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- Jun 3, 2003
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Okay, a big toe, because I'm building an Athlon X2 system. I'm getting an X2 4400+, but I want to be able to OC it to 2.4 Ghz. I know such things are never garuanteed, but I don't want my other components to hold me back.
Right now I'm looking at two motherboards...
MSI K8N Neo4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130468
MSI K89 Neo2 Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130468
The obvious difference: One uses NForce4 Ultra with PCIe, and one uses NForce3 Ultra with AGP. AGP will allow me to even use my current VGA card or some cheaper ones ($333 X800XT = tempting), but PCIe will allow for good upgradeability. The other is that the Neo4 can use SATA2, something that probably won't affect me on my budget right now but maybe later.
As I understand it both boards are good for overclocking. The thing is, I know that the mainstream enthusiast community right now is turning to DFI for their AMD o/cing needs. How much of a difference between the MSI and DFI boards is there? Something about the MSIs seems more attractive to me, especially the lack of funky psychadelic motherboard colors. Still, if DFI is that much better for o/cing, I might go for it.
Now onto memory. I'm leaning toward this Corsair stuff:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440
However, I know it's not o/cing RAM. I guess I've been spoiled by the DDR266 stuff that runs at DDR400 for years. Anyway, first to find a gig of o/cing ram under $100 wins.
I'm probably carrying over hard drives barring winning the lottery.
Video cards...
X800XL flavored...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131295
6800GT flavored...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130215
And the next nearest PCIe video card is the $469 ATI x850XT. Ugh, price gouging.
But then a sub-$400 X850XT? Pro for the Neo2
The X800XL appeals because of no power connector, nice price, beats the GT pretty handily. The GT appeals to me because if I manage to OC it appreciably I can call it an Ultra. How well does an XL o/c and how much of a return do you get from it?
PSU:
How's this? Antec TruePower II 480 Blue:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103930
Will its noise leve do justice to the P180's near silence?
Case: Antec P180 on the way
Any input whatsoever would be appreciated.
Oh, and by the way, how much would I be able to get on the fs/ft boards for a 9800 Pro with VGA Silencer? It can do 9800 XT speeds, and that was in my hot Sonata case. I don't have heat or any of those things that validates me though; it'd be a first time sale.
Right now I'm looking at two motherboards...
MSI K8N Neo4
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130468
MSI K89 Neo2 Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130468
The obvious difference: One uses NForce4 Ultra with PCIe, and one uses NForce3 Ultra with AGP. AGP will allow me to even use my current VGA card or some cheaper ones ($333 X800XT = tempting), but PCIe will allow for good upgradeability. The other is that the Neo4 can use SATA2, something that probably won't affect me on my budget right now but maybe later.
As I understand it both boards are good for overclocking. The thing is, I know that the mainstream enthusiast community right now is turning to DFI for their AMD o/cing needs. How much of a difference between the MSI and DFI boards is there? Something about the MSIs seems more attractive to me, especially the lack of funky psychadelic motherboard colors. Still, if DFI is that much better for o/cing, I might go for it.
Now onto memory. I'm leaning toward this Corsair stuff:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440
However, I know it's not o/cing RAM. I guess I've been spoiled by the DDR266 stuff that runs at DDR400 for years. Anyway, first to find a gig of o/cing ram under $100 wins.
I'm probably carrying over hard drives barring winning the lottery.
Video cards...
X800XL flavored...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131295
6800GT flavored...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130215
And the next nearest PCIe video card is the $469 ATI x850XT. Ugh, price gouging.
But then a sub-$400 X850XT? Pro for the Neo2
The X800XL appeals because of no power connector, nice price, beats the GT pretty handily. The GT appeals to me because if I manage to OC it appreciably I can call it an Ultra. How well does an XL o/c and how much of a return do you get from it?
PSU:
How's this? Antec TruePower II 480 Blue:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103930
Will its noise leve do justice to the P180's near silence?
Case: Antec P180 on the way
Any input whatsoever would be appreciated.
Oh, and by the way, how much would I be able to get on the fs/ft boards for a 9800 Pro with VGA Silencer? It can do 9800 XT speeds, and that was in my hot Sonata case. I don't have heat or any of those things that validates me though; it'd be a first time sale.