Which CPU for TUSL2-C??

[MadMan007]

I am going to get one last CPU for my TUSL2-C until the Thoroughbreds (.13 micron Athlon XP) becomes available. I will get it after the price drops this month. Right now I am running a Cel 633, and this particular one is a poor overclocker. It needs 2.2V (!!) to run @950MHz; I did this on my BH6 until it died an untimely death. Cannot do 950 on this board. :(

Anyway, I am going to get a Cel 1.1A or 1.2A, a Glaciator II, and of course OC it. :) I know I will have to VID pin-wrap it to get more volts on my board.

My question is which one?? I am willing to overclock my PCI bus to a max of 38MHz (which all the compnonets have been running@for a long time) and with the TUSL2-C you need 134MHz FSB to get the 1/4 PCI divider. If I don't hit 134 I will have to do max 115MHZ FSB for 38MHz PCI. My memory should be OK at 134MHz but not a lot higher, though I will have to back it off to 3-2-2 timings. So, this is what I would get from the processors:
1.1:
@115MHz = 1265MHz CPU
@134MHZ = 1474MHz CPU

1.2:
@115MHz = 1380MHz CPU
@134MHz = 1608MHz CPU

So, the question is 1.1A or 1.2A? They are practically the same price so that is not a concern. For some reason the 1.2's seem to OC better, not just in total MHz but in FSB too. Of course, if I get a 1.2 that will do 134 that would be best. If not though, a 1.1 that can do 134 would be better than a 1.2 @115 FSB (or would it?). If I get a 1.2 that can do only 115MHz I would still be OK, though a tad slower than a 1.1 @134MHz. A lot more people have the 1.2 than the 1.1, so it is hard to decide. Please help me decide!!

Thanks!

[Yodums]

I'd take the 1.0a to test it out I saw some recent ones where they got to 140fsb some what easily with the vid pin mod and a good overclocking board and luck. And in your case you have a good cooler and probably obtain 150fsb with full voltage for maximum stablity and CAS2 ram. Probably even hit 155fsb if lucky or after a good burn in.

Yodums

[MadMan007]

My memory is the main problem, as 1 stick is some old Viking PC100 w/ Samsung -GH chips which are supposed to be able to do 133MHz at 3-3-3 timings. It is 128MB. My other stick is PC133 256MB that could prob do 2-2-2 timings. I guess I'd rather have 384 MB at slower timings since I will be getting WinXP at the same time as the CPU. I won't be buying any new RAM either til I get some DDR for a Thoroughbred.

Point being that 140+MHz is not likely at even 3-3-3 timings, so the 1.0 would be the last choice, even the 1.2 at stock will be a big improvement over what I have now. Lol, sounds like I already have my mind made up.

Maybe I will just get a 1.2A from a place with no restock fee and keep trying til I get a good one?? :D Also, I understand the OEM's (esp Phillipines) are better OC'ers, is that true? I know it is all still luck of the draw, so I will just have to hope for the best...

[Yodums]

Well why not just wait for the Thoroughbred then?

It won't be much of an upgrade where you just get the TB soon and throw this one away but if your still planning to upgrade go for a 1.2 then I guess.

Yodums

[MadMan007]

Reason for the upgrade is that the T-Bred will be a completely new system, w/ case, drives, etc. All the other compnents in here now are too old to keep re-using. The TUSL2 would then turn into a pretty decent second box, for DC or having people over to multi-play.

That and the CPU/HSF will be an upgrade in exchange for helping a family member build a comp, so it will be free. :D

So, I think the 1.2 would be best choice. I guess I just wanted to write this stuff out and see what some1 else thought.

[muddocktor]

Seeing as how you are memory limited, the 1.2 would be a good choice and @ 115 fsb you probably won't have to up the vcore very much either. Does the TUS-L2 board have an option for running the memory @ fsb - 33mhz, like my XET board? If so, then you could do that and get a higher fsb speed with a 1.0A or 1.1A and still have your memory running fine. That's just a thought I had.

[MadMan007]

Good point mudd. Yes, the TUSL2 has a -33MHz memory bus option ( I think it is a i815 feature.) I could then go up to max 153 FSB CPU (1683MHz CPU speed) and 120 mem. Doesn't running the mem asynch really kill mem scores tho? Or is it the same as if you were running the mem at the -33 speed?

Well, I will prob just get a 1.2, heh, like I said, I just wnated to see if anyone had any other input, but from reading all the posts about 1.2's on the board, it seems to be largely luck of the draw...thanks guys.

[Johan]

The TUSL2-C has 4 possible settings for FSB, SDRAM, PCI frequency ratios: 66:100:33, 133:133:33, 133:100:33 and 100:100:33. Running the 133:100:33 ratio scheme should keep the memory in check when OCing.

[oldfart]

Doesn't running the mem asynch really kill mem scores tho?
Yes, it does.

[Yodums]

Well I'd go with the 1.1a if you were to pick then.

Your PC100 memory WOULD DO AT LEAST PC133.

Memory is very important in overclocking and I don't see much point at running your memory at PC100 since alot of benchmarks rely on memory bandwidth.

Yodums

[deez]

I noticed with my TUSL-2C that when I increase the FSB over 119 the AGP divisor switches from 2/3 to 1/2 although I currently have no probs running at 119 FSB with my P3 1100

I can boot into the high 1300's with PCI cards pulled but not run stable so I keep it at 119 FSB cuz I dont wanna cook my PCI cards

So i recommend a chip that you can hit 133FSB for sure or else a chip that you will be happy with at 119FSB