Red Core 1.2GHz??????

[PieDerro]

I've seen a lot of red core 1.2GHz TBirds around recently. Are these any better or different than the blue/green/purple cores. All these colours are driving me nuts

Can anyone confirm if the L1 bridges are already closed on all 1.2GHz Athlons?

 

[DarkMajiq]

I don't think there's any difference, I think it just has to do with the fact that they're using more varied polishes now.

 

[SilverBack]

I CAN confirm it.
Here is a picture of mine that has the L1's closed.
Here:

 

[PieDerro]

Silverback,

Can you run your CPU at a LOWER than default multiplier?

I just would like to know, as I'm about to purchase a 1.2GHz with Abit KT7A, and I've heard some stories that these new CPUS, despite being factory unlocked, cannot be underclocked to make use of the KT133A's 133MHz FSB.

Hope that made sense!!

Plz get back to me... (actually, this could apply to anyone with a 1.2GHz TBird!!)

 

[Insane3D]

I am pretty sure that if it is unlocked and your motherboard supports multiplier adjustments, you could run any multiplier...higher or lower. I will know for sure on Monday! Good luck!

 

[SilverBack]

Here is the scoop....
They have definately changed something on the chip

I just tried changing the multipliers and here is what happened.
I have a MSI K7T Pro 2-a motherboard.

The cpu is a 1.2 GHz

The BIOS will now only let me have the following multipliers in the BIOS. 10x through 12.5x
These are ALL that is allowed.
OK here is the wierd part....
10x is 600MHz
10.5 is 650 MHz
11 is 1100 MHz
12 is 1200 MHz
12.5 is 1250 MHz

I thought that was pretty strange so I put in a 900 MHz TBird and the full set of multipliers appeared in the BIOS!!!
DUH!!!
I'm putting a link to a 1.1 GHz cpu that I have to compare to the 1.2 there is another difference that I didn't notice before. Look to the right of the cpu on both. The earlier has a bunch a small metal dots the new 1.2 doesn't
Check it out
1.1 GHz Tbird
1.2 GHz TBird

It looks as if I won't be able to run it at a 133 MHz setting standard.
I will be able to run it at 123MHz or better though.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see

 

[Insane3D]

Silverback:

I think there is a multiplier issue with the Pro2A board. I have seen many people posting about problems with the multiplier adjustment on the Pro2A..

 

[SilverBack]

Thats why I tried the 900 MHz cpu.
It works, All the multipliers up to 10 work on that chip fine.

 

[Insane3D]

Hmmm..that's interesting. I will be putting together a KT7A-RAID/1.2ghz system on Monday, and I will post my results. Also, I have a digital camera at the moment, so I will take some pics of my chip before I get it setup.

 

[PieDerro]

Insane3D!!!!!! Please let me know how you go!! Private Message me if you have to!

I'm going to be building a virtually identical rig later in the week (KT7A rather than the RAID version) and you're input could be very helpful!

Good Luck anyways, hope all goes well



Silverback
Looking at those two pictures is quite interesting indeed. Seems like AMD have fiddled around with the 1.2GHz. Also, the fact that it comes unlocked seems interesting too.

Now that I think about it, isn't the MSI K7T Pro 2A a KT133 motherboard. If it is (and I'm certain it is) then it should not be able to run ANYWHERE NEAR 133MHz FSB!!!!!! I think you'd need a KT133A motherboard to do that.

But then again, some people (esp. on Epox boards) have said that they are unable to lower their multipliers on their 1.2GHz TBirds too. Hmm... could somebody shed some light on this matter??

 

[tjll11a]

Has anyone had any problems with the 1gig thunderbirds

 

[SilverBack]

PieDerro
You said "I just would like to know, as I'm about to purchase a 1.2GHz with Abit KT7A, and I've heard some stories that these new CPUS, despite being factory unlocked, cannot be underclocked to make use of the KT133A's 133MHz FSB."

I guess I wasn't very clear

I was replying to that...

I said:
"It looks as if I won't be able to run it at a 133 MHz setting standard.
I will be able to run it at 123MHz or better though.
I guess I'll just have to wait and see...."

If my clock multiplier can only go down to 11x then at 123x11=1353 , which is close to the point of where my cpu refuses to go any higher.. So I can't make it to a 133 FSB with my current cpu, provided it won't go below a 11x multiplier....

 

[PieDerro]

ahh... I see. Sorry bout the misunderstanding

Do you think this problem can be overcome with BIOS upgrades?

 

[SilverBack]

Man I hope so...

I was hoping to run my cpu at 10x133 at least

 

[Jalapeno]

You will be lucky if your K7T Pro2-A goes above 108 FSB. MSI does provide a OC BIOS version on their site with multipliers up to 14.5, I think...

 

[DaddyG]

I wonder if this issue is only related to BIOS overclocking. Its kinda interesting that Gigabyte and Asus have retained the dipswitches. I am pretty sure that MSI has serious issues with BIOS overclocking. Abit, though not a favorite of mine cause of quality, has much more experience with OC. I have a theory that dip switches may be a better option. The dips intercept the BP-FID signal directly and pass the multiplier for CPU and Northbridge initialization. With BIOS overclocking, the cpu powers up with the default miltiplier and has to be over-ridden. I think similar issues effect max voltage also. Anybody got similar thoughts ??

 

[Insane3D]

DaddyG:

Check out this article on overclockers.com. They seem to have a theory about this that is right along the lines of what you are saying. It seems for some reason to not affect the 1.2ghz CPU's, and they think there is a reason they are coming unlocked. It seems AMD might have made a revision to the 1.2ghz 100mhz FSB parts.
These "red cores" are also showing up..I wonder if there is a connection..?

Article

 

[MortaniuS]

Hmm, i just picked up a kt7a-raid and clocked it easily 9x133 (1200mhz) no problems with my 1ghz athlon

 

[PieDerro]

Cool Mortanius! That's a beast of a system.

Insane3D, the Overclockers.com article was interesting. So it seems as though the new, unlocked 1.2GHz Thunderbirds are the only high end Athlons immune to this problem.

Well, now I know what I'm getting

 

[DaddyG]

Insane3D, The oclockers article is interesting. Not so sure about the 1.2 gig theory. I wouldn't think it would be worth the effort to blow the bridges on a 1.2 gig piece.

I think that the chip and chipset intialization, is absolutely the issue. Modding the L7s for higher DEFAULT voltage can make some mobos more stable during the initialization process. I'm convinced that the cpu comes up at the default voltage before the BIOS can up it to the voltage set in the BIOS. Seems like Gigabyte really did their homework here. ALL OC options are done through dips which I believe directly over-ride the defaults, no BIOS setting required. We really need some tests with both Gigabyte and Asus mobos which still use dips.

 

[Insane3D]

DaddyG:

I just got my Thunderbird today, and it is factory unlocked. It is also a blue core, and not red like some have been reported. It appears to be a week 52, 2000. I just popped on my hedgehog, and I am about to shutdown to move everything to the new board. Wish me luck, I will be back tonight (hopefully) to post my results. Oh, and it was very easy to put on the hedgehog, no screwdriver needed. I just hooked one side, and push the other down with my finger..easy. I hope to post some results tonight...