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noteworthy

Member
Hello!

I currently have the following system:
1800xp chip
512 ram pc2100
Soyo Dragon Plus 266a motherboard
80 gig ide wd hdd 8mb cache
9800pro 128mb

I'm looking at upgrading the motherboard/cpu/ram. Options are as follows:
A cheap a64 mobo with via chipset
2800 64bit processor
two 512 mb ram chips running single channel
Total - $480

OR

Asus A7n8x - Deluxe Mobo
Two 512 ram chips running dual channel
2500 barton.. OC it to 3200 by fsb to 400 instead of 333
WD Raptor 37 GB hdd

$475

What do you guys think? I think the hard drive and the fast processor are better than the a64 setup but I still am not for certain which I should go for... Also I was curious how much my current mobo/cpu will go for? $30-50? I'm thinking about putting the ram in my 2nd machine.
 
Originally posted by: noteworthy
Asus A7n8x - Deluxe Mobo
Two 512 ram chips running dual channel
2500 barton.. OC it to 3200 by fsb to 400 instead of 333
WD Raptor 37 GB hdd
Click to expand...

Take that right there, but instead make it a mobile barton 2400+. Those usually overclock higher than 2500+ desktop chips, plus their default voltages are lower (1.45 volts), so you have more headroom to raise the voltage, and they can take more heat than a desktop chip. And the multipliers are unlocked.

Should get a nice overclock out of it (people are overclocking them anywhere from 2.4 to 2.7 ghZ, 2.2 ghZ (3200+ speed) should be pretty easy). Plus, a mobile barton 2400+ is $78 from the Egg. There are also mobile 2500+ and 2600+ chips, but they all top out at about the same speed, so might as well save some money with the 2400+.

Good luck 🙂
 
Thanks for the responses.

I'm saving up money from graduation to upgrade my system. I have been researching the mobile processors and it looks like a good deal. I'd rather go ahead and upgrade this system and maybe 8 months down the road upgrade my other system to keep them in close spec.

The two hard drives would also allow me to boot the system and programs fast and have plenty of storage on the 2nd drive for my mpeg2 files off my replaytv.
 
Is your power supply pretty respectable? Don't want that being a fly in the ointment. Welcome to the Forums noteworthy 🙂
 
My power supply is an Allied 400w

One thing tho... I was thinking about keeping my current heatsink/fan combo.
It is a zalman copper flower heatsink for socket a motherboards/processors...
Using a zalman fan bracket I have a 120mm aluminum fan blowing on it - about 60cfm I think


On my 1800xp chip it keeps it around 43c. Will the mobile barton run cooler to allow me the 400bus OC and keep a good temp with my current HSF?

Oh.. and Thanks for the welcome! 😀
 
I would definately get the A64. Its way faster than any overclocked barton. I've got a barton at 2500 MHz and its barely fast enough to play Far Cry with high detail.
 
You can get this mobo, an Athlon 64 3000+ retail (from newegg), and Corsair value 2 X 512 MB PC-3200 (from newegg) all for $483. That would be a great setup. I wouldnt go for the raptor if you are on a budget. It is overrated.
 
I've read in several places the 2800 a64 chip beats the 3000 a64 chip. Even though it does have 1/2 the l2 cache the 3000 does have. The 3200 is much more than the 2800.
 
Well I'm torn between the two. I think I can save up enough to buy an Athlon64 system with a 3000 processor, 1 gig of cas2 mushkin ram, and a sis755-a2 chipset ecs motherboard... which I have read is particularly good even tho it is ecs.

What would be the benefit of waiting for the 939 socket platform to solidify? It should become available when I get enough funds to upgrade. What would be the advantage of going 939... as I'm sure it would raise the price of the upgrade by atleast 200 dollars.
 
the desktop 2500+ wont be overclocked to 3200+ that simply anymore. their locked and its hard to raise the fsb to near 200 anymore. also, unless you can afford to buy a new psu, dont get the mobiles, because you wont get much of an overclock out of it, so your best bet is to go for the a64. i say get a 3000+, Chaintech "VNF3-250" nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard, and 2x512MB Mushkin pc3200 ram, all for a little over $510
 
Originally posted by: Mik3y
the desktop 2500+ wont be overclocked to 3200+ that simply anymore. their locked and its hard to raise the fsb to near 200 anymore. also, unless you can afford to buy a new psu, dont get the mobiles, because you wont get much of an overclock out of it, so your best bet is to go for the a64. i say get a 3000+, Chaintech "VNF3-250" nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard, and 2x512MB Mushkin pc3200 ram, all for a little over $510
Click to expand...

The mobiles are overclocking great. But I do agree with you about getting an A64.
 
sorry, i meant to say that you wont get much of an overclock with the mobiles with what you currently have. you'll need good ram, 430W quality psu, good motherboard, and good cooling. that will cost you as much as what your willing to spend, and for taht, its not worth getting, so go for the a64
 
Wait unless you feel that you need an upgrade. Does your system feel sluggish... daily tasks not performing how you want.....

That way, by the summer time you could upgrade to an AMD 64 939, 74gb Raptor drive, 1gb of PC3200/3500/4000, maybe R423 PCI-Express, Nforce 250GB motherboard....

That being said 3000+, Chaintech "VNF3-250" nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard, and 2x512MB Mushkin pc3200 ram setup would be a very nice system if you feel the need... 🙂
 
Originally posted by: noteworthy
I've read in several places the 2800 a64 chip beats the 3000 a64 chip. Even though it does have 1/2 the l2 cache the 3000 does have. The 3200 is much more than the 2800.
Click to expand...

?

I am not sure about the cache of the 2800 but IIRC the 2800 has 512 cache clocked at 1.8ghz, 3000+ has 512 cache clocked at 2ghz, 3200+ has 1mb cache clocked at 2ghz. If am I correct,the 3000+ should out perform the 2800+ because of the higher clock speed. The 3000+ will have almost the same performance of the 3200+. Less cache doens't hurt performance as much as clock speed.

I love my AMD64 setup
 
I am an idiot.. I was comparing it to the regular 3000 not the a64


I think the a64 will be a go for sure tho.


Oh guys...

What kind of ram could I get away with running two 512 chips at 400mhz? I've heard some of the pc3200 u can only run at 333 if u use two chips.

I'm looking at that muskin 2.5-4-4 pc3200 ram. total cost with arctic silver.. since I don't ahve any left... is 500 bucks shipped 🙂 That is with a 2800 a64 and the chaintec nforce3-250 mobo.

Not bad.. now I just need to save up 240 bucks 🙂
I get 200 bucks in two weeks and I have 60 saved up already.
 
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