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Overclocking Part2 -- CPU SelectionOct 02 '00 Write an essay on this topic.This continues the series in building your own overclocked PC dealing with CPU selection. There are a wide range of opinions concerning CPU--particularly whether to go with Intel or AMD. In my experience, Intel has proven to be a much more stable and longer lasting product--and I don't say that lightly. Lately however, AMD has managed to make a better performing product, almost simular to the 3dFX/nVidia battle. Thankfully, quality has stayed in the Intel products, gone up in the AMD products and prices overall have gone down. This is nothing but one huge bonus to the overclocker and self-builder, as we know what we want but we won't have to pay as much. Ok, First things first. You need to decide what CPU you are going to base the system on. The CPU is considered the heart of a computer, and for good reason. Your CPU selection will decide what motherboard you buy and to a lesser extent, what case and peripherals you use to round out your system. There are quite a few choices in CPUs out there at the moment, and selection has gotten even more confusing with the release of the Duron and Thunderbird from AMD. So, with all these choices, I'll split the selection up by application, e.g. El Cheapo(max price/performance), MidLevel, iL Monstro (performance at any cost) and further by AMD or Intel. System 1: El Cheapo (Intel) I would have to pick the fc-ppga566 Celeron2 for this. With current street prices hovering just under $80 with the ability to break 1GHz, it's hard to not recommend to *any* budget. A word of warning though if you are overclocking--you NEED to run this processor at -10f or colder to break the 1G mark. Expect mid 800's with ample aircooling. A celeron is a celeron though, and at even over the 1G mark it's performance is roughly that of a P3 850. It doesn't sound that impressive 'till you look at the price of the processor again.... =) System2: MidLevel (Intel) No brainer--P3 750e. Prices around $180 as of Oct1. Will fairly easily do an even 1000Mhz. At 133Mhz FSB. This is an almost *guaranteed* overclock as 133Mhz is well within the reach of new products; matter of fact, most of the new stuff is designed for 133Mhz...My current favorite processor. Any of the 'E' processors should make the jump to 133 fairly easily, the 750 is the only one I've tried though. I expect to flog an 850e when the price comes down a tad more. System3: iL Monstro (Intel) I would have to pick the P3 1000eb -- it's the bad boy of the Intel world at the moment as the fastest P3 that's widely available. At 1000Mhz out of the box, you really don't need to overclock this bad boy (yeah, right!!), but you'll pay the price -- *over* $700 for the CPU alone right now. Could come down later, but by then they'll be another processor ready to plop into your envy-generator. System4: El Cheapo (AMD) Hands down winner for this box today would be the Athlon 500. Why? From my own experience and what I'm reading on the web, Athlon of *any* sold Mhz has a very tough time breaking the 1Ghz mark. Everything from the 850's down to the 500, average about 950Mhz--that's still fairly respectable overclock for a 500Mhz CPU, and at around $60 a bargain too. Athlons crank out serious heat though, be prepared for some serious cooling for *any* Athlon running at over 650Mhz. I was thinking that the release of the Duron may make me change my mind, and any chip that runs at 200Mhz FSB for under $150 should give me pause to think, but frankly with the reviews and success stories on the web being a mixed bag it's hard for me to take the plunge--I'm still waiting to see what develops. Irongate is still a new architecture that needs to have the kinks worked out--and off and on again reports of AMD's being locked don't help the situation. System4: MidLevel (AMD) Thunderbird850. Decent performer *and* it's supposed to be overclockable. What more could you ask for your $200? Not as overclockable as the Intel750e, but it should be fairly close. Careful with the heatsink selection--Tbirds and Durons are *very fragile. System4: iL Monstro (AMD) Hmph. You had to ask. Thunderbird1100Mhz baby! The first CPU on the x86 platform to run over 1Ghz out of the box. Can it be overclocked? Probably. Will it function as a replacement for my 8,000btu space heater? Yes. Two words; water-cooled. You'll go nowhere fast overclocking anything AMD with a standard heatsink and fan... Stay tuned for part 3 -- Motherboard selection! feedback appreciated....  |
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