Fast Question (about Opterons)/Now about OCing them too

[DRAGoNX515]

Alright, I'm a little confused here and I have hit a brick wall. I want a simple yes or no for this one.
Should I get
1.)This
2.)This
or
3.)This

1, 2, or 3. I was thinking 3 since I already got a Zalman HSF, and I hear the Opterons OC better than the X2's.

thx
-dragonx

 

[Furen]

Yes, choice number 3. Much cheaper, too, though you may need to replace your heatsink if you plan on going hardcore with your overclock (the Zalman 7x00s are not that great compared to newer heatsinks).

 

[DRAGoNX515]

My Zalman 7700CNPS seems to be a great cooler. Keeps my proc. nice and cool, it should serfice for minor OCing.

-dragonx

 

[Geomagick]

Originally posted by: Furen
Yes, choice number 3. Much cheaper, too, though you may need to replace your heatsink if you plan on going hardcore with your overclock (the Zalman 7x00s are not that great compared to newer heatsinks).

I agree with option 3 however the 7700 series Zalmans are pretty darn good heatsinks, even by modern standards.

 

[fbrdphreak]

#3

 

[VStrom]

#3...the Zalmans are pretty good but the Thermalright SI-120's a better

 

[drifter106]

Originally posted by: VStrom
#3...the Zalmans are pretty good but the Thermalright SI-120's a better

Thats the way I went, the money I saved by going with the OEM I spent of a si-120 and a good fan. Would be hard pressed for someone to show me a better choice. The 120, 9500 and typhoon are (in my opinion) the top 3 air coolers right now. The si-120 is going to be the easiest to mount.

 

[NatePo717]

#3 with a SI-120. I got the 170 with the SI-120. Too bad I got a bad cpu... won't do more then 2.55

 

[DRAGoNX515]

So why would this be so much better than this.

I already own the second one, is it worth the $58 to get the SI-120 plus another $10 for a fan? Why would that Aluminum heatsink perform better than my all copper 7700. In some reviews the 7700 cooled better than the 9500.

-dragonx

 

[drifter106]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515
So why would this be so much better than this.

I already own the second one, is it worth the $58 to get the SI-120 plus another $10 for a fan? Why would that Aluminum heatsink perform better than my all copper 7700. In some reviews the 7700 cooled better than the 9500.

-dragonx

What you have is a good cooling solution. The si-120 will probably give you a few degrees more cooling than the zalman. Another advantage the si-120 will give is that it can, because of it size and proportion, provide a certain amout of cooling for other components.
Are you going to push your components as far as they can go? Moderate o'c? None?
Answering that question would indirectly tell ME which way to go.

 

http://www.gratiskados.nl/index.php?ref=17168

 

[DRAGoNX515]

I plan on trying to get my proc. to around 2700-2800MHZ, with a 1:1 ratio with the RAM (the new OCZ Platinum DDR500 stuff at the lower latencies (3-3-2-8?) that anandtech recently reviewed. Anandtech said they could get to DDR550 while still having the low timings, w/o a increase in voltage. Infact, an increase in voltage wouldn't do anything to make the RAM run faster w/o looseing up the timings.

Back to the topic, Yes I plan to OC, don't know if a jump from 2200 to 27/2800 is alot, but thats what I plan to do.

Is there anything else worth mentioning about OCing, like what to do the the HT link?

thx
-dragonx

Edit:
The Zalman Also cools down other components on the mobo too. I would think so with that 120mm (112 in reality i think?) fan on there!

Another edit:
I also know that the Zalman 7700 will fit on my next board too, not so sure abou the Sl-120?

 

[Furen]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515
Why would that Aluminum heatsink perform better than my all copper 7700.

Heatpipes remove heat from the CPU faster than pure copper (because they rely on convection, rather than just conduction) and spread it around a larger area. A lot of times heatinks have the ability to dissipate insane amounts of heat but can't remove it from the CPU core fast enough. Opterons get a bit hot at around 2.6-2.7GHz, so just keep an eye on the temperatures.

EDIT:
Note to self: Never post right before going to sleep...