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New OC Build

I

iLLuSioN

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 7, 2005
Messages
228
Whats up guys, my first post here although i do visit the forums often i never got around to registering.

Anyways, im lookin for some input on my next comp build, first heres the stats of my current build:

Board: Abit IC7-MAX3
CPU: P4 Northwood 2.8ghz Running at 3ghz
Memory: 2x512mb patriot 2-3-2-5, 1x1gb mushkin 2-3-3-7, All Goin 2.5-3-3-6
GPU: Raideon 9200 :(
HD: WD 80gig 7200 ide :(
(anyone with some good ideas on how to squeeze some more performance out of this thing would be greatly appriciated)

This system is definatly feeling dated, so I want to upgrade to a new AMD x2 O/C Machine. Ive been lookin around and reading and from what i see it looks like the Opterons are OCing like champs with DFI mobos so that was my first choice but ive been hearing good things about the Asus A8N32-SLI Delux, so i guess theres my first question what u guys think? which opteron and which mobo? since im lookin for a machine that is going to OC well and still be stable. Next Q would be for all the components? i could keep my ram but i dont know how well it will do, and i DEFINATLY need some new HD's a raptor would be sweet for my OS drive then maybe a diamond max 10 for everything else. What do u guys think?
 
What's the budget? And is it going to be used primarily for gaming or multi-media?
 
Gaming like BF2 and stuff, tryin to keep it around $1500 or cheaper if possible.
 
OK, here is what I would do.

Coolermaster Centurion 5: 44.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068

550w FSP PSU: 93$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104982

AMD Opteron 165: 350$
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80106-R

A8N-SLI Premium: 163$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131540

2GB GSKILL Extreme: 225$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

Western Digital WD2500KS: 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

eVGA nVidia 7800GT x 2: 578$ after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130247

NEC 3550A: 39.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

Whatever cooling you like: ~50$

Total is 1658 before shipping.
 
That looks good but are u sure about that mobo? and isnt the maxtor with NCQ faster then most 7200rpm drives? also dont need dvd
 
GForce64 said:
OK, here is what I would do.

Coolermaster Centurion 5: 44.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068

550w FSP PSU: 93$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104982

AMD Opteron 165: 350$
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80106-R

A8N-SLI Premium: 163$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131540

2GB GSKILL Extreme: 225$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231021

Western Digital WD2500KS: 115$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

eVGA nVidia 7800GT x 2: 578$ after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130247

NEC 3550A: 39.99$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058

Whatever cooling you like: ~50$

Total is 1658 before shipping.
Click to expand...

Eh might as well throw in my opinion:

It all looks good except

Change the NEC to a Plextor (personal preference)
Get 2gb of OCZ Platinum ram (personal preference)
 
iLLuSioN said:
That looks good but are u sure about that mobo? and isnt the maxtor with NCQ faster then most 7200rpm drives? also dont need dvd
Click to expand...

The motherboard is great.

For Maxtor being the fastest - that was true. Now it's not. It rivals across with Seagate, Hitachi, and Western Digital. For gaming, WD or Hitachi does best. For silence, Maxtor and Seagate does best. It's what I've learned reading reviews over the months.

-J.
 
Not as much as the DFI, and he has no intentions for SLI per his post, why should he waste the money.

Here is what I personally would do. Might want to spend the extra $40 on a GPU block and an extra few feet of tubing, and voila, you have a GT that's quietly capable of GTX speeds.

Also keeping in mind that A64 performance has been shown many times over to not be heavily effected by memory bandwidth, leaving you to shift monies to other, more substantial components such as the video card or in this case, a water cooling kit (made by Swiftech, marketed by Corsair)

1500build.png
 
Hmm that looks like a pretty sweet setup, i dont have any experiance with water cooling, how easy is it?
 
It's as hard as you make it. If you do it correctly and secure everything, there won't be much of a problem. You have to do a leak test prior to installing it. You have to do a lil' bit of planning to get the right length of tubing so everything can fit in the case without issues. And then you have to keep replacing the water every 6 months. Also adding anti-freeze to it, if I'm not mistaken.

Consider spending the most amount of time with the water cooling system - but it's a fun experience.

-J.
 
Stellar said:
Not as much as the DFI, and he has no intentions for SLI per his post, why should he waste the money.

Here is what I personally would do. Might want to spend the extra $40 on a GPU block and an extra few feet of tubing, and voila, you have a GT that's quietly capable of GTX speeds.

Also keeping in mind that A64 performance has been shown many times over to not be heavily effected by memory bandwidth, leaving you to shift monies to other, more substantial components such as the video card or in this case, a water cooling kit (made by Swiftech, marketed by Corsair)
Click to expand...

The dual core A64s are somewhat more bandwidth hungry than single core chips, pc3200 (slightly OC'ed maybe), should still be sufficient though. Also, I would go with an Opteron 165 over the X2 3800. Double the cache, and OC's a good deal better. And the DFI board is much better than the A8N32 if you intend to push the chip to its limits. Opteron 165 has a multi of 9, so you'll need to hit 300 htt to hit 2.7ghz - and there's a pretty good chance the chip will be capable of more WC'ed, or even with high end air cooling.
 
Yea i think im gunnu go with the opteron and dfi combo, since the 170 and 175 are clocked higher to start with will they go further then the 165?
 
Personally i'd stick with the NEC, it's a good DVD burner and it isn't expensive.
The plextor is overpriced imo.
 
iLLuSioN said:
Yea i think im gunnu go with the opteron and dfi combo, since the 170 and 175 are clocked higher to start with will they go further then the 165?
Click to expand...
Since they're the same chips, they'll go approximately to the same speeds. Whether yours goes higher than average or not is all luck. A 165 may go higher, or possibly the 170 or 175 if they're speed binned. It will be easier to get a 170 to the same speeds than a 165 however, because you dont need to push the htt as high.
 
RavenD said:
The dual core A64s are somewhat more bandwidth hungry than single core chips, pc3200 (slightly OC'ed maybe), should still be sufficient though. Also, I would go with an Opteron 165 over the X2 3800. Double the cache, and OC's a good deal better. And the DFI board is much better than the A8N32 if you intend to push the chip to its limits. Opteron 165 has a multi of 9, so you'll need to hit 300 htt to hit 2.7ghz - and there's a pretty good chance the chip will be capable of more WC'ed, or even with high end air cooling.
Click to expand...

OP, I'd second the Opteron recommendation but be advised they are harder and harder to come by and their popularity is still pushing the price up.

According to Anand the 165 has come back in stock at www.monarchcomputer.com but beware that their website does not update stock in real time, so who knows.
 
GeForceX said:
It's as hard as you make it. If you do it correctly and secure everything, there won't be much of a problem. You have to do a leak test prior to installing it. You have to do a lil' bit of planning to get the right length of tubing so everything can fit in the case without issues. And then you have to keep replacing the water every 6 months. Also adding anti-freeze to it, if I'm not mistaken.

Consider spending the most amount of time with the water cooling system - but it's a fun experience.

-J.
Click to expand...

That particular kit is pretty painless. Integrated pump, Rad. mounts on the outside, and no need to remove the motherboard to mount the CPU block.
 
killboy said:
Personally i'd stick with the NEC, it's a good DVD burner and it isn't expensive.
The plextor is overpriced imo.
Click to expand...

Plextor is "overpriced" for a good reason. It's reliable and faster than most of its competitors. It stands by its reputation as making some of the best drives around. You're paying the premium for the performance.

-J.
 
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