Suggestions for Overclocking Guide next week

[oldfart]

2.4C or 2500+ setup

I'm not sure I would call the 2.4C the best way to go with a P4 setup these days. It is a little cheaper, but you get into some crazy bus speeds @ higher overclocks, which may be an issue for certain mobos and ram types. You may need more Vcore to get there as well. I think the 2.8C is the way to go (today). It's only $18 more than a 2.4C.

Newegg prices for retail
2.4C $167.00
2.6C $183.00
2.8C $185.00

 

[Jeff7181]

How can an overclocking guide NOT include anything about cooling???

 

[crimson117]

Awesome! I'm psyched to see an Anandtech article on an overclocking rig, especially if you can add a detailed article on how to overclock the two most commonly oc'd processors today, the XP 2500+ and the P2.4C.

You have the resources (I assume?) to get a couple of each chip, to show the variance between one 2500+ and another 2500+, or one P4 2.4c and another.

Come on... your community is swarming over these chips, how about an article on them?

 

[Elcs]

Just a thought..... how about underclocking?

Obviously a gaming rig wouldnt be underclocked but those of us who use their PC's to play DVD's or record sound require silence or close to it. With the widespread usage of mobile bartons to overclock.... how cool would a massively underclocked mobile Barton be and how much easier would it make heatsink choice in that situation?

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
How can an overclocking guide NOT include anything about cooling???

As much as I don't agree with Jeff on a lot of things he says...

I'm going to have to completely agree with him here.

How can you overclock and NOT mention anything about cooling?

I understand it's all air cooling, but it'd be nice to mention the heatsink fan combo you're using and even what case you're using. With air systems, it's all about flow through the case to remove as much heat as possible.

Come on Evan!!!



PS: Good point again Jeff7181

 

[McArra]

A64 3000+ and Chaintech ZNF3-150

 

[Jeff7181]

Another point... if there's not going to be much testing done, what's the point of this guide? Sure you've already tested the parts... AT THEIR STOCK SPEED. That's my major complaint about your reviews... I can't find any overclocked performance numbers on ANY processors or video cards. You mentioned you got the Prescott to 3.7 Ghz effortlessly... but I don't see any numbers as to how it performed. You didn't even do any overclocking on the A64 3400+ even after doing a two part review on it. You didn't mention overclocking on the Athlon 64's "Judgement Day" either.

If you're not going to include performance numbers and how they compare to other processors at stock speeds, I don't see any point in doing an overclocking guide at all.

*EDIT* If you don't have the time, send some parts my way, I'll be happy to test them and report the results

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Another point... if there's not going to be much testing done, what's the point of this guide? Sure you've already tested the parts... AT THEIR STOCK SPEED. That's my major complaint about your reviews... I can't find any overclocked performance numbers on ANY processors or video cards. You mentioned you got the Prescott to 3.7 Ghz effortlessly... but I don't see any numbers as to how it performed. You didn't even do any overclocking on the A64 3400+ even after doing a two part review on it. You didn't mention overclocking on the Athlon 64's "Judgement Day" either.

If you're not going to include performance numbers and how they compare to other processors at stock speeds, I don't see any point in doing an overclocking guide at all.

*EDIT* If you don't have the time, send some parts my way, I'll be happy to test them and report the results

Agree

 

[Jeff7181]

In response to the guy that said overclocking an Athlon 64 would be pointless due to the lack of a PCI/AGP lock. The nForce3 150 has a working PCI/AGP lock... it's the Via chipset that doesn't. But... Via runs HT at 800 Mhz, and the nF3 150 runs it at 600 Mhz, which is why the Via usually outperforms the nF3. BUT... if you can overclock an A64 3200+ to 2.4 ghz on the nF3, but only 2.3 Ghz on the Via... how would performance compare then?

This is where AnandTech.com is lacking in my opinion... and what I was hoping this overclocking guide would make up for.

*EDIT* Plus, now that the Windows XP 64-bit Preview is out... can we finally see if the extra cache of the 3200+ makes a difference vs. the 3000+??? Hell... I already downloaded the Preview even though I don't have an Athlon 64 (yet)... send me a couple motherboards and a 3200 and 3000 and I'll test it =)

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
In response to the guy that said overclocking an Athlon 64 would be pointless due to the lack of a PCI/AGP lock. The nForce3 150 has a working PCI/AGP lock... it's the Via chipset that doesn't. But... Via runs HT at 800 Mhz, and the nF3 150 runs it at 600 Mhz, which is why the Via usually outperforms the nF3. BUT... if you can overclock an A64 3200+ to 2.4 ghz on the nF3, but only 2.3 Ghz on the Via... how would performance compare then?

This is where AnandTech.com is lacking in my opinion... and what I was hoping this overclocking guide would make up for.

I stand corrected. The old addage stands firm, you learn something new everyday.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
In response to the guy that said overclocking an Athlon 64 would be pointless due to the lack of a PCI/AGP lock. The nForce3 150 has a working PCI/AGP lock... it's the Via chipset that doesn't. But... Via runs HT at 800 Mhz, and the nF3 150 runs it at 600 Mhz, which is why the Via usually outperforms the nF3. BUT... if you can overclock an A64 3200+ to 2.4 ghz on the nF3, but only 2.3 Ghz on the Via... how would performance compare then?

This is where AnandTech.com is lacking in my opinion... and what I was hoping this overclocking guide would make up for.

I stand corrected. The old addage stands firm, you learn something new everyday.

A LOT of people make that mistake... since the Via chipset performs better than the nForce3, everyone tends to think in terms of Via and just forget about the nForce3 because at stock speeds, it doesn't make sense to buy an nForce3.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

None of the current A64 boards based on any of the chipsets that have been tested have a working PCI lock according to Prometheus's findings, which synch with what some other sites are finding as well link

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
None of the current A64 boards based on any of the chipsets that have been tested have a working PCI lock according to Prometheus's findings, which synch with what some other sites are finding as well link

That contradicts this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this. Ok, I think that's enough =) I have no doubt that there are motherboards out there that don't correctly impliment the PCI/AGP lock of the nForce3... but, I'd say there's probably a lot more that in fact do.

 

[InlineFive]

Here's an idea. Delay the article and get the two best boards for each famiily. (NF7-S on the AMD side lots agree but I don't know about Intel) Get every single chip out of the nooks and crannies that you people have. Then grab a powerful popular aircooler and see what you can do!

-Por

 

[Diogenes2]

...........
Id doubt the AMD 64 would be worth covering in much detail with overclocking at the moment due to the lack of PCI/AGP lock which most know can quite easily make overclocking quite difficult. Perhaps an AMD 64 section could be added once you get your hands on a PCI/AGP lock board.............

Whoa!!!! AGP/PCI not being locked has been an issue from day 1 ( Celry madness )... It has only become a non issue with AMD NForce boards.. ( I haven't had any P4 experience... )

So, with that in mind, OC'ing with the 64 offers may opportunities in finding out which vid cards and PCI devices can handle higher bus speeds..

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

I like to see some AMD 64 chips been overclocked on both the NF3 and VIA chipset (3000+,3200+,3400+)
also like to see the AMD FX overclocked

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
None of the current A64 boards based on any of the chipsets that have been tested have a working PCI lock according to Prometheus's findings, which synch with what some other sites are finding as well link

That contradicts this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this, and this. Ok, I think that's enough =) I have no doubt that there are motherboards out there that don't correctly impliment the PCI/AGP lock of the nForce3... but, I'd say there's probably a lot more that in fact do.

i think it's a matter of how you interpret the meaning of changing the fsb and pci/agp frequency independent of each other...

i have an a64 board... and from my own experience and the reading the experiences of others, nforce3 150 boards DO NOT have a pci lock.

they do have an agp lock of 66 mhz which can be adjusted from 66 to 1XX independent of what you set the fsb to.

however, the pci will change at 1/6 of the system fsb.

my first hand experience comes from my tv tuner after i overclocked it from stock to 240 mhz. the display was all scrambled due to the pci being out of sync.

so yeah, you can tell me it has a pci lock but i can tell you from my own board that it does NOT have a pci lock.

 

[THUGSROOK]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
Here's an idea. Delay the article and get the two best boards for each famiily. (NF7-S on the AMD side lots agree but I don't know about Intel) Get every single chip out of the nooks and crannies that you people have. Then grab a powerful popular aircooler and see what you can do!

...and by the time he's done all that, we'll already be on the next gen platforms

 

[First]

Guys guys, who said anything about no cooling? I've tested out plenty of Athlon and P4 coolers and I'm going to recommend one for the overclocking guide. Just as I have tested out the 2500+ 1.65V Barton on virtually every Socket A board in existence or every 2.4C on every P4 board in existence (yeah oldfart, I was thinking of going 2.8C instead). Now I'm currently testing the 2500+ mobile AXP to see how it'll perform on the Socket A boards I had the most success with, and then I'll recommend it if it's the best solution.

All the performance tests, temp tests, etc. you want done are for reviews, not guides. You guys are getting ahead of yourselves.

But anyway, thanks for the suggestions, that'll be perfect for new motherboard testing. Wes and I will discuss.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
Guys guys, who said anything about no cooling? I've tested out plenty of Athlon and P4 coolers and I'm going to recommend one for the overclocking guide. Just as I have tested out the 2500+ 1.65V Barton on virtually every Socket A board in existence or every 2.4C on every P4 board in existence (yeah oldfart, I was thinking of going 2.8C instead). Now I'm currently testing the 2500+ mobile AXP to see how it'll perform on the Socket A boards I had the most success with, and then I'll recommend it if it's the best solution.

All the performance tests, temp tests, etc. you want done are for reviews, not guides. You guys are getting ahead of yourselves.

But anyway, thanks for the suggestions, that'll be perfect for new motherboard testing. Wes and I will discuss.

Maybe I'm missing the point of these guides. What exactly is the point of them? Not being sarcastic, I'm seriously asking... the point of them is to inform us of or about.... what?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
Guys guys, who said anything about no cooling? I've tested out plenty of Athlon and P4 coolers and I'm going to recommend one for the overclocking guide. Just as I have tested out the 2500+ 1.65V Barton on virtually every Socket A board in existence or every 2.4C on every P4 board in existence (yeah oldfart, I was thinking of going 2.8C instead). Now I'm currently testing the 2500+ mobile AXP to see how it'll perform on the Socket A boards I had the most success with, and then I'll recommend it if it's the best solution.

All the performance tests, temp tests, etc. you want done are for reviews, not guides. You guys are getting ahead of yourselves.

But anyway, thanks for the suggestions, that'll be perfect for new motherboard testing. Wes and I will discuss.

Maybe I'm missing the point of these guides. What exactly is the point of them? Not being sarcastic, I'm seriously asking... the point of them is to inform us of or about.... what?

I think they're basically suggesting a shopping list for the potential buyer of a {budget system, midline system, high-end system, overclockers'-special system}, with primary, alternate, and honorable-mention items for each position in the kit. Warm?

 

[ProfessorFate]

And how about a universal set of parameters for establishing when that overclock is stable. Apps, how long etc?
Also identify what those apps translate to real world relative to what you want to do with your box. Gaming, business, photo work, encoding....

 

[Soulkeeper]

be sure to warn the newcomers about what voltage can do to these suckers !

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Soulkeeper
be sure to warn the newcomers about what voltage can do to these suckers !

Good point. I still distrust more than about 1.75V with my mobile barton..... it has to last me a few years unless i come into some money. Its a pity you cant set a few chips away with varying voltages and accurately predict when they are going to die.

 

[First]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
Guys guys, who said anything about no cooling? I've tested out plenty of Athlon and P4 coolers and I'm going to recommend one for the overclocking guide. Just as I have tested out the 2500+ 1.65V Barton on virtually every Socket A board in existence or every 2.4C on every P4 board in existence (yeah oldfart, I was thinking of going 2.8C instead). Now I'm currently testing the 2500+ mobile AXP to see how it'll perform on the Socket A boards I had the most success with, and then I'll recommend it if it's the best solution.

All the performance tests, temp tests, etc. you want done are for reviews, not guides. You guys are getting ahead of yourselves.

But anyway, thanks for the suggestions, that'll be perfect for new motherboard testing. Wes and I will discuss.

Maybe I'm missing the point of these guides. What exactly is the point of them? Not being sarcastic, I'm seriously asking... the point of them is to inform us of or about.... what?

I think they're basically suggesting a shopping list for the potential buyer of a {budget system, midline system, high-end system, overclockers'-special system}, with primary, alternate, and honorable-mention items for each position in the kit. Warm?

Yes, that's exactly right. Not everyone that reads AnandTech is uber cool like us and keeps up-to-date on hardware 24/7 you know.