AthonXP 1800+ Processor Review
With the release of the AthlonXP CPU, AMD
finally reclaimed the speed crown from Intel and their Pentium 4 processor.
Even though the 1.4 GHz Athlon could compete with the 2 GHz P4 on almost equal
terms, the general public didn't know that. All consumers who were blinded by
MHz marketing could see was a 600 MHz difference between the two processors.
This misconception is exactly what AMD wants to change with the release of the
XP line. Now instead of saying the actual CPU speed, AMD has gone back to a
promotional-based rating.
The reason for this was simple. Marketing. AMD has always gone toe to toe with Intel
for the fastest processors, however they just sounded slower! In fact, they
sounded quite a bit slower! So the idea of using a Performance Rating was reborn.
The rating AMD is using is not a PR on Intel CPU's but on it's own Thunderbird
based Athlons meaning the AthlonXP 1500+ while only running at 1.33 GHz would
run as fast as a Athlon "Thunderbird" at 1.5 GHz and so on and that
brings us to today's CPU. The AthlonXP 1800+. Oh below is the whole line of
XP CPU's.
|
AMD PR Rating
|
Actual Speed
|
|
AthlonXP 1500+
|
1.33 GHz
|
|
AthlonXP 1600+
|
1.40 GHz
|
|
AthlonXP 1700+
|
1.46 GHz
|
|
AthlonXP 1800+
|
1.53 GHz
|
|
AthlonXP 1900+
|
1.60 GHz
|
So what exactly has AMD improved in the AthlonXP 1800+ CPU? Probably the biggest feature is
the inclusion of Intel's SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) technology that exists
in every Pentium III processor. Also, AMD have added a fancy named "Quanti Speed Architecture",
which is nothing more really then saying their processors do more work
per clock cycle then the Pentium 4.
For those who are interested,
it's a AGKGA Y 0139
The new AthlonXP processors are using an Organic Grid array just like their Pentium III and Pentium
4 counterparts. Why? Because it's cheaper to produce and it's more durable. Still, the
unprotected silicon core is quite fragile and since it's still got those foam pads on
the corners, care must be taken when the heatsink is installed otherwise you
could crack the core or worse!
In regards to overclocking,
the days of the simple pencil trick have gone. The AthlonXP CPU cannot be
unlocked with a pencil anymore, in fact, it's quite a bit more difficult to
unlock but it is still possible. Tom's Hardware has a good article on the
whole process, but be warned that you could destroy your chip if you try
it.
The fastest I could push the processor locked was 11.5 x 150 MHz = 1725 MHz.
Unlocked, I wasn't able to hit any higher, however it did allow me to run my bus
speed at 170 MHz which was quite nice. Still I was somewhat disappointed -
only a 215 MHz overclock? After all, my old 1.0 GHz AVIA Y did 1.5 GHz and my
1.0 GHz AYHJA Y did 1.6MHz! I was able to hit 1.7 GHz stable - a speed
that has eluded me for so long!
RSS Newsletter
