XP-2400 questions

[johnny5]

Q1)Just bought a XP-2400, and was wondering if I unlock it,(just close the last L-3 Bridge) in order to get the 5-12.5 multiplyers if I'll lose the 12.5 - 15 multplyers.

Q2)I heard that the 5 Volt leg is the one to watch when overclocking an AMD. How low can it be before I should be concerned? I'm at 2108Mhz {15X140} and it's at 4.84 Volts.....
P.S. I'm using a cheapo 300Watt Power Supply

Thanks.........

[mdzcpa]

Q1 - Yes. But it depends on what mobo you are using on whether you need to unlock it or not. If it is a KT400 mobo, you don't need to do anything...just drop the chip in and coose the multiplier.

Q2) 4.84 is not optimal, but not to bad unde load. If you stay within 5% (4.75v) your okay, with 3% (4.85) being better.

[johnny5]

Thanks, mdzcpa: I am using the MSI KT3 Ultra Motherboard. I retired my Duron 1.2 to the kid's box. I guess I'll just have to buy a KT400 Motherboard now....

[4.6POWER]

Hey johnny5,

I just got an xp2400... and after looking at the power requirements, I bought a new supply before even firing it up. I went form an antec 300watt to an antec trupower 480watt. I guess it's worth a try... but the supply is going to run hot, and I would assume it wont last that long. Rather than risk the supply blowing and taking anything with it... maybe go for a bigger unit. After all... if you invest in a nice big juicy supply, it will last throughout many systems. I'm sorry I didn't buy a 500watter my first try... then I wouldn't have two right now.

If you a via fan... go for the kt400, but truthfully... I don't know anyone who wouldn't recommend the nforce2 over that chipset. It's just mo betta :D Mine runs hot... but supposedly it is the fastest, and it is definitily chock full of features... all at the right price. The asus A7N8X seems to be a popular choice around here.... but now you can get one from almost any manufacturer u like. good luk!

Joe

[Drake]

Aye, if you're in the market for a new mobo, I'd have to say nForce2. Asus, EPoX, and Abit all make excellent versions, with most people using the Asus solution.

[johnny5]

Thanks for the replies............I guess I'll be in the market for a new MoBo.

[mdzcpa]

Originally posted by johnny5
Thanks for the replies............I guess I'll be in the market for a new MoBo.

If you can be patient, Abit is coming out with thier NF7 Rev 2 board soon. I beleive it will be addressing some issues that were there with the first rev such as the lack of 4 mounting holes and lackluster overclockability.

The Epox NF2 seems to be the best overclocker of the group, but quality is cited at hit n miss. It does unlock all the multipliers though without touching the new Tbreds.

The Asus is the best all around NF2 mobo out there right now IMOHO. Great features and very fast. But, the downside is that it has a very quirky BIOS and it does not unlock the Tbreds without the L3 bridge mod....so many extreme overclocks have issues with it. But, for an everyday box and modest overclocks, the board jams.

There is no doubt that the NF2 boards or faster than any KT400 board, but they still have to mature a little for my tastes. After going through 2 NF2 boards with mediocre overclockability, I sold the boards and went back to the KD7-E (which has new KT333 chipset which is really a KT400 with the AGPx8 disabled). The board just purs along at 205 fsb everyday, 24/7.

When the NF2 boards can do this (regularly...not just a few sightings around the net) then I'll be giving them another whirl.

So it all depends on what you want to get out of the board:)