Unexpected A64 4000+ mobile processor issues

[iggybeans]

:frown:
Purchased first Athlon 64 4000+ mobile processor I could get my hands on. Installed same in my existing system. This system included an unlocked 6800LE videocard (Leaktek) and an Nforce3 250 based motherboard (Chaintech VNF3-250). Without BIOS mods (for motherboard) and only Riva Tuner (for video card) this system flew (great benchmarks and performance).
Then I decided I wanted a PCI-E video slot and SATA2 capability. Since I could get both with the EPoX EP-8NPA and get SLi to boot, I decided to go for it. WOW! What a mistake. EPox doesn't suppport mobile processor and they just won't work on this board. When I installed the latest A64 3000+ I had (a very closly related core actually), the system ran flawlessly. EPoX states that they will NOT be adding BIOS support for mobile processors.

Bottom line is, if I want the features available in the EPoX EP-8NPA the fastest processor I can use is the A64 3700+ desktop CPU. My 4000+ will run as fast as 2880 MHz on my Chaintech board with only slightly enhanced air cooling (I've got a water cooling block but I have'nt used it yet). In addition, this was at only 1.4 to 1.45 volts. Further performance gains seem possible. Doubt I could get this from the desktop part.

I'm not going socket939 (might as well wait for the M2). So, how about a thread on mobile 4000+/motherboard compatibility? I'm not sure if that belongs with CPU's or Motherboard. What do all you think?

BTW - The A64 4000+ mobile DUSTS many socket939 processors. It is hard to get, compatibility has been more of an issue (than my last mobile A64 - a 2800+), and of course it doesn't have a socket939 proc's memory bandwidth, but not only is it faster than ALL socket754 processor that came before it , its faster than many other socketXXX processors. There's a thumb on the nose to you guys who spend WAY too much for performance!

 

[darkswordsman17]

And how much did you pay for this chip?

Looking at Pricewatch, the lowest price for this CPU I see is $300.

Seems like you're the person paying too much for performance, as there are plenty of people who bought Opteron 165s and overclocked them to 2.8Ghz (and in some cases beyond) for less money. There's also quite a few that paid less than $200 for the single core version (the 144/146).

 

[kmrivers]

another story of someone who didn't read enough before hand. and is now trying to put out a warning to the rest of the idiots like him. lock this thing up.

 

[pkrush]

I believe the Asrock K8nf4G- SATA2 supports mobile processors, but it overvolts them to .15 volts over stock, Cool n Quiet doesn't work, and there are no vCore adjustments. As far as I know, that's the only 754 PCIe board which will run a mobile processor even semi-correctly.

 

[iggybeans]

Idiot? Hey morons I've been using (and building) computer equipment since before most you were born. As far a "reading" anything, you obviously are willing to make an inane posts without fully reading the text you are responding to. First, the 4000+ processor in question WORKED correctly in another older motherboard (from Chaintech). Second, I had no reason not to expect similar support from EPoX since they market this board as a budget enthusiast's board. Its pretty bad when an older Chaintech board comes off better than a current EPoX board. Third, I purchased this processor at quite a good price (and considering the childish, snide remarks I'm not sharing that source).
When you factor in the fact that I was able to use an existing motherboard (the Chaintech) which retails for about $60 and a video card that only cost about $130 (and which fully unlocked to 16 pipelines) The TOTAL price is still quite low (for the performance gained).
As to Asrock, I actually I have only limited experience with overclocking Asrock motherboards (outside of a few Socket-A based boards), but THEIR BIOS always seem somewhat limited (although they have developed some great beta BIOSes for their Sis748 based motherboards - I had an XPM processor running at 2.5 GHz using one of those a few years go).
I'm sure there are other motherboards out their that will work with the mobile 4000+, but just for spite I'm GOING to make the EPoX board work. Why not? I'll save money AND I'll prove a point.
To conclude, while I'm getting the most out of my investments, I'm sure you're still asking mommy and daddy for the latest piece crap hardware which is going to age fairly poorly (frankly I'm beginning to think SLi is a perfect example of this - just a great marketing tool to sell you two video cards when the latest generation, top of the line single card will probably outperform such a combo).
As to the matter hand, I am sure this is a BIOS issue and am willing to bet I'll find a work around. Care to bet morons?

Oh, BTW - Thanks for all the help. The knowledge level you and the others that responded to this posting exhibited was seriously underwhelming.

 

[kmrivers]

i am 100 years old.

 

[BlacKJesuS]

why are you so mad that you cant run a mobile processor in a desktop.......mobile processor in a desktop

 

[Arkane13131]

Originally posted by: iggybeans
Idiot? Hey morons I've been using (and building) computer equipment since before most you were born. As far a "reading" anything, you obviously are willing to make an inane posts without fully reading the text you are responding to. First, the 4000+ processor in question WORKED correctly in another older motherboard (from Chaintech). Second, I had no reason not to expect similar support from EPoX since they market this board as a budget enthusiast's board. Its pretty bad when an older Chaintech board comes off better than a current EPoX board. Third, I purchased this processor at quite a good price (and considering the childish, snide remarks I'm not sharing that source).
When you factor in the fact that I was able to use an existing motherboard (the Chaintech) which retails for about $60 and a video card that only cost about $130 (and which fully unlocked to 16 pipelines) The TOTAL price is still quite low (for the performance gained).
As to Asrock, I actually I have only limited experience with overclocking Asrock motherboards (outside of a few Socket-A based boards), but THEIR BIOS always seem somewhat limited (although they have developed some great beta BIOSes for their Sis748 based motherboards - I had an XPM processor running at 2.5 GHz using one of those a few years go).
I'm sure there are other motherboards out their that will work with the mobile 4000+, but just for spite I'm GOING to make the EPoX board work. Why not? I'll save money AND I'll prove a point.
To conclude, while I'm getting the most out of my investments, I'm sure you're still asking mommy and daddy for the latest piece crap hardware which is going to age fairly poorly (frankly I'm beginning to think SLi is a perfect example of this - just a great marketing tool to sell you two video cards when the latest generation, top of the line single card will probably outperform such a combo).
As to the matter hand, I am sure this is a BIOS issue and am willing to bet I'll find a work around. Care to bet morons?

Oh, BTW - Thanks for all the help. The knowledge level you and the others that responded to this posting exhibited was seriously underwhelming.

morons? because one guy insulted you...?
perhaps if you stopped working on computers and learned some social skills you might get positive feedback from the rest of society.

you who has been working on computers since before i was born (i assume since i am only 21) need to read the specifications of what you buy in order to be sure it is the right thing for you. also...you oh wise computer geek with decades of more experience than me...ought to, have anticipated such a thing...

anyway im glad i dont run into many threads like this on anandtech forums. i hope it stays that way. will someone give this guy a link to a company that provides free condoms? i dont want my kids to have to suffer through posts like this when their time comes.

edit: cheers and have a nice day.