Thorton -vs- Thoroughbred

[Lokan]

I have an Athlon 1800+ w/ a gig of pc2100 ram and a 9700pro. I want to get a quick-fix upgrade, the Athlon 2400+ XP on newegg listed as OEM is a Thorton but the retail one is a Thoroughbred; can anyone explain the difference? I have an Epox mainboard (listed in my rig) that I believe maxes out at the 2400 since it's only a 266mhz FSB board. I will be upgrading most likely next year near christmas so this just needs to hold me over. I'm noticing a hint of lag at 1280x1024 in some FPS games and I need to run that resolution due to just receiving a new LCD monitor

Any help would be appreciated, I just don't know which one is better...

 

[Swanny]

Thorton - Basically a Barton core with half the cache disabled.
Thoroughbred - AMD's normal .13 micron chip.

Really they both should perform the same. I really don't know how they compare on overclocking.

Maybe someone else could shed some more light for you.

 

[Lokan]

Does the Thoroughbred have more cache than the Thorton? I would assume if so that it performs better...

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Lokan
Does the Thoroughbred have more cache than the Thorton? I would assume if so that it performs better...

No, the Thorton has 512, but half of it is disabled, so both have 256k of usable L2.

 

[Lokan]

So there really is no performance difference what so ever? Sorry for all the questions guys, I just don't understand why the two versions? Is it cheaper for them to disable the cache via manufacturing due to older tech and newer tech, or is the Thorton an inferior product by design?

 

[Swanny]

The reason for making Thortons is really cost for AMD. This way they can make almost exclusively Bartons (streamlining their production). On some of these they just disable 256K of cache to make it a Thorton. Also, if a proc comes off the line with defective cache, they can just disable that defective part, still have 256K of good cache, and sell it as a Thorton.

 

[bootoo]

And are the thortons locked? I really haven't kept up on that. I mean both multipliers and the "unlocking" of the extra cash.

 

[robcy]

I have a friend with with a 2400+ thorton which runs very cool with a cheap Aluminum (no copper) HS. Remember it only has 256kb of cache active but the core is Barton big giving more area from which to transfer heat. He is running it at 15X150 (2250mhz) at stock vcore and runs at 41c running constant SETI. Some people have all of the luck.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: bootoo
And are the thortons locked? I really haven't kept up on that. I mean both multipliers and the "unlocking" of the extra cash.

All new athlons have at least the multipliers locked since ~week39. I am unsure about the bridges that control cache or SMP, however.

 

[toastyghost]

From what I've read, the mult lock is a coin toss w/ week 43 AQZFA Thortons. I have one that I haven't installed yet because I need to find a place that sells circuit paint so I can do the L2 unlock trick.

edit: BTW mine is one of the 2400+ OEM from NewEgg for whatever that's worth. I'll post once it's installed to let you know if the high mults are unlocked. If not, it might be time for active northbridge cooling and some XMS3500/3700 to get them bus speed up as much as possible. Will advise.