Barton or Thoroughbred processor choice for A7N8X?

[Ed T Wilson]

I am trying to decide on a processor to install on a A7N8X.
The Barton 2500+ and Thoroughbred 2600+ sell for around the same price
around $100. Which is the better choice?

Ed

 

[Doug Ramage]

I am trying to decide on a processor to install on a A7N8X.
The Barton 2500+ and Thoroughbred 2600+ sell for around the same price
around $100. Which is the better choice?

Ed

I bought a 2100XP with the Asus A7N8X dx board a couple of months ago.

If I were buying now, I would go for the Barton 2500 with extra cache. Not
sure if it overclocks better than the 2660XP also.

 

[stanmc]

I bought a 2100XP with the Asus A7N8X dx board a couple of months ago.

If I were buying now, I would go for the Barton 2500 with extra cache. Not
sure if it overclocks better than the 2660XP also.

Put a Barton 2500+ in my A7N8X-Dlx Rev 2.0 last Monday. Overclocks to 12
easily. Running at 1992 MHz or 1.9 Ghz. As an aside, Aida32 describes my
multiplier as 6x333.

 

[Witchy]

You could probably push it higher - my 2100XP is running at 2250MHZ (12.5*
180). Aida32 says 2255MHZ (6.25*361).

hmm, maybe I can push my 2600XP+ a bit higher then....it's currently
sitting at 2200Mhz (a 2700XP+ according to Aida).....

*thinks*

cheers

witchy/binarydinosaurs

 

[Nom]

I'm totally unconvinced that the extra cache is worth more in
performance terms than the 233Mhz speed advantage the XP2600 has on it.

It's not.
BUT, the 233MHz speed difference doesn't count for anything when you're
discussing CPUs of 2GHz. The extra cache is a much better option. Would you
rather have a 2GHz Barton, or a 2GHz Thoroughbred ? 2500 Barton vs 2600
TBred isn't really a fair comparison - they run at different speeds.

 

[Nom]

It's not...

....hence one is a 2500 and one is a 2600.
I'd still go for the extra cache though - the miniscule speed increase
counts for nothing.

 

[Toby Groves]

It's not.
BUT, the 233MHz speed difference doesn't count for anything when you're
discussing CPUs of 2GHz. The extra cache is a much better option. Would you
rather have a 2GHz Barton, or a 2GHz Thoroughbred ? 2500 Barton vs 2600
TBred isn't really a fair comparison - they run at different speeds.

Exactly. The OP asked which was a better bet, and didn't refer to
overclocking, unless I'm much mistaken.

 

[Ben Pope]

Exactly. The OP asked which was a better bet, and didn't refer to
overclocking, unless I'm much mistaken.

In that case, the 2600 for most tasks.

I'd buy the Barton though - they're practically the same core, made with the
same process, hence capable of the same maximum speed.

I'd get PC3200 and run the FSB and memory bus at 200MHz * 10 or 11, maybe
more depending on temps.

Ben

 

[Nom]

In that case, the 2600 for most tasks.

I'd buy the Barton though - they're practically the same core, made with the
same process, hence capable of the same maximum speed.

I'd get PC3200 and run the FSB and memory bus at 200MHz * 10 or 11, maybe
more depending on temps.

Agreed.
When run at the same speed, the Barton is quicker.

 

[pal]

Agreed.
When run at the same speed, the Barton is quicker.

.... & cooler.

 

[Ben Pope]

Why?

If anything I'd expect it to run a touch hotter, as there are more
transistors to get warm.

But there is a larger surface area over which to dissipate heat...

The question is whether the cache transistors are creating more heat per
unit area than the average of the rest of the chip.

Ben

 

[Ed]

Why?

If anything I'd expect it to run a touch hotter, as there are more
transistors to get warm.

CPUs with Barton cores are "easier" to cool because the die surface is
twenty percent greater, while their maximum thermal power is a mere ten
percent higher then a similar speed T-Bred.

Ed

 

[Christoph U.]

In that case, the 2600 for most tasks.

I'd buy the Barton though - they're practically the same core, made with the
same process, hence capable of the same maximum speed.

I'd get PC3200 and run the FSB and memory bus at 200MHz * 10 or 11, maybe
more depending on temps.

Ben

I am using an XP 2400... Did you unlock your cpu's?? Or did you manage
it just adjusting bios settings??

Regards

 

[Ed]

I am using an XP 2400... Did you unlock your cpu's?? Or did you manage
it just adjusting bios settings??

Regards

All T-breds and Bartons are multiplier unlocked.

Ed
A7N8X/Barton 2800+ @ 207x11.5