200 or 266 FSB?

[Foppy]

I'm looking at a 1.2 ghz AMD athlon, and am scouting for reviews on whether the 200 or 266 FSB performs better, overclocks better, or has any other advantages. Also, for a beginner overclocker - would you recommend OCing through the cpu multiplier, FSB, or a combination of the two? Any input you may have is appreciated.

[TranceBear]

First of all, welcome to the forums.
I chose the 200mhz (2x100mhz)version of my chip for I could O/C right out of the box with setting my FSB on my M/B to 233mhz2x133mhz). I had a default multiplyer of 10. 10x100mhz =1gig, 10x133mhx =1.33gig, ya see? I can thank MSI for making this so easy on my M/B. Overclocking by FSB is always the preferred method of doing this. But some chips just like it by multiplying it like mine and a few others. Good Luck!!

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

Welcome to the forum!

Well if money isnt too much of an option then go with the 266MHz FSB system which performs better in most cases, and o/c's better. I have a 1GHz 266 in my system right now, but no ddr board to take advantage of it.

You can o/c both ways, youll have to if you want to get the best results. Your 1.2GHz Athlon will come unlocked so no need for the pencil trick. Just remmeber you have to raise your core voltage(vcore) when overclocking, which will pave way for a higher fsb, and watch your temp since higher voltage generates more heat. What motherbard are you looking into getting for that chip?

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

You raise a good point TranceBear, didnt even think of that.

[TranceBear]

cr0nos (Jul 06, 2001 06:47 p.m.):
You raise a good point TranceBear, didnt even think of that.

:o)
I can thank to forum for making me think before I bought. I waited a few extra days to do the research (didn't want to at first), I hope everybody would do that.

[Foppy]

cr0nos (Jul 06, 2001 06:46 p.m.):
[snip]What motherbard are you looking into getting for that chip?

I'm looking at ECS' K7VZA - Tom's Hardware reports it as a good board, and it's very cheap. Tom reports that overclocking on the board itself is limited. What's interesting though is that he made this comment on the v1 board which used the 200mhz FSB - these boards have been updated to v3 to support the 266 FSB. I wonder if the same still holds true for the v3.
I read in the beginner guides that OCing the FSB on the motherboard will result in other things like the RAM and PCI bus being overclocked as well, and that this can be fairly risky. I am wary of trying that because of that reason - have you experienced any failures or malfuctions from your PCI cards after overclocking the FSB?
Thanks for your help.

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

I see youve been doing research, this is great, i did this too but the people i went to buy my chip from screwed things up, critisizing Toms Hardware. Yes if you oc the fsb affects everything on the southbridge, harddrives, cdroms, pci video cards, nics. Setting your divider can help you out in this. it divides your fsb speed. Mines set to 1/4 right now since my fsb is 133, it sets the pci bus to 33MHz(default). Not sure if you know this but if you dont this may help. usually you nic(network interface card) is the first one to limit your overclockability. Keep your pci bus under 40 and you should be fine. Me myself havent had anything limit my overlcok since i havent overlcoked on my new system yet, have to get some better cooling since my temps right now are around 55 idle and 57 load...strange eh?

[Foppy]

cr0nos (Jul 06, 2001 08:16 p.m.):
[snip] I havent overlcoked on my new system yet, have to get some better cooling since my temps right now are around 55 idle and 57 load...strange eh?

That's another question I had - is there software that will monitor CPU temps like that, or do you need some hardware thermometer?
I wonder if I shouldn't just get a slower Athlon or Duron and save a few dollars, although Duron prices have shot up recently, while Athlons have fallen.
$28 for a Duron 800 was looking quite ridiculous for a while though...

[TranceBear]

your motherboard should have some sort of temp monitor program in it, if not check the BIOS, if all that fails go to http://www.tweakfiles.com and get motherboardmonitor5. This software covers most M/B out there.

Cronos, those temps are WAY hot...what up?

[rugby]

I had a 1.2/200 cpu and it got up to 1480 (148x10) no problem. Heat became an issue after that, even with watercooling. I used to trust MBM5, but I placed a digital thermometer next to the core of the cpu and the temps were about 10oC lower than what mbm5 was reporting. mbm5 is good for aircooling, but for some reason watercooling messes with it something fierce. Of course now I've got a paperweight sitting on the floor and hopefully I'll get to rma this tbird on monday when the local shop opens.

[TranceBear]

I personaly use a program that came with my m/b called PC Alert 3. I have checked the temps with a temp probe and they are within 1-2c from actual. But since my latest mods, I have not seen over 40c. Thank god for Hoot's cooling powers he so kindly shares with everybody!!

[CSaddict]

Remember that raising the core voltage is not always the way to go. I have the default core voltage running on my setup and it works great. Upping the voltage would only and heat in my case. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if it's stable why add more heat!

[TranceBear]

Well I have one of those very hot chips standard. My default v-core is 1.85. I have yet to read another post that has a chip that runs so high standard. Have anybody else?

[Blue Jester_2112]

cr0nos (Jul 06, 2001 06:46 p.m.):

You can o/c both ways, youll have to if you want to get the best results. Your 1.2GHz Athlon will come unlocked so no need for the pencil trick.

Is this true? do the 1.2 ghz chip come unlocked?

[TranceBear]

All the posts I have read about the 1.2, they are unlocked. You lucky dog!!

[Foppy]

So, in summary, what I gather is that having the 266 FSB is better for overclocking (greater results from multiplier increases), gets better results from DDR memory, and has slightly better performance. Well worth the extra $8 or so...
If anyone has anything to add in the way of pros and cons, feel free.

[JuDgE_DrEaD]

Good choice with the 266fsb chip, youll have fun o/cing that puppy.

To trancebear: the store i bought it from gave me some cheap hsf on the cpu and i ahvent had money for a new one, not even any money for any artic silver and that like 3 bucks. Im truly broke :(

[TranceBear]

cr0nos (Jul 08, 2001 11:17 p.m.):
Good choice with the 266fsb chip, youll have fun o/cing that puppy.

To trancebear: the store i bought it from gave me some cheap hsf on the cpu and i ahvent had money for a new one, not even any money for any artic silver and that like 3 bucks. Im truly broke :(


I have my Vantec I just replaced with my new Glaciator. It has the black label 38cfm delta fan. I could give you a great deal (very cheap)on that and throw in some Artic Silver2, one O/Cer helping another.

[-inox-]

i think getting a 200mhz chip is the best thing to do because it allows you to overclock with out the worry of getting other system components out of sinc eg upping the pci voltage this is all kept the same because off the stepping soby bying a 1gig at 200mhz you actully get very easyly a 1.33gig at 266 for no extra cost
_________________________________________

duron 700@933 Fsb 266
not bad for a £47 chip