ABIT NF7 or NF7-S? And general help for overclocking newbie... :D

[JeffreyY]

Hey everyone, thinking about upgrading to Athlon XP Barton mobile. This would be my first time overclocking, and I'm not looking to push my CPU to the max. I would like to hit maybe 2.3-2.4Ghz though. I've seen a lot of people recommend the NF7-S, but I was wondering what advantages it has over the cheaper NF7? I think I read that the NF7-S has something called Soundstorm... would this be better than the SB Live Value that I have right now? I guess I'm just wondering if I need to spend the extra $20 or so for the S version.

Another question I have is regarding RAM. I've read a lot of the other threads but it hasn't really helped me to decide. Some people say while better RAM can yield better benchmarks, in actual usage you won't notice much of a difference. This person also said that Dual Channel isn't that important either, and suggested a single stick of 512MB vs 2 sticks of 256MB. When I read that I started considering the Kingston Value RAM, which is only $68 after rebate for a stick of 512MB. Other people have suggested Mushkin, OCZ... and said that dual channel is actually worth it, and RAM really matters.

My third question is regarding which mobile to get, the 2400+, 2500+, or 2600+? Currently at newegg I Think the 2400+ is $77, the 2500+ is $90, and the 2600+ is $99. I'm thinking about the 2400+ because of the price, but people seem to think the 2500+ or the 2600+ are the best bang for the buck.

My fourth concern is the cooling for overclocking. I am currently considering the Speeze Falconrock, which is only $11 at Newegg. I know people often recommend Thermalright solutions, but I'm looking to build a budget gaming PC and $50 seems like a lot to spend on cooling. Also people seem to have no problem with temperatures using the Speeze Falconrock. Once again, this will be my first overclock, so I'm not looking to push my CPU to its limits.

Lastly, since this will be my first overclocking experience, does anybody know of a guide that gives step by step instructions on how to go about this?

Any help would be appreciated... thanks!

 

[CheetahMk2]

I believe the standard version [NF7] lacks Soundstorm, SATA, and Firewire, so I'd say the $20 is well worth it. The Soundstorm chip is a seperate audio processor, the AC97 unit leeches off the CPU. Meaning, during a game up to 10% of the CPU could be wasted on audio. Soundstorm is a good buy. SATA and firewire are self explanatory.

As for RAM, if it is anything less than 5-10% don't worry about it. Get whatever is cheapest and allows you to upgrade later on. Usually the highest your mobo can go is the best bet : ) You always want FSB as high as it can go, and from the sounds of it, you are going to try unlocking the Barton and setting it to what you want. I'd say go for the fastest FSB you can. Dual Channel... I have no comment. Never used it personally. Get whatever suits your budget is what I'd say. Reason they say OCZ, etc is that usually those modules can be overclocked more. If I had gotten OCZ 2700, chances are I could have gotten it to go 200mhz. With a generic, you usually can't.

As for the processor to get, make sure you don't accidentally get a superlocked one... I have been hearing various reports on that. Supposedly with mobiles you can just unlock them with the PIN trick, but it is *different* on nForce2 motherboards. That's all I know.

As for the heatsink, DO NOT CHEAP OUT! That is a really major part, and eye candy is never worth it. [What does 'Speeze' make you think of? Thermalright makes me think of a block of solid copper]. If you are worried about price, get something like a SK-7. That's what I have, it's probably around $15 by now. I got it on sale for that much a year ago. That allowed me to clock my 1533mhz T-bred 1800+ to 2200. Also, if noise is a concern, you can buy adapters to fit larger, quieter fans on it. Or, you can do what I did and put something with a temperature PROBE [Smart Case Fan II] on the CPU, and hook the probe into the heasink. When you are gaming it automatically speeds up, when idling it slows down.

BTW: Don't trust Newegg comments : ) They are a business and they openly state they only place POSITIVE comments. Occasionally you'll run across someone who rates it a 5 and writes 'It totally sucks, I rated it a 5 to avoid moderation'. Take everything with a block of salt...

http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/socketA.asp
That's a pretty good guide for heatsinks.

 

[JeffCY]

Thanks Cheetah, gmail account for you if you want it. Helpful replies like this make anandtech great.

 

[CheetahMk2]

Don't mention it. I was looking for a mobo at the same time so I posted what I found form my research and personal experience.

 

[CraigRT]

can you by any chance tell me what the difference is between the AN7 and the NF7?

the AN7 is the newer one IIRC, but i haven't really heard ANYTHING about it. thought that was kinda strange.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
can you by any chance tell me what the difference is between the AN7 and the NF7?

the AN7 is the newer one IIRC, but i haven't really heard ANYTHING about it. thought that was kinda strange.

AN7 has the uguru feature

 

[SickBeast]

"S" is for "supa", that's good enough for me. :beer:

 

[mb2]

generic ram is also more likely to be incompatible or faulty..
you dont have to buy ram which is specifically made for OCing.. some 'normal' [read: not hyper-expensive] ram will overclock well; but u'd need to research and find out what to go for.. if your not wanting to push it to its limits.. then dont spend massive amounts on ram as some is verry expensive. you want something with CL 2.5 or below.. if you get atleast PC3200 value ram then you'd get 200mhz guaranteed and that is the fastest any stock processor runs on.
you dont need to use a pin trick with an NF7 or -S, [or any other cpu which you can set the multiplier] as all mobiles are fully unlocked, and you can set the multi in the bios. none are superlocked or even locked atall. its not different with NF2 except you have a PCI/AGP lock so they OC bettter.
personally i'd just get the NF7 (no S) as sata gives 0 speed advantage as of now, and the drives are a little more expensive than IDE. firewire i dont have a use for as 90% of things can and do use USB2.0.. and you already have a soundcard so you wouldn't need to use the onboard of the NF7; and you wouldn't lose CPU power therefore. i dont know if its better than the SB Live Value, perhaps have a look @ the reviews on newegg of both.. i doubt their'd be much in it.. the NF7s have 5.1 surround, i presume the SB live value does too?.

'Dual Channel isn't that important either, and suggested a single stick of 512MB vs 2 sticks of 256MB.'
whilst dual channel doesn't offer much performance increase, it does offer a little.. but not enough to justify any price increase; so if one 512 stick is cheaper (usually is) then thats the way to go. also means if u want to upgrade to 1gig then u'd get DC then, and have an extra slot left available.

'I would like to hit maybe 2.3-2.4Ghz though'
given that, get a 2400-m, it shouldn't be a problem with that.

i'd suggest the whisperRock rather than a falconrock, its quieter and a $ cheaper.. just as good AFAIK.. it should be adquate to get you to 2.3/2.4ghz.. and wont be such a stress on the motherboard, althought a thermalright (slk 900a/u is the highest one with any value) would be better.. but the mobiles produce less heat than the desktop bartons.. so heat isn't very often an issue.. the heatsink guide is good but it doesn't have the speeze, and it doesn't say what the min u need is. whilst newegg might filter out bad reviews, it doesn't make up good ones, and there are plenty of people OCing the XP-m there fine, so should be good for you too.

'Helpful replies like this make anandtech great.'
some of it is a little wrong and misguided.. as i've explained above^^

'can you by any chance tell me what the difference is between the AN7 and the NF7?'
dont know much about the AN7 as no-one seems to ever get them, but it doesn't OC as well as the NF7 i know that much. and its more expensive.

 

[Sylvanas]

the AN7 is an nforce 2 ultra 400 chipset.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: JeffreyY
Hey everyone, thinking about upgrading to Athlon XP Barton mobile. This would be my first time overclocking, and I'm not looking to push my CPU to the max. I would like to hit maybe 2.3-2.4Ghz though. I've seen a lot of people recommend the NF7-S, but I was wondering what advantages it has over the cheaper NF7? I think I read that the NF7-S has something called Soundstorm... would this be better than the SB Live Value that I have right now? I guess I'm just wondering if I need to spend the extra $20 or so for the S version.


It's alright but the DFI Ultra Infinity is better for what you have in mind, overclocking. With these chips high FSB is king, I've tested superpi at same processor speeds and came up 2 seconds faster with 225 FSB vs. 200. 225 is almost impossible with current Abit's, they have cheapened this board up a bit with smaller mosfets, less capacitors and it has power issues when monster overclocking. DFI does this speed out of the box.

Another question I have is regarding RAM. I've read a lot of the other threads but it hasn't really helped me to decide. Some people say while better RAM can yield better benchmarks, in actual usage you won't notice much of a difference. This person also said that Dual Channel isn't that important either, and suggested a single stick of 512MB vs 2 sticks of 256MB. When I read that I started considering the Kingston Value RAM, which is only $68 after rebate for a stick of 512MB. Other people have suggested Mushkin, OCZ... and said that dual channel is actually worth it, and RAM really matters.

Faster the better. And dual channel makes a 5% difference. Kingston Value RAM is the best choice. You can look through the packages until you find one with Hynix BT-D43 chips, which are capable of 270MHz using 4-4-3. Just awesome and found on expensive PC4200 modules..what a steal.

My third question is regarding which mobile to get, the 2400+, 2500+, or 2600+? Currently at newegg I Think the 2400+ is $77, the 2500+ is $90, and the 2600+ is $99. I'm thinking about the 2400+ because of the price, but people seem to think the 2500+ or the 2600+ are the best bang for the buck.

2600 no question. My chips do 2.6 with only 1.75V and 2.7 with only 1.81

My fourth concern is the cooling for overclocking. I am currently considering the Speeze Falconrock, which is only $11 at Newegg. I know people often recommend Thermalright solutions, but I'm looking to build a budget gaming PC and $50 seems like a lot to spend on cooling. Also people seem to have no problem with temperatures using the Speeze Falconrock. Once again, this will be my first overclock, so I'm not looking to push my CPU to its limits.

HSF are way overrated, you're pretty wise to realize that already..took me about 10 years of messing with this stuff to realize it. Air flow and the TIM is key... I do recommend copper HSF Speeze makes though..only $5 more and cools a bit better. Actually try that all AL falcon rock..my sons 2400 is 2.34Ghz on a $8 dynatron copper HSF.

Lastly, since this will be my first overclocking experience, does anybody know of a guide that gives step by step instructions on how to go about this?


I had a guide here (for the NF7-S and AN35N) lemme see If I can hunt it down.

Any help would be appreciated... thanks!