I'd like to mention something about "overclocking." There are several schools of thought as to what this actualy is. Here are my thoughts. The Barton, while it has an extra 256k cache, is a relatively poor overclocker. I've yet to see any significant gains made using these. That's basically due to the chips' highest model, which isn't much different MHz wise from it's lowest. And this is where the overclocking schools divide.
If you were to purchse a AXDA1700DUT3C or AXDA1700DLT3C, be lucky enough to find the JIUHB stepping, and most importantly week 02 through 08 in production, you'll be able to raise that CPU from it's default speed of 1.47GHz to 2.2GHz without actually "overclocking" in the strictest sense of the term. You see, based upon the manufacturing techniques implemented in CPU production, the exact same core which powers the Athlon
2800+ also powers the Athlon 1700+. Without getting too deep into manufacturing, this is due to cost. One "template" (actually up to 20) are used in the photolithographic process from which these cores are then etched, to be packaged accordingly. One template or photomask can cost $30,000. A FAb from which the wafers are made for these cores, can cost approximately $2.2-bilion, and that's for one 200mm, or 300mm wafer process. Therefore chipmakers produce the fastest CPU core possible, and then all consecutive processors are produced from that core design. They are then fixed by having their multiplier, and vcore set by the maker, based on the model number.
Albeit a 2800+ or 1700+ if the stepping is JIUHB then the last letter signifies the Thoroughbred-B core. Ergo, since the processor is sold "unlocked" YOU the consumer are free to change the multiplier and vcore. So your not really Overclocking anything, because you'll most likely be able to attain and safely maintain the default speed of the fastest model, using the slowest model because the core's are the same. I would consider overclocking, surpassing the defualt speed of the core-line and perhaps needing to raise the vcore to do so. Luckily, with TBred-B's if you find a favorable stepping, and production week, you'll be able to run the processor safely as much as a few hundred MHz faster then the fastest model, and not have to raise the vcore to do it.
This will have no detrimental effect on the life of the processor, because (as I've said above) in actuality, your running the CPU at it's intended "design" speed. Now there are of course other factors which come into play, prompting the manufacturer to bin certain cores for 1700's, and others for 2800's, and these are important. Luckily for us, in the case of the TBred-B (just as in Intel's Northwood-D) AMD's excellent manufacture consistancy with certain batches allows for the slowest model to run at the fastest speeds. So long as the stepping and batch date is close to those specs I listed above. I'd grab the less expensive TBred-B 1700 ($60) look for JIUHB AXDA1700DUT3C or DLT3C, and week 02 through 08. For much less money, you'll enjoy the entire model line spectrum of clock speeds in one processor, safely. Make sure your cooling is above average, that will have agreater effecvt on the life of the processor then any other, with the exception of spilling coffee into your case. Here's a link to
eXcaliberpc directly to the JIUHB 1700DUT3C and it's a week 0307. The one I have does 2.5GHz with a little juice pumped into it, and it'll do 2.3GHz at default vcore, all day long. Yes you can find them for less money, but what your paying for is getting the stepping and production date which overclocks well. You can buy them for $43 at Newegg, but your not gauranteed anything, especially not the stepping, production week, and voltage.
