Multiple 2.8Ghz processors on the way, which one to keep?

[richklein]

Hi all,

I am building 3 P4 2.8ghz machines (1 for me, 2 for others) and I want to make sure I get the best processor of the lot.

I have a Vapo PE & while I have not set it up yet, I do have a question.

The story is this. I ordered 1 2.8 from newegg (this came today), 1 2.8 from googlegear (that will be here tomorrow).

The third 2.8 (must order before the end of this year) could turn into a 3.06 if the prices come down a bit

Anyway, the newegg 2.8 I have is as follows:

SL6HL
Malaysia
Pack date 9-9-02
Batch: L230A715

I will post the other processors specs tomorrow (the GG one) when I get it.

My question is this, I have heard that the 2.8s are lousy overclockers & I am building this system (for me) with the intention of overclocking.

The other 2 systems will not be overclocked at all so I am not concerned if there system stinks OC wise (they are standard aircooled).

I am using a P4PE & Corsair PC3200 C2 or PC3500 (I bought both to try for play purposes - the worse ram will go into my AMD system).

Ok, so with all that being said, what should I expect out of this ?

Is the Newegg one a known dog with those specs?

I have heard some horror stories of 2.8s not making it to 3ghz (granted this was on air).

Thanks,
Rich

[jmsandrsn]

Who knows???

Try all three of them and keep the best.

Better yet...if two of them hit high speeds (maybe 3.4 GHz or higher) then keep one, sell one for a premium, and then buy another new one (who care if the new one will o/c or not).

[AZN]

The 2.8 doenst have any other stepping then C1 so i dont think u will see much diff from either or. but i would just oc all and keep the best.

AZN

[richklein]

The GoogleGear 2.8 is:

SL6HL
Malaysia
Pack date 10-04-02
Batch: L231b126

[Neo_peter]

both of them have the same s-spec and made in the same place, so chances are they'll be about the same, but you'll never know until you try em.

[richklein]

Well, this is not going all that well so far.

Using the 3200 right now (not tested the 3500) & I seem to max out at 157 FSB. Granted, thats still just about 500 mhz & it seems pretty stable (3dmark, prime) but I was kinda expecting more with the super case.

Anyway, I tried upping the vcore a little, locking the PCI, setting the memory for very aggressive settings, upping the voltage for the memory, & playing with lots of stuff.

It seems to post OK at 160 but 3dmark crashes (didnt try prime with that combo).

Any words of wisdom, or other things I could try?

[Neo_peter]

Is it a typo, or did you say you tried it with VERY AGGRESSIVE mem timings? Cause if you did, you might want to RELAX the timing in case it's the memory holding you back.

[Divine-Madcat]

yeah.. if you want all out aggressive, up in the 3500... but really,.. your fooling yourself because it may just be your ram....

[richklein]

So far I have the memory left at the default (by speed - not aggressive) still with the same 2.8 as last night (not opened the new one yet) & the PCI/AGP is locked, Vcore is 1.65, the Vdimm is at 2.9 & the FSB is at 170 & seems to be stable (Sandra, 3dmark), I havent prime tested yet.

[Creat|ve]

My 2.8 is the following

SL6K6
Costa Rica
Pack Date: 11th October 2002
Batch: 3234A367

runs 3dmark at 157fsb @ 1.60vcore for as long as I leave it :D I can get it to bench sandra at 160fsb but not 3dmark....Im using XMS3500 also that runs up to 220mhz 2-7-2-2 so if the 2.8 can do 166/220 in the vapo Im going to be very very happy chappy :D

[Neo_peter]

at such high multiplier, don't get your hopes up too high.

[richklein]

ok, heres the story, I am still on the first 2.8 & getting ready to swap processors on the second.

The XMS 3500 seems to do 165 stable @ 415 (or so) mhz with the memory. The settings are 2-2-2-6.

Either way, its pretty nice though. Both 3dmark & sandra work great at that speed.

Prime95 is another matter... I guess as long as my games dont crash I am happy though. Temps are great!

[richklein]

Ok, here is wierd, my XMS 3200 or 3500 both can do the 437mhz @ 164FSB stable.

And CPUID says that both pieces are Corsair 3200 DDR.

So did Newegg send me the wrong one, or is there no difference at all between the two?

Both running 2-2-2-6 btw.

[Neo_peter]

Techinically XMS is just a rating system that Corsair uses, Corsair just test to see if the ram can do PC3200, if it cam, it'll be known stamped iwth that, so the PC3200 and PC3500 might indeed be the same ram, but when Corsair tested it, the PC3500 stick can probably handle that speed that it's rated at.

[richklein]

Actually your right, the 3200 couldnt finish sandra or 3dmark but the 3500 could handle it just fine.

[richklein]

Well, so far, the processors are pretty much identical. I can do 165 FSB & memory & the rest as listed above.

Sandra & 3dmark seem to work just fine & I just played a half hour of battlefield 1942, so I guess thats stable enough for me :)

On the plus side, I ordered a Dell 1.8ghz machine for a customer & it came into & we were expecting it to come in on Tuesday (next week).

I guess I owe it to myself to make sure the system works correctly :) Maybe try the processor in the vapochill.