choose the right AMD Athlon prozessor

[Futzelman]

I got an ECS k7s5a mobo. Originally it supported max 1800+ athlon but now with the latest BIOS it goes up to 2600+.
Hoewever, it says nothing about the front side bus. It came with 266mhz support but the Athlon 2600+ comes with 333mhz. Is there a 266mhz Athlon 2600+ as well?
Which one is the right one?

Thanks!
Futzel

[Peter M]

Originally, the 2600+ was a 133 MHz bus ("FSB266") processor. However you won't find that on a shop shelf today. Your fastest option in today's stock is the 2400+, unless you find a 2600+/133 with some surplus vendor.

[Rob R.]

AMD 2600+ thoroughbred that runs at 2133mhz (16x266)

[Peter M]

16x133.

[Rob R.]

Oops....yeah 16x133 :(

[Strawbs]

There have been 3x 2600+ variants!

1. 2133MHz 133\266fsb 256Kb L2 cache t'bred
2. 2083MHz 166\333fsb 256Kb L2 cache t'bred
3. 1910MHz 166\333fsb 512Kb L2 cache B'ton

:t

[Peter M]

There's a 133 MHz bus 512 KByte L2 cache 2600+ too (running 2000 MHz). Mobile and MP flavors only, no desktop.

[Strawbs]

forgot about the Mobile, didn't know of the MP ...and my Kb's and KB's need some work. Thanks.

:t

[Futzelman]

There also seems to be a 2600+ at 266mhz but with the increased L2 of 512mb.

But anyways, can I use a 333mhz chip on my older mobo? I do not think so so should I use the barton 266mhz front side bus with 512 or the thoroughbred 266 with 256 fsb?

Thanks,
Futzel

[deadkenny]

Originally posted by Futzelman
...
But anyways, can I use a 333mhz chip on my older mobo? ...

In a word NO. The K7S5A only 'officially' supports 266MHz FSB.

[Futzelman]

ok, SO SHOULD i GET THE 2600+ 266FRONT SIDE BUS AND 512 l2 CACHE? RATHER THAN THE 256 CACHE?

tHANKS!
fUTZEL

[Rob R.]

The 512 l2 cache processor has a 166FSB which I think we all agree you cannot use. The only choice you have for the 2600 on that motherboard is the thoroughbred that runs at 2133 mhz but that is hard to find. You will probably have to buy an XP2400.

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by Futzelman
There also seems to be a 2600+ at 266mhz but with the increased L2 of 512mb.


You mean 512 KB right?

[Futzelman]

I am confused.
Yesterday I bought this prozessor at NEWEGG. It has the following description that states that even though it has 512 kb L2 it is 266mzh fsb:

AMD Mobile Athlon XP 2600+, 266 MHz FSB, 512K L2 Cache Processor - OEM
(limit 5 per customer)

Specification
Model: AMD Mobile Athlon XP
Core: Barton
Operating Frequency: 2GHz
FSB: 266MHz
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/ 512KB
Voltage: 1.45V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket A
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Packaging: OEM(Processor Only


Is this OK? Will it work or did they make a mistake?

Thanks!
Cyril

[Strawbs]

That chip is designed for a laptop (Mobile)! The standard voltage (1.45v) is lower than your Mobo can provide (approx 1.65v) so it may run hotter than normal, but hopefully not too hot! If the chip multipliers are unlocked it should prove to be a very good CPU for overclocking ..but if you're not into that sort of thing, it's better to cancel the order and look for the first of those in my list!

:t

[SnomanJack]

I also have the same MB and an 1800+. The 2600+ Xp for 266mhz FSB are few and far between, the 2400+ are more available. Dependant on what you are looking to accomplish with an upgrade you might consider upgrading your graphics card if it is a few years old. Then after gauging its performance you can upgrade the CPU if so desired. With a 2400+ and new graphics card that PC you have should last quite some time and run most apps in very fine fashion.

BTW, I am also looking to upgrade processors to the 2600+ with 266mhz FSB, but a 2400+ will be fine. I'll do the graphics first to get that bottleneck ironed out.

[Futzelman]

With a good fan, can I keep the temp down? Will the chip eventually fail because of the extra temp?

I am not afraid of getting into manipulating the voltage via unl;ocking the temp. How do I do that?

Thanks!

Futzel

[Futzelman]

Thank Snowman Jack.
I got a Radeon 9000 card with 64mb.
I play MS Combat Flight Sim 3 a lot and it gets a lot of jerks during play and HD movement.
I figured I should also inclrease mem size from 256 to 512 and change the processor since the video card is "kind-of-OK".

Thanks for the input.
Futzel

[Strawbs]

Personally I wouldn't even like to promise the board will boot with that CPU installed.

You're taking a gamble that the thing won't fry when you power on the system, If it does boot ...it shouldn't be a problem keeping it cool with a quality HSF and thermal paste like Arctic Silver 5.

When I spoke of the unlocked multiplier, I meant for upping the core speed to take advantage of the extra power, not for changing the core voltage! for that you would probably need to solder a resistor of some form to your motherboard circuitry; I wouldn't know where, how or what the odds of success would be! Peter M is the ECS\PC Chips man, maybe he has a colleague he can ask!

[SnomanJack]

Memory helps nicely, it let's the machine "breathe better". Cardwise I'm looking at the Radeon 9600Pro or 9600XT.

[Futzelman]

What do you think of these posts regarding the chip I just got:

This chip is the champ. Easily get to 12x218 on NF7-S V2.0 mobo with Vcore@1.85V, rock solid stable. Need to say more? Get it when it's still available.

Rand,3/17/2004 7:41:58 PM
Able to run this cpu at either 12 x 200 or 11.5 x 205 front bus on an Asus A78NX ver. 1.04 board at only 1.675 cpu voltage. With my Barton 2500 the best I could do was 10.5 x 215 with 1.85 volts. Could never even run stable at 2200 + Megahertz regardless of voltage applied. Probably the best value out there right now for amd overclockers concerned with heat.


Does this mean that these people are running the chip at 1.65V fine?
Man, I dont wwant tog et thgouh the RMA process!

Thanks,
Futzel

[Strawbs]

The problem with your current setup is that your board is limited to 133/266MHz fsb. those guys are running at 200/400+MHz and so don't need the Chip's multi's to be unlocked as they can overclock the fsb, you won't get more than 150/300MHz out of your fsb if you're very lucky!

I would think that it would boot at 1.65v in your board - but my "positive thinking" is no guarantee of anything and it's not my £££'s at stake here! :cool:

[Futzelman]

OK, I see. Thanks for your comments- much appreciated.

So if I run the chip at a higher voltage it will produce higher fsb frequency automatically? And since my boardx cannot take it it will mess with it?

The power of a chip is based on the energy it gets?

Thank you (I think I will have to return it!)

[Futzelman]

One last comment:

I found a BIOS that allows me to drive the mobo at a higher fsb.
Assuming the BIOS will work, can I then use the chip?

Thanks!
Futzel

[SnomanJack]

Strawbs can verify that but I believe that is a key element. The ECS BIOS is very basic and allows no OC play. To have the ability to raise the voltage or FSB should allow you to adjust to the chip and your needs. Let me know how it goes, I might give that a try too.:t

[Futzelman]

Sure, glad to do that.

If it explodes I can use that as an excuse to get a brand new mobo!

Futzel

[Strawbs]

If you guys know the revision # of your boards you can download an "Overclocking" BIOS Here (http://www.ocworkbench.com/2002/ecs/k7s5abios/cheepobios.htm) if the need arises! bear in mind that I have not tried any of these so I don't know how good or bad they may be! It's one for the bookmarks tho' :t

[SnomanJack]

Cheapobios, yep I've heard of it. I've stuck with the ECS bios. I'd like to but I'm a bit hesitant. Guess I'm just reluctant to change, my PC does what I want though a bit more power in CPU and graphics will be shortly coming into play.

[causticVapor]

Originally posted by deadkenny
In a word NO. The K7S5A only 'officially' supports 266MHz FSB.

"In a word NO" if you don't like taking risks ;)

[Futzelman]

That is the one. I will install that BIOS and try it.

I am ready for some action so I will let you guys know how I fared.

Futzel

[Futzelman]

So what do you recommend I increase the FSB to?
166?

Why does it show two values: (ie: 133/133)

Is the first one for the memory? I got two 266 PC2100 mem chips.


Thanks!!
Futzel

[causticVapor]

There's really nothing wrong with 166 FSB if your PCI devices, drives and AGP card can handle it. It's best to test and see. Make sure you set tRAS to at least 6.

One of the systems I've set up is using a KT400 at 11*200. The HDD has been running off a 40MHz PCI bus for practically a year.

Some stuff is different, and in particular Radeons don't like high AGP bus speeds. Most modern PCI devices don't have problems with 40MHz PCI.

[Peter M]

166 MHz CPU bus, on a board that is capable of doing so as a regular feature, will have "legal" PCI and AGP speeds (of 33 and 66 MHz respectively).

That said, the clock chip on K7S5A also does produce correct, non-overclocked I/O bus frequencies, even if the CPU bus is set to 166. HOWEVER, very very few people have actually succeeded - after all, you're overclocking the chipset.

[causticVapor]

Nothing a little bump in chipset voltage can't do... solder and resistors anyone? :P