BEGINNERS: What Hardware to Buy for Overclocking Mobile Barton
Ok I'm new to all this, so I've been doing some research and wanted to share my findings. Please feel free to comment on my selections.
If you want to upgrade your PC, and you've read that the Mobile Barton's are great for overclocking, like here: http://www.techtastic.ca/reviews3/mobile-barton-2500.html or here: http://www.fastlanehw.com/reviews.php?i=102&page=1 , then you know how tempting this can be.
Your system is probably like mine- a not too shabby AMD 1400+ or something similar, and you’re about ready for an upgrade. You think, hey, if I can pick up a CPU chip for $78 and get 2.6GHz out of it, WHY NOT?!?
Well, there’s more to buy than just that. Here's what you'll need to get started.
1. The Mobile Barton CPU chip.
This comes in a few flavors, the ones I've found are:
Model: 2400+
Stock: 1.8GHz (133FSBx13.5), ~$78 as of 4/9/04
Model: 2500+
Stock: 1.86GHz (133FSBx14), ~$92 as of 4/9/04
Model: 2600+
Stock: 2.13GHz , (133FSBx16) ~$110 as of 4/9/04
Note on cache:
You don't want to start below these (like 2000+ etc) because they only have 256k of L2 cache. Do it right and start with the 2400+ and up.
Note on FSB:
You will be overclocking your bus speed from 133MHz to as much as 225, depending on your cooling. NOTE: On some websites, the FSB is listed as 266MHz. That's because the CPU can use data on the rise and fall of the signals, in effect doubling the frequency of the motherboard bus (133*2=266). But when overclocking, you'll be changing the motherboard's bus speed, which will start at 133MHz for these chips.
So which do I get? The 2400+? 2500+? or the 2600+?
The chips are constructed the same, but some are better "quality" according to AMD, thereby getting a higher stamp. If you're going to be using a regular cooling fan and power supply, stick with the cheaper 2400+. If you want to go into higher performance overclocking, the 2500+ or 2600+ would suit your needs, since they may last a little longer. Remember- overclocking shortens their life, but only if you push the voltages beyond 1.85 or 1.9, and the temps past 55C. (From what I've read on this site).
2. Motherboard
You’ll need a good overclocking motherboard. Keep in mind it should meet your other requirements, like onboard sound, RAID, or whatever else you need. Epox, MSI, Abit, Asus, etc. all make good boards… but there’s one that stands out which I chose:
The Abit NF7 (v.2.0) NForce-2 AGP-8X DDR400, ~$70 as of 4/9/2004
This motherboard has something unique that I like- dual memory channels. This has a speed advantage that is unique to its chipset, until the VIA competitor is released later. Basically it’s a tried and tested stable motherboard that has all the overclocking features you need. If you use RAID, you’ll have to get a separate RAID controller card. I wouldn’t recommend going with the Abit AN7 to get onboard RAID… that motherboard is still in its infancy and the uGuru feature doesn’t work so good, according to the guys on the Abit forums.
3. Memory
You’ll be pushing the FSB on the motherboard upward around 215-230 MHz, so you need memory that can take it. Here’s three choices for memory speed, select the one in the range you expect to overclock.
200/400 MHz => DDR400 or PC3200 (Safe overclocking)
217/433 MHz => DDR433 or PC3500 (Pushing the limits, better fan, heftier power supply)
233/466 MHz => DDR466 or PC3700 (Uber over clocked, expensive cooling system, expensive power supply)
The brand is key too. Get something that you can afford, but is name brand. Kingston, Corsair, OCZ (my favorite because it’s cheaper). The reason? You will be upping the voltage on your RAM, and lowering latency timings. If you get cheap RAM, your system won’t be stable, and the money you spend on other parts is wasted. RAM isn’t cheap now, so expect this to be the most expensive component.
Be sure to get the RAM in a PAIR- so you can take advantage of the dual channel DDR on the motherboard.
I suggest:
OCZ PC3500EL 256MB DDR 433MHZ CL2 x2 = 512MB, $68x2=$136 as of 4/9/2004
OCZ PC3500EL 512MB DDR 433MHZ CL2 x2 = 1GB, $125x2 = $250 as of 4/9/2004
Quote from HITECHJB1:
4. Power Supply
You can’t run everything else in your system if your CPU and memory are drawing a lot of power. To make things stable, you need a good power supply source that is rated to give you the Watts you need. Be careful not to get generic power supplies without checking their ratings. I’d stick to Antec/Fortron/Sparkle.
Basically you need good amperage on the 12V rail to handle the CPU and your peripherals. 16A for light loads, 18A for medium, and 20A for ultra-overclocking. Also, the 3.3v+5v rail wattage needs to be somewhere in the 220W-230W range or more. That is what determines how stable your system will be. Name brand power supplies can independently supply the maximum power to each of the three rails (3.3, 5, and 12v)… whereas generic usually won’t.
Compared to the more expensive Antecs, the Fortron/Sparkles seem to do very good: http://www.techimo.com/articles/i143.html
I suggest:
Fortron Source 400W Power Supply With 12CM Fan, Model "FSP400-60PNU-R1" for light overclocking, $62 as of 4/9/2004
Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" - for medium loads, $85 as of 4/9/2004
EDIT: This next power supply doesn’t have connectors for AMD boards! Thanks to HITECHJB1 and GAUTAM for pointing this out!!
Fortron 550W EPS12V PSU, Supports Dual Xeon CPU, Model "FSP550-60PLN" - $99 as of 4/9/2004
Quote from GAUTAM:
5. Cooling.
You need a good fan for overclocking. There’s LOTS of options out there. Check the CPU database for your processor on http://www.overclockers.com and see a list of people’s configurations, and see what they’re using to cool with. Heavy overclocking, >2.6GHz will need water cooling. But if you’re wanting to cool in air like a sane person (joke), you’ll need to get a good fan.
I don’t really know what to suggest here. Probably a good copper heatsink from Thermaltake like their S7, and a Tornado fan on top of it. Wherever you get your CPU from, there will probably be an option to buy a fan too. Stick in the $15-$20 range and you should be ok.
From HITECHJB1:
So… you thought you would sneak out for <$100 to get this computer going, but now you’re not so sure are you? Let’s see..
Let’s start with a light system.
2400+ processor $78
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 400W power supply $62
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $401! (or $515 with 1GB memory). You can probably go 2.2GHz (200FSBx11) with this system pretty easily, and not worry about shortening its life too soon.
For a Medium system, we’ll go with:
2500+ processor $95
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 530W power supply $85
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $441! ($555 for 1GB memory) This one can probably go 2.3 to 2.4 GHz.
And the heavy-duty overclocked performer:
2600+ processor $110
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 550W power supply $99
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $470! ($584 for 1GB memory). This one will probably get you closer to the 2.6GHz top end that most are seeing with air-cooled Mobile Bartons.
So there you have it… you can get a near top-of-the-line upgrade for $400-$600 depending on how aggressive you feel. The bait is there (the cheap CPU), but look at all the other stuff you’ll need too. Personally, I don’t know if I can afford it right now, so I may not bite… but wouldn’t it be fun?
Prices taken from:
http://www.newegg.com
http://www.directron.com
http://www.monarchcomputer.com
and of course,
http://www.pricewatch.com
Ok I'm new to all this, so I've been doing some research and wanted to share my findings. Please feel free to comment on my selections.
If you want to upgrade your PC, and you've read that the Mobile Barton's are great for overclocking, like here: http://www.techtastic.ca/reviews3/mobile-barton-2500.html or here: http://www.fastlanehw.com/reviews.php?i=102&page=1 , then you know how tempting this can be.
Your system is probably like mine- a not too shabby AMD 1400+ or something similar, and you’re about ready for an upgrade. You think, hey, if I can pick up a CPU chip for $78 and get 2.6GHz out of it, WHY NOT?!?
Well, there’s more to buy than just that. Here's what you'll need to get started.
1. The Mobile Barton CPU chip.
This comes in a few flavors, the ones I've found are:
Model: 2400+
Stock: 1.8GHz (133FSBx13.5), ~$78 as of 4/9/04
Model: 2500+
Stock: 1.86GHz (133FSBx14), ~$92 as of 4/9/04
Model: 2600+
Stock: 2.13GHz , (133FSBx16) ~$110 as of 4/9/04
Note on cache:
You don't want to start below these (like 2000+ etc) because they only have 256k of L2 cache. Do it right and start with the 2400+ and up.
Note on FSB:
You will be overclocking your bus speed from 133MHz to as much as 225, depending on your cooling. NOTE: On some websites, the FSB is listed as 266MHz. That's because the CPU can use data on the rise and fall of the signals, in effect doubling the frequency of the motherboard bus (133*2=266). But when overclocking, you'll be changing the motherboard's bus speed, which will start at 133MHz for these chips.
So which do I get? The 2400+? 2500+? or the 2600+?
The chips are constructed the same, but some are better "quality" according to AMD, thereby getting a higher stamp. If you're going to be using a regular cooling fan and power supply, stick with the cheaper 2400+. If you want to go into higher performance overclocking, the 2500+ or 2600+ would suit your needs, since they may last a little longer. Remember- overclocking shortens their life, but only if you push the voltages beyond 1.85 or 1.9, and the temps past 55C. (From what I've read on this site).
2. Motherboard
You’ll need a good overclocking motherboard. Keep in mind it should meet your other requirements, like onboard sound, RAID, or whatever else you need. Epox, MSI, Abit, Asus, etc. all make good boards… but there’s one that stands out which I chose:
The Abit NF7 (v.2.0) NForce-2 AGP-8X DDR400, ~$70 as of 4/9/2004
This motherboard has something unique that I like- dual memory channels. This has a speed advantage that is unique to its chipset, until the VIA competitor is released later. Basically it’s a tried and tested stable motherboard that has all the overclocking features you need. If you use RAID, you’ll have to get a separate RAID controller card. I wouldn’t recommend going with the Abit AN7 to get onboard RAID… that motherboard is still in its infancy and the uGuru feature doesn’t work so good, according to the guys on the Abit forums.
3. Memory
You’ll be pushing the FSB on the motherboard upward around 215-230 MHz, so you need memory that can take it. Here’s three choices for memory speed, select the one in the range you expect to overclock.
200/400 MHz => DDR400 or PC3200 (Safe overclocking)
217/433 MHz => DDR433 or PC3500 (Pushing the limits, better fan, heftier power supply)
233/466 MHz => DDR466 or PC3700 (Uber over clocked, expensive cooling system, expensive power supply)
The brand is key too. Get something that you can afford, but is name brand. Kingston, Corsair, OCZ (my favorite because it’s cheaper). The reason? You will be upping the voltage on your RAM, and lowering latency timings. If you get cheap RAM, your system won’t be stable, and the money you spend on other parts is wasted. RAM isn’t cheap now, so expect this to be the most expensive component.
Be sure to get the RAM in a PAIR- so you can take advantage of the dual channel DDR on the motherboard.
I suggest:
OCZ PC3500EL 256MB DDR 433MHZ CL2 x2 = 512MB, $68x2=$136 as of 4/9/2004
OCZ PC3500EL 512MB DDR 433MHZ CL2 x2 = 1GB, $125x2 = $250 as of 4/9/2004
Quote from HITECHJB1:
4. Power Supply
You can’t run everything else in your system if your CPU and memory are drawing a lot of power. To make things stable, you need a good power supply source that is rated to give you the Watts you need. Be careful not to get generic power supplies without checking their ratings. I’d stick to Antec/Fortron/Sparkle.
Basically you need good amperage on the 12V rail to handle the CPU and your peripherals. 16A for light loads, 18A for medium, and 20A for ultra-overclocking. Also, the 3.3v+5v rail wattage needs to be somewhere in the 220W-230W range or more. That is what determines how stable your system will be. Name brand power supplies can independently supply the maximum power to each of the three rails (3.3, 5, and 12v)… whereas generic usually won’t.
Compared to the more expensive Antecs, the Fortron/Sparkles seem to do very good: http://www.techimo.com/articles/i143.html
I suggest:
Fortron Source 400W Power Supply With 12CM Fan, Model "FSP400-60PNU-R1" for light overclocking, $62 as of 4/9/2004
Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" - for medium loads, $85 as of 4/9/2004
EDIT: This next power supply doesn’t have connectors for AMD boards! Thanks to HITECHJB1 and GAUTAM for pointing this out!!
Fortron 550W EPS12V PSU, Supports Dual Xeon CPU, Model "FSP550-60PLN" - $99 as of 4/9/2004
Quote from GAUTAM:
5. Cooling.
You need a good fan for overclocking. There’s LOTS of options out there. Check the CPU database for your processor on http://www.overclockers.com and see a list of people’s configurations, and see what they’re using to cool with. Heavy overclocking, >2.6GHz will need water cooling. But if you’re wanting to cool in air like a sane person (joke), you’ll need to get a good fan.
I don’t really know what to suggest here. Probably a good copper heatsink from Thermaltake like their S7, and a Tornado fan on top of it. Wherever you get your CPU from, there will probably be an option to buy a fan too. Stick in the $15-$20 range and you should be ok.
From HITECHJB1:
So… you thought you would sneak out for <$100 to get this computer going, but now you’re not so sure are you? Let’s see..
Let’s start with a light system.
2400+ processor $78
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 400W power supply $62
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $401! (or $515 with 1GB memory). You can probably go 2.2GHz (200FSBx11) with this system pretty easily, and not worry about shortening its life too soon.
For a Medium system, we’ll go with:
2500+ processor $95
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 530W power supply $85
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $441! ($555 for 1GB memory) This one can probably go 2.3 to 2.4 GHz.
And the heavy-duty overclocked performer:
2600+ processor $110
NF7 Motherboard $70
512MB OCZ memory $136
Fortron 550W power supply $99
Heatsink and Fan $40
Shipping $15
Total: $470! ($584 for 1GB memory). This one will probably get you closer to the 2.6GHz top end that most are seeing with air-cooled Mobile Bartons.
So there you have it… you can get a near top-of-the-line upgrade for $400-$600 depending on how aggressive you feel. The bait is there (the cheap CPU), but look at all the other stuff you’ll need too. Personally, I don’t know if I can afford it right now, so I may not bite… but wouldn’t it be fun?
Prices taken from:
http://www.newegg.com
http://www.directron.com
http://www.monarchcomputer.com
and of course,
http://www.pricewatch.com
Last edited:
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