Moving from 512 L2 to 1Meg

[ALLI]

not really understanding this..

but what performance differance would going from 512 to 1meg level 2 cache or a chip with the same quoted speed?

i have an old ish system with a s754 3000 a64 with 512 cache and im looking at chips with 1meg cache.

help me understand... it's been so long since ive been this geekish!

 

[ALLI]

and can someone explain this...

the bloke selling the chip has sent me this bit of info, which worries me...

"Because some heatsink, fan can not fit with mobile 754 CPU, so that our technician added the top which taken from spare part of regular 754 CPU, hence it looks exactly same as regular version of 754pins CPU, and all 754 socket heatsink, fan can fit with it. Due to this reason, the p/n code on the top might not show it as 3400+ (the top is actually taken from other spare CPU), but please don't feel worry, it is original AMD 3400+ manufactured by AMD, NOT FAKED. You can check this out in BIOS or any professional software"

 

[postmanfw]

Not sure about 754 socket but with socket A cpus the differance from going to 512k from 256k was about the same as an extra 200mhz going by benchmarks.

Not sure about the other part of question though

 

[Rroff]

slower chip pin/conductive ink/pencil modded and passed off as something faster?

 

[ALLI]

it's a mobile a64 he's selling (with the 1 meg cache)

assume the tops of these cpu's are different to cope with a laptop heatsink, and had been "modded" to allow a normal desktop heatsink on it?

 

[El Jimben]

Not sure about 754 socket but with socket A cpus the differance from going to 512k from 256k was about the same as an extra 200mhz going by benchmarks.

Not sure about the other part of question though

Most people here suggest 512k to 1MB cache gives a performance boost equivalent to an extra 200MHz so an increase of 256K would only be a 100MHz boost, not really worth I don't think. I went from Socket A Palomino 256K CPU to a Barton 512K CPU at the similar clock speeds and I couldn't even tell the different to be honest.

 

[Tetras]

I think he means that because the mobile CPU comes without an IHS the technician has attached an IHS from a spare CPU so that you won't have problems when you install it.

I wouldn't bother with the upgrade though, just save up and get something bigger

 

[Tute]

Not sure about 754 socket but with socket A cpus the differance from going to 512k from 256k was about the same as an extra 200mhz going by benchmarks.

Not sure about the other part of question though

Not sure about the Socket A's but I remember seeing benchmarks of the Clawhammers against the Newcastles (1MB L2 vs 512K L2) and it was exactly what you said, around the same performance as adding 200MHz.

Point is, it's possible to overclock the CPU but you can't add more cache. So if I was offered a choice of a 2GHz 1MB L2 or a 2.2GHz 512K L2 i'd take the one with the extra cache.

 

[Justintime]

Its a mobile chip so no IHS, they prolly stuck one on and according to the listing its prolly one from a lesser chip but its not a big deal. 512k-1mb would make no difference in your eyes at all especially with AMD chips. If you can get the IHS off and use a bolt on cooler or mod your bracket it'd be better than with the IHS, especially since they prolly did'nt take much care to put it on quite properly (or maybe they did, either way its better cooled without).