older processor diliemma

[psabi]

I have a box that I am running linux redhat 7.1 on. It's an older sock7, a p233mmx with 128 of EDO RAM. I also have a K6-2 300mhz available for use. Now the multiplier on the mobo is maxed so 233 will be the max speed no matter what chip I use. My question:

Would their be any benefit to use the 300 K6-2 chip UNDERCLOCKED to 233mhz as compared to the pentium 233MMX?

I ask this because I know the 300k6-2 is a newer design chip. Apart from the 3D Now! instruction set, would the K6-2 offer any additional benefits?

Although this is ideally for my Linux box, please comment on whether or not it would be more/less worthwhile for this scenario on a 98se box...

[mjc]

What is the board?

I don't think that there really would be an advantage to running it underclocked, not quite sure if it would actually work in your board either...it should but without knowing what board you've don't know for sure...you might squeek out a little more performance with the extra instruction set but I doubt it.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[psabi]

Well, originally there were 3 boards I may have the option of using it on. 2 of the boxes are HP brio's with crappy HP boards and Intel chipset's. The third box has an even bigger mystery board with a VIA chipset that I believe is a PCCHIPS mobo but I can't be 100% - an attempt to track down models via numbers on the PCB or the bios string have led nowhere.

Bus-wise, i know the chip can function fine with a 66mhz bus even though it originally came in a box with a 100mhz bus (it ran quite nicely overclocked to 333 on a 66mhz bus). Voltage-wise, all the boxes can handle the dual voltage issue but the core voltage may be a problem. One box I know for a fact can run the 300k6-2 at it's correct voltage (2.2); one can't as it has a VRM "slot" with a 2.8 regulator for a MMX chip (and I'm not investing a dime to see if they ever made a 2.2 version!). The third box (the pcchips mystery box) can go as low as 2.5, but from experience of working with this board I know there are other jumber settings no listed on the actual PCB.

What I gathered from your response is that you doubt that I will squeak out any additional performance running the down clocked cpu (ideally capitalizing on the increased instruction set). Putting the boards aside, I probably should have posted the question as "Besides 3D Now!, what is difference between a AMD K6-2 and a pentiumMMX running at the same speed?"

I guess I am bored; just looking at my parts inventory to maximize my current setup before tossing/giving away stuff I can't use/need.

[mjc]

Well, about the only real difference I see is the K6 can be OC'd, haven't played around much with either chip, but they both are about the (gasp...all the AMD people are going to shoot me:eek http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif same, seems to be until recently that intel and AMD speed matched chips were about the same performance (yeah one did better with graphics the other with office apps but usually not by much) and both companies had some real stinkers....like the original Celerons. Now it seems that AMD has the lead in the performance vs speed issue..it takes better than a 1.4 P4 to best a 1.4 Athlon.

Basically what I think it boils down to is what are really a fan of...because there won't be much of a difference if they are the same speed and you already know the k6 can be oc'd and be pretty stable...I'm also pretty sure that some one will drop in and say yeah the K6 it will kill the mmx.

Anyway...if you want to toss some of that stuff in a westerly direction I wouldn't be adverse to finding it.... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.


[This message has been edited by mjc (edited 10-26-2001).]