Upgrading--best Athlon CPU/overclock for my computer?

[Chang10is]

I'm currently running a 1.3 GHz Duron on an Asus A7V333, and I'd like to upgrade the CPU. There are 2 modules of 256 MB PNY PC2700 DDR (Infineon chips) and a Thermalright SK-7 heatsink with a Vantec Stealth fan in my computer right now. I'm planning on upgrading only the processor and keeping everything else. What processor should I buy, and how should I overclock it? My priorities are:
1) speed
2) stability
3) price

While I'd like to maximize speed, I don't intend to push my system to the absolute limits, especially since I'm fairly new to overclocking. I'm looking for a fast but reasonable overclock that won't stress my system too much.

I was thinking about getting an XP 2400+ Thoroughbred and pushing the bus speed from 266 to 333, but 2 issues entered my mind. First, the FSB/PCI ratio seems to be locked for my motherboard, and secondly, even if I unlock it, I'm not sure whether just bumping the bus up will work without lowering the multiplier. So I'm not sure if this chip will overclock well.

Can somebody suggest a good CPU to buy for my computer and explain how I should overclock it please? Thanks for your help!

 

[myocardia]

If you aren't going to buy a new motherboard, buy either an XP2000 or XP2100. The multi is locked at 12.5 on the XP2000's, so 12.5x166=2075 mhz, which is a pretty decent overclock. The XP2100's have a 13x multi and 13x166=2158, which is very doable, but most likely not without a vcore (cpu voltage) increase. If your board supports raising the vcore, I would definitely go with the XP2100.

 

[hytek369]

i agree, best bang for the buck

 

[Chang10is]

Originally posted by: myocardia
If you aren't going to buy a new motherboard, buy either an XP2000 or XP2100. The multi is locked at 12.5 on the XP2000's, so 12.5x166=2075 mhz, which is a pretty decent overclock. The XP2100's have a 13x multi and 13x166=2158, which is very doable, but most likely not without a vcore (cpu voltage) increase. If your board supports raising the vcore, I would definitely go with the XP2100.

My board does support raising the vcore, but how do I unlock the FSB/PCI ratio? On my current Duron, the ratio is at 100/33 by default, and I can't raise the FSB w/o raising the PCI speed as well.

 

[myocardia]

Then get an XP2100, and you'll be set. You'll more than likely need to raise the vcore to somewhere around 1.75v, to hit 13x166, which is quite safe for a Thoroughbred B chip. None of the Via chipsets have pci lock, which is why you will need to go directly to 166fsb. The chipset on your motherboard has dividers. At 166fsb, your pci bus will be exactly where it's supposed to be- 33mhz.

 

[Chang10is]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Then get an XP2100, and you'll be set. You'll more than likely need to raise the vcore to somewhere around 1.75v, to hit 13x166, which is quite safe for a Thoroughbred B chip. None of the Via chipsets have pci lock, which is why you will need to go directly to 166fsb. The chipset on your motherboard has dividers. At 166fsb, your pci bus will be exactly where it's supposed to be- 33mhz.

Go directly from 133FSB to 166? I don't think that's the way my mobo works. Default for my Duron is 100/33. I can raise the FSB by 1 MHz intervals, but it changes the PCI setting also (e.g. 101/33, 102/33,... 112/36, etc.). Default for an Athlon 2100+ is 13x133, so if the FSB/ratio remains locked like before, so the FSB/PCI ratio would be 133/33. If I push the FSB to 166, then the ratio would be 166/41. This is what I forsee unless the ratio is unlocked for some reason with the Athlon.

 

[myocardia]

Nope, you will just have to change it from a 100/133 ratio to a 133/166 ratio. Just check in the instructions for your motherboard to find out how to do it. It's either going to be a jumper on the motherboard, or a setting in the bios.

 

[Chang10is]

Ah ok, I forgot about that I can take the mobo out of jumper-free mode and use the jumpers to dictate bus speed. Thanks! I had originally wanted to do that with my Duron--go from 100 MHz bus to 133, but that's too far of a jump for this processor right? Seems like this processor is supposed to have little headroom for o/c'ing.

 

[Rukkian]

If you are planning on getting rid of it anyways, why not try it? You will probably not be able to sell it for more than about $10, so you arent really out anything if it frys.