Processors A and B

[Big_Nerd]

Im sorry if this question has been asked before but since I just joined, what the hell. Anyways, my question is, When a retailer or anyone for that matter is talking about the processor and puts for example 2.4A Ghz or 2.4B Ghz, what do the A and/or B mean? I have seen regular 2.4GHZ computers and then i see like 2.4A and 2.4B, whas the difference?

 

[Black_Cat]

A=100MHz FSB
B=133MHz FSB

To start press any key. Where's the "any" key? --Homer Simpson.

 

[Big_Nerd]

But Im looking at this advertisement from a retailer and it says "...performance and 533MHz system bus for a powerful CPU-to-memory connection." What does that mean then?

 

[Black_Cat]

Basically, the P4 B's are advertized as having a 533MHz system bus because they are "quad pumped" kinda like AGP 4X. 133 X 4 = 533(roughly). AMD-based systems are usually advertized as having a 333MHz system bus because they are "double pumped". 166 X 2 = 333(roughly).

When it comes time to buy RAM you want to make sure that the speed of your RAM AT LEAST matches your system bus. Also, you could get a P4 A and bump up the FSB to 133 and even beyond. But let's not get into that now.

To start press any key. Where's the "any" key? --Homer Simpson.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

Big numbers sell.
100Mhz FSB = 100 x 4 = 400fsb
133Mhz FSB = 133 x 4 = 533fsb

533 obviously looks alot better than 133.
But the real speed is still only 133Mhz, and it transfers data 4 times per clock cycle.

<b><font color=purple>[Rik_]</font color=purple> I wonder how many people have made their own phasechange system?
<font color=blue>[LHGPooBaa]</font color=blue> I get phasechange whenever i eat a hot chillie :lol: </b>

 

[Parhelia]

first the a and b is northwood a core and northwood b core, the a core come with 100mhz fsb(100*4=400mhz) and 256kb cache, the b core come with 133mhz fsb(133*4=533mhz), so u can use faster ram with the b core.
thats it, if u compare the a core and the b core, the b core is faster, lets take for example:the 2.4ghz A core vs the 2.4 GHZ B core, with the same rams(rdram 400mhz) the B core is 3 to 5% faster.

 

[peteb]

That was going really well until you tried to explain it, but then it all went off the rails.

A & B. Basically the same core (now) but the FSB/Multiplier ratio is adjusted.

Cache - same for each processor.

Difference memory bus interface speed (4x100Mhz vs. 4x133Mhz)

Performance on the same memory almost identical, performance on <b>matched</b> memory PC1066/DDR333 or DDR400 fairly different.

-* <font color=red> !! S O L D !! </font color=red> *-
To the gentleman in the pink Tutu

 

[LtBlue14]

the A does not have 256k L2 cache, fyi, it has 512k

--------------

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=faq&notfound=1&code=1" target="_new">mubla otohp eht ni ecaf ruoy teg</A>

 

[mjs]

Now I understand.

|Linux User: 254374 |
--> If have some writing mistake, sorry me, but it is just that I don't be very good in English yet. <-- And please correct me.