Question about AMD Black Edition and unlocked multipliers

[jrichrds]

The point of AMD Black Edition's unlocked multiplier is that you can overclock without raising the FSB/HT and memory speeds, right?

But wouldn't you want to get as high an FSB and memory speed as possible?

With Intel, I've always been told to lower the CPU multiplier to get as high an FSB as possible.

 

[masteryoda34]

It basically makes it easier and gives you more options. Also for extreme overclocking, (DICE, LN2) the unlocked multi makes a difference.

 

[Billb2]

If you want to get to 5 Ghz and your motherboard will only do 500 FSB, a 9 multi won't get you there.
Other than that, yes, an unlocked multi allows you to fine tune CPU and Memory speeds.

 

[heyheybooboo]

The L3 cache runs at the IMC/NB speed. With the Phenom IIs (and the original Phenoms) for each 10% increase in IMC/NB speed you will see a 3-4% improvement in memory latency and bandwidth.

This would be in addition to any performance gains seen from upping the cpu multiplier or 200MHz base clock.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: jrichrds
The point of AMD Black Edition's unlocked multiplier is that you can overclock without raising the FSB/HT and memory speeds, right?

But wouldn't you want to get as high an FSB and memory speed as possible?

With Intel, I've always been told to lower the CPU multiplier to get as high an FSB as possible.

If you are already maxing out the CPU speed on an UNLOCKED CPU, OCing the FSB while lowering the multiplier can give a small boost to performance. Which is something you CAN do on a black edition.

But if your multiplier is locked then you will max out fsb much earlier then maxing out the CPU speed, and the cpu speed will give you more then the fsb speed. Its better to have a faster CPU OC than an FSB oc.