What's the hottest overclocking P4 C series chip right now?

[HardWired]

Okay...but how about at least a couple of reasons why...

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: shady06
according to the cpu data base @ overclockers.com, the 2.6C does the best, followed by the 2.8C, and 2.4C is last. i'm talking about actually speed here, not mhz gained from stock

unfortunately, while those numbers do support the idea that the 2.6C has the best chance of reaching high clocks and the 2.4C having the least chance, the true difference in average OCs of the 2.4C and 2.6C is a mere 151MHz. this difference is insignificant in terms of pure speed, and even more insignificant when considering that the clocks are already above 3GHz. the difference between a 3.474GHz chip and a 3.323GHz will literally go unnoticed. now consider intel's price cut, the 2.4C being the only chip unnaffected, thus remaining at $180. for the same price a 2.6C can be bought and possibly OCed more than a 2.4C.

however, the average OC of the 2.8C was 3392MHz, just 69MHz more than the average OC of the 2.4C. does this justify the purchase of a 2.8C over a 2.4C?...no. not to mention that the $38 you could spend on a nice hsf will have to be spent anyways on the 2.8C's cooling if you expect it to reach 3.3GHz+ and not turn your box into an oven.

obviously the 2.4C has the best % OC potential, but if you are looking for overall speed, then it looks like the 2.6c is the way to go, and don't forget that sale @ newegg that ends tomorrow night.:beer:

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: HardWired
Tom's rates the MSI Neo2 w/ the 865PE chipset as one of the best out there. Is it really a great o'cer board or just a good board in general? I've decided I don't want to go the $170+ for the high end Abit or Asus, but I do want a good board with stable o'cs.

I think I've narrowed it down to either the MSI Neo2 (it would be my first MSI board) or the Abit IS7. They both seem to be quality boards and are more within my price range after blowing the big bucks on my ram and the Antec TC550W. And more importantly, they both have the components I'm looking for in a mobo, while staying in the sub-$150 price range...with the IS7 being the least expensive of the two.

I really don't need all the bells and whistles that come with the AsusP4C800 boards or the Abit IC7-G boards. The IS7 seems to offer enough of what I'm looking for in a board for my needs, while the MSI Neo2 takes a majority of the benchies in Tom's 24 board showdown.

i don't want to star ta flame war or change the topic, but Tom's credibility isn't what it used to be, so i'm skeptical about what i read there. as far as the MSI board, i've never had an MSI. i've heard great things about them in the past. i don't know if their reputation has held all this time, but i've been out of the loop for quite a while, so someone else will have to inform you about that particular board. all i know is that while MSI may be a great company, Abit and ASUS are still the top dogs in mobo manufacturing as far as quality, stability, and performance go. i currently use the IS7. like you, i don't need all the bells and whistles either, and this seemed to be the best price/performance board when considering quality of manufacturing. i only have a P4 1.6A cpu and DDR333 memory right now, so i haven't had the chance to really push the fsb yet. however, i did just build my brother a system w/ an IS7, a 2.4C, and Corsair DDR500 memory, and i am looking forward to seeing what it can do when i have the spare time. in the mean time, i can say that the IS7 is solid as a rock, and i have never had a problem w/ an Abit board in the past. if any reason at all, i'd go w/ Abit over MSI simply b/c MSI is known for being great, but Abit is known for being arguably the best in the business. that extra security (and the fact that i haven't ever had a problem w/ abit) is enough for me to continue using Abit boards.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Sunny129

Originally posted by: shady06
according to the cpu data base @ overclockers.com, the 2.6C does the best, followed by the 2.8C, and 2.4C is last. i'm talking about actually speed here, not mhz gained from stock

unfortunately, while those numbers do support the idea that the 2.6C has the best chance of reaching high clocks and the 2.4C having the least chance, the true difference in average OCs of the 2.4C and 2.6C is a mere 151MHz. this difference is insignificant in terms of pure speed, and even more insignificant when considering that the clocks are already above 3GHz. the difference between a 3.474GHz chip and a 3.323GHz will literally go unnoticed. now consider intel's price cut, the 2.4C being the only chip unnaffected, thus remaining at $180. for the same price a 2.6C can be bought and possibly OCed more than a 2.4C.

however, the average OC of the 2.8C was 3392MHz, just 69MHz more than the average OC of the 2.4C. does this justify the purchase of a 2.8C over a 2.4C?...no. not to mention that the $38 you could spend on a nice hsf will have to be spent anyways on the 2.8C's cooling if you expect it to reach 3.3GHz+ and not turn your box into an oven.

obviously the 2.4C has the best % OC potential, but if you are looking for overall speed, then it looks like the 2.6c is the way to go, and don't forget that sale @ newegg that ends tomorrow night.:beer:

the reason why i can justify spending the extra $38 for the 2.8 is cuz even if it is a poor OCer, it will undoubtably reach 3.0 ghz. but of course i had the extra $38 to spend and already have a slk-947. so, as usual, it all depends on the persons needs and budget

 

[HardWired]

I received my 2.6c from Newegg today. It's a SL6WS Malay.

Here's the numbers. Can someone tell me again how to tell what week it is?

FPO/Batch: L331A802
Prod Code: BX80532PG200DSL6WS
MM: 852645
Pack Date 10/3/03

I wonder how she'll do when I crank her up. There isn't a single SL6WS in the database at overclockers.com. Every one listed is a SL6WH. I don't know if that's good or bad for me. My IS7 arrives Friday so I'll know more by Friday night.

Granted, that isn't a huge database by any means (only 21 entries), but I guess I was hoping for a SL6WH.

Has anyone else here had (or have) a SL6WS..and if so, how's it performing for you??

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Sunny129

Originally posted by: shady06
according to the cpu data base @ overclockers.com, the 2.6C does the best, followed by the 2.8C, and 2.4C is last. i'm talking about actually speed here, not mhz gained from stock

unfortunately, while those numbers do support the idea that the 2.6C has the best chance of reaching high clocks and the 2.4C having the least chance, the true difference in average OCs of the 2.4C and 2.6C is a mere 151MHz. this difference is insignificant in terms of pure speed, and even more insignificant when considering that the clocks are already above 3GHz. the difference between a 3.474GHz chip and a 3.323GHz will literally go unnoticed. now consider intel's price cut, the 2.4C being the only chip unnaffected, thus remaining at $180. for the same price a 2.6C can be bought and possibly OCed more than a 2.4C.

however, the average OC of the 2.8C was 3392MHz, just 69MHz more than the average OC of the 2.4C. does this justify the purchase of a 2.8C over a 2.4C?...no. not to mention that the $38 you could spend on a nice hsf will have to be spent anyways on the 2.8C's cooling if you expect it to reach 3.3GHz+ and not turn your box into an oven.

obviously the 2.4C has the best % OC potential, but if you are looking for overall speed, then it looks like the 2.6c is the way to go, and don't forget that sale @ newegg that ends tomorrow night.:beer:

The 2.8C is still a great purchase IMO. It's already almost at 3 GHz, and has higher average o/cs.

I have a Zalman 7000-Cu on my 2.4C, which is one of the best air coolers for the P4, not to mention very good case cooling (my idle temps are 29C!!). However, the highest I can go with this chip with full Prime stability is 3.12 GHz. Almost every 2.8C overclock I have seen is in the 3.3-3.6 GHz range, which is quite a leap up from mine. Also, although this isn't "tangible" in general use, it still helps in gaming, etc.

Hardwired - I would go for the Abit IS7 or the Abit IC7 (non-G).

 

[Sunny129]

i also got my 2.6C the other day. haven't really said anything about it b/c i haven't had a chance to install it yet, and i probably won't get the chance to until next week sometime. anyways:

P4 2.6C
product code: SL6WH
fpo/batch: 7321A417
pack date: 6/24/03
made in Philippines

so what does all this mean? i haven't a clue, but people always want to know this information about a CPU, so here it is for all you inquirers.

ny the way i got it @ newegg...

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Sunny129
i also got my 2.6C the other day. haven't really said anything about it b/c i haven't had a chance to install it yet, and i probably won't get the chance to until next week sometime. anyways:

P4 2.6C
product code: SL6WH
fpo/batch: 7321A417
pack date: 6/24/03
made in Philippines

so what does all this mean? i haven't a clue, but people always want to know this information about a CPU, so here it is for all you inquirers.

ny the way i got it @ newegg...

looking at the fpo/batch number

you have a 2.6C processor packaged in the phillipines that was manufactured the 21st week of 2003.

7 = phillipine 3 = 2003 21 = week 21 A417 = some sort of traceability number

you also have a D1 stepping of the chip which is told by the SL6WH

M0 stepping would be something like... SL6Z4

there is also a D1 stepping that is SL6WS I believe...

 

[Sunny129]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim

Originally posted by: Sunny129
i also got my 2.6C the other day. haven't really said anything about it b/c i haven't had a chance to install it yet, and i probably won't get the chance to until next week sometime. anyways:

P4 2.6C
product code: SL6WH
fpo/batch: 7321A417
pack date: 6/24/03
made in Philippines

so what does all this mean? i haven't a clue, but people always want to know this information about a CPU, so here it is for all you inquirers.

ny the way i got it @ newegg...

looking at the fpo/batch number

you have a 2.6C processor packaged in the phillipines that was manufactured the 21st week of 2003.

7 = phillipine 3 = 2003 21 = week 21 A417 = some sort of traceability number

you also have a D1 stepping of the chip which is told by the SL6WH

M0 stepping would be something like... SL6Z4

there is also a D1 stepping that is SL6WS I believe...

is there a difference between the D1 and M0 steppings?

 

[Shimmishim]

people claim the M0 is a better overclocker...

but i say it's all a gamble and some luck as to getting a good one...

IMHO, i'd say they are still about the same