two newbie questions

[dxpaap]

tring to decide what cpu to put in my new ECS K7s5A MB (looking for an inexpensive upgrade from an old p200). I don't need the fastest cpu out there, looking for the best performance / cost.

I'm guessing the AMD Atholn XP1600 - any suggestions ?

Here's my questions:

1. I noticed I can get an Atholn xp 1600 cheaper then the xp 1500 ! what gives - isn't the 1600 faster (better) then the 1500. Is it a supply demand thing ?

2. I also noticed that the atholn 1.2 GHZ 266 FSB is cheaper then the 1.2 ghz 200 fsb - isnt the bigger the number the better ? Guess I should be asking what does 2xx FSB represent (pointing me to a web site that explains may save typing)

thanks for any help

 

[Rafael]

Get the Athlon XP 1600+ from Newegg, if U r in US.
And they are good OClockers, normally AROIA or AGOIA steppings.
I say that you gonna need at least a 300W PSU to run ur system without any problems.
The second question I would say it's market stuff, pricing politics from stores, AMD, and cpus in stocks.
I think someone will appear with the answer to ur question!

Raf

 

[Duvie]

Get the 1600+...I have one in an ecs mobo and it is great...

1) This is do to the fact the 1500+ xp is no longer manufactured s o there is likely a short demand for them and the price is based on warehoused units only...The 1600+ is still being manufactured and more readily available...

2) Pretty much the same thing for this except it is more do to the fact there was a lot more 266fsb models of the 1.2ghz mad and thus is like just a supply thing...moreof them and more readily available again....


Ie...look at p3 prices and compared to much faster p4 northwoods and you can see older discontinued hardware is often more expensive...the only reason they list them is for the ppl who want to upgrade on older mobos that limit them to older chips...big market still for this maybe more so with businesses....hence the mark up????

 

[DimZiE]

the XP 1600 is a good choice... and it overclocks well.



if you want to o/c it you need to flah your BIOS...
you can get the BIOS Here

 

[dxpaap]

DimZiE, I was reading that the ECS K7s5A Doesn't over clock well ?

What have you found to be a max OC multiple for STABLE performance (stablity is more important then the last drop of speed), Although max speed / performance is all ways desirable

thanks for your post

 

[DimZiE]

150/150 is works best for me.... (CPU/memory)


i could boot into 166/166 but my system is highly unstable on that setting..
and a lot of people can't even boot higher than 150/150 with the CheepoBIOS

hope that helps

 

[DimZiE]

DimZiE, I was reading that the ECS K7s5A Doesn't over clock well ?

probably because of the lack of 1MHz increments option for FSB in the BIOS (with the CheepoBIOS)
by default the board itself doesn't support overclocking..

and what i meant by "it overclocks well" was the CPU, a lot of people i know had been able to push it pretty far w/ stock HSF

good luck