Athlon XP. Thoroughbred vs. Barton

[jafar]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

I'm about to get a new CPU (not 64bit yet). SHould I get the Thoroughbred
or Barton version. Thoroughbred has a higher clock speed. Barton has lower
clock speed but larger cache.
Which would give better gaming performance?

--
Jafar Calley
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Registered Linux User #359623
http://fatcat.homelinux.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 22:10:52 +0100, jafar
<nomorev14gra@idontlike.spam> wrote:

>I'm about to get a new CPU (not 64bit yet). SHould I get the Thoroughbred
>or Barton version. Thoroughbred has a higher clock speed. Barton has lower
>clock speed but larger cache.
>Which would give better gaming performance?


It depends on what you're running, the applications & games,
most of which will be as limited by the video card as an
upper-speed Barton or Thoroughbred, at least I'm ASSUMING
you don't yet have a modern high-end video card since you
didn't have the CPU yet?

Generally speaking, Barton's doubled L2 cache is worth about
180MHz, give or take... fewer MHz the more you o'c 'em, more
MHz the slower the base speed is. It might make more
difference in some games than others, but it'll be around
that 180MHz mark. Particularly to get best performance from
games you should choose a model that allows you to raise
motherboard FSB & memory as high as reasonably possible
while retaining stability.

Personally I'd get an XP2400 Mobile and o'c it a bit,
providing your motherboard has multiplier adjustments in the
bios. Non-mobile Bartons, Semprons, and Thorton (replaced
Thoroughbred) are all multiplier locked except the earliest
revisions which you should assume aren't what you'd be
buying today unles it was used or old stock.

Anyway, just about any Mobile Barton XP2400 is sure to run
2.2GHz, "almost" all of them can do 2.3GHz, and the average
specimen can do 2.4GHz if not higher, depending on multiple
other variables like your FSB speed, ability to cool it via
water or good heatsink, low ambient temp, (whatever).

On the other hand, likewise you can o'c a Thorton and expect
2.2GHz if not more, possibly making it the better bang for
buck since an XP2100 Thorton can be had for about $55.
Depends on how much $ you want to spend.

If not overclocking, the ~180MHz figure still applies more
or less, a rough average.

 

[jafar]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

I demand that on Thu, 23 Dec 2004 00:39:15 +0000, kony may or may not have
written:

> On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 22:10:52 +0100, jafar
> <nomorev14gra@idontlike.spam> wrote:
>
>>I'm about to get a new CPU (not 64bit yet). SHould I get the Thoroughbred
>>or Barton version. Thoroughbred has a higher clock speed. Barton has lower
>>clock speed but larger cache.
>>Which would give better gaming performance?
>
>
> It depends on what you're running, the applications & games,
> most of which will be as limited by the video card as an
> upper-speed Barton or Thoroughbred, at least I'm ASSUMING
> you don't yet have a modern high-end video card since you
> didn't have the CPU yet?

I currently have an AthlonXP 2000+ (thoroughbred) and from what I've been
reading and your comments, I think a Barton core is for me. I won't be
overclocking the CPU but I will be overclocking my Geforce FX5700 GPU to
475Mhz (and the memory to 600mhz). I'm going to get the 2800+ and think
about slightly overclocking it in the future if I can keep the heat down.
As it is, I keep the sides off my case to keep the CPU below 65C under
load! 😉
Ideally, I'd like to go 64bit and have watercooling, but my budget today
for CPU, new memory(replacing the 266mhz) and new HDD is 250 Euros so the
mega system will have to wait 😉
Thanks for your comments.

--
Jafar Calley
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
d+ s-:+ a C++++ L++ E--- W++ N++ w-- PE- t* 5++ R+ !tv D+ G e* h---- x?
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
Registered Linux User #359623
http://fatcat.homelinux.org