[mythtv-users] Re: Air flow and proc questions

[Bela Lubkin]

Aaron Griffin <aaronmgriffin at gmail.com> wrote:

> > Just wanted some opinions (good and bad) on this setup:
> > Albatron KM18G Pro v2 Motherboard
> > Coolermaster ATC-620 Case
> > Athlon XP (Barton) 2600+ Processor OEM

and "Blammo [doh]" <blammo.doh at gmail.com> eventually replied:

> I run a mobile 2400 in my frontend. They are Barton cores, run at a
> lower stock voltage (1.475) and is multiplier unlocked, which gives
> you some great freedom to drop the multi, raise the bus, run better
> ram, and stay at the same clock speed, while running cooler than a
> stock barton.
> 
> It's enough CPU to handle HD content, assuming your video card is fast
> enough, and the reduced heat is a NICE plus. Last I looked on
> pricewatch, they were sub $100.

Mobile Athlons have a very low default FSB multiplier (this allows
SpeedStep(TM) to crank the multiplier up and down to adjust CPU power to
workload).  They only work right in motherboards designed for Mobile use
-- or motherboards with user control over FSB multiplier and Vcore.

Unfortunately, most of the nForce2 IGP micro-ATX boards only give you
control over the FSB speed, not multiplier or Vcore.  A Mobile would
probably work in this board, but it would run at about 600MHz.

Aaron's probably choosing the KM18G Pro 2.0 for its nearly-perfect-for-
Myth combination of micro-ATX size, integrated TV-out, S/PDIF, and so
on.  The one area it really lags in its the overclocking stuff.  :-(
That and it's poorly distributed (in the USA).

The only current uATX IGP board known to have enough overclocking
features to run an Athlon XP Mobile is the Biostar M7NCG 400.

>Bela<