[The Great Inert]

Good morning or evening depending on where you're from.

I have two very quick questions. First, is it possible to visually determine whether a CPU has a cracked core? Any telltale signs on the die, or does the term "cracked" refer to damage done below the slug, where one can't see it?

Second question, probably more interesting than the first. In my hot hands is an AMD Athlon 2000... fully unlocked (didn't expect it to come that way but all of the bridges are joined...) with the following ID: AXDA2000UT3C/AIUGA0240RPNW. With the following information, does anyone know what I could expect to achieve if I overclocked this processor? (I'd be using simple aircooling at first, but may move onto watercooling once I get past my ingrained fear that water+electrical equipment=fried me.)

Unfortunately I can't test this CPU myself... I don't have a spare board and don't want to risk my main board on a chip that might kill it. I'm not entirely sure the thing even works. When I first received it, I mis-seated (new word) the HS and heard a disheartening crunch sound. It might have simply been pressure from the HS against the socket, but I could have also cracked the core. As always, any help is appreciated. (If it turns out this processor does work, I have a new gift for the gf/future wife...) Many thanks in advance.

(One last note. If you're religious, or even if you aren't, please pray for England. If you're English and reading this, remember the truth of Hail Brittania's refrain... Britons won't be slaves,to terrorists or any other thugs.)

[Drec]

If you can see no physical damage to the core then i don't think you cracked it with the HS, even if you did it wouldn't hurt your mobo to test it out (i'm pretty sure) it just wouldn't boot is all.

[Captain Newbie]

Ah yes, the sickening *crunch* followed by the user breaking into a sweat...

Most of the "cracked" cores I've seen have surface damage done to the die, especially pieces of the corners chipped off. In order to completely break the die, you'd have to apply a minimum ninety to a hundred pounds straight down, which seems unlikely, since if the heatsink doesn't seat within the normal specification forces, then something is wrong.

If there's no sign of physical damage, then you might be good to go, but caution is warranted and if you don't have another board I'd be very careful. Fire it up

[freeagent]

i agree, that crunch is bad.... but my old tbred 2600 lived with a chipped corner, and a crack down the entire left side of the slug, it still ran at 2.4, but i sold it soon after.. as far as i know it still works, you might get lucky

[Captain Newbie]

...You SOLD...a damaged processor?

[Kill_A._Byte]

Pop it in and
I would think you should hit 1.8GHz possably 2.0GHz with that chip on air without much fuss. More when you WC. Wha you think Cap-n?
Keep us posted when you test her out.

[freeagent]

Originally Posted by Captain Newbie

...You SOLD...a damaged processor?

you betcha, it was to a friend, and it still ran like a champ, for 30 bux, i made him an offer he couldnt refuse i just talked to him 10 mins ago, you put me on a bit of a guilt trip lol, its still rockin fine, hes just over 2400mhz with it atm, like a rock.

"Stick it up your nostral as far as you can. And when you hear the crunch, your there."