Quick! FSB setting for Athlon XP 3000+?

I just installed an Athlon XP 3000+ (the full name is 3000/400 Athlon XP Barton, 2.1 Ghz) and need to know a BIOS setting. I've got it installed on a Delta K7N-2 board which says 400 FSB on it; should I set the CPU's FSB clock at 200 Mhz then? I don't want to overclock... I just want it to be where it should.

Currently the CPU FSB clock is at 133 Mhz and the processor is reading at 1750 Mhz.

Thanks!
m19

 

Ok! I took a chance and bumped the CPU FSB clock to 200 Mhz, figuring that equals 400 FSB... It looks like the 3000+ is running at 2.1 Ghz now where it should be; the DDR400 RAM is also reading as 400.

So I think it's good now...

m19

 

I did think of something else, though... My understanding is that the 3000+ performs roughly the same as a 3 Ghz Pentium, right? (I'm not looking for an argument about AMD vs. Intel, it's just what I've read in reviews.)

So in regards to software requirements (ie "at least 2 Ghz processor or equivalent needed to run XYZ...") would the 2.1 Ghz 3000+ be considered a 2.1 Ghz or 3 Ghz processor?

m19

 

Well yea it would still be a 2.1ghz, but I reckon it would run the program just fine.

 

Yup, AMD Processors are rated by productivity, an AMD clocked at 3ghz would be wicked fast

 

its the 2200 3000 3200 stuff is in mhz

so yes its a 3ghz cpu

 

So just to clarify, because I'm not sure I'm getting it... If it's, say, a 2.6 Ghz processor requirement, the 3000+ would satisfy that because it technically performs like a 3 Ghz P4?

m19

 

Correct

 

Thanks! I appreciate everyone's patience, I've been stuck in a 1 Ghz mindset for so long...

m19

 

OK, I have the same chip (except my fsb is only 333), and I set my FSB right, and I'm running at optimal speed, but it says in the ASUS Probe program that it still has the capacity to run at 3000 MHz, and the current speed is 2175 MHz. does this mean that I can overclock it to 3GHz, or is my cpu not running as fast as it should be?

 

You could overclock it, but I wouldn't.

If it's running at it's true clock speed then leave it alone.

 

There's two different Athlon XP 3000+'s. One runs at a 333 fsb and clocks @ 2.16ghz, the other runs at 400 fsb and clocks @ 2.1ghz. You have the 333fsb one.

 

What I mean though, is that It says that it's maximum capable speed is 3.0GHz, but it's current speed is 2175MHz. Does that mean that it's running at it's optimum speed or under it? From what I've heard, the AMD chips outperform Intel chips at the same speed, but they mark them with a PR rating as to the equivalent Intel chip. EG, an AMD running at approx 2.2Ghz will perform the same as an Intel 3.0GHz.

I know overclocking is dangerous, but my chip runs at 57 C and has a maximum temp of 85-90 C. My MB also has CPU overheat protection, so is it safe to overclock to maybe 2.4 or 2.5GHz? It does say the maximum speed is 3.0GHz.

 

I wouldn't really trust the ASUS probe program. Chances are, if you overclock it that far, the system won't even boot up. Also, 85-90C is at the top of the range for Athlon processors. If they get too hot, you can burn them up, or your computer will just keep shutting down from the overheat protection.

Now, 2.4 or 2.5 Ghz is probably safe, but you'll need a decent heatsink/fan and some thermal grease to keep the temperatures down.

P.S. - Don't rely on the overheating protection to keep your chip working. It really isn't good for it to get that hot.

 

OK, thanks for that. I should probably just accept that a PC that fast is good enough for me since I upgraded from a celeron 366, lol.