Whats the Deal with Cb0 Stepping? Need some OC advice

[Magoo28]

Im gonna be purchasing a new P-III either a 700e or 800e. I can purchase a PII-700e for like $299.00, Not sure what stepping this is.
Or I can order one that is forsure Cb0 Stepping for like $375.00. Somebody told me that all the P-III that have been shipping lately have been Cb0.
Does anyone know this forsure? Should I spend the extra bux or what
I really wanna run either the 700e or 800e at an 133FSB? Which one will I have a better chance with?


Thanks
Magoo

 

[Magoo28]

And anybody know where to get a Pretested PIII-700 @931Mhz In Canada?

Thanks
Magoo

 

[thermite88]

Magoo,

Nothing is guarantee (forsure?) when you buy a retail CPU in term of stepping and overclocking. But it is true that most of the old stepping are gone in the retail channel. If you order from the major mail order house in the US (assume that they ship to Canada) who does not charge extra for cB0 stepping, you have a 99% chance getting it.

I ordered and received my P3-700 from Googlegear last Friday. It is a SL45Y, stepping cB0, retail boxed unit. It runs rock stable at 945 MHz at default voltage 1.65 volts. At 966 MHz, it loads Windows 2000 Prof, but has occasional blue screen. I have not completed testing at higher voltage yet.

I use Asus P3V4X and Apacer/Infineon SDRAM, at 3-2-2-5.

 

[RealScud]

Here's a question I wanna know..I just recently got a p3 700e fcpga, and have heard/read a lot about this Cb0 stepping and whanot. But where can I look to see if mine is from this grouping or whatever?

 

[Wallysaurus]

RealScud,
If you have a boxed cpu the last 5 digits of the bottom string of numbers on the top of your cpu will be either SL454 or SL45Y. If you have an oem cpu it will be SL453 or SL3XX. Here's a link that might help.

 

[RealScud]

Wallysaurus,

Thanks a bunch I went and checked and lo-and-behold I do infact have a cb0 p3.

so then Maggo28 I'd suggest you go get one from www.pccost.com that's where I got my OEM p3 700e fcpga for only 192, and if you check at pricewatch.com I believe they've even lowered it some more..

--Scud