Can anyone agree to this? Or talk me into it?

[dreIU]

Hello all, I have been reading about the awesome OC capability of the Mobility bartons. I noticed I could pick up a 2400+ for 77USD from newegg.

SO, I was thinking of doing that and selling my current processor (UNLOCKED!!!) for, uhm... I dont know, maybe 80USD (on the classifieds section of course).

BUT before i went through with that deal, I was going to get some input from you guys... 2.5-2.6gig on air sounds good to me, so I am thinking that I should jump on that deal. But here's another question that comes to mind... will my motherboard like such speeds? I am trying to stay away from voltmodding anything. I am using hte CPU cooler in my sig. Let me know what you guys think.

[{PMS}fishy]

It should support higher speeds. You can always up the multiplier and keep the FSB the same. That won't affect the MB much. It will put a strain on the PSU more than anything.

Oh, I doubt that you will get $80 from anyone on these forums. Take it to ebay if you want. I wouldn't pay for than $50 for your CPU.

So, YA, get the Mobile (not Mobility).

[PerlAddict]

I don't know how it will handle the multipliers or if the motherboard actually has much to do with that part of overclocking, but I was under the impression that ASUS boards didn't overclock very well on the FSB side of things.

EDIT: Hehe ... yeah, what the guy above me with all the stars said. ;)

[{PMS}fishy]

Originally posted by PerlAddict
I don't know how it will handle the multipliers or if the motherboard actually has much to do with that part of overclocking, but I was under the impression that ASUS boards didn't overclock very well on the FSB side of things.

210mhz is not bad at all for that MB.

[PerlAddict]

Yeah, I thought that was pretty good for an ASUS. I was just thinking that he probably wouldn't be able to run speeds of 220 - 230 FSB very easily on the mobo, so he might have to compensate by just adjusting the multi (which, as I said, I wasn't sure what type of effect that would have on the mobo, and you cleared up that question for me as I was actually typing it. So thank you for the random lesson of the day. :)).

[PerlAddict]

(And sorry this is totally off-topic, but this post will make post #100 for me, so I thought I'd go ahead and get on with it and actually take a look in the classifieds now. :) So forgive my first off-topic post ever in lieu of my joyous moment. :D)

[dreIU]

Thanks for the input guys! Ya think anyone on ebay will pay that much for this processor? that kind of worries me.

Thanks for the kudos on the 210 on this board! That is the highest it will go, either that or the ram is maxed out. But I will raise the heck out of that multi!!

Also, my PSU is an Antec True480, so it will handle itself quite nicely (I hope :D ). But anyway... I will definitely order really soon. BTW, 2400+ or 2500+ (both mobile)... I am not sure if paying the extra for the 2500+ will be worth it. what ya think?

[hitechjb1]

The mobile barton 2400+ is a good overclocking CPU and has better price/performance than a 2500+. From what I have read, if using high end air cooling, there is a good chance to get to 2.5 - 2.7 GHz. This is the good news.

But from your sig, there are some concerns:

1. A7N8X rev 2.0 may not have high enough Vcore to push the CPU to the highest stable intrinsic CPU frequency, unless a Vcore mod is done. If one is handy, it can be done readily by using a variable resistor and a grabbler. I have done with its rev 1.0 using a fixed resistor and a grabbler.

I here assume the rev 2.0 has same Vcore range as a 1.0. Pls double check this.

2. More important concern is: you have a Volcano 11+, which I think it underperforms by 300-400 MHz than a top end SLK-800/947/sp97 HS + a high CFM fan such as TT SFII or 80 mm Tornado (with fan control). I think, if a Volcano 11+ is used, one would miss the highest potential of an average mobile barton.

One would need to get a SLK- HS + fan, which would be around $40+.

Comparing some HSF's on CPU overclock frequency on air (http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1899010#post1899010) (page 6)

Comparing different HSF's and impact of ambient temperature on max CPU frequency (HSF 0.36 C/W) (http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=1883446#post1883446) (page 7)


My experience w/ a mobile 2400+: it takes high voltage of 2.1+ V and high end HSF to get it to 2.6-2.7 GHz.

3. The A7N8X should do 200-220 MHz. What multiplier is needed depends on the highest FSB and what CPU frequency can be pushed. To the first order, FSB does not affect CPU overclocking.
E.g.
If motherboard and memory can do 220 MHz, then 12.5 multiplier is enough to push to 2750 MHz (which is high enough for air cooling).
But if FSB max at 210 MHz, it would require 13x to to push CPU to pass 2.7 GHz.

It seems to me that the A7N8X may not be as flexible as the NF7-S for setting various multipliers. My NF7-S can set almost any multiplier I want, both upper and lower ones.

But even the bios cannot set the multiplier you want, it is not a show stopper, since there is always a wire trick to set the multiplier that is needed.

[dreIU]

Wow, thanks for that info... I do regret not getting the proper CPU cooler and not getting an Abit board. But I honestly think I will be fine at 12x210 or 12.5x210. The max vcore in the bios is close to 1.9, if not 2.0... its been a while since I've been in there (not I also have the 1007 Uber bios, which is a modified version of Asus' 1007 bios). Thanks for all the input, I will order the 2400+ ASAP.

[hitechjb1]

The uber 1007 won't give you higher Vcore in the bios, it still would need Vcore mod in case (by using resistor and grabbler). Also that 1.9 V may be available only for your current chip (a 3000+ ?), the max Vcore may be much lower for the mobile since it has lower stock Vcore.

Also with the Volcano 11+, even if the mobile 2400+ can do 2.6 GHz intrinsically, you may not be able to overclock it to pass 2.3-2.5 GHz stably, unless a high end HSF is used.

[{PMS}fishy]

Originally posted by dreIU
Thanks for the input guys! Ya think anyone on ebay will pay that much for this processor? that kind of worries me.

Thanks for the kudos on the 210 on this board! That is the highest it will go, either that or the ram is maxed out. But I will raise the heck out of that multi!!

Also, my PSU is an Antec True480, so it will handle itself quite nicely (I hope :D ). But anyway... I will definitely order really soon. BTW, 2400+ or 2500+ (both mobile)... I am not sure if paying the extra for the 2500+ will be worth it. what ya think?

I think the 2500+ clock higher, but they are quite a bit more expensive.

I bet you could get around $75 on ebay, maybe more. Make sure you mention UNLOCKED in the title.

[dreIU]

Originally posted by hitechjb1
The uber 1007 won't give you higher Vcore in the bios, it still would need Vcore mod in case (by using resistor and grabbler). Also that 1.9 V may be available only for your current chip (a 3000+ ?), the max Vcore may be much lower for the mobile since it has lower stock Vcore.

Also with the Volcano 11+, even if the mobile 2400+ can do 2.6 GHz intrinsically, you may not be able to overclock it to pass 2.3-2.5 GHz stably, unless a high end HSF is used.

I am almost certain that the mobo has a set max vcore it can push, I would look in the manual, but I dont have it here wiht me; but at any rate, I dont want to exceed 1.825v anyway.

And my TT volcanoe shouldnt be that bad; I will take the challenge of clocking it that high with it, if not I will get a better one.

[hitechjb1]

Since it is a mobile barton which, I think, has lower heat dissipation than the equivalent desktop XP at the same level of voltage and frequency (not detailed measured), I think you may be able to get 2.4 - 2.5 GHz under 1.825 V with the Volcano 11, and then decide what to do from there (e.g. try better HSF for 2.6-2.7 GHz).

[dreIU]

What do you reccomend as a better heatsync for the CPU then? also, what about a better fan for it? thanks.

EDIT: How is this:

Fan: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-999-110&depa=0 TT 80mm smart fan.

Paired with HS: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-109-112&depa=0 Thermalright SLK-947 U.

I think that will be on the list pretty soon!:)

EDIT2: 39.99 (HS, free shipping) + 6.35 (TT Smart fan + 4.00 shipping) + 77 (mobile 2400+, free shipping) = 127.34

127.34 - 60 (maybe what I will get out of my 3000+ from Ebay) - 20 (maybe what I will get out of the TT Volcanoe from ebay) = 47.34. I can live with that. :D

[hitechjb1]

Originally posted by dreIU
What do you reccomend as a better heatsync for the CPU then? also, what about a better fan for it? thanks.

For air, any of the Thermalright copper HS such as SK-7, SLK-800U, SLK-947U, SP-97 are considered the best kind.

Which one to buy depends on whether they are good deals around. Sometimes, some may go down as low as $15-30. Regular price is around $40.

At full load,
SP-97 is better than the SLK-947U by about 4 C (~ 40 MHz at 2.5 GHz)
SLK-947U is better than the SLK-800U by about 1-2 C (~ 10-20 MHz at 2.5 GHz)
SLK-800U is bettern than the SK-7 by about 2 C (~ 20 MHz at 2.5 GHz)

So the difference in MHz among them are within 80 MHz, not a big difference for real usage, except for benchmarking or competition.
For price performance, try to get them when on sale.


Since their thermal resistance are around 0.22-0.24 C/W, compared to Volcano 11 of 0.36 C/W, they can cool the CPU to a lower temperature by as much as 0.14 * 130 W = 18 C at full load, which would translate into about 200 MHz overclocking.

For fan, the all around fan is the Thermaltake smart fan II, whose fan speed can be adjustable to tradeoff noise level and air flow (CFM). It is about $10.

The 80 mm Tornado, highest CFM, delivers the best result w/ the SLK- HS. But it is very noise for 24/7 usage, unless a fan control is added to adjust the speed.


One more thing to think about: The SLK- HS mentioned about CANNOT be used with the long waiting A64 socket 939 CPU, which is the logical upgrade path in 6-12 months. So consider this for the HS investment to get that last 100-200 MHz for socket A CPU.

[hitechjb1]

Since the SLK- HS is estimated to be better by about 200 MHz compared to your Volcano 11 for the mobile barton, maybe you should wait to test the 2400+ first (to see how good the chip is), before deciding what to do.

If it is a super chip, then get the SLK- HS to push it to its limit.

To get that 200 MHz for $50?

For lower fan noise, since fan can run slower using SLK- HS for the same cooling effect?

...

[dreIU]

Sweet, thanks for the help guys.. I think I will wait and get the chip and test it with my current cooler, then decide.

As far as the comment that hitechjb1 made about the 939 socket A64, thats another good point. I will be upgrading to that before too long, and will need a big HS too. Anybody have other comments?

[ChillPhatCat]

Originally posted by {PMS}fishy


I think the 2500+ clock higher, but they are quite a bit more expensive.

I bet you could get around $75 on ebay, maybe more. Make sure you mention UNLOCKED in the title.

I just sold a locked 2500+ on ebay that did 2.3+ GHz for $92 + S&H. I'm sure you could get at least that for an unlocked 3000+ You really don't know how high it will go... just list that it does 2.3GHz and you havent' pushed it further... they'll really only expect that it runs about what you say it does. I've sold several CPU's in this fashion with very happy customers. Just make it clear that it is a 3000+ and that you cannot garantee the overclock due to uncontrollable variables.

Set the price at $77(list at or just below cost of upgrade which is the bare minimum of what you need) + S&H and wait 5-7 days... I didn't get any bids on that 2500+ until 15 mins before close, so just sit tight and hold out... they will come to the auction in the last few minutes.

[itshondo]

you might want to post a new thread in the Asus mobo section to find out what overclocks are being achieved on the A7N8X with the mobiles ( if there isn't a thread already)

Also might want to consider the SLK-900, I've had great results with mine-

[hrhrhrFOOT]

dreIU, whos that girl on your ava?

On topic, i dont think getting another hsf is worth it. IMO, you should wait till 939, then get a good cpu/mobo combo.