Athlon 64 new build questions

[DeckardBlade]

Hey, it's been a long time since I put together a new system (4 or so years), I'm looking at the Athlon 64 3000 as my upgrade solution but I have not built a PC from the ground up that wasn't a P3 or lower, or a thunderbird or lower. The memory I have selected I feel comfortable with, unless there are any other reccomendations, I'm looking for motherboard, powersupply, and HSF (compound reccomendation as well please) suggestions.

I will most likely go with an Antec PSU but if anyone has a different suggestion and reason for choosing differently I am open to any advice I can get.

I am not looking to overclock, but I would like as fast a preforming system as I can get with stock settings. I game avidly and then just typical PC usage.

I read the review of the AOpen motherboard but am not really looking to overclock, the cost of the motherboards I have listed is really not an issue. I'm more concerned with stability and preformance and would like to meet that requirement first before anything else. I'm not set in stone on any of the boards I'm currently considerring but if you have an alternate suggestion I would like to know the reasons for it (so I can make a better decision myself).

Also, I would like to purchase all of my parts from the same vendor (newegg ideally).

Memory consideration:
Kingston HyperX Series Dual Kits 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-2700

Motherboard considerations:
ECS SiS 755 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU, Model "755-A" -RETAIL
Shuttle nForce3 150 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU, Model "AN50R" -RETAIL
ASUS K8T800 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU, Model "K8V Deluxe" -RETAIL

(Yes this is not a complete system, but I only need suggestions on what I have listed)

Thank you in advance,
DB

 

[LasombraB]

I'm going to be doing the same thing you are. I'm using the ASUS K8V Deluxe motherboard, and an Antex TurePower 480W power supply.

 

[DeckardBlade]

Have you decided on what HSF you'll be using for your CPU?

Also, what factors made you choose the ASUS board?

Thanks in advance,
DB

 

[LasombraB]

I'm either going to use the Retail HSF, or a Zalman CPU Cooler. The reasons I choose ASUS was because of the companies rep and the performance of the board. Also I looked at couple of the Gaming Computer companies such as Falcon-NW, Alienware, VoodooPC, and ABS. I believe all but one of them used the ASUS K8V Deluxe in their Athlon 64 systems. Hopefully I will be ordering my MB/CPU/Ram next week.

 

[Yossarian]

My system is working quite nicely (see sig). The MSI board is good.

 

[Cerb]

I'd go with the 755-A2 ECS board, but not A.
If you want to buy right now, Asus.

 

[DeckardBlade]

Cerb, my prior system burned out (several days ago). Otherwise I would play the waiting game or would be more inclined to. Currently using a very old laptop at home and I am itching to get off that asap.

Do you know when the revised ECS board is expected to be released, and what reasons do you have for reccomending it? Preformance? I do recall reading that the 755-A was a good preformer - would you expect the revision to outpreform the ASUS? And if so by what kind of margin?

Thank you for your help thus far; looking forward to more input.
DB

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: DeckardBlade
Cerb, my prior system burned out (several days ago). Otherwise I would play the waiting game or would be more inclined to. Currently using a very old laptop at home and I am itching to get off that asap.

Do you know when the revised ECS board is expected to be released, and what reasons do you have for reccomending it? Preformance? I do recall reading that the 755-A was a good preformer - would you expect the revision to outpreform the ASUS? And if so by what kind of margin?

Thank you for your help thus far; looking forward to more input.
DB

The newer ECS one should be shipping now by all accounts. The first one wouldn't run RAM at 200MHz. Also, my experience with ECS boards, mainly yhe K7S5A and it's SiS740 variant, have shown them to be mcuh less quirky with newer revisions.
If your PC burned out, just go with the Asus. There's nothing special about the SiS board aside from price, socketted ATA connectors, and an AGP/PCI lock.
Allegedly the 755-A2 BIOS works and brings it up to working with PC3200...but...um...

 

[KnightPalatine]

Go with PC3200 (400MHz) or PC3500 (433MHz) RAM.

PC2700 runs at 333MHz; the memory controller on the Athlon 64 is 400MHz. You'll have a memory bottleneck with PC2700. If you're not planning to overclock, PC3200 probably is fine. PC3500 may give you a few more options for fine-tuning even at stock speed, and isn't much more expensive than PC3200.

I've got the AOpen AK86-L (VIA) on its way to me from mwave right now. I'm going to hold off on the CPU for a few days, to see if reports of an AMD price cut on the 15th are true. If so, that probably woud drop the A64 3000+ below $200. For RAM, I'll probably go with one gig (2x512MB) Kingston HyperX PC3500.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Definitely forget the dual kit 2700DDR as it will hold back performance. Just get solid 3200DDR, I recommend the Buffalo CAS 2.5@Newegg because timings make very little difference on the A64 so paying for more expensive tighter timing 3200DDR when you don't intend to overclock is unnecessary. The retail cooler with the A64 is excellent for stock speeds so don't bother getting another. Here's the stock cooler and if you'll notice they use Shin-Etsu G751 so do not let anyone convince you to scrape it off! 2 reasons, one is that it's excellent compound, the second is that it will protect your 3yr warranty

 

[DeckardBlade]

Thanks Knight and Dapunisher.

Dapunisher,

In looking at the Buffalo memory I came across a few things. First of all this is what I initially would be going with (2):
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM

But then I see several different listings with Samsung and Micron modules, sorry to ask - I haven't built with DDR before; so what's the difference in preformance and stability?

Links..
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 512MB DDR SDRAM PC-3200 w/ Micron Module - OEM
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 w/ Samsung Module - OEM

I had preferred to use the retail HSF, thank you for giving me added reason to.

Thanks for the info and help so far guys,
DB

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'd go with Samsung TCCC chips of the 2. I use Apacer 3200DDR with Samsung TCC4 and it'll run 440DDR 3-3-3-7 2.8v or 400DDR 2.5-3-3-6 2.6v on my A64 system solid and stable. Honestly the difference in timings between it's SPD of 3-3-3-7 and 2.5-3-3-6@400DDR was basically indistinguishable so even the Micron should be great for running stock speed. I've just always had great results from Samsung when using inexpensive ram so that's my first choice.

 

[Doggiedog]

The standard HSF on my A64 was so noisy, I took it off, got a 70-90mm adapter and put a Panaflo on it.

Its much quieter now and I'm getting about 35c temps from 40c.

 

[JulesMaximus]

If you are getting the Asus board I would look at the online manual for an up-to-date list of recommended memory modules and configurations especially with PC3200. I had problems running 2 x 512MB Corsair XMS PC3200 memory in my board set to auto. I had to manually bump up the voltage to 2.7 to get it running stable. Very frustrating and it took me a couple days and lots of searching before I found someone with any decent suggestions on how to overcome this problem.

I love the A64 though, it is very fast even on a 32 bit OS running 32 bit programs. Much faster than a comparably rated (at least by AMDs rating system) Barton.

I went with the stock cooler. It is a very good cooler and I can't hear it over my Antec true 430, the case fans or my RAID array anyway.

 

[LasombraB]

I was looking at getting Corsair XMS PC-3200 1GB (2x512MB). Is the good memory to get for an Athlon 64 3200+?

 

[WebDude]

As far as the PSU goes, I gotta plug the ENERMAX Noisetaker Series EG475P-VE-SFMA NewEgg linkie It has 2 separate 12v rails, adjustable fan speed, 2 sata power connectors. (The spec.'s on NewEgg's main page are a bit misleading. View the "other images" and you will see on the label that there are 2 +12v ratings, one rail is 15a, the other 16a. That would be the equivalent of a 31a combined +12v rail.) In use I find to be very quiet.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
The standard HSF on my A64 was so noisy, I took it off, got a 70-90mm adapter and put a Panaflo on it.

Its much quieter now and I'm getting about 35c temps from 40c.

Mine was quiter than my case fans@3300rpm.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: LasombraB
I was looking at getting Corsair XMS PC-3200 1GB (2x512MB). Is the good memory to get for an Athlon 64 3200+?

I've seen some posts around the web of compatability issues between XMS and some A64 setups but can't say for certain what you can expect. If you plan to overclock or don't mind shelling out serious extra cash for the tighter timings then go for it

 

[DeckardBlade]

Thanks Dapunisher, I will likely go with the samsung variety.

Doggiedog, my last PC (and current ragtag crew of forgotten joys) are far from quiet so I don't think it will be a major issue for me. Did the panaflo HSF manage heat better or were they about even? What were your temps before switching?

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
The standard HSF on my A64 was so noisy, I took it off, got a 70-90mm adapter and put a Panaflo on it.

Its much quieter now and I'm getting about 35c temps from 40c.

Mine was quiter than my case fans@3300rpm.

If someone puts a panaflo on there due to noise, there is a very small chance they have anything at as high as 3300 RPM.

 

[dguy6789]

The best socket 754 mainboard out is the Chaintech ZNF3-150. It has pretty much every feature and the best performance. It also has AGP/PCI lock for the overclockers out there.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I should have clearified that Cerb, I meant the CPU fan was@3300rpm and very quiet. Puuting a Panaflo on is even better of course, and personally I'd have no qualms about putting the retail fan back on it and RMAing if the CPU died because that couldn't be considered a factor in the death IMHO. Based on my experience it's not a noisy fan though but I understand others are more sensitized to noise than myself. Afterall, I live with a 3 1/2yr old

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
The best socket 754 mainboard out is the Chaintech ZNF3-150. It has pretty much every feature and the best performance. It also has AGP/PCI lock for the overclockers out there.

The NForce3 has shown not to have a PCI lock. IIRC, the frequency wouldn't go above 36MHz, but it is not locked, and NVidia never said it was, IIRC. SiS has it as a feature of the chipset. if you're not interested in OCing, no big deal, but if you are, and are using timing-sensitive devices (I imagine most PCI capture cards would be), then...

 

[Caminetto]

Even if you are intending to run stock speed, shouldn't good but inexpensive pc3200 ram from Apacer, Buffalo, Kingmax enable you to tweak and overclock just enough to give you perhaps as much as a 10% boost on those A64"s?

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: DeckardBlade
Thanks Dapunisher, I will likely go with the samsung variety.

Doggiedog, my last PC (and current ragtag crew of forgotten joys) are far from quiet so I don't think it will be a major issue for me. Did the panaflo HSF manage heat better or were they about even? What were your temps before switching?

With my original HSF I was getting 40-42c temps. When I switched to the Panaflo with adapter, I was getting 44c temps. I flipped the fan over and its down to 35c. I guess the HS for the A64 is different from the one on my Tbrd B 1700.

I've replaced the fan in my PC with quiet ones but I've still got the HDDs to deal with. The Seagate SATA Barracuda in the PC is very quiet but the mishmash of WDC, Maxtor and IBM HDDs are quite noisy.