A few OC questions...

[zerga]

I think I may plan on overclocking a 3200+ to save money rather than purchase a FX-55. Now I know everyone here says, "Go with the 3200+ and save lots of cash!" However, if the performance margin on the FX-55 is pretty significant, I would really like to purchase the best chip I can, as I won't be upgrading for a good 3 years. So if someone can give me an answer to weather or not an overclocked 3200/3500 at 2.6GHZ perform the same in all areas of computing (multi-tasking, boot times, gaming , ect.), I would be quite appreciative. Does overclocking reduce the life-span of a chip, will it die in a year or two? Are there frequent system crashes when you are overclocked? Can you leave you computer on all the time when overclocked? Will there be a rise in heat and noise level due to the need to cool down an overclocked chip? OCZ or Ballistix better for overclocking? What would be the point of getting a 3500+ if you can overclock a 3200+ to the same 2.6ghz speed? Lastly, would a 430W Antec PSU be sufficient?
Thanks for any responses as this is a very big deal to me becuase I won't be upgrading for a good 3 years and would like to spend my money accordingly.

List of other parts:
AMD 64 90nm 3200+ or 3500+
XP-90 with Panaflo 92mm and AS5
MSI K8N Neo 2 platinum
OCZ 3200 EL Platinum Edition Revision 2
Geforce 6800GT (Planning to overclock it to ultra speeds) with NV Silencer 5
74gb Raptor (74gb is enough room for me)
Audigy 2 Platinum
Antec 1080AMG Plus with 430W TruePower PSU

 

[Zebo]

So if someone can give me an answer to weather or not an overclocked 3200/3500 at 2.6GHZ perform the same in all areas of computing (multi-tasking, boot times, gaming , ect.),
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No, you need a 3200 winch at 2700Mhz to equal FX-55
But I seriously doubt you'll notice without benching side by side.





Does overclocking reduce the life-span of a chip, will it die in a year or two?
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Not the way you will. ~Default voltage and ~2600mhz speeds
these chips are rated for 100,000 hours anyway....hint that's a long long long time...


Are there frequent system crashes when you are overclocked?
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Only if your not prime95 stable. I've never crashed after overclock is completed and tested.

Can you leave you computer on all the time when overclocked?
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Yes Its the same and leaving it on non-overclcoked.



Will there be a rise in heat and noise level due to the need to cool down an overclocked chip?
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Yes. More Mhz, means more current, means more cooling capacity needed. Either from a better HSF or higher rpms on existing fan.

OCZ or Ballistix better for overclocking?
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Ballistix under 260 bus speed
OCZ rev2 above 260 Bus speed.

What would be the point of getting a 3500+ if you can overclock a 3200+ to the same 2.6ghz speed?
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None.


Lastly, would a 430W Antec PSU be sufficient?
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I only like antec cases (rebadged chemmings/cheiftechs)...PSUs are kinda lame for overclocking.

 

[Zebo]

Don't be fooled by whatever AMD or Intel decides to call, rate and charge for thier chips. They are all the same chip, produced the same way, and in my experiance, like every single time, I buy the lowest/cheapest chip in the itereation and bring it up to the highest/most expensive in the series.

For example. Buy a presscot 3.0 bring it to a 3.8. Buy a Barton 2500 and bring it to 3200..

IMO this is'nt even overclcoking but good shopping.

It's after this point you should be concerned and educate yourself fully. I think a safe overclock for a beginner is get the 3000 A64 and put it at 2400Mhz on default volts...just like the 3800/4000/3400 and FX-53 is

 

[zerga]

Thanks a lot for your input guys =] I decided to go for the 3500+ with a XP-90 and Panaflo 92mm. This leaves me the option of overclocking or not because I've heard that the 3500+ is just fine at stock speeds. Again, thanks for your help on making my purchase =]

 

[AristoV300]

Good choice of chip and cooling.