Help me decide: 2.4C pr 2.6C for IC7?

[oldfart]

Hey everyone. First Post here. Nice forum Mikki!

My sweet 2.4C C1 @ 3.06 is gone. Went to a friend (long story). Now I need a new CPU. I'm on the fence between the 2.4C and 2.6C.

Components I'll be using:
Abit IC7
2 x 512 XMS 3200C2 (not LL)
Alpha 8942/Panaflo M1A

My ram is good for ~ DDR426, maybe a smidge more. I will not be buying new ram. I have to work with what I have. I hear the 3:2 is flaky, so I want to stick with 5:4. This limits me to ~ 266 MHz FSB.

2.4C @ 266 MHz = 3.19 GHz
2.6C @ 266 MHz = 3.46 GHz

I usually get an "average" CPU. If my luck holds out, where do 2.4C and 2.6Cs typically go with no more than 1.6 Vcore? If ~ 3.2 is typical, the 2.4 is the way to go. If 3.3 - 3.4, I'll go for the 2.6.

Is the 8942/M1A sufficient for 3.4 GHz?

[Tony]

The 2.6C is a LOT better thasn the 2.4C as I have found that more or less all these boards are topping out around 275fsb.I have tried all ratios/ timings etc with the chip chilled to -40 and im able to run memtest at 310fsb but windows is only stable to aroung 275 to 280.1.6Vcore will get you there and your ram should be fine using the 5:4 ratio.Be prepared to run slocker timings but the bandwidth will still be awesome.

[CSHawkeye]

i really havent seen that many people with the 2.6c so go for it.

[jhites]

Everything that I am seeing is putting most of the chips at 3.3-3.4 with close to default vcore for both the 2.4C and 2.6C. I am personally going with another 2.6C in another rig that I am building. There seems to be a wall on most boards around 275fsb which I believe to be more due to Memory than the processor or motherboard.

[oldfart]

Everyone seems to agree here and @ some other forums. You can :beat: hit a mem or FSB wall with the 2.4C. I ordered a 2.6C. I'll let you guys know how it does once I get it set up.

[SupermanCK]

looking forward to ur review...
btw...where and how much did you get the 2.6c for?

[oldfart]

Googlegear for $230 w/free 2 day ship. Newegg is a bit higher.

I'll be sure to post up a review. Setup will be:

Abit IC7
2.6C @ ???
Alpha 8942/Panaflo M1A
Antec True330
2 x 512 XMS 3200C2
9700 Pro
WD 1200JB
TBSC
etc

[Thor]

Looking forward to your 2.6 cpu setup there oldman.

Tempted to just go with the 2.6 right now, as my local shop here has some L311s in stock. Hmmm, very tempting. :yummy:

[Skully]

Originally posted by oldfart
Everyone seems to agree here and @ some other forums. You can :beat: hit a mem or FSB wall with the 2.4C. I ordered a 2.6C. I'll let you guys know how it does once I get it set up. I also have the 2.6c on the way. Its going into my P4P800 Deluxe. :)

[oldfart]

My 2.6C is in. Just starting to tweak it up now. So far, it doesn't look too bad, but 3.4 GHz may not happen.

I dont like to use a lot of Vcore. I set it for 1.6 which is ~ 1.55/1.575 load/no load. 263 FSB would bomb Prime95 fairly quickly. I'm testing 260 FSB, 3.38 GHz and it looks good so far. I could probably get 3.4 GHz with 1.625, but I'd rather have the lower Vcore. I have a REAL busy day tomorrow, but will try to post some results if I can get to it.

[pastorjay]

SWEET!!!!

[jhites]

And with DDR416 it is still better than the old granite bay boards. :-r :chit:

[oldfart]

260 FSB bombed after 1/2 hr. Trying 258 FSB, 3.35 GHz now. I'm lazy these days. Start at the top and work my way down. :p

[oldfart]

Quick update. 258 FSB would bomb after a couple of hrs. 257 FSB 3.34 GHz has been running for ~ 6 hrs @ 1.6 Vcore. This looks like where I'll be. Have to play with mem timings next. That won't be till later on when I get soem time.

[ThugsRook]

:wave:

(i dont want you guys thinkin i dont read your posts just cause im quiet) :rock:

[pastorjay]

Nice OF! I am actually wishing I had gotten the 2.6c myself atm. Maybe I will pick one up this week. :yummy:

[oldfart]

Still have to do some fine tuning, but so far, it looks like this:

2.6C/IC7 setup:
257 FSB
3.34 GHz
1.6 Vcore (BIOS setting)
1.5 VAGP
5:4 mem ratio
DDR412, 2-2-2-6 (haven't tried 2-2-2-5)
2.8 VDIMM

[Thor]

Originally posted by oldfart
Still have to do some fine tuning, but so far, it looks like this:

2.6C/IC7 setup:
257 FSB
3.34 GHz
1.6 Vcore (BIOS setting)
1.5 VAGP
5:4 mem ratio
DDR412, 2-2-2-6 (haven't tried 2-2-2-5)
2.8 VDIMM

Looking good OF!

When are we gonna see some benchies!?

:beer:

[oldfart]

I'll see if can get some done tonight (BUSY weekend!)

What benches do you want to see?

[jhites]

Originally posted by oldfart
Still have to do some fine tuning, but so far, it looks like this:

2.6C/IC7 setup:
257 FSB
3.34 GHz
1.6 Vcore (BIOS setting)
1.5 VAGP
5:4 mem ratio
DDR412, 2-2-2-6 (haven't tried 2-2-2-5)
2.8 VDIMM
Sounds like it is about the same as my 2.6C on air. Finally ended up at 261.3fsb@3397Mhz with 2-2-2-5 but I am at 1.65vcore and 2.85vdimm. I think I will be trying a 2.8C on a P4P800 next to run with a 1:1 mem ratio. Should be able to get about 245fsb at 3430Mhz and DDR490.

[Thor]

Originally posted by oldfart
I'll see if can get some done tonight (BUSY weekend!)

What benches do you want to see?

Just 3DMark 01 & 03s, and Aida32 memory benchies. Thanks!

[Thor]

Originally posted by jhites
Sounds like it is about the same as my 2.6C on air. Finally ended up at 261.3fsb@3397Mhz with 2-2-2-5 but I am at 1.65vcore and 2.85vdimm. I think I will be trying a 2.8C on a P4P800 next to run with a 1:1 mem ratio. Should be able to get about 245fsb at 3430Mhz and DDR490.

:wave:

Hey John, using up those spare ram sticks are ya? LOL! I gotta stop visiting these websites, you guys are costing me my RRSP contributions! LOL!

[jhites]

Originally posted by Thor
:wave:
Hey John, using up those spare ram sticks are ya? LOL! I gotta stop visiting these websites, you guys are costing me my RRSP contributions! LOL!
Yep - Doin' my best. :rotflmao:

Now if I could just get this certain vid card into my hands. :scratch: :beat:

[Thor]

Originally posted by jhites

Now if I could just get this certain vid card into my hands. :scratch: :beat: [/B]

:D :beer: