I just started looking up prices on the AMD Athlon 1.2 ghz Tbird and I found 2 models. One is a 200 mhz fsb and the other is a 266 mhz fsb. Is this true ?? Is there a 266 mhz fsb ??? I thought there was only a 200. Was this a typo ??? If it is true, will the Epox 8KTA3 kt133 mobo work with the 266 fsb processor ??? Thanks for the help.
Question about the 1.2 ghz Tbird
- Thread starter BigDaddyDealTaker
- Start date
There are now 266MHz (133MHz DDR) FSB Athlons. They won't work with a KT133 motherboard, unless you lower their FSB speed to 100MHz (or whatever the limit for yours is, somewhere around 110MHz usually), which is a waste. They're meant for use with the new KT133A chipset and the AMD 760 chipset. That motherboard you listed there won't work with the 133MHz FSB, but Epox does have a KT133A model out if you want to get that, althouh personnally I would go with Abit, Asus or MSI.
266 fsb = 133 fsb / memory
200 fsb = 100 fsb / memory
The former refers to DDR capability. Actually, even with the KT133A boards that are just coming out, sometimes they talk about 266 fsb, rather than 133, although they definitely are SDRAM boards, and not DDR boards.
All T birds can run at either 100 (200) or 133 (266) fsb -- as long as the result of the multiplier (as adjusted by the pencil trick and the mobo settings) times the fsb doesn't exceed the overclockable speed of the chip. However, the newest T birds are being specified and sold as their stock multipler times the 133 fsb.
200 fsb = 100 fsb / memory
The former refers to DDR capability. Actually, even with the KT133A boards that are just coming out, sometimes they talk about 266 fsb, rather than 133, although they definitely are SDRAM boards, and not DDR boards.
All T birds can run at either 100 (200) or 133 (266) fsb -- as long as the result of the multiplier (as adjusted by the pencil trick and the mobo settings) times the fsb doesn't exceed the overclockable speed of the chip. However, the newest T birds are being specified and sold as their stock multipler times the 133 fsb.
What type of RAM will be needed with this new mobo and cpu ???? Will pc133 work ??? As you can tell I am a newbie but trying to learn so help a brotha out in a time of need. 
I am not going to be doing any overclocking because I simply dont have the knowledge yet but I will learn, grasshopper.
the KT133A is using PC133 SDRAM... if you are not going to o/c a 266MHz FSB TBird on an Epox 8KTA3 would be an excellent choice IMHO.
EDIT: just remember to get good brand name ram, very cheap generic stuff dosen't always work in KT133 based boards.
EDIT: just remember to get good brand name ram, very cheap generic stuff dosen't always work in KT133 based boards.
If you don't want the hastle/challenge of overclocking, and are getting a KT133A board running at 133fsb, then you should also get one of the Athlon Tbird Type "C" chips that have just come out. There are three C speeds, 1ghz, 1.2, and 1.13.
I'd get the 1 ghz, since its a much better price/performance point. Also, chances are very strong that you will be able to overclock it up to the 1.2 mark anyway, when you get around to learning how. It's not hard. It WOULD be a little hard to get one of the older Tbird chips designed for a 100mhz fsb, and then do the same tricks you do when overclocking to step it BACK DOWN in multiplier to a speed it will run at. If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's ok. Just get a Tbird chip which is specified for the 133mhz fsb, as I said. Then you don't HAVE to know.
And yes, as Zephyr said, the KT133A boards run regular PC133 memory. CL2 is the highest quality, and runs a bit faster. Only the top makers like Crucial have it. Do a search on Crucial and 15% on this board, "Hot Deals" forum, and you will get a link to where you can buy Crucial memory for 15% off, rather than the usual 10% right now, plus free shipping.
BTW, Intel is scheduled to lower prices dramatically on their most expensive chips theis weekend. That may have some follow on effects on AMD chips next week. May also cause AMD to release a 1.3mhz part.
I'd get the 1 ghz, since its a much better price/performance point. Also, chances are very strong that you will be able to overclock it up to the 1.2 mark anyway, when you get around to learning how. It's not hard. It WOULD be a little hard to get one of the older Tbird chips designed for a 100mhz fsb, and then do the same tricks you do when overclocking to step it BACK DOWN in multiplier to a speed it will run at. If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's ok. Just get a Tbird chip which is specified for the 133mhz fsb, as I said. Then you don't HAVE to know.
And yes, as Zephyr said, the KT133A boards run regular PC133 memory. CL2 is the highest quality, and runs a bit faster. Only the top makers like Crucial have it. Do a search on Crucial and 15% on this board, "Hot Deals" forum, and you will get a link to where you can buy Crucial memory for 15% off, rather than the usual 10% right now, plus free shipping.
BTW, Intel is scheduled to lower prices dramatically on their most expensive chips theis weekend. That may have some follow on effects on AMD chips next week. May also cause AMD to release a 1.3mhz part.
I just want to say thanks to all you guys for the informative information. That is why I come to this forum site because the people actually seem like they enjoy helping. Most of the other forum sites just hack on us newbies. It gets very frustrating and hard to learn. Good post BDDT. Thanks again guys, this post helped me out and looks like it helped BDDT out as well.
Big Daddy
No offense but don't read too much into all the other replies, Epox 8kta3 board is the new board....It has the new chipset that supports the bus of 133. The older chipsets (prior to the one you listed) had a hard time going up past 110 on the fsb.
Your board will support either cpu that you decide on. Its just that the 266 fsb is new and will "officially" support the chipset. And even if you go w/ the t-bird w/ the 200 fsb you still can take advantage of your board that supports the 133fsb. w/out really overclocking to the extent you read alot about in these forums. You just simply set it up in your bios. These t-birds will have no problem as it was always the chipset that held the processor back, not the other way around......but your all set w/ that board.
No offense but don't read too much into all the other replies, Epox 8kta3 board is the new board....It has the new chipset that supports the bus of 133. The older chipsets (prior to the one you listed) had a hard time going up past 110 on the fsb.
Your board will support either cpu that you decide on. Its just that the 266 fsb is new and will "officially" support the chipset. And even if you go w/ the t-bird w/ the 200 fsb you still can take advantage of your board that supports the 133fsb. w/out really overclocking to the extent you read alot about in these forums. You just simply set it up in your bios. These t-birds will have no problem as it was always the chipset that held the processor back, not the other way around......but your all set w/ that board.
SeaHarp
Yeah, you are right that all Tbirds will theoretically work with the 133mhz FSB boards. (Although there have been some reported problems with the slower 100mhz specified Tbirds -- see www.overclockers.com).
However, you have to do the "pencil trick" (or much better and more permanently the loctite rear window defogger repair kit goop, or conductive pen trick) to unlock the TBird before your good mobo bios, such as on the Abit KT7A raid (or not raid), board can work its magic to change the chip's multiplier, allowing you to over - or under - clock. Furthermore, you have to do this before the very first time you plug you chip into the mobo, and reapply thermal grease and heatsink, or it is very unlikely to work AT ALL.
No biggie for those that know about this. A big biggie for those that don't.
And somehting else. It takes about three second to totally fry and destroy an Athlon processor that doesn't have a solid heatsink/fan assembly PROPERLY seated and clipped onto the chip. You can't test it even once, even for "a few secs" without doing the whole thermal grease and heat sink proper seating -- which can be a bit difficult and a pain. You also have to know that, or you are out an Athlon. Those babies run HOT.
Yeah, you are right that all Tbirds will theoretically work with the 133mhz FSB boards. (Although there have been some reported problems with the slower 100mhz specified Tbirds -- see www.overclockers.com).
However, you have to do the "pencil trick" (or much better and more permanently the loctite rear window defogger repair kit goop, or conductive pen trick) to unlock the TBird before your good mobo bios, such as on the Abit KT7A raid (or not raid), board can work its magic to change the chip's multiplier, allowing you to over - or under - clock. Furthermore, you have to do this before the very first time you plug you chip into the mobo, and reapply thermal grease and heatsink, or it is very unlikely to work AT ALL.
No biggie for those that know about this. A big biggie for those that don't.
And somehting else. It takes about three second to totally fry and destroy an Athlon processor that doesn't have a solid heatsink/fan assembly PROPERLY seated and clipped onto the chip. You can't test it even once, even for "a few secs" without doing the whole thermal grease and heat sink proper seating -- which can be a bit difficult and a pain. You also have to know that, or you are out an Athlon. Those babies run HOT.
<< May also cause AMD to release a 1.3mhz part. >>
I would hope not!
It would be nice if they would release the 1333MHz part though
I would hope not!
It would be nice if they would release the 1333MHz part though
dougjnn:
There is a way to get a 100mhz part and avoid any "hassle"...buy a 1.2ghz bird. The 1.2's are coming unlocked, so no pencil trick is needed. You just pop it into a KT133A board, drop the multiplier, and set the FSB to 133mhz. I did this and there was no hassle at all..
1.2ghz Thunderbird (200FSB) = $260 or so
1.2ghz Thunderbird (266FSB) = $350 or so
Is the $100 worth it? In my opinion..no. My 1.2ghz is running a FSB of 300mhz at default voltage...easy.
There is a way to get a 100mhz part and avoid any "hassle"...buy a 1.2ghz bird. The 1.2's are coming unlocked, so no pencil trick is needed. You just pop it into a KT133A board, drop the multiplier, and set the FSB to 133mhz. I did this and there was no hassle at all..
1.2ghz Thunderbird (200FSB) = $260 or so
1.2ghz Thunderbird (266FSB) = $350 or so
Is the $100 worth it? In my opinion..no. My 1.2ghz is running a FSB of 300mhz at default voltage...easy.
Well, what I am planning on doing for myself is buying a 900mhz@ 100fsb Dresden blue core Tbird for about $120.
And turning it into a 1.2ghz (or maybe better) Tbird @ 133 by using the Loctite defogger trick, and an Abit KT7a Raid board.
Probably buying next week. I've gathered most of the rest of the computer from hot deals over the last month or so. Just not the mobo, ram & cpu -- while I waited for KT133A/DDR mobo tests to shake out and boards to become available. I've about decided on the Abit KT7a raid, after Tom's did his comparative review, and joined AnandTech in saying DDR looks immature, and maybe won't do the current generation of AMD processors that much good. Bad price/performance.
And turning it into a 1.2ghz (or maybe better) Tbird @ 133 by using the Loctite defogger trick, and an Abit KT7a Raid board.
Probably buying next week. I've gathered most of the rest of the computer from hot deals over the last month or so. Just not the mobo, ram & cpu -- while I waited for KT133A/DDR mobo tests to shake out and boards to become available. I've about decided on the Abit KT7a raid, after Tom's did his comparative review, and joined AnandTech in saying DDR looks immature, and maybe won't do the current generation of AMD processors that much good. Bad price/performance.
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