Hi all,

I dunno if this the right place to ask. Anyway, recently just bought a amd barton 2500+, install it and run cpu-z to verify it. however it detected the proc as thorton with 256k l2 cache

Btw, i have a abit nf7-s v1.2 mobo and latest bios revision. problem still persist, how to solve this?

Another odd case happen to me is, sometimes cpu-z can detect it as barton. when that happen the softmenu in bios can let us choose between 2500+ or 3200+
but if cpu-z detected the proc as thorton, then the softmenu only let us set the proc speed. i.e 166*11

sorry for the poor english, anyway pls help all the si-fus here. share some light with me.

Maybe the L2 cache got problem. You bought it new or 2nd hand ?

maybe yours is thorton (less L2 cache-256)
what cpuz version ur using?

Hmm... you just got a Thorton.
It has the same specs as the Barton BESIDES the L2 cache.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlon#Thorton_.28130_nm.29

BTW you can unlock the cache... but it may habe catastrophic effects.

This post has been edited by X.E.D: May 29 2006, 03:25 PM

\bought it 2nd hand....

i'm using the latest cpuz version 1.31 i think....

outstation now...check for u and will update a pic tonight

but when the mobo detected the proc as barton, cpu-z will show it as 512kb

my proc now is like having dual personality... sometimes barton, sometimes thorton

wat mobo u use?? try update to latest BIOS

ABIT NF7-S v1.2 and latest bios update nfs_28.bin

done that, try that. still the same

any1 in the forum share the same experiences?

i try googling around website but what they others suggest is also the same, update the bios. seems that i'm not the only that the cpuz detected barton as thorton

perhaps the cpu has been overclocked until already
is your processor boxed version? boxed version carries 3 yrs warranty, you can try sending it for warranty

another problem could be your motherboard, try testing your processor on another motherboard good luck

it has been overclocked b4 afaik by previous owner. tray version

anyway, attach is print screen for cpu-z clocked at 1833mHz = 2500+

pls have a look




Attached thumbnail(s)

The ex-owner said it was barton ? U can ask him back and tell him u need some explantion. Maybe the proc's L2 cache faulty for now. Nothing much u can do now.

i google around and found that thorton is actually barton with half of L2 cache disable.

Even found that we can mod it to full 512k cache as barton . but dunno about the stability of the proc...

Anyone here try this before

Thorton has the same stability like barton except it run cooler . I used have 1 Barton 2800+ and Thorton . Barton 2200mhz run at 56C on my Volcano7+ while thorton 2250mhz run at 54C. I guess because the L2 cache was half..it is cooler.
I think your case is that your Barton L12 the cache part was injured accidentally when install heatsink or take off. Some heatsink require lot of pressure and that why you might leave a scar there. It can be mod to 512L2 Cache barton back easily with conductive ink .

If you want to know bout the performence difference in 256K and 512k L2 cache..it will be 1-1.5% faster ..but it wont do any different. Just push it to 2.4ghz and see it power.

This post has been edited by nimrod: May 30 2006, 08:39 PM

What nimrod said, plus use graphite (2B pencils).
However, the K7 architecture isn't really that cache dependant... the Throton would perform like a 2400+ or so... nothing really big.

I not sure 2B pencils can work . But conductive ink comfirm can work. Throton 2200mhz = Barton 2180mhz. Something like 1% different. The K7 architecture itself has high Latency..the extra cache does not much improvement. That why olden day, presscott pwn Tbred and Barton easily.

Might try this experiment - any replacement item for conductive ink - seems hard to find here.

That is partly rite, which is about the thorton is actually barton with 1/2 L2 cache. And we can mod it to 512k L2 cache if the cache is there technically. But in your case, you got a screwed up barton, the L2 cache is there but already got problem so its different. What can suggest to u is open the hsf and clean the proc, i suspect there's some short circuit due to leftover thermal paste. Clean it using a zippo lighter fluid and wipe it away with a clean cloth or sponge.

Any proc is stable dude, there's no differences at all. Cooler maybe yes since 1/2 L2 cache is missing but this is subjective since there's a lot of factor that effect the temperature. Extra L2 cache is not just 1%-2% dude, its more like a 10%-15% difference with a same architechture and speed.

The cache itself would boost the processor overall performance so its something. It's NOT "nothing really big".

Dude, the cache doesnt effect the processor clockspeed at all. The extra cache do have significant improvement to the overall performance also and from where u get the idea that a prescot pawned Tbred and Barton easily ? Do some research before u do any conclusion dude.

agree with u dude....i did manage to get full 512k cache intermittenly during the early stage running....did manage to get result from Super PI 1M test 48s and 52s with 256k cache - i'm impress with 4sec diff for 1/2 the size of cache

anyway - right now i've done what u advice and the result is the same. I guess i just stick with 256k L2 for now - there is nothing more we can do here.

Thanks for all the help/advice.