CPU Over/Under clocking

[Badut78]

Hi just a quick question for the CPU clocking experts.

For an Athlon Barton 2500 the CPU is going at around 1.8Ghz right? that's 166 times 11

Would it make any difference to the CPU if I clock it at 150 times 12 instead? That's still 1.8Ghz. I realise the performance would be lower cause the memory is running slower. I just need to know if the CPU can "tell" the difference.

On the other hand, assuming no overclocking, what's to stop me from clocking at 200fsb times 9? Wouldn't the CPU be able to handle that frequency cause it's still 1.8Ghz? Then I'd be able to use DDR400 memory and get better performance right?

I must be missing something here.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Badut78
Hi just a quick question for the CPU clocking experts.

For an Athlon Barton 2500 the CPU is going at around 1.8Ghz right? that's 166 times 11

Thats right

Would it make any difference to the CPU if I clock it at 150 times 12 instead? That's still 1.8Ghz. I realise the performance would be lower cause the memory is running slower. I just need to know if the CPU can "tell" the difference.

AFAIK, the cpu would operate just fine at 150x 12. Of course, if the Barton is newer than week 39 of '03, its multi is uber-locked at the factory.

On the other hand, assuming no overclocking, what's to stop me from clocking at 200fsb times 9? Wouldn't the CPU be able to handle that frequency cause it's still 1.8Ghz? Then I'd be able to use DDR400 memory and get better performance right?

Other than a factory locked multi, I would think 200x 9 is do-able if your mobo offers that multi (9).

I have an unlocked mobile Barton and all these combo's are possible. Much difference in performance? Seems like minimal. I haven't benched these combos', but others like Oldman420 have done benchies with different combo's of FSB speed and multi's and reported very little difference in performance. Theoretically, at least, the combo with a higher FSB should be a little faster.

Hope this answers your question. others, please feel free to expand on/ or correct my remarks.

Fern

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[Badut78]

Seems like I am able to change the multiplier on my desktop Barton. So that must mean it was from before week 39 '03.
Is that a bad thing or should I consider myself lucky?

 

[Fern]

You're lucky, very lucky. I think those older Bartons were better OCers too.

Next time you've got the chip out of the mobo, take a magnifying glass (well, I need one to see those tiny letters/numbers) and write down the stepping codes printed on it. You can tell the date of manufacture from those. Can also go over to the OCer's database and find what others have been able to reach with that same chip in OCing.

Enjoy,

Fern