We tested the AthlonXP 3000+ processor with the an Asus A7N8X and two sticks of Corsair XMS3200 CAS2 memory originally, but when we tried overclocking with the A7N8X we ran into a few problems. So, we ditched that board and went with a personal favorite, the Epox 8RDA+. It supports the Barton core with the latest 1/29/2003 BIOS.

Thanks Epox, the AthlonXP 3000+ (Barton) was unlocked by default on the 8RDA+; but for testing we left the multiplier alone and just raised the FSB. Starting at 166 MHz we raised the FSB slowly... At around 175 MHz we began to have stability problems and had to raise the voltage to 1.75V.

Overclocking hit another snag at 187 MHz FSB where we had to raise the voltage yet again, this time to 1.8V. Our overclocking adventure maxed out at around 190 MHz and raising the voltage to 1.85V+ didn't help at all. A clock speed of 2470 MHz was the highest stable overclock we could achieve with the AthlonXP 3000+. At that point we could boot into windows and get CPUID shots all the way up to 2.55 GHz but that doesn't mean much. ;)

3DMark03 is the hottest benchmark at the moment, make sure you check out how the latest technology (AthlonXP 3000+, nForce2 Mobo and Radeon 9700 Pro) does with it as you look through the benchmarks next! =)

pcstats test system specs:
Computer Hardware:
Processor:	Pentium 4 2.8 GHz AthlonXP 3000+
Clock Speed:	Intel 21 x 133 = 2.8 GHz AMD 13 x 166 = 2.16 GHz
Motherboards:	MSI GNB MAX DFI AD77 Infinity Epox 8RDA+
Chipsets:	Intel E7205 VIA KT400 nVIDIA nForce2
Videocard:	ATi Radeon 9700 Pro
Memory:	2x 256MB Corsair XMS3500 CAS2
Hard Drive:	20GB Maxtor DiamondMAX+
CDROM:	NEC 52x CD-ROM
Floppy:	Panasonic 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Heatsink:	AVC Sunflower Thermalright SK6 w/36 CFM Delta
PowerSupply:	Vantec 470W Stealth PSU
Software Setup	WindowsXP Build 2600 Intel INF 4.10.1012 VIA Hyperion 4.45 nVIDIA nForce 2.03 Catalyst 2.5 Catalyst 3.0 (for 3DMark03 only)
Benchmarks	SysMark 2002 Business Winstone 2002 Content Creation 2002 Super Pi POVRay SiSoft Sandra 2003 PCMark2002 3DMark2001 SE 3DMark03 Quake III Arena UT2003 SPECviewperf 7.0