Please doublecheck my thinking (upgrading to A64)

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Aaron_ATX

[H]ard|Gawd
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Oct 15, 2003
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*to clarify, i've built 2803402380948 computers but this will be my first A64

Went out and bought a X800XL last night (agp), and now i've REALLY got the itch to build a new gaming machine.

Here's what i've got currently: asus nforce 2 a7n8x deluxe, +2500 barton @ 11x210. 2 512k sticks of corsair pc3200 XMS, 160 gig segate sata drive, tdk 1280 dvd/cd burner, using the digital out port on the mobo to my extigy for 5.1 surround sound. 480w antec powersupply.

What I wanna do: Build an AMD64 based machine, overclockable and used soley for gaming.

What I wanna keep: X800XL(agp), those 2 sticks of ram, the hd, powersupply, dvd burner, builtin sound with a digital out for my extigy.

What I need: AMD64 chip, mobo, and case. Would like to go socket 939.

Pretty much decided on this processor: Venice +3200, for $202. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

My main question comes is what motherboard? Every dork and their dorky grandma is splooging over the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum, when it comes to socket 939, agp, and overclockability. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130468

Its using an nforce3 chipset, and nforce2 was real real good to me, build tons of those machines. So thats looking pretty good. Other suggestions to look at?

Anything else I need to tie this system together? My pc3200 corsair should work just fine for this, right?

Just going to pick a nice small, cheap black case for the time being.
 
2.8 trillion? Right.

Anyway at present you're kinda stuck with the MSI nF3 Neo2, but if you can wait a little bit DFI will have a better one out any time now.
 
Epox is actually a good one, just saw some nice results on it so I might start recommending that one over or at least in addition to the MSI. DFI...well it'd be better, but depends when they get around to shipping any out.

Coulda swore the prices on the MSI nF3 Neo2 were closer to 80ish. Maybe Newegg just marked 'em up again, they do that crap sometimes.
 
Some of the MSI motherboards also are very finicky about power supplies beyond what similar boards need, among other things. Used to be my runner-up to DFI, starting to think they're too much trouble.
 
welp, im going to give the EPoX EP-9NDA3J a whirl with a Venice +3200 and see how it works out.
 
Aaron_ATX said:
welp, im going to give the EPoX EP-9NDA3J a whirl with a Venice +3200 and see how it works out.
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I absolutely LOVE that board.....well i hav its older brother, the EPoX 9NDA3+ which comes with ramsinks, round cables, and a magnetic screwdriver.....its a very nice overclocker, i hav my winnie 3000+ @ 2.6ghz (290*9) and it runs perfectly stable ;) you wont regret it
 
probably because he got it before pci-e, or some random events of action lead him to get agp. either way, it doesn't matter ;)

if you're on a budget, and still considering oc'ing a bit, the epox board is an awesome choice.
also, how old is that corsair.. and what model?
 
I bought an AGP card because I wanted to upgrade my current system...and then when I did that I decided what the hell, i'll go all out. If AGP is unsupported in future generations, well then, owell, i'll buy new stuff.


My corsair ram is CMX512-3200C2PRO...the black ones, been using them in my current rig for the last few years. I'm getting mixed feelings from the web as to how well it will work with this setup i'll be building this weekend. I guess i'll find out the hard way.
 
Goddamnit, I read "doublethink" in the title and thought you were making reference to the book "1984"

As for your original question, go with the Epox, I've used both and found the EpoX to be a more stable board
 
Aaron_ATX said:
I bought an AGP card because I wanted to upgrade my current system...and then when I did that I decided what the hell, i'll go all out. If AGP is unsupported in future generations, well then, owell, i'll buy new stuff.
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if it was really recently take it back, or exchange it.
 
I dont really have a [H]ardon for SLI just yet. It isnt anywhere near cost effective to me, and I havent seen a benchmark that makes me think there is much performance difference between agp and pci (the same cards at least) yet.
 
Screw the nil performance difference between pci-e and agp. Just get a pci-e x800xl if you can because it'll let you go with DFI's latest offerings. Oddly enough, switching video cards should give you a better chance of higher oc's.
 
Aaron_ATX said:
That last little bit of overclocking isnt worth the hassle either :)
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What he and I was trying to say is get a PCI-E card so you can get a much better board. You going with AGP will limit you and you will lose at least 30% performace. If you can take that card back do it and get a PCI-E card

And what does SLI have to do with PCI vs AGP?
 
Andrew_Carr - I do appreciate the input.


Whitewolf - I was assuming the original suggestion to buy a PCI board was based on the ability to eventually run 2 cards in SLI (obviously i'd have to get an nvidia card). I was unaware that a PCI mobo is just considered "better" for overclocking when compared to AGP. Parts should be here today, I guess we'll find out :cool:
 
Thanks for clearing that up. It's what I was trying to say: get a non-sli DFI nf4 board for the performance. Better overclocks, voltage, and bios options 4tw :)
 
Whitewolf said:
What he and I was trying to say is get a PCI-E card so you can get a much better board. You going with AGP will limit you and you will lose at least 30% performace. If you can take that card back do it and get a PCI-E card
Click to expand...

Funny that I've never heard anything that would even suggest that has a valid basis before.

There's no advantadge in either direction between the same card on AGP vs. PCI-E.
 
The most important aspect of the PCI-e and AGP discussion is, to me, that the next generation of GPU/VPUs will probably be PCI-e only.

By sticking with AGP you are likely to limit your future upgrade options. This is one of the main reasons for my Nvidia Gf6800GT (AGP) switch to ATI X800XL (PCI-e).

I bought a S939 A64 Venice 3000+ at the same time - for its lower power usage and temps (read: overclockability), SSE3 and Dual channel abilities.

At the same time I'm getting an ABIT AX8; because I've had good experiences with their KV8 pro motherboards.

I haven't received the parts yet, but I'm expecting a smooth system :)
 
Only reason I bothered with PCI-E is that I needed a new vid card anyway, if not I would have stuck with an AGP supporting board. Although it'll be nicer in a month or so when DFI's nF3 939 AGP board hits the market.
 
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