AMD X2 4000+ AM2

[christopherzombie]

So I just ordered a AM2 X2 4000+ (89w) from ZZF for $200.00. Everywhere else was either sold out or had it for almost double the ZZF price. I haven't ordered a mobo or RAM yet. I'm looking for suggestions. My mobo must be SLI.

1)Is EPP RAM worth it?
2)I plan on overclocking. Is lower timing pc6400 better than higher timing pc8000/8500?
3)Is a NF590 worth the price over a NF570?
4)I can't find any review links for an AM2 NF4 SLI mobo. How do they compare?
5)Will a Thermaltake Venus 12 HSF mount up to an AM2 socket?
6)Does the X2 4000+ come with the heatpipe HSF, and is this better than a Venus 12?

 

[stevty2889]

1. EPP?? do you mean ECC?
2. Neither will make a huge differace, go with which ever costs less
3. Don't know
4. Compare in what way? overclockability? features?
5. Don't know
6. Don't know if it comes with the heatpiped cooler my guess would be no, but the heatpiped cooler works pretty well, my older 4200+ is running at 2.618ghz on the stock heatpiped heatsink, 51c max load.

 

[christopherzombie]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
1. EPP?? do you mean ECC?
2. Neither will make a huge differace, go with which ever costs less
3. Don't know
4. Compare in what way? overclockability? features?
5. Don't know
6. Don't know if it comes with the heatpiped cooler my guess would be no, but the heatpiped cooler works pretty well, my older 4200+ is running at 2.618ghz on the stock heatpiped heatsink, 51c max load.

EPP = Enhanced Performance Profiles

I guess I?m looking for somebody's opinion that has a little bit of experience with the AM2 platform. I'm planning on a 266x9 overclock for every day use. Which mobo's can handle a 266mhzx4 RAM/FSB.

I'm considering these three mobos:
ASUS M2N SLI DX (570) - $150.00
ABIT AN9 32X SLI (590) - $177.00
MSI K9N SLI (570) - $140.00

 

[imported_inspire]

Well, my M2N-E has a 'max HTT' (see Zebo's guide) of 318 MHz. But, I see you're going for SLi. I'd stick with Asus, if it were me, though.

As for HSFs, I love my Scythe Mine.

 

[OBCT]

Just purchased the same processor, also from ZZF. I have some DDR2-800 Ballistix ready for it, haven't picked out a mobo yet.

Let me know how your OC efforts are, I'm curious how the larger cache models OC.

 

[cmrmrc]

1)No
2)No higher timing PC8000/8500 is better since you can get the memory frequency alot higher
3)No
4)I don't know
5)Yes
6)No and the performance is similar under same noise level...it is better when turned to med or high....but very noisy

 

[christopherzombie]

Thanks for the input.

My ideal system would be with the Asus NF590 mobo and Corsair PC8500C5 EPP, but the Abit NF590 board is much cheaper. And I?ll settle for either Geil or Crucial PC8000 RAM. I?ve never used either of these brands before, but both are $50.00 cheaper. I?ll have to check the compatibility list for whatever mobo I pick. I'm trying to keep the combined cost of mobo and RAM under $325.00.

Now that I alreay have a X2 w/ 2x1MB cache, I can wait a few weeks. I was just worried that these AM2 4000+'s would all be sold out before I had decided on the rest of the upgrade parts.

 

[cmrmrc]

i would say that the extra 512k cache isnt really worth it...but i know that some people really like to have one with 1mb cache for a few more bucks and i understand...

 

[christopherzombie]

X2 3800+ $150.00
X2 4000+ $180.00

I paid $200.00, but the Allstar Shop got them in stock for $20.00 less. I think that an extra $30-$50 is worth it for a bit more cache. Plus AMD is going to discontinue these very soon. The FX will be the only one w/ 2x1MB.

 

[OBCT]

The extra cache might not be worth it, who knows? But you can adjust the clock frequency if you want more speed, but you can't adjust the cache if you want more later. And the extra cache helps when watching/editing videos, I've heard.

 

[Captante]

I just RMA'ed my M2N-E because its maximum vdimm is 1.95v & even with Corsair XMS 6400 which is rate at 1.9v, it was incapable of stable operation at DDR2-800. I ordered the MSI K9N Platinum board to replace it & I'll report back to let you know if its any better
in the overclocking department.

 

[cmdrdredd]

If it was Socket939 I'd say DFI...Why hasn't DFI released any good AM2 boards yet?

 

[Juppie]

1: Well there are a lot of possible settings, so maybe for that extra bit of stability.
2: on am2 i would go for cas4 pc6400 and overclock it from 533/667mhz on 3/3/3/9 to whatever you can get out of it. I have it runnin on 720mhz 3/3/3/9 (2.2v) on this speed i have to overclock my mb hypertraidingbus to 2250mhz so it wont limit the mems banthwith. thats why you should prefer better timinings already above more mhz.
3: The 590 has better support for sli (2x16pcix lanes), more biossettings. a little more voltage settings. I think a 570 is good enough for you (for me it is ). Good 570mb's are Asus m2n deluxe and gigabyte mcp57(something). Asus is the better one but also more expensive.
4: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102595 (nforce5!)
5: all 939 fans can be put on am2 (better than i thought it would rocksolid), the rest depends on the motherboard design. I think it will fit on all but maybe the cheapest boards.
6: It does not come with a heatpipe fan! looks a bit worse than the Opteron fans, but the cpu also runs cooler. It runs cooler than my opteron at the same voltage, on my watercooler (both fans not tested). Only worry for overclocking is for the motherboard with their passive cooling. I would make a nice 12cm blowin on it (if i hadn't had watercooling).

For overclocking it is a breeze. Feels like a big step into the next generation.
I would recommend it over the e6300 (same pricerange). Clocks above fx62 level are easy.