The mobile Athlon 64 and motherboards

[ISS]

I have emailed Epox and the official answer is NO and there are no plans to do so.

Dear sir

About the Bios support Mobil CPU for 8KDA3J at this time e have not
plan to do,because both kinds CPU need different range voltage to work .so
even though the Mobil CPU can work ,We do not suggest you use it.

Thank you for your interest in EPoX products and contacting our support
department. If you reply ensure to include all previous E-mail text. It will
prevent unnecessary delays and guarantee the fastest possible response.

Regarding the mobile A64, I am currently using the 2800 on the MSI K8N Neo and I must say, there isn't much sense in using one. Its a complete waste of money. It doesn't overclock better than desktop versions, not to mention there is not a single decent board that supports it. All boards have one problem or another working with the mobile CPU, esp. when overclocking.

The only advantages are that mobile CPUs run cooler (due to its lower voltage) and no IHS. But, to an overclocker, lower voltage doesn't do anything since ~1.55-1.6V is needed to get to 2.4GHz, just like desktop ones.

Although we have seen mobile AXPs overclock far better than desktop ones, this isn't the case for mobile CPUs.

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: Bar81
Interesting. Well, the second link shows the person to be unable to boot past a 4x multiplier and even then it seems to be hit and miss. I don't know if they've tried clockgen which might solve the problems since the BIOS won't save. I wouldn't consider that to be working. The first link is more interesting. That flies in the face of multiple reports on various boards when the board came out. If you get to the bottom of it lmk.

I think there's another thread regarding the second case -- I remember reading that overclocking through clockgen was successful for him. Is it a PITA? Absolutely. But I'd live with it for a month or two if a BIOS release fixed it after that point. Not booting at all is the deal-breaker for me.

I just want to be assured of getting a CG chip -- and I'm on a limited budget -- so the 2800+ mobile is very attractive. I'm ready to pull the trigger tho. I've heard the Newegg boxed 2800+ chips (desktop) are CG now. I may just get the chip from them and the mobo elsewhere, since they don't have the Epox in stock now.

jaybee

Edit: The mobile route sounds less & less attractive, based on the above. I'm going to grab a desktop 2800+. If anyone knows a good bet to get a CG, plz PM. Also, does the Farcry combo deal mean you get a C0 chip, or is there no relation?

 

[ISS]

Originally posted by: jaybee
Edit: The mobile route sounds less & less attractive, based on the above. I'm going to grab a desktop 2800+. If anyone knows a good bet to get a CG, plz PM. Also, does the Farcry combo deal mean you get a C0 chip, or is there no relation?

Get the desktop. I tried the mobile 2800. No doubt it runs cooler and overclock slightly higher (due to lack of IHS). However, you are going to have problems with many mobos. There isn't a single mobo that could work well with the mobile, hardly anyone overclocks well.

 

[tofu]

Originally posted by: ISS

Originally posted by: jaybee
Edit: The mobile route sounds less & less attractive, based on the above. I'm going to grab a desktop 2800+. If anyone knows a good bet to get a CG, plz PM. Also, does the Farcry combo deal mean you get a C0 chip, or is there no relation?

Get the desktop. I tried the mobile 2800. No doubt it runs cooler and overclock slightly higher (due to lack of IHS). However, you are going to have problems with many mobos. There isn't a single mobo that could work well with the mobile, hardly anyone overclocks well.

i fail to see a nything wrong with the ASROCK

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: tofu

Originally posted by: ISS

Originally posted by: jaybee
Edit: The mobile route sounds less & less attractive, based on the above. I'm going to grab a desktop 2800+. If anyone knows a good bet to get a CG, plz PM. Also, does the Farcry combo deal mean you get a C0 chip, or is there no relation?

Get the desktop. I tried the mobile 2800. No doubt it runs cooler and overclock slightly higher (due to lack of IHS). However, you are going to have problems with many mobos. There isn't a single mobo that could work well with the mobile, hardly anyone overclocks well.

i fail to see a nything wrong with the ASROCK

Exactly, there isn't any problem. And there's also a couple of others that work well. I really wish people would READ the initial post before they make comments that show they have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[Bar81]

Originally posted by: ISS


Regarding the mobile A64, I am currently using the 2800 on the MSI K8N Neo and I must say, there isn't much sense in using one. Its a complete waste of money. It doesn't overclock better than desktop versions, not to mention there is not a single decent board that supports it. All boards have one problem or another working with the mobile CPU, esp. when overclocking.

The only advantages are that mobile CPUs run cooler (due to its lower voltage) and no IHS. But, to an overclocker, lower voltage doesn't do anything since ~1.55-1.6V is needed to get to 2.4GHz, just like desktop ones.

Although we have seen mobile AXPs overclock far better than desktop ones, this isn't the case for mobile CPUs.

I hate to break it to you but this is ALL covered in the initial post. I don't understand why this is all a revelation to you. I have extensively covered the advantages to the mobile A64 in the first post. ALL CG processors, whether desktop or mobile overclock to around 2.5Ghz at best on air. For extreme overclocking on phase change and the like the mobile 1.4v and 1.2v CPUs seem to reach much higher ceilings than desktop chips. What the mobile CPUs do allow is overclock at lower voltages for the 1.4v and 1.2v CPUs as they are middle of the wafer chips. They also run MUCH cooler due to the lack of IHS.

There are advantages to the mobile A64s, whether they are relevant to *you* is a decision you have to make but there IS a difference and to some of us it's VERY significant.

 

[tofu]

bar, what's your 3200+ running at? and what kind of cooling?

 

[Bar81]

Running at 2.3Ghz I have a silent/ultra quiet system so I have a Thermalright SLK-948U using a Papst 92mm low dba fan undervolted and running at around 1000rpm

 

[ISS]

Originally posted by: Bar81

Originally posted by: ISS
There are advantages to the mobile A64s, whether they are relevant to *you* is a decision you have to make but there IS a difference and to some of us it's VERY significant.

I am saying exactly the same thing. To *you* there is a VERY significant difference, but not everyone. Your thread highlights the pros of using a mobile, I just highlight the cons of it. Its important to tellthose who are getting it the full picture and not just there is no IHS and it runs cooler.

As for the mobos, I think we all know very well which are the "overclocker's" mobos.

1. KV8 Pro 1.1, overclocks well but no mobile support (using it now).
2. MSI K8N Neo Platinum, tons of problems.
3. Epox 8KDA3, best overclockers board, gain no mobile support.
4. Asus K8N-E, overclocking problem

This makes us left with smaller brands like Chaintech and Gigabyte, Asrock and Shuttle.

I am sure the board pple wants is the Epox one and everyone just wants the mobile to work just like the desktop version. For that matter, so would I. I still love my mobile A64 2800.

Thus it doesn't make any sense to get the mobile A64s now till support is improved.

 

[Bar81]

Again, what you're saying is nothing new. Your *personal* analysis is irrelevant in this thread. Everyone here can read and make up their own minds. If they don't like the selection of motherboards then they can get a desktop chip. No one needs you to tell them what they should do.

 

[ISS]

Originally posted by: Bar81
Again, what you're saying is nothing new. Your *personal* analysis is irrelevant in this thread. Everyone here can read and make up their own minds. If they don't like the selection of motherboards then they can get a desktop chip. No one needs you to tell them what they should do.

If you like your mobile so much and you don't like pple saying bad things abt it, thats your problem. Not mine.

I post what my experiences and what I think abt the chip, you post yours. In anyway, I was telling pple that the Epox support have replied to my mail and it doesn't support mobile CPUs. Thus it doesn't make much sense getting one. Thus if you don't like what I post, you don't have to read it, no one asked you to.

If you said there is a significant difference to you, isn't that a *personal* analysis? Isn't that irrelevant to this thread as well?

One more to add:

Since you mentioned earilier that these mobile CPUs are in the middle of the wafer, can you pls proof that thats really the case and not a personal analysis or assumption? Can you also proof that these chips have higher overclocking ceiling under extreme cooling? I am sure you know abt statistical analysis and what you need for uphold your post.

Also post with a detailed lab analysis that the lack of IHS is the cause of the mobiles running MUCH cooler. Pls don't use vague terms like MUCH, specify an exact temperature difference and conditions. Proof please, don't use *personal* analysis.

Thank you.

 

[Bar81]

I don't care whether anyone buys a mobile or not. We just don't need your retarded analysis that analyzes nothing at all. Gee, what's next, you're going to let us know that cars have wheels :roll:

Just leave the thread, you add nothing intelligent or useful to the discussion at hand.

 

[jkresh]

ISS, this is a thread about the benefits of mobiles, yes there are some issues (i had to deal with the msi, and am currently hoping for an asus fix) but there are benefits. There is no need to repeat them problems over and over again, nothing is gained from it. If you really feel the need to say it create your own thread, title it why not to use mobiles and be done with it, but stop wasting time here.

 

[jaybee]

Seems like there's a lot of dogma and drum-beating going on. I'm looking for information. I've read the messages in this thread several times, as well as scouring other boards. I've been interested in the mobile chip because it:
until recently, is the only sure bet for a CG chip under or close to $200
has 1MB cache
is able to operate at lower voltage -> lower heat -> lower noise

As to the ASRock, well I have not heard of any examples hitting much higher than 250htt, whereas other boards have managed over 300. Considering the mobile I was looking at is a 1.6GHz chip, 250htt is not too attractive. Also, I've read several examples -- on other boards -- of people having one (or more) complete failures with the ASRock. Bad initial batch? Maybe... but certainly an indication of poor quality control.

I hope this post is not viewed as sidetracking the mobile thread. I hope it serves to get the subject back on the course of providing info for users & prospective users of the mobile A64. Bar81, thanks for your efforts to compile info on the subject.

jaybee

 

[jaybee]

More info on the Epox board: one of the successful pairings with the mobile (mentioned in this thread) was accomplished with a voltage mod. The board defaults to .9v but does not lower the multiplier, preventing the system from booting.

jaybee

 

[Bar81]

Interesting. If that's the case then I would consider that non-working. A voltage mod qualifies as a little too exotic I would think. You guys think I should list it anyway?

 

[jaybee]

Originally posted by: Bar81
Interesting. If that's the case then I would consider that non-working. A voltage mod qualifies as a little too exotic I would think. You guys think I should list it anyway?

I agree with you about considering the board non-working. I think it would be helpful to list it (not necessarily as compatible), along with the circumstances. In the two examples I pointed out above, both users have done vmods -- although I'm not sure it was required in the second case. He was able to boot at 4x200, whereas the first could not get lower than the stock multiplier (and therefore could not post).

jaybee

 

[Bar81]

Okay, I'll probably make a new catagory then for boards that require that much work to get working.

 

[tofu]

now that the desktop chips have dropped about $45 in price, i wonder if the same will be for mobiles

 

[Bar81]

Good point. Monday's the official day so we'll see then.

 

[svan71]

Hi everybody,

I have been seriously considering the Mobile 64's but considering the main benefit is low voltage = low heat = low noise....Noise is not a concern. Let me throw this at you guys... Since overclocking is done without the multiplier adjustment and strictly FSB and HT...which memory 512 --2 -256 .. is recommended for the highest oc potential without wasted $$$ or ridiculously high latency...I don't care if I have pc 5000 if the stuff has to be run at 12-12-12. I'm considering a K8N Neo2 939 board with a 3500+.

I love the corsair XMS2 with the lights but I was wondering if it was all looks. Again I'm looking for low latency high overclocking. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Take Care

 

[gregheitz]

Hey guys, I posted on here earlier and want to thank you all for the info again. I'm currently using the following specs.
mobile A64 1.4v 3000+ 1mb cache,
asrock k8s8x mobo
geil ultra series 3200 512mb
sata hitachi hd, 160gb
slk-948u hsf, 500watt MGE PS

My processor runs around 31 degrees most of the time, sometimes it is even in the 20's. My highest oc so far has been 262 htt x9 =2358. I have tried multiple things to get it higher. I have made the processor run at 2.45 stable but can't seem to bring that oc back again. I was thinking maybe I just need to buy some better ram to sustain the higher oc. I runn at 166 setting, which should be 1800/166 = 10.8 so, 2358/10.8 = 218mhz on the mem, so just about maxed out. It doesn't seem to help no matter how much I relax the timings ( im running cas 3, 4,8,4) or even if i run it on 133 or 100 setting. I really want to see 2.4+ or i will not be satisfied. I have set the ldt htt setting to 400mhz since it doesn't seem to effect perf much and won't run at 600mhz setting when around 260htt. I don't see how cooling could be a problem. I have bios rev 1.70 and it shows my vcore at 1.50volts, not the 1.55 i have it set to run at, but not the 1.45 you say it locks it to, unless the core itself locks the voltage off. Does anyone have any ideas on how i can achieve higher oc's on this board and setup? Thanks a lot.

 

[svan71]

Gegheitz,

Can you tell me where you got your board and if it worked out of the box with the mobile.

 

[gregheitz]

Also, right now I am thinking of returning the cpu and or the board. If i return just the cpu i could get a 3200+ and run stable as all get out at 250. Think that is my best bet? Thanks.

 

[gregheitz]

got my board from newegg for $85. worked fine out of the box, just needed to update bios ( very easy ) and was ready to oc.