underclocking the fry's ecs/duron combo

[fe2o3]

i am trying to find a lower power solution for a mythtv backend. i don't want to go with an epia board becase one pci slot doesn't cut it. the $50 fry's combo (ecs k7vta3/duron 1.6) looks tempting. i googled but couldn't find any info for multiplier control on this board. if it does exist, can some test how low i could underclock this combo? the goal is passive cooling or a 80 mm panaflo running at 5-7v on a copper sink like this (link to sink).

if this board doesn't have multiplier control, please recommend an inexpensive one that does.

 

[myocardia]

Here's the most credible info I could find on that motherboard, here. Why not see what happens with the passive heatsink, and the board underclocked to 100mhz fsb? That cpu is supposed to have a 133 (266 DDR) fsb, so it's gonna run cooler, because that would be a 400mhz underclock... If that doesn't work for you, I'm sure the 80mm fan would keep it quite cool.

 

[AkumaX]

i dont think you need to underclock it at all

 

[MDE]

Google for the Socket A wire trick. It should unlock the chip without a problem. You should be able to run that sink with a Panaflo easily though.

EDIT: Remember, voltage is what increases heat output, not sheer clock speed. Judging from the overclocking numbers I've seen, you should be able to undervolt it a bit and stay at 1.6.

 

[0roo0roo]

socket pin mod might work down multiplier, down voltage

 

[DivideBYZero]

On the cooling side, I 7v'ed a Volcano 10 and this is very quiet.

 

[fe2o3]

i'm not rely worried about cooling. i am try to keep the total heat generation of the system low. the tbred core at 1600 mhz generates about 48 watts (link). i would like to get that down to about 1/3 or 16 watts. i assume heat generation is linear wrt clock speed so i would need to clock at about 550 mhz. 5.5 x 100 would get me there.

i think i'll just buy a cpu from fry's so i know it's b core less than week 39. then i'll order an abit or something that has well documented multiplier control. any suggestions?

 

[AkumaX]

16 watts? maybe you should think about getting a c3 1ghz or something. although the tbred core @ 1600mhz generates 48 watts, 1/4 the cache in the duron + maybe setting to 1200mhz should bring the temps much lower (maybe 20-30w)