Unlocking extra cache on a XP Thorton CPU

[Brule]

In a trade I received a Thorton 2000+ when I was supposed to get a T-bred 2200+. Anyhow, I now have a CPU to play around with in the Thorton. The larger Barton core seems to help in cooling. I bumped the bus speed from 266 to 333 and it booted with no voltage change and no overheating problems. Basicly it's running as a 2600+ with limited testing at the moment. (stepping has it week 51 of 03)

My question involves the disabled cache. I've seen scattered reports of success, but also many reports of failure. What is the general conclusion? Has anyone here successfully opened up the extra 256 and if so were you plagued with problems from bad memory? If successful it would give the 2000+ the chance to be equal to a 2800+ barton, if I did my math correctly. Even without OC'ing the front bus the extra cache would be great.

Any replies are appreciated, I have yet to find solid results either way.

 

[Brule]

Anyone? Anyone?.... Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

 

[rogue1979]

The extra cache is overated. It will give you about a 3% boost in performance.

Sounds like you have a good overclocking cpu. Just raise the fsb more and enjoy.

There is a bridge modification to enable the extra L2 cache. But it is not 100% successful, some of the Thorton cores had half the L2 cache disabled because of defects.

I don't have any links, just try using google.

 

[Brule]

Originally posted by: rogue1979
The extra cache is overated. It will give you about a 3% boost in performance.

Sounds like you have a good overclocking cpu. Just raise the fsb more and enjoy.

There is a bridge modification to enable the extra L2 cache. But it is not 100% successful, some of the Thorton cores had half the L2 cache disabled because of defects.

I don't have any links, just try using google.

A barton running at 2.08 is the 2800, so it could jump from 2600+ to 2800+ (less if the FSB is lower, which could be the case). While not a huge jump, it would be "free" if the memory worked. I've read up on the bridge mod and as you said it has mixed results. I've also heard that later steppings are more likely to be disabled bartons, as the earlier chips had actual defects.

I've searched google plenty on it. Many pages aren't in English and I respect the opinion of these forum members over a Russian web page. Yea, it's not like I'm upset and planned on doing the mod, just curious as to the possability. There's an amazingly low amount of info on the subject, and on thorton cores in general.

On the upside my main CPU seems to be unlocked now with my current board, although it showed up locked in a Soyo board. How I never noticed it before, I don't know. It's like x-mas in August with my CPUs recently, credit to Thermalright and their heatsinks.

Thanks for the reply, I am looking at this on a more academic level than for real life use.