Best Value Overclocking CPU?

[TekDemon]

I'm finally getting that itch to build a new gaming rig again...I've been using my laptop for the last year or so, but running Doom3 on it makes me want to cry (I ran it on my old desktop back home and it's not even close on the laptop...).

Of course this brings me to an issue...money. I don't really want to spend that much on my new rig, and so I will yet again resort to overclocking. I've had lousy experiences the last couple of times I've tried, but can still remember back in 1998 or 1999 when my PIII 550E (slot1 version w/higher default voltage than the socket) went to 842Mhz on the stock heatsink (although I never ran it long like this...I installed my Alpha cooler shortly after heh). Those were the days...*sigh*

Anyway, the P4 1.6A Northwood I bought ended up not overclocking to much of anything at all unlike the ones many other people got =( Then the 2.4 I replaced it with hasn't fared much better.

Now, I know this isn't the days of old so I can't really expect the insane kind of gains (short of exotic cooling), and I'd like to stick with air cooling, but which Intel and which AMD processor is the best overclocker now? Steppings, etc? I can't seem to find any websites with details on this type of stuff =(

And between the best valued overclocking Intel CPU and the best valued overclocking AMD CPU, which one wins the performance war and which wins the price war? I'd like to know all this info before starting down this build.

I've pretty much decided on the video card though, most likely an X800 Pro VIVO which I will then reflash and attempt to make into an Xt =) Of course if it takes me longer than expected to get the money and those new SLI nvidia's come out then maybe I'll change cards =P

So...gimme some info =)

 

[Blain]

Overclocking price/performance, hands down... XP-M 35W or 45W Bartons!

 

[stelleg151]

Im in the same situation as you are, and the two candidates for me are the Intel 2.4C and the AMD 64 3000+. They are reasonable close in price, the 3000+ being a little more expensive. Generally the new 64's smoke the P4's in gaming, and lots of other stuff as well.

Ive checked out the OCing on both of them and as of now it seems that the highest you can get a 3000+ to is around the 3400+ 3500+ and maybe even 3700+ level. It was a little unclear to me how much could be done with stock cooling and voltage, but I think it was close.

The OC on the 2.4 is even more impressive, reaching to 3.3Ghz easily on stock cooling and voltage, and up to around 3.8 with hardcore cooling.

The question that im not sure about is how much difference the FSB with high bandwidth ram will make. At 3.3Ghz, the P4 is at 275 FSB ( Dont worry I will get Abit IC7-G) , where as the highest ive seen the FSB on the 3000+ is 227, and that was with upped voltage.

So after all of that consideration, the 2.4c being easier to overclock, and when OCed having a huge FSB, that matched with some DDR550 I would think would do some damage. Then theres the 64 bit 3000+, that is part of the family that dominates in gaming, and has a reasonably impressive overclockability, although I'm under the impression that more voltage and cooling alterations are needed.

So my two main questions are,
1. Should DDR 450 and 550 be used with these OCed systems to create a 1:1 ratio, or should something like a 5:4 ratio be used and why?

2. OC a 2.4C or a Athlon 64 3000+? (and yes, I am going to be using this sytem mostly for games)

 

[orion7144]

I recommend the 2.4C due to the higher FSB you can reach. When I briefly had my A64 (sold it) the 2.4C rigs I have had better results and the A64 did not even come close to the 2.8e @ 3.6 that I have in my main rig.

People fail to take into consideration the HT that the P4 has. If ALL you are going to do is play games than yes the AMD solution is for you but if you do anything else the P4 is the hands down winner. You can be folding (or other DC projects) and not mis a beat if you are doing something eles. Heck I even play Doom3 while folding and my framerates only drop 3-5fps.

 

[carlosd]

Whatever you overclock the 2.4C The A64 3000+ will have better performance just a little overclocked. Its seems that you are still getting impressed with clock speeds. Just go for that 3000+. The performance and the price battle aro won all by AMD. The best OC processor is Athlon XP 2500+ and only cost around US$80. The P4C overcloks well, but they are not worth it, because a cheaper A64 will always beat them, overcloking or not ovrclocking both.


Yeah, orion overcloked his P4E to 3.6, but he must be using watercooling, just remember that presscots get VERY HOT!! And the P4s don't win hands down anything, maybe they win against stock A64 when you overclock them a lot. Anyway overclocked A64s beat overclocked P4s.

 

[nick1985]

mobile barton!