Author Topic: Geek alert: 4.1 Ghz Processor for $130? (Read 606 times)

scottydawg · « **on:** May 11, 2006, 06:09:07 AM »

Tom's hardware has an article that says you can take an Intel 805 dual core and FSB clock it to 4.1 gHz. It costs $128 at New Egg.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/10/dual_41_ghz_cores/

That's just nuts!

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2006, 10:49:01 AM »

I'm wary of when 3rd parties call things "budget".... If the place that's MAKING them calls it budget, you have no idea if its going to last 6 months, let alone longer, let alone while unofficially overclocked.

Intel makes chips to spec, THEN tests their tolerances. If they have higher tolerances they are rated as faster chips. They all come out of the same batch.

So if Intel is rating these chips (these "budget" chips) at 2GHz, there's no way they will last at 4GHz for long. Not without problems.

As most things, I am sceptical, and will remain so for about 6-9 months until this is either proven or disproven

scottydawg · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2006, 10:51:06 AM »

Krusty,

I've been reading Tom's for many years, they've never been wrong that I can remember.

If you have sufficient cooling and power and a good chip, it'll last a long time.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2006, 11:48:43 AM »

Hehe, Tom's makes errors, and it is a bit biased as well. All sites do, and none are 100% objective.

And just where are we supposed to get the nitrogen cooler for it?

scottydawg · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2006, 11:51:20 AM »

Well if you're flying at 15k, just stick it out the side of the plane.

scottydawg · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2006, 11:53:25 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by scottydawg
Well if you're flying at 15k, just stick it out the side of the plane.

And regardless, you don't have to take it to 4.1ghz, you can just run it at 3.6 with a decent cooler and it's still only $130.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2006, 11:59:07 AM »

At stock speeds the Prescott runs at around 115F. Tell me about this "decent" cooler.

Prescott is an abysmal CPU design. Conroe is another story and if anyone is contemplating a new computer, they would be smart to wait, if they can.

scottydawg · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:05:12 PM »

Skuzzy,

I believe that the CPU in question is the Smithfield 805 CPU, dual core 955X architecture, not the Prescott (925x).

I'm not sure how similar they are though.

Are you partial to the AMD processors?

scottydawg · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2006, 12:12:33 PM »

Looks like Conroe is scheduled for release in July-August...

My dad always told me never buy a first year model car... remember the Pentium floating point bug?

Skuzzy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:16:04 PM »

I have no love for either AMD or Intel at the moment. When I did have a real choice, I chose Intel.

Yes, the dual core CPU's from Intel are Prescott based. I would never recommend a Prescott core to someone I might consider an acquaintence. Worst CPU architecture to come from Intel since the Willamette core.

scottydawg · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:22:18 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
At stock speeds the Prescott runs at around 115F. Tell me about this "decent" cooler.

Prescott is an abysmal CPU design. Conroe is another story and if anyone is contemplating a new computer, they would be smart to wait, if they can.

Decent cooler would be one of those crazy Zalman heatpipe coolers, $60 or so.

Or you could get all jiggy with a watercooler.

Man, I'm a nerd.

indy007 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:28:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
At stock speeds the Prescott runs at around 115F. Tell me about this "decent" cooler.

Prescott is an abysmal CPU design. Conroe is another story and if anyone is contemplating a new computer, they would be smart to wait, if they can.

They make drop in water-coolers now that'll get you fairly close to ambient temp's (depending on the radiator, flow rate, tubing size, etc). I'm pretty sure Swifttech also makes a peltier setup out of the box.. needs a seperate PSU that fits in a drive bay for the TEC or a 550w+ main psu). That will get you below ambient. Unless you're in a NOC though, with texas humidity, it can be alittle dangerous. You have to layer on some neoprene and pretty much coat the socket in non-conductive goo to keep any condensation from making your cpu die when it ices over.

It's either that, an aquarium full of flourinert (last I saw, $500+ for a gallon a few years ago), or one of those $800+ vapor coolers.

scottydawg · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:33:58 PM »

Or you could just immerse your PC in vegetable oil .

indy007 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:39:11 PM »

I really don't have the nuts to try that. My case has way, way too many holes in it to seal properly. I don't want to risk my toys & carpet

plus, motor oil is supposed to work even better

scottydawg · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2006, 02:15:44 PM »

I hear lacquer thinner might be even better than motor oil.