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 :)

Bright lights and microscope help at times also. :D

Definately want to be able to see what you're doing, have a steady hand, and be careful what your doing. Done right you get an unlocked cpu. Done wrong you get a shorted out and worthless cpu.

yup, i know what u mean, should be quite a nice mission for me, i'll be quite proud when its done :D

Just found this 10MB video @ toms hardware site LINK, makes it look almost easy after watching it abouit 10 times, i quite like the look of technique used there, i think this will be the way i'll try (unless anyone disagrees of course), what do ya reckon?

Things i need for the unlock: (just thinking aloud... kinda making a list here to remind me and get u'r advice)

1. Solvent Cleaner (white spirit or nail polish remover anygood?)
2. Super Glue (to fill the pits) (any Super Glue do?)
3. Cunductive Silver Laquer (Defogger Repair i assume, i've seen it mentioned b4?)
4. Roll of clear tape (for masking... and protecting it after)

I have a decent multiMeter to test for shorts between each bridge etc so i don't think i can mess that up, well i'd know b4 trying it anycase... i wonder if i could do it without pulling off the rubber rest thing, probably not, so i guess i'd just glue it back on after if i can keep it in one peice. hopefully that'll be about it other than "Artic Silver 3" and a bigger magnifying Glass :D

Who's up for comfirming/correcting what i'm about to do (Dr :D), i won't touch it until i hear back ofcourse. So many Q's i know, I highlighted them for convienence.

Regards :)

Hey, I have no problems if people want to unlock their processors. As long as they have a grasp of the pitfalls and what is needed to do it...

Didn't look at the video (I'll catch it when it comes to HBO), but...

For step 1: fine, or you can even using rubbing alcohol.
For step 2: As long as the substance is non-conductive, fine. Often the gap filler is a substance that doesn't harden. Doesn't matter though. Often people put tape over the area after putting down the gap fller, then pull it off (the tape) to remove any of the non-conductive filler that might have gotten on the "dots".
For step 3: What you're using is fine. An alternative is conductive grease, or even the stuff used to repair car rear window defoggers.
Step 4: Yes, mask off and isolate things.

If you like you can buy unlocking kits for only a few bucks that contain everything needed.

Good luck And remember: if it doesn't work or anything goes wrong, we deny ever knowing you or talking about this with ya.;)

Thanx again DrMDJ for your kindness, like the disclaimer :D goes without saying really.

Now i know what i need and what to do with it, Just have to get the bits and do it... (and weigh up pros & cons vs new CPU too, as in a few months the 2200+ or close to it would be affordable) i've managed to track down a local store (Maplins, rather expensive) to buy the unlocking bits on their own, but can't find Artic Silver anywhere in Bristol tho so i'm gunna look for some online site in the UK that has it, i have a few in mind, if i can pull this off for around a tenner then i'm game...

I'm not the kinda person who needs the extra speed all the time, for what i do mostly the PC's its plenty fast enuf anyway.

At the moment i only up the FSB to 139 for one reason only... when running some recent games in WinME (all i use ME for really)... where i also have the Geforce running over spec too (from 200/460 to 220/520), with both in combination it gives around an extra 700 points in 3Dmark2001, but as i said before i wanna get my PCI bus back at spec (which requires unlocking).... for the most part, its more of a curiousity thing i need to cure, just so i see what i can pust out of it or sumut without losing stability :D "thats probably what every one thinks when they start off i'd imagine". :D

Regards :)

Well i look at it like this, i wouldn't know if i'd wanted to do it unless i knew what was involved 1st, having spoken about it on this thread has helped me a lot and i'm now fully aware of whats involved...

i've known for a while theres a risk in killing the CPU (or memory or maybe worst) and another thing i dunno if the CPU will like 166FSB for sure and be stable if i did do it (i read other people do it, but most have big HSF's, super PSU's and the rest).... i've also been reading up about PSU voltages and my 5v line is just above minimum, so after raising the volts to CPU i might get instability if its going much below 4.9v... after a lot of weighing up what could happen, i'd be gutted if it killed more than the CPU...

Also i only have PC2100 RAM (my mistake for being impatient) so that could cause probs too.

As time goes by i learn more and more... i found for example THIS and its put me off using super glue for filling the pits too.

so given all the varibles involved i've decided for now that the sensible thing to do is to leave a good thing alone, as really it does me fine as it is, extra is nice but i don't reckon its worth the risk to up it to a CPU worth less that the cost of doing it in the 1st place.

I think most of u will agree that i've made the right choice, however its been very interesting finding out what involved.

Maybe if I OC'ed to a CPU which was worth twice as much or sumut that wasn't even available in the shops it may make sence, but since i don't think theres any chance of a 1700+ doing that i'll settle for what i have now as i'm well happy with it (i moved from an Athlon850 before).

Many Many thx, i'd like to think this thread has been usefull/interesting to other prospective OverClocker's too, in a positve or negitive way i'm not sure, guess it depends on the person really.

Have fun all & i'll c'ya around the board :)

A lot of us reached the same answer for the same reason. If I can not see the difference, it is not worth it.
1.4GHZ to 1.6GHZ oc and other than a benchmark program which says there is one I still can not see it with my eyes. Now from a xp1600 to a xp2200 you might, but still? :confused:

I'm with ya on that one, with the slight OC i do in ME i can't say that i see real world differences really when playing games, but 3dMark does sumhow :D

What 1st got me going on this OC mission was I had been visiting the AMDmb forum when i 1st setup my system and it seemed so many did it over there. (they have very nice BIOS Guides n stuff specific for my MoBo, which without i would've been lost :D)

But yeah been reading more lately and i'm getting the impression its just not worth it any more cuz the percent of OC is getting smaller all the time... while hardware is getting cheaper too.

Back when the Celeron 300a was king, getting that to run @ 400 MHZ must have really been sumut in those days (heard they go to 450MHZ somehow), but an extra 100 or even 200MHZ on top of 1500MHZ as u say isn't a lot at all when u think about it what one allready has.

Regards :)

Sounds like you've looked at all the pros and cons and come to a decision logically. Overclocking isn't always all that it's cracked up to be. There can be benefit had, there can also be serious consequences. Some people do it for the fun or challenge. Some to be cool. To each their own. Regardless of the conclusion you've reached, you did (as you say) learn things.