Best RAM for an AMD System & Best Overcloking

[GML3G0]

I'm debating between the Winchester 3000+ and 3200+. Also which is better RAM for overclocking and for best performance: Crucial Ballistix PC3200, Ballistix 4000, or Corsair XMS 3200XL? The PC4000 has higher timings. Is the Shin-Etsu stuff here at Monarch where they install everything for $18 good? Well, better yet, between everything I have listed, what should I get. I want around 2.2GHz to 2.4GHZ after overclocking. Silent Boost K8 good?

I am completely perplexed on what to do.

Will be getting an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum.

Will the 3000+ bottleneck an MSI X800 Pro ViVo?

Note: Also debating between Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB and WD Raptor 74GB. I don't need more space than that.

 

[ts3433]

Any of the Winchesters should reach 2.4GHz very easily, and usually top out at 2.6 or 2.7 with today's boards and coolers.

Look at the 939 memory thread at the top of this forum to see if you feel TCCD or other high-end RAM is worth it to you.

The Silent Boost is a Thermaltake, so it's probably okay, but you'll probably have better results (from either a noise or pure temp standpoint) if you look at offerings from Zalman (7000, 7700) and Thermalright (XP-90, XP-120; these you buy your own fan for).

You may be slightly bottlenecked at the lower resolutions unless you overclock the CPU (what Winchester owner doesn't?).

 

[GML3G0]

Would the CNPS7000-Cu be sufficient enough to cool? How far of an overclock do you think I would get from each processor? I don't want to break 50C.

 

[Zebo]

Best ram in my experiance is crucial ballistix. It allows tight timings up to 245Mhz (2.5-2-2) which trumps TCCD ram's high bandwidth 1:1 in my testing sticked to this forum. Course the price premium for all this stuff is a waste. 100% more money for 5-10% gains and only while gaming? Poor value IMO. You're much better off buying some muskin PC3200 $130 2x512 and running async no matter how you overclcok.

 

[Zebo]

My suggestion is get the 3200 set bus to 240 and memsetting to 166 = 200Mhz ram speed which muskin can run @2-3-2 or maybe even 2-2-2.

Alternativly, if you insist on high performance ram, get the 3200 set bus to 240 and ballistix run 1:1 @2.5-2-2.

 

[GML3G0]

OK. Thanks for the RAM advice. I'll get 1GB of Crucial Ballistix PC3200 DDR400. Now about the coooling... Anyone have the Zalman CNPS7000-Cu with an overclocked Winchester 3000+? What are your temps?

 

[modalone]

I'm running a 3000+ with the Zalman CNPS7000-AlCu.

Idle temp = 35C
Maximum Observed Load temp (Prime95 Big In Place FFTs) = 51C

My Current Settings
FSB = 245MHz
HT = 4x
Memory Ratio 1:1
CPU Multiplier = 9X

I'd like to get my system going faster but I haven't had any luck yet.

 

[GML3G0]

So I should be easily be able to hit 2.4GHz with a Winchester 3200+ with a Zalman CNPS7000-Cu and Arctic Silver 5 with temperatures under 50C, correct? The Crucial Ballistix DDR400 should still have tight timing at that speed. That shouldn't bottleneck an ATI X800 Pro, will it?

Also, how would I go about applying AS5? Just put a half a grain sized portion of AS5 on the CPU and then put the HSF on top? Would I have to spread it evenly myslelf, or would the pressure appled by the HSF do that for me?

EDIT: Also is this RAM good? Will it have tight timings at around 245MHz FSB? It is nearly $100 cheaper than the Ballistix.

 

[imported_Bleh]

Yes, no it shouldnt bottleneck the card, and let pressure do the work.

 

[GML3G0]

Monarch computer will intall the stuff for me and comes with HL2 and Far Cry free which is why I wanna buy from them. They are installing a crappy AMD Certified HSF (nickel plated or w/e it is). How do I pry that off? Just release the retention clips and lift it off?

Does thermal paste "glue" the HSF to the CPU?

 

[ts3433]

Thermal paste/grease doesn't do that, but thermal adhesive would.

 

[GML3G0]

They are offering Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease. How does this stuff compare to Arctic Silver 5. If it's like 1C difference, I really don't mind. So, FINAL QUESTION is, do you think a Winchester 3000+ on stock cooling with that Shin-Etsu stuff and the retail fan and Crucial Ballistix DDR400 will overclock. The max temperature I want is 50C, maybe 53C TOPS. How long will it cut my processor's life by? What is an estimate of what my timings will be. Will an Antec True480 be enough?

So far this is other stuff I plan to get if it helps in addressing the question:
Case: Lian-Li PC60
Video Card: MSI RX800 Pro ViVo.
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
WD Raptor 74GB

Oh, and 1 more thing, what about the same setup as above, except with a Silent Boost K8, the same thermal grease, and a Winchester 3200+? Is the Silent Boost K8 better than the stock and by how much?

 

[GML3G0]

Better yet, what's the best HSF on this page?

 

[GML3G0]

Bump. Oh, and forget about Crucial Ballistix, lol. I found Patriot DDR400 RAM with XBL for $30 less and similar timings. 2-2-2-5 up to 221MHz and 2.5-3-3-6 at 250MHz. I trust that Patriot is a good brand, even though it's not one of the "name brands."

 

[Zebo]

pdp xbl not as good as ballistix in my testing... TCCD simply can't compete with Crucials low latency which is much more important it seems than bandwidth with sloppy 3-3-3 or 3-4-3 timming TCCD offers....there's a reason I sold my pair to tstep

 

[GML3G0]

This review says otherwise. And I'm talking about the PDP with 2-2-2-5 timings. Here.

 

[Zebo]

That's the ones I sold. ballistix does 2-2-2 up to 230Mhz 2.5-2-2 up to 245Mhz. TCCD can't touch that.