Maximum PC

When I OC'd my AMD 2500+ to the 3200+ level something happened that I didn't expect. My BIOS reports that I have a 3200+. Not a 2500+ @ 2.2GHz but a 3200+. How would my bios know what a 3200+ is and that it runs at 2.2GHz?

This leads me to believe that there's no difference in the two processors at all except maybe the multiplier being set/locked at a certain speed and the chip reports the proper name given a certain speed.

Any thoughts?

Your BIOS knows what clock speeds each rating is at and will display the appropriate rating accordingly. When AMD first introduced their PR, it was a requirment that a BIOS display the CPU in these terms. I obviously don't have the means to personally verify whether that still holds true, but in your case, that's exactly what your mobo is doing.

As far as differences, for the most part, that's a correct statement. Chips of the same family generally only differ in terms of speed. There can be differences in steppings, which may or may not indicate a different die size (Palamino/Tbred is a good example), cache, core voltage, etc.

Specifically dealing w/ the 2500+ and 3200+ chips, they differ in speed only. Both are on a .13micron, both have the same cache, both have the same multiplier and voltage. However, they differ in fsb speed (333 and 400 respectively), which also makes them differ in GHz.

Interesting...

Windows also reports my processor as a 3200+ (using dxdiag and "my computer")

So I wonder if there is any heat difference between a 2500+ oc'd to 3200+ levels and an actual 3200+ at stock speeds?

Invariably, a 3200+ will run hotter than a 2500+, considering the only difference is speed (no die change). Also, I would imagine that that retail heatsink/fan combo differs on each offering as well, so a retail 2500+ OC'd to 2.2GHz should run hotter than a retail 3200+.

On the topic of reported names...

I boosted the FSB to 230 to see what name it would report and guess what it said...

Athlon XP 1100Mhz!!!

On my Abit NF7-S I get a bios reading of "AMD Barton 2200mhz" or something like that. That's with the fsb at 200mhz and the multiplier at 11.

Now all I've got to do is get a working thermometer in Linux

When I'm in Windows running F@H I keep pretty stable at about 49-50C, but it's been really cool these past couple of days, well into the teens C.

Dan O.

Thats because your mother board either cant go to an FSB and multiplier that high, or your chip is unlocked (most likely) and it defaulted to a lower multiplier when you boosted your FSB. If you look closely (or maybe it doesnt say this...) The list of multipliers if it is unlocked will say something like "5/13, 5.5/13.5, 6/14....." with the 2500+, your multiplier will be something like... i think its 11.5x166. depending on your mobo, that will lower your multiplier to i think....i dunno. divide 1100 by 230. anywho. this is a largely irrelevent post, designed to show off my amazing OC prowess. i dont think it worked,

I was using the STOCK heatsink and fan and only bumping up the FSB. How is that showing off? What skill is there in that? I only bumped it up to 230 MHz to see what the name would be because of the 2500+ being label a 3200+.

BTW I normally don't overclock at all.

I think and hope you were actually talking about your post to him. His post has 100% relevance to his original post, since they both are talking about naming schemes and how the BIOS handles this. To me it sounds like he doesn't fully understand how a BIOS reads the CPU and is experimenting. Then he is posting his trials in here for further explanation on how this works.


Satchboy,

He is right about whats going on though. Your mobo may even have a protection built in like my Asus had. If one attempt a posting fails it reboots at fail safe defaults so you dont have to clear CMOS just to readjust your OC settings. Just because you set it to do it, doesn't mean it is. I think you are underestimating how "intelligent" a BIOS is when it comes to reading and monitoring your system

I think he may have been actually talking about his own reply to you. I did think the same way as you at first though that it was a snide comment.

Upon reading it a second and third time I believe you're right. Sorry MunkiRench.

Stop the PR madness i need raw clocks

Still have my old school 1.73 tbred-b sitting at 2.3 all day long running F@H.

Wazer

sorry.... yes i was referring to my post. sorry if i pissed people off...

You didn't piss people off. We just read your post wrong at first. Its all good.

My stock 2500+ runs at 1830MHz.
that same cpu clocked at 2200MHz is named 3200+ by the BIOS.