bobobobob said:CanDream said:So the mod for the e2xxx and the e4xxx are the same?

The new combo comes with an ECS board that supports 1333 FSB. What is the BSEL mod for 1333 FSB?

Thanks

that's right

this is the 1333 mod

Holy cow! I did the E4300 mod, and I can't imagine trying to get TWO lines on that little side area of the chip to do this mod! I know it only takes a tiny line but there is so little room there to begin with. Out of safety to the chip itself I would consider just doing the 1066 mod and leave it at that.

A question for those of you more knowledgable than me, Frys has 3 fairly cheap combos this weekend thru Tuesday,

1. ECS 945GCT-M/1333 MOBO with E2200 for $78.99 (#5495339)
2. ECS 945GCT-M/1333 MOBO with E2180 for $78.99 (#5495329)
3. ECS GEFORCE7050SM-M MOBO with 45W AMD X2 BE2300 for $68.99 (#5478899)

My question is, which one if any, would make a better HTPC starter system. I've got a PCI-E video
card with digital output, and am planning on getting a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD reader. Building the system and doing an OC mod is not a problem for me, I just don't want to waste money on something that
may not be up to the task.
TIA

bobobobob said:CanDream said:So the mod for the e2xxx and the e4xxx are the same?

The new combo comes with an ECS board that supports 1333 FSB. What is the BSEL mod for 1333 FSB?

Thanks

that's right

this is the 1333 mod

so e2200/ecs m/b @ 1333 makes roughly 3.6ghz without any other settings? how are temps at that speed, and memory need any changes? will board let you lower multi?

I did the 1066FSB BSEL mod to the e2200, the ECS board can boot up, but during the windows installation, it crash and reboots... then now I have to run it at stock 2.2GHz.

BTW, I did the 1333 mod to a Q6600, now it is running rock solid 24/7 on all 4 cores at stock voltage and stock fan. so my mod should be fine.

I basically failed on e2200, can not load OS with the 1066FSB.

BlameItOnMe said:...which one if any, would make a better HTPC starter system.

Personally, I wouldn't choose any of them due to the limited features on each motherboard.

Lack of optical/coaxial audio out to a surround sound system and only two PCI slots really limits your HTPC options.

That said, you still might be able to make it work if your HTPC needs can be met by discrete analog audio out and 2 PCI slots / 1 PCI Express 1x slot.

If you're ok with the limitations, I'd go with the e2200 bundle. You probably won't be able to overclock either of those boards much, if at all, so get the fastest processor available. I believe the motherboard in the e2200 bundle only supports DDR2-667, but raw processor speed is probably the most important factor in HTPC use, followed closely by hard drive speed and capacity.

FYI - If you're going HD, make sure you've done your homework on the video card. Hi-Def codec decoding support has long been promised on the Nvidia side but has only been implemented in recent boards. I don't know much about the AMD/ATI camp's offerings but my past feeling has been that their support for next-gen formats was a bit better.

I was thinking about getting the e2200 bundle myself and adding a better motherboard to replace my current HTPC, but I think I'm probably going to swing by Fry's and pick up the BE-2300 bundle instead... it sounds perfect for a Windows Home Server box.

I'm thinking of upgrading the MAME setup I have. Can anyone tell me if this combo deal would be good for that? I've got an athlon XP 2600+ running XP and it's bogging down on some of the games.

TIA
Dave

bobobobob said:janetyan said:2 questions:

1. Is the CPU retail version with Fan or just bare CPU?
2. Will this combo work with "OCZ 2GB (2X1GB) 800MHz PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory - $49.99 - $25 MIR = $24.99"?

thanks a lot

yes to both

gpsgps said:ForSpud said:did the bsel pad mod on my E2200, boots fine but I haven't had time to load Windows yet. BIOS shows the common error message bout the chip not running at 200mhz, but then boots on just fine...so I assume it is now 11x266. Will load Winders when I get a chance, should be fine. Using the stock ECS mobo that came with it. Once I get time to put on Winders should see that this dude is running at 2.9+Ghz without any mobo problems or changes.

thanks giving us a clue to find out how to OC it, but if you have a link on the basic info of bsel pad mod,that would be nicer.

I also did the 1066 bsel mod on this chip (motherboard I had didn't allow for the 1333 mod), follow the image in the op's post on this thread--I used a window defogger repair kit and a blade to scrape away the excess (ended up looking like this [credit doh0000 on OCF]). Also RMClock (available here) is a nice tool for a follow-up check.

I have to repeat what JAMESINLV said: holy cow! !!

the last time when I did OC is OC a 366 to 500, now OC getting to be this physically?! no wonder I googled and nothing I can understand. I'd better stay this way,rpped! thanks for sharing. hopefully there's some easy wan to OC this baby to 2.9G ....

any nice pci-e gfx deals?

that's frys b&M?