disabling L2 cache

[ayuen]

I was just wondering, would bumping up my Cel400 from a stable 500 to 600 by disabling L2 cache (to run stably) be worth it? i.e. is the 100 Mhz gain worth losing the 128K cache? Also, would I be correct in assuming that at 100Mhz FSB, with the Asus P3B-F set to jumperless mode, the AGP defaults to 2/3 and the PCI is at 33Mhz? With this setup, I would really be o/c the CPU as opposed to the rest of my system, right? Thanks!

[Target]

YES, You're a lot less likely to have HDD corruption errors when the PCI bus is at or close to 33Mhz vs 41.5Mhz. Personally, I try to always keep my PCI bus speeds below 38Mhz if possible.

[Target]

Hard to definitively say, but my guess is that going to 600Mhz with no L2, will be slower than 500Mhz with L2. I think you would need a little larger MHZ jump before you would see the 500Mhz w/L2 outperformed. The only sure way to tell would be to set the system up both ways, and run benchmarks. Then compare the results......the numbers will clearly show you which is better.

I think you are probably correct in your assumption that when using your "jumperless mode", the AGP is at 2/3 and the PCI bus is at 33Mhz if the FSB is at 100Mhz...........but you know what they say about "assuming". My advice is to go into your bios and double check what the settings are just to be safe.

[ayuen]

Thanks, I'll try that. I'm pretty sure anything at or above 100 FSB defaults the AGP to 2/3. Was just wondering if have the PCI at 33 would save the HDD as opposed to 41.5.

[ayuen]

Thanks for the info. I used Sandra and got better numbers at 600 w/o L2 than at 500 w L2. Burning in right now. So far, so good.

[Bonehead]

Don't use benchmark programs but use real time based programs like games to test the difference, should make the 500 with L2 on run better than 600 with L2 off in many cases (less hits of the system memory if it couldn't been found in the L1 cache).

[This message has been edited by Bonehead (edited 12-30-1999).]

[ayuen]

Thanks for the info. I have noticed, though, games load much faster at 600 than at 500 even w/o L2. In terms of gameplay, to be honest, I haven't noticed a huge difference.