Loving my Athlon 64 3700

F

funcantonguy73

Weaksauce
Joined
Feb 26, 2006
Messages
108
What an amazing processor. Runs exceptionally cool and just really snappy performance. I am glad I went with single cpu for this upgrade as I don't have any need for more speed than this thing at the moment. Fear 1600x1200 soft shadows and 4xaa 16xaf ran blistering never dropped below 40 and avg right around 55-60. I am thrilled as can be with this CPU and the 8800 GTS Superclocked.
 
what clockspeed is your 3700? Is it a CG? Would you rather have gone with conroe? I am debating on buying a 8800GTS or parts for a Conroe build.

Also can you please tell me if you can play your games with 8xss AA 16xAF? thanks.
 
Believe it or not, the socket 754 3700+ can beat the socket 939 3700+.
I got both the 3700+ in socket 754 and a socket 939 4000+ (the same 2.4 GHz with 1MB L2 cache) which I have not installed in a machine yet. As it turns out, maybe the problems I had with my machine may have nothing to do with socket 754 not liking a 1T command rate with 2x1GB of RAM. I bought the socket 939 4000+ thinking that would be the case. Someone said with an illegal copy of WinXP, you can have problems. I have a legitimate copy but I was waiting to replace the motherboard before installing it. But, I did reformat once and re-installed WinXP and did not do any updates and my machine now runs with any significant problems. Go figure. Oh well, I can always build another machine for file sharing. Heh. :p
 
Isaacav2 said:
what clockspeed is your 3700? Is it a CG? Would you rather have gone with conroe? I am debating on buying a 8800GTS or parts for a Conroe build.

Also can you please tell me if you can play your games with 8xss AA 16xAF? thanks.
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I'll tell you my own opinion on this even though many will disagree or generally crap their pants. But, if you buy the 4000+ single core at tigerdirect.com or .ca you can always replace with the new K8L core in 9 months from now. I'm saying 9 months because they're obviously going to come out with the higher end ones first then the mid-range then we'll see lower prices.

If AMD comes out with a superior product, we may see the end of the price war. For now, if you already have DDR1 RAM, I would just go with that 4000+. As for a card, shit, ATI will come out with their R600 shortly so just go cheap and buy an X1950 Pro and wait for the next generation video cards in about a month. The R600 should beat the G80 in a number of benchmarks. Of course, we'll have to wait and see to make sure. I'm waiting myself for a new video card.
 
coolpurplefan said:
Believe it or not, the socket 754 3700+ can beat the socket 939 3700+.
I got both the 3700+ in socket 754 and a socket 939 4000+ (the same 2.4 GHz with 1MB L2 cache) which I have not installed in a machine yet. As it turns out, maybe the problems I had with my machine may have nothing to do with socket 754 not liking a 1T command rate with 2x1GB of RAM. I bought the socket 939 4000+ thinking that would be the case. Someone said with an illegal copy of WinXP, you can have problems. I have a legitimate copy but I was waiting to replace the motherboard before installing it. But, I did reformat once and re-installed WinXP and did not do any updates and my machine now runs with any significant problems. Go figure. Oh well, I can always build another machine for file sharing. Heh. :p
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I've heard lately about the problems people are having running a 1T command rate with 2x512mb ram sticks in s754mobos and for the life of me I don't get it. I've had my Abit NV8 mobo for a year now and my Crucial Ballistix DDR400 ram for about 9 months and I've had no problems running the 1T command rate at all. I run the cpu (3400+ Venice) at 248x11 @ 1.64v and the ram on the DDR 433 divider at 2.5-2-2-8 1T (273 mhz) without issue - and it blows away my 3700+ Clawhammer (s754) at work. The 3400+ Venice at home also has a cobbled WinXP installation (which I will be reinstalling soon when I get my 200 gb Maxtor ATA133 hard drive in a couple of days) but it runs like a champ. I'm hoping with a fresh install of WinXP to go higer still on the oc due to better system stability but I'll just have to wait and see.
 
BigMacAttack said:
I've heard lately about the problems people are having running a 1T command rate with 2x512mb ram sticks in s754mobos and for the life of me I don't get it. I've had my Abit NV8 mobo for a year now and my Crucial Ballistix DDR400 ram for about 9 months and I've had no problems running the 1T command rate at all. I run the cpu (3400+ Venice) at 248x11 @ 1.64v and the ram on the DDR 433 divider at 2.5-2-2-8 1T (273 mhz) without issue - and it blows away my 3700+ Clawhammer (s754) at work. The 3400+ Venice at home also has a cobbled WinXP installation (which I will be reinstalling soon when I get my 200 gb Maxtor ATA133 hard drive in a couple of days) but it runs like a champ. I'm hoping with a fresh install of WinXP to go higer still on the oc due to better system stability but I'll just have to wait and see.
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I have an Abit NV8 but I haven't installed it yet. I'm currently using an Asus K8N4-E Deluxe which has problems booting up if I shut it down. I have to run it 24 hours a day.
I may replace it shortly but I'm waiting for a company to come out with its quarterly report because I want to make sure my machine is working when the numbers come out. I may sell my stock during that day.
 
I have both a 3700 @2.7 and an Opty 175 @3.0. The 3700 is a great chip and played every game without a problem. Definately an upgrade going to the opty though.

For what it's worth...my 3d06 scores with a 8800GTS card below...

With my 3700 I get a CPU score of 910 and a 3dmark of 6600.

By just changing the processor to the overclocked opty my CPU score is 2200 and 3dmark of 9600. Well worth the upgrade.
 
I am not sure if I am having an issue with mine or not. I cant get mine to go below 36C idle with really good air cooling with nothing but a video card installed in the computer. I want to try overclocking it but I was kind of afraid of the temps. Although after messing with my hsf setup, I found my scythe ninja runs better without a fan attached... dont ask why, it just does. I ran 2 prime95 tests on it and it only raised the proc temp to 42 - 44C so I guess thats pretty good. Maybe I will play with it tonight.
 
coolpurplefan said:
I have an Abit NV8 but I haven't installed it yet. I'm currently using an Asus K8N4-E Deluxe which has problems booting up if I shut it down. I have to run it 24 hours a day.
I may replace it shortly but I'm waiting for a company to come out with its quarterly report because I want to make sure my machine is working when the numbers come out. I may sell my stock during that day.
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My NV8 replaced an Asus K8N4-E Deluxe also. I liked the Asus board but the 1.55v cap on cpu voltage really irked me.
The NV8 is not without its problems - but it could be a ram matter and not a motherboard matter. Beyond certain cpu frequencies it will not boot from a "cold" state. I can set the cpu freq. to 228x12 (and 250x11) and it will boot fine from an off state. If I push beyond those settings it will not boot at all - I don't even get to the bios screen. It will, however, "hot" boot. By this I mean I boot up at 248x11 and then reboot and set to 252x11 and it boots fine. If I shut it off and try to boot from an off condition it will not boot, though. It could be that my ram is running too tight but I'm not convinced of this. Other people I have spoken to have not experienced thio problem so maybe its just my setup. I have noticed that there are now two new bios versions available (13 and 14). I am on 11 I think - since v12 didn't help any. I'm going to flash to each and see what happens, maybe it will correct my odd problem.
I like the NV8. It has lots of cpu voltage and ram voltage options which really help the Venice core cpu's. I just wish they didn't go from 1.7v to 1.85v in one jump. 1.74v for my 3400+ Venice would get me to 2.8 I'm pretty sure, but alas, it is not to be.
 
Occidio said:
I am not sure if I am having an issue with mine or not. I cant get mine to go below 36C idle with really good air cooling with nothing but a video card installed in the computer. I want to try overclocking it but I was kind of afraid of the temps. Although after messing with my hsf setup, I found my scythe ninja runs better without a fan attached... dont ask why, it just does. I ran 2 prime95 tests on it and it only raised the proc temp to 42 - 44C so I guess thats pretty good. Maybe I will play with it tonight.
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Those are really good temps under load - shouldn't be any problem at all. I wouldn't even be concerned of seeing 53C TBH. They'll take a lot more than people give them credit for, alsthough the higher the temp the less stable the oc so its always a good idea to keep temps as low as possible.
 
BigMacAttack said:
Those are really good temps under load - shouldn't be any problem at all. I wouldn't even be concerned of seeing 53C TBH. They'll take a lot more than people give them credit for, alsthough the higher the temp the less stable the oc so its always a good idea to keep temps as low as possible.
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Ok, sounds cool, I just wasnt sure, I guess seeing my x2 4800+ stock temps in the 31-32C range, I just figured the 37-39C temps was a lil high being stock. I guess I will play around with them tonight.
 
My stock temps (skt 754 mind you) are also around 31C at idle but with my present setup (see sig) it is at 36C at the present time. Playing HL Deathmatch loads me to the mid-upper 40's with my present setup so I'm not the least bit concerned about heat issues. If you are experiencing similar temps you'll be o-ok.
 
Occidio said:
I am not sure if I am having an issue with mine or not. I cant get mine to go below 36C idle with really good air cooling with nothing but a video card installed in the computer.
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It's all your case, I have a cheap aluminum AC Alpine 64 ($17) on my Opty 144 @ 2.7GHz and I idle at 29C with a case temp of 30C. You have to set up your airflow, that's how I get it to idle at lower temps then my case and load only 7C above it.
 
I can assure you its not my case or airflow, here is some pictures that I just took.

Pict0038.jpg

The 120 antec fan under the video card is an extra intake to help push some of the ambient area that might be sitting under the video card. I can put the 2 thermaltake all the way up and it turns into a wind tunnel.

Pict0039.jpg

With the fans turned all the way down I now have the idle temp to 45C OC to 2.43ghz
 
I thought about that too, but its only running at about 1000rpms and the force of the air coming out of the exhaust is pushing out pretty far out of the top of the case. Even the air coming out of the exhaust is cold.
 
Well there has to be a reason your temps are so high, considering you have a ninja, amazing cable management (mine sucks) and more fans than me, while I have a higher voltage and speed than you.

I'd reseat the heatsink with fresh AS5.
 
BigMacAttack said:
I've heard lately about the problems people are having running a 1T command rate with 2x512mb ram sticks in s754mobos and for the life of me I don't get it. I've had my Abit NV8 mobo for a year now and my Crucial Ballistix DDR400 ram for about 9 months and I've had no problems running the 1T command rate at all.
Click to expand...

Technically the venice core chips will do 400mhz @ 1T, but 2 double sided sticks (4 banks?) have to be run at 2T. As per AMD specs.

I was running 2T with 2x double sided Corsair Value Select. RMAed one of my sticks and got a single sided stick back instead. Successfully ran at 1T just fine.

Switched to the new HyperX 2x1GB but have to run @ 2T as they are double sided.

BTW to the OP: I feel the same way. My system is plenty fast enough for games. I'm running lower rez with my x850xt on the few newer FPS games I've played (Q4, FEAR, etc) but it's got plenty enough CPU speed.
 
I'm still lovin my 3700 after almost a year at 2.8Ghz... Right now my system is clogged with dust and I had to back down to 2.73 though :( Once I clean it up i'll see if i can still push it to 2.8
 
funcantonguy73 said:
What an amazing processor. Runs exceptionally cool and just really snappy performance. I am glad I went with single cpu for this upgrade as I don't have any need for more speed than this thing at the moment. Fear 1600x1200 soft shadows and 4xaa 16xaf ran blistering never dropped below 40 and avg right around 55-60. I am thrilled as can be with this CPU and the 8800 GTS Superclocked.
Click to expand...

sure seems like you are a happy camper there . i am considering upgradeing my 7600gt to a 8800 gt. you seem positive with your setup . my setup is pretty simular , so it will make my chooseing the 8800 that much easier . sure glad you posted .
good luck .
cheers .
 
GreenMonkey said:
Technically the venice core chips will do 400mhz @ 1T, but 2 double sided sticks (4 banks?) have to be run at 2T. As per AMD specs.

I was running 2T with 2x double sided Corsair Value Select. RMAed one of my sticks and got a single sided stick back instead. Successfully ran at 1T just fine.

Switched to the new HyperX 2x1GB but have to run @ 2T as they are double sided.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I am running these sticks (2x512) http://www.crucial.com/ballistix/store/PartSpecs.asp?imodule=BL2KIT6464Z402&cat=
at 273-275 mhz with 1T command rate.
 
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