Looking for advice upgrading a P4 2.4

[RooK]

I've got a standard northwood 400mhz FSB 512k L2. It overclocks ok... hopefully better with the new kit I get for xmas, and i've read the prescotts run REALLY hot, so its best to stay away from them, but I definitely want a CPU with 1 meg of L2 on it that I can overclock at least to 500 mhz greater than its stock speed.

I've seen everyone's results with the 2.4c, and they make my jaw drop, but i'm not going to spend money on a CPU thats the same stock speed as the one I already have.

Aight, thanks for the advice.

 

[Jonsey]

Why do you want the 1mb of L2? Supposedly it's there to negate the performance penalty of the longer prescott pipeline. The larger L2 cache and the longer pipeline pretty much mean the prescott is a wash when it comes to a performance increase next to a similary clocked northwood. I think most have found the 2.4A's to be fairly cool running though. It's only at the higher speeds that the prescott gets really hot. Remember that the prescott is only a 533 bus and has no HT support.

Do you have or are you planning on getting a motherboard that supports the higher FSB ranges?

 

[RooK]

yup

i'm getting a p4p800 e deluxe with a gig of pc3200 patriot ram. I currently have a 9800XT

I'm trying to decide if a new CPU will give me a big perf increase

 

[DeFex]

Why do you want the 1mb of L2? Supposedly it's there to negate the performance penalty of the longer prescott pipeline. The larger L2 cache and the longer pipeline pretty much mean the prescott is a wash when it comes to a performance increase next to a similary clocked northwood. I think most have found the 2.4A's to be fairly cool running though. It's only at the higher speeds that the prescott gets really hot. Remember that the prescott is only a 533 bus and has no HT support.

Do you have or are you planning on getting a motherboard that supports the higher FSB ranges?

Prescotts have 800mhz bus, and hyperthreading. as well as 1mb cache. they do run hot though. you might have trouble if you try to upgrade to a prescott on a motherboard "upgradeable" from northwood. because they draw so much power.

I would just get the nicest northwood i can find and leave it there foe now northwood will work GREAT with the motherboard you have chosen.

 

[=lks= ka druma]

WHoa WHoa WHOa.

Prescotts have both 533 and 800mhz buses. ANd the new 1066 is prolly a prescott to.

Look, in review after review a northie will match or beat a prescott in most situations unless you clock higher than say 4.0, which you won't do unless you live in an igloo.

I would buy a northie, the fastest you can afford.

 

[EnderW]

I've seen everyone's results with the 2.4c, and they make my jaw drop, but i'm not going to spend money on a CPU thats the same stock speed as the one I already have.

Well that would be the most economical option, but if you are determined to get a higher stock speed, pickup a 2.8c, they can easily be found for $150 used.

An extra 512k of L2 cache isn't going to make much of a difference, but if you want it, I'd recommend a 2.8e, although you'll pay more for it then the 2.8c.