2.8c M0 Stepping or 3.0c

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If you had the choice for the same price which would you buy?

[Monkeyharris]

well iv heard good things about the 2.8 but with that little between the stock speeds its really a game of luck as to which would be better. if the 3ghz is the same price, in "theory" it should be a slightly better core stepping, but thats not always the case. Id probably go for a 3ghz but its up to you. :unsure:

[Pug]

I'm not totally clued up on the modern P4s but I heard that the m0 2.8 has the same core as the 3.2 EE and may clock further than the 3.0 (which afaik doesn't come in an m0 derivative).

If you're looking to clock it, this may be your choice but I'd rather someone with more info commented, if poss.

[Darv]

For overclocking your better off getting lower clocked P4's. Because they are multiplier locked the only way to overclock is by upping the FSB. With a lower clocked P4 your going to get a higher FSB (which ill give you the best performance increase) before you hit the physical limitations of the chip.

For example if the limitaion of each chip was 3.6 then you would be able to get.

2.8 = 200 * 14 = 2800
3.0 = 200 * 15 = 3000

2.8@3.6 = 257 * 14 = 3600
3.0@3.6 = 240 * 15 = 3600


These values are probably not exact. I'm not too familiar with P4's.

Simply lower clocked orignaly will lead to a higher FSB and better performance.

[Starbuck3733T]

Darv nailed it! However, when you're thinking about it... don't go from a P4 C to a P4 B rev just because the multipliers are higher! The P4 C is a better chip, designed to run at a higher FSB and that means more data bandwidth at the same core clock.

For instance, my 3.06B@3.611 (that's 23x158MHz) will loose in a sandra-type test to a 3.0C@3.611 (15x241MHz), even though the core clocks are the same in the end (give or take a few Hertz). Why? The 3.0C has a higher FSB and therefor more memory bandwidth.

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the 2.8 M0 stepping is a 2.8c, just a different stepping that is renowed for being a good overclocker...

Definitely wasn't going anywhere near the B revision!

[bigZ]

I'd go with the M0 if you're overclocking, 3.6GHz will not be out of the question on decent air cooling with little increase in voltage.

I'm unsure that the P4 3.2 Expensive Edition is based around the same core as this though, because the P4 EE uses practically the same core as the Xeon, well, it's recognised as a Gallatin in CPU-Z, which is the same core as the Xeon. It does however recognise it as a P4, rather than a Xeon. It's only difference from the P4 is its L3 cache, but its clockability is serverly hindered by this extra cache. The heat they give off is insane.

Hope this helps :)

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Hey bigZ, I get to say, Welcome to the forums!, well, kinda :p

Anyway decided to go for the 2.8c M0 in the end just thought with all they money I am spending it may well be worth the extra.

But then as purusers of Bit-Tech may know (http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=49985) my original graphics card was borked :( and is off back to America for RMA, I have a temporary replacement on the way, should arrive tomorrow :) which should get me up and running. Specs will be posted as soon as I have the new rig up and running... then the overclock (stock HSF), then after the water arrives overclocking that will be posted too :)

bigZ, PS: you need to update your sig over here :p

[bigZ]

thanks for the welcome :)

I do indeed need to update my siggy :D