Questions about AthlonXP CPU Cores?

Hi all, just a couple of brain teasers for u... something i feel i need to know:)

[list=1][*]How Do I Identify my XP1700+ CPU Core? I am refering to a code of letters like "AROGA & AGOIA etc" or a date of manifacture... I see it mentioned on lots of sites i browse and would like to know what mine is?
[*]Also is it possible/feasable (i get the impression t is) that say a 1700+ and a 1800+ could both have the same core if produced around same date?
[*]Asuming the answer to the last question is yes... then would i be right to say that both different speed CPU's with the same core code would theoretically be capable of the same speeds if the multiplier is unlocked?[/list=1]

Thx in advance & Regards :)

1) To get the info on the core steppings (or process/manufaturing revision) you need to look at the face of the processor. It's there in several lines (the second) of numbers and letters. The stepping is the first 4 to 6 letters (generally 4). The year and month of manufacturing follow that (this can matter too). Take a look through this page for some info.

2) Yes. You can have two processors with different "published" mhz ratings, yet the same core stepping. The reason for this is that after processors are manufactured they are tested to insure they can run at an intended speed. But in a given manufactured batch not all processors can come out uniform. So if, say, a given processor intended to be an 1800 couldn't perform as such reliably, rather than throw it a way it may just be certified and sold as a 1700.

3) Likely not. As I said above, in the default/base case you can have like steppings but different potential (leading to why one processor was certified lower). Then there is the fact that the stepping manufacture date (even plant) can also effect the speed a given procesor can achieve (overclocked). Plus, just because two processors were certified the same, with similar steppings and manufacture dates, doesn't mean they have the same excess headroom (speed wise) available. Then beyond all this, there are motherboard issues that can impact on the speed potential of a processor (meaning the same cpu may be more or less overclockable in to different boards).

Thx DrMDJ , u'r a great help, u explained it well and i think i now got the jist of it.... if all things (CPU's) were being prouduced equal i would have been spot on, but... as u say they are not, there are some better than others which is just the way things go during manufacturing (kinda luck of the draw for AMD), this now makes sence :)

Hmmmm, on top the CPU, i wish i knew that b4 i put the HSF on it :) still, i've been wanting to get some artic silver on their, so that gives me another reason to get some and i'll be able to find out the core info while i'm at it.

As u must gather i'm looking into some overclocking, I've done a bit, I managed to get my FSB step-at-a-time up to 143 giving me 1562MHZ but at 144 it fails to boot, so lowered it to 139 (1800+ speed) to be on the safe side but really i don't wanna run my PCI/AGP bus outta spec if i can help it (with it set like this it gives a nice score with SiSoft Sandra)... i really wana get this CPU eventually running at 166 FSB so everything except the CPU is at stock speeds, but to my knowledge that requires unlocking so i can lower the multiplier to keep things closser to overall stock MHZ spec. I've tried 166 with my locked CPU and it was a non booter (not supprising as that would be faster than a 2200+ if it worked :D).

One last Question as u may know this too: does the core code relate to the date it was made (ie, they change the code as time goes on and once that production line is over they move to a different code) - or do they sometimes use the same code depending on how their tests prove it to be (ie, one could have 2 different 1700+ CPU's from say a few months apart with the same core code)? (i'm talking about when AMD roll them out as i realise some shops may have old stock making the latter seem correct) hope that makes sence :) just to put my curious mind at rest.

Thx again for the help/advice, just what i needed to know!

Regards :)

Then check the cfm on this big, noisy monster Just found it is all I can say about it.

whoa, whatta monster, certainly better than MY HSF, i guess if i'm to get serious with this then it would make sence for a better one, but so far i don't think its the temps holding me back (i've played with big external fan pointing in case etc)... but yes as soon as temps start to rise stupidly it'll definatly be worth it then (currently getting between 39-43c @ idle and i've seen max of 48c under heavy load @ stock speeds, with an increase of only a degree or two @ 139FSB).

Regards :)

Those are not bad temps. I run about 54C idle and as long as I am under 60C, I do not worry about it. xp1600 stock speeds here.

Train, that makes me feel a whole lot better, nice to know mines well within spec, i had to add an extra 80mm fan (blowing out @ rear) to get it that low, it shaved around 5 or 6 degrees off the temps which i thought was worth it, but if i decide in the end to just run it at stock speeds i might just take it back out since u'r happy with your temps (a bit of peace would be nice :D).

:)

I'd leave it until you are done playing. Better safe than sorry. Beside cooler means last longer most times.

Will do that, i must say i'm kinda supprised by your temps being higher than mine after reading yor post's HERE, just that i would expect yours to be cooler than mine really given your cool fan setup, artic silver and 1600+ CPU. we have essentially the same fan setup but u have 2 more fans than i have... maybe its a matter of the temp sensors being not all the same.

FYI, I just have 1 80mm fan at back mid-high (under PSU) blowing out, 1 at front low sucking in... also the 80mm PSU fan blowing out the rear at high position. i get these temps using my coolermaster HSF using the supplied paste that came with it. quite amazing really that theres such a difference.

:)

Have found that the temps are pretty much individual to a particular cpu. No of a couple others that run about the same temps. They have supposidly better thermaltake hsf's on them.

The hfc maybe a problem also. Using a cooler Master HCC-002 which is in the stores but not on their website for some reason.
Probably wind up trying a couple others also.
But, also I keep the house warmer [about 78F] than most people.
That makes a big difference also.

When someone say its 78F i have to convert it to "C" b4 i can understand how warm it is :D lol.

interesting 78F = around 25.5C which is just above my average room temp (i prefer around 22ish)...

Just to clear up differences between ambient room temps... At present my room is 24c and my CPU is idleing @ about 3% usage (just surfin' & playing MP3's)
CPU = 42c
Case = 37c

Sometimes i see the room temps go up to 28C in the heat of summer (no A/C here) which gets unbarable sometimes with 2 monitors, PC's and a big TV going in my smallish room, at these room temps (28c) under load is when i've seen the 48c mark hit with current fan setup.

Gives u something to compare to i hope, altho as u say its individual to a particular cpu :)

To answer your question above... Yes, the steppings change over time. It does relate to the time it was made to a certain extent, or at least a certain period of time (which can vary). The stepping isn't tied to the testing.

As you and train have been discussing, you're getting good temperatures. Do be mindfull of them though as you try your overclocking.

The XPs can be unlocked (as you know), but not as easily as the Thunderbirds. AMD changed the traces and the area around them, so some of the older tricks/methods (like using a pencil) no longer are viable. But it still can be done.

Thx DrMDJ, that clears up everything i can think of at the moment, i may think of sumut else as time goes by :D ya know...

as for the unlocking, i've been searching around in the past for a guide and found rather a lot (as to how good i dunno), my main source is a Google Search for "unlocking athlonxp", there's quite a few hits come up, but i'm not sure which one to follow as some use different methods... i need to spend some time reading them all really to get the propper idea.

I must say that i don't feel to comfortable about doing it, but these CPU prices are dropping so fast i can't resist it. i believe the worst that can happen is i blow the CPU? if it all works out cool it should be quite good fun :) if not then i'll settle for a 1800+ or sumut and learn a lesson.

Would be nice to have an Athlon MP as they are unlocked as standard, good feature :) but just darn expensive...

So for me now, lots of reading, and more reading... get some "artic silver 3" and then i can do both at the same time and see my core code while at it.

Thx for helping out, u've both been great :)

Good step by step http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/...709_1009731__7


HardwareCentral is a good place to post about unlocking XPs .

Thx wonderinguy34 for the links.

Had a look at a shop's "AthlonXP" display model today, i seen the core code mentioned above and also realised i'd better get myself a magnifying glass to see these L1 bridges, looks kinda small for my shortsighted eyes :D

Regards :)