at OCing and dont know whether or nor I can go beyond 133fsb.
Cant decide on the processor or the MB

 

[kulki]

<< the 1.8's seem to need more voaltage. I had to go up to 1.8 to get it to post stable >>


if thats the case then u cannot use MSI 645 can I?
So what board did u use for ur 1.8a?

 

[THUGSROOK]

alkaprim - there is a jumper on the P4S motherboard that will raise default voltage by 0.1v-0.11v. this voltage is also applied to a cold boot before the cpu even posts. could help you out on that 1.8a.

*note: keep in mind that your voltage will be boosted by 0.1v when applying more voltage from bios. the settings in bios will not reflect the extra 0.1v. so the 1.6v setting in bios will now = 1.7v etc.

 

[JellyBaby]

Hopefully, a near future stepping will increase the odds of overclocking LSN P4 to ludicrous speeds. Obviously, your odds of getting a good OC from a 1.6A are better than a 2.2A simply because there is more headroom. The same should be true of 1.6A vs 1.8A but I am a bit surprised 1.8s can't get to 2.4 as easily as 1.6As get to 2.2.

 

[alkaprim]

Firstly I knew about jumper on P4S333 but I think that for northwood it gives only ~0.01 volt boost not 0.1.
Secondly I dont think that raising vcore excessivly is a such a good idea for 0.13 micron CPU.
I read that electron migration problems are much more dangerous than for older 0.18 microns.
I'd put a cap on Vcore at relatively safe level 1.7v.
Lets compare apples to apples.

 

[kulki]

I am very surprised too. I would have thought 1.8a could get easily to 2.4Ghz but dosent seem like thats the case.
I am still debating betweem 18a and MSI 645 or 1.6a and P4b333
What do u guys recommend?

 

[DillWeed]

One example doesn't mean too much, but I've got a 1.8a in a Soyo P4S Dragon Ultra that runs rock solid at 2.4 GHz at 1.60 Volts.

 

[kulki]

Is it true that MSI 645 Ultra has a maximum voltage pf 1.6v?
If yes is that a potential problem with OCing?

 

[alkaprim]

<< I am very surprised too. I would have thought 1.8a could get easily to 2.4Ghz but dosent seem like thats the case.
I am still debating betweem 18a and MSI 645 or 1.6a and P4b333
What do u guys recommend? >>



Obviously I'm inclined to recomend asus P4S33 + 1.6A , then again I started this thread so we all have better idea.

 

[THUGSROOK]

alkaprim - the desrciption for that jumper is 0.2v. on my system it raised my default voltage to 1.61v on a northwood and to 1.85v on a Willy. that jumper fixed my cold boot/reboot problems 100%.

i also agree - dont go over 1.7v on a northwood.

 

[StanFL]

My 1.6A does 2.4 at default (1.5) core voltage. It's the bomb!

 

[kulki]

hmm from early reports t does seem that 1.6a is easier to over clock than 1.8a

 

[Strawberrymom]

im using a 8IRXP which allows 1.85 volts , the Epox board 4bd2a+ goes up to 1.8

and each board has their volatges dift so if i swap boards I may be able to go lower

 

[kulki]

<< My 1.6A does 2.4 at default (1.5) core voltage. It's the bomb! >>


dude u shure got lucky

 

[alkaprim]

My 1.6A also does 2.4 at stock 1.5v it even finishes sandra cpu multimedia bench. ,but just quits at cpu arithmetic bench.
At 1.55v I dont have this problem!
I've done some sandra benches at 1.6 , 2.13 , 2.32 (stock Vcore) and 2.4 (1.55v) on P4S333 ddr266 (ratio automatic)
If you guys are interrested I can post them here , let me know.

 

[kulki]

THUGSROOK: I love ur nick
Well anyways THUGSROOK suggests that I go with 1.6a with p4s333 instead of 1.8a with MSI 645 Ultra
What do u guys think of that?
THUGSROOK ur da man!!!!

 

[Strawberrymom]

yeah and thugsrock is the only one I know whos killed a northwood on a P4s333

 

[exp]

<< One example doesn't mean too much, but I've got a 1.8a in a Soyo P4S Dragon Ultra that runs rock solid at 2.4 GHz at 1.60 Volts. >>



Wait, are you serious?? You are the first person I've heard from that got any kind of overclock with the P4S. What RAM are you using? Retail heat sink?

If anyone else has been able to overclock with the Soyo P4S please speak up.

 

[THUGSROOK]

oh yea Mom - you just had to bring that up didnt ya?

hehe

ive got another P4 1.8A@2.4 in the same system, all is well

<EDIT> exp - im using Asus P4S333 SiS645 moboards

 

[DillWeed]

exp,

Yeah I'm serious. I'm running the reatail heatsink. with Arctic Siver 3, and 1 stick of Corsair PC2400 RAM.

I have a few issues with coldboots not getting into the BIOS, but apart from that it's fine

 

[DashK]

1.8's seem to be OCing higher than 1.6's on the whole, your pretty much garunteed 2.4Ghz (133FSB). 1.8's have been making it to 2.6-.2.7 on air, you aren't gonna get that with a 1.6.

 

[loubol]

I am running a Soyo P4S Dragon Ultra with a 1.6A at 2.32, 1.5v with generic 2100 ram and it has been rock stable for 2 days. I have run multiple benchmarks and the thing has not crashed once. I ran it up to 150X16 and it crashed after 10 min. If I raise the voltage I think it will easily run at 2.4.

 

[chemhaqr]

Personally I am getting sick of every one worrying about these .13u chips! They are made from COPPER people! They can take much more abuse than the older ALUMINUM chips. Get that through your heads! The melting point of COPPER is 1356 deg. C while ALUMINUM is 933 deg. C. That does help the final vcore/heat/hurtz situation and allow higher vcore's and OC's. The COPPER will hold together better than the ALUMINUM did plus it is much more conductive and its thermal conductivity is higher also in essence "ABLE TO GET RID OF HEAT FASTER!" The is why I have been screaming at the top o' my lungs to use a good copper slugged HS on these chips.