amd barton cpu's

[windog]

up to now the processor of choice has been the 2500+. but since they have been locked, what is now the best choice. It would seem that there are a few unlocked 2800+'s available and also 3000+'s. what, given the difference in cost is the advantages of one over the other for overclocking, or is one still as good with the locked 2500 ?

[Gohan]

A locked 2500+ still has a very good chance of hitting 200fsb on stock voltage to give you a 3200+ Still the best bang for your buck CPU imo.

[funnelhead]

I would agree with Gohan. A locked 2500+ is still perfect - a 200fsb overclock gives a perfect 2.2ghz clock - a speed that is within most limits.

If you go higher, then with 333fsb chips the higher multiplier might mean ur cpu maxes out before you can get the fsb to 200, and with 400fsb chips you havent got much fsb to oc the cpu with... (i'm talking bout locked chips here)

If you can guarantee an unlocked 2800/3000 then this would give you more flexibility in oc'ing the cpu more/less than ur oc'ing the fsb......but tbh....you arent gonna see much more than you will with a 2500.

Just one more thought - an unlocked chip would be much better if you were stuck with 333 ram and so wanted to keep the ram / fsb at 333mhz , but still oc the cpu through the multi

hope this helps

F

[Applecrusher]

i know from experience that the 2500+ EASILY reaches 200fsb with stock voltage....
i had mine sitting on 210 fsb with stock voltafe... but after that it required me to add voltage!!

[windog]

Thanks guys

I've got some 3200 ram so hopefully 200 fsb is ok.
what I was wondering was how overclockable the higher chips are.
from what I have seen on the boards the 2500 generally clocks well but the higher chips dont clock pro rata, so whilst a 2500 may reach 3200 speeds, a 2800 wont necessarily go much higher, certainly not another 300mhz.

question... I thought 200 x 11 was equivalent to a 3000+ have I got this wrong?

[funnelhead]

Well obviously there's a degree of natural variability between individual processors....but 2500's reaching 2.2 ghz is the rule rather than the exception...

and going to 210 will give you 2.3ghz, which is within the means of most nforce 2 boards / 3200 ram