To "E", or "EB", that's my question?

[surfinguru]

Can someone be so kind as to explain the pro's and con's of o/cing a 100mhz fsb vs. a 133mhz fsb. I've been reading as many of the posts as I can, but I've yet to see a difinitive argument either way. Lost my bid on a 700e fcpga on e-Bay so now I'm back to the decision making process.
Thanks!

-------------
P3-550@733 (finally stable! yeah!)
BE6-2 v1.1 (flashed to XU bios<--might help answer my ?'s)
256mb Crucial PC133 C2
CL 48x CD
CL Annihilator Pro
SB Live Value
HP 9100i CD-RW
WD 30gig ATA66
Efficient Networks 3060 aDSL modem

[[OC]_SR20DE]

it is very good that you already have a good mommyboard and RAM. You have good potential for OC'ing. Now I'll state the diff. betw. E and EB chips.


Scenarios:

1. P3 600E for example, has 6 x 100mhz fsb. You have very high potential overclocking. i.e. 6 x 150= 900mhz or you can go higher.

2. P3 600EB, has 4.5 x 133mhz fsb. The clock multiplier is crippled, it's too damn low for overclocking, i.e. 4.5 x 150= 675mhz. but if both E and EB chip in this case, and if not overclocked, EB chip does have better performance than the 100mhz rated bus chip simply because of higher bus speed.

3. E chip is especially more useful if you have later stepping(revision) of the chip. If you have old version of the P3 chip, it would be more difficult to overclock too much.

4. The older version of EB chips are even harder to overclock than the older version of E ones.

5. If you are getting a low clocked speed CPUs such as 600mhz, 700mhz, or 750mhz level, E is recommended because you can overclock them to near a Ghz or surpass it. EB chips can't.... unless you have some crazy cooling and excellent mommyboard that will offer high fsb and wider option on the AGP/PCI ratio divider.

6. If you are getting a high clocked speed CPU such as 900mhz, 933mhz, or 1000mhz, EB chip might be better for you because the Intel P3 overclocking limit is maxed out at around 1.13 Ghz with a cC0 stepping. So why bother getting a E chip? You might endup get stuck with low bus speed, i.e. 120 ish or 130ish mhz and that's it...this results as your bus speed to be cripple, but the EB chips will have higher bus speed.. so you see the drift here? :)

There are lots more scenarios for pros and cons.. this is just some of the facts I have said.. some of other folks here will tell you more also. so wait around a little.

BTW, with a good mobo and RAM like yours, and if you are getting a late stepping of the CPU, getting a 933mhz EB chip is a waste. 700mhz E chip will perform overclocking just as good as 933mhz EB chip, but this is not always the case.


note: 700mhz E chip with a cB0 is good, but with a cC0, it is the king of overclock. wait till the cD0 comes out, this will be even better.

[dimmreaper]

It depends on which CPU speed your going for.

If you plan to buy a chip in the 500-700MHz range, go for the "E".

Stay away from all chips in the 750-850 range, unless your an avid super cooler.

If you plan to buy a chip in the 866-1000MHz range, go for an "EB"

It's just that simple . . . . . . . .

[OpenFriday]

dimmreaper (Apr 09, 2001 02:37 p.m.):
It depends on which CPU speed your going for.
".

Stay away from all chips in the 750-850 range, unless your an avid super cooler.


It's just that simple . . . . . . . .



Where were you 7 months ago?

[[OC]_SR20DE]

hahahahahahaha. Thanks for the input, dimmreaper and OpenFriday. That was funny OpenFriday.

[surfinguru]

OMG, I'm soooo confused! Hehe, JK. Well, the 700e's in the cC0 rev are indeed hard to find without paying $$$. (So far anyway.) So you guys are saying to stay away from the 800e's as well huh? I pretty much figured the 750 & 850 wouldn't be a prime choice just based on what I've picked up reading around here. FWIW, just flashed to the XU bios rev on the ol' BE6-2, so I should be able to put anything up to a 1ghz in there. Well, my ear is still to the board and welcome any additional opinions. In the mean time I'll keep the sombrero low and the cherry red.......

[[OC]_SR20DE]

sorry about the confusion.... I think I was not very clear what I typed in my first reply. I think that the Number 3 & 4 was bit confusing and not necessary talk and those cases dont always apply the same. It can change depending on the situations of your setup and condition. Please disregard Number 3& 4. Sorry.

Number 5 & 6 is similar to what "dimmreaper" has said in his last reply. He did say things very simple and clear. Listen to that man... he knows what he is talking about.

DocClock aka knows a lot on this too.. he's a P3 specialist.

[surfinguru]

Hey Guys, just to add a little fuel to the fire, if you use a 700e@133=931mhz or an 800e@133=1064, wouldn't you really want to use the 800? Maybe I'm still missing something?

[batboy]

If you can get a 800e to run at 133, then yes...go for it. However, since that's the upper range or beyond of the "average" PIII, then the 700e makes more sense. It'll have a much better shot at 133+ bus than the 800e. The 750e doesn't seem to overclock as well either. My guess is that the 7.5X chips that are the cream of the crop end up labeled as 1000eb CPUs. The truth of the matter is, the 700e is a good, solid, consistant overclockable CPU.

[OpenFriday]

ive heard many people with 700e's that get 933 right outta the box. Except for our buddy treker who i believe is having problems with his 700e ( i havent read the post yet just topic sorry) but in general the 700e is said to the one of the most overclockable chips out there. ok allan made me change this statement before to "the most" overclockable chip out there. If i were to do it all again id trade this 800EB for a 700e anyday.

[surfinguru]

Well then, a decision has been made: The search is on for a 700e! I'll keep you posted as to my progress. In the mean time, thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll have some other questions now and then, until I do I'll continue to read and learn............

[[OC]_SR20DE]

Also, the 800Es are little bit more difficult to overclock. The rate of overclockability on a 700E is much more than the 800E. For example, let say you get this 700E overclock it by.... say 7 x 150 = 1050mhz . The 800E's can't overclock 8 x 150= 1200mhz just like that... . it's not that simple.

Let say.. if you can manage the 800E by 8 x 133 = 1064mhz.. And take a 700E by 7 x 150 = 1050mhz,.. The performance on this 700E will "wipe clean and smoke" that 800E in no time because of the higher mhz of FSB on a 700E is much greater. Even you take that 700E to.. 7 x 142mhz , it still can smoke 800E @ 1064. These comparisons are based on current cB0 and cC0 revision P3 chips.

This is why some overclockers say... "700E's are the king of the overclocking chip!"

[surfinguru]

Hey guys, question: Just got back from Fry's and noticed in the add they've got a retail P3-1Ghz fc-pga with an Abit VH6-2 mobo for $339. What do ya think? How far would that thing o/c? Do you think it's more financially feasable to find a 700 for ~$120 that'll run right around 1ghz or the afformentioned "sale?"

[surfinguru]

Hey guys, question: Just got back from Fry's and noticed in the add they've got a retail P3-1Ghz fc-pga with an Abit VH6-2 mobo for $339. What do ya think? How far would that thing o/c? Do you think it's more financially feasable to find a 700 for ~$120 that'll run right around 1ghz or the afformentioned "sale?"

[®¡©|<¥]

I understand what everyone is saying here, but talk down of the 800e. I have been shocked! (look at signature) Although I did spend some on cooling from www.overclockers.co.uk, but thats the price you gotta pay for PERFORMANCE!
But in all honesty yeah go for the 700e - I haven't personally had one but from what ive read the 800e should go to HELL! (LOL)

[#3# RIP]

I have a 800e @ 920 and can't step it up any higher. Its rock solid though ; once in a while it breaks 40c. I've got a 700e above a gig, its the hands down best overclocker.....