A64 Mobile

[imported_Flux]

If I got , say an Asus K8N-E, or an MSI K8N Neo Platinum, would I be able to run an A64 mobile.
I know you can run AXP mobiles on normal desktop boards, but I don't know about the A64 models.

Also, since A64 mobile uses PowerNow instead of Cool & Quiet, I'd like to know whether desktop boards will support this powersaving feature?
I'm thinking no, but once again I don't know.

 

[Mik3y]

as long as the motherboard supports socket 754, you should be able to run a socket 754 cpu. so yes. you'd be able to overclock like hell!

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
as long as the motherboard supports socket 754, you should be able to run a socket 754 cpu. so yes. you'd be able to overclock like hell!

...but I'm pretty sure desktop boards don't support PowerNow.

 

[Bar81]

Try the motherboard area and you just *might* run into a HUGE thread on the topic.

 

[dennisjai215]

most a64 mobiles arent compatible with desktop boards dont do it!

if mik3y is right please provide proof..
there was a review done showing misconfiguration that could not be fixed and most not even post

 

[imported_smilingcrow]

Aren't Cool 'n' Quiet and PowerNow basically the thing? Maybe not exactly the same, I don't know, but slightly different takes on one technology. i.e they can both change the voltage and clock of the CPU dynamically.

The difference in naming conventions is more about marketing I think. The mobile market is more sensitive to battery life, so are marketed as lower power. Whereas the desktop market is more sensitive to power and heat issues. Anybody know of what the actual differences are between these two?

Assuming I'm right on this, then it's more likely just a matter of BIOS support. I looked at building an Athlon 64 system last month and at buying an Athlon 64 laptop, so some of this stuff is still in my cache.
I remember that some boards support the mobile chip but don't implement Cool 'n' Quiet. I would look for a board that does support CnQ, as it says something about the manufacturers attitude.

Also there are two mobile Athlon 64 processor classes. AMD recently debuted the low voltage models, which have lower maximum clock speeds. For the lower voltage models I think they're up to 2800 at the moment, with 3000 just around the corner.
They haven't named them Athlon 64-M so they're probably harder to differentiate by name.

 

[Avalon]

I would think Powernow and Cool n Quiet do the same thing for the A64 platform. The original Powernow! for the AXP required that the mobile chips be fully unlocked, so it could beef up the CPU or beef it down when needed. The mobile A64 CPUs are only unlocked downwards, so if they even implement Powernow! at all, it would only be able to downclock/downvolt them, which is the same thing Cool n Quiet does.

 

[o1die]

You won't have the overclocking potential due to the lower initial clock setting. It's a waste of money, and you won't even get a decent warranty. Some boards won't even post with a mobile.

 

[imported_Flux]

The difference between PowerNow and Cool & Quiet is basically that PowerNow has more speed/voltage settings for each chip.
Technology is basically the same, but I think the motherboard has to support the extra settings.
Nobody commented on DTR chips.
Any input on those?

 

[phenom32]

Originally posted by: Flux
The difference between PowerNow and Cool & Quiet is basically that PowerNow has more speed/voltage settings for each chip.
Technology is basically the same, but I think the motherboard has to support the extra settings.
Nobody commented on DTR chips.
Any input on those?

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=29&threadid=1321894&highlight_key=y&keyword1=DTR