I cannot make up my mind, so someone make up my mind for me (new upgrade)

[dancingpig41]

Okay, so I have been trying to make up my mind on what I want in my new machine. Someone want to make up my mind for me? I have been planning on building an Athlon machine for a while now, but I am starting to get a little worried about how hot they run. My father owns a computer store and we have had some problems with the Athlon machines running too hot. I am considering overclocking, but I am not trying to obtain ridiculous speeds with the overclocking. Just a moderate and stable speed increase. Here is what I am considering:

Option #1:
Athlon XP 1800+
Shuttle AK35GT2R
1 GB Samsung PC2700 RAM

Option #2:
Athlon XP 2000+
Shuttle AK35GT2R
1GB Samsung PC2700 RAM

Option #3:
Intel P4 1.6a
Gigabyte 8IEXP
1GB Samsung PC2700 RAM

Option #4:
Intel P4 2.0a
Gigabyte 8IEXP
1GB Samsung PC2700 RAM


My main concern is cooling and how loud the machine is. I do not want to have to spend more money in order to cool the Athlon machine, but at the same time, the P4 systems cost quite a bit more. I mainly use my machine for CAD work, downloading DMB concerts via usenet, a few games (mainly UT2k3) and wav files editing with Soundforge.

I do not want to start an "Intel rulez AMD" (or vice versa) thread. I want honest options based on performance.

Thanks a lot.

Jason

 

[YetiIronfst]

I'm not familiar with the Shuttle motherboards, but I just put together an XP 2200+, Asus A7V333 system, so I can make a few good comments here.

One is heat - it doesn't cost much to get good cooling. I bought a case that supported up to 4 fans (came with 2), paid $10 each for two more fans, and slapped a Taisol CPU HSF that's rated for the 2200+ on it, and even when overclocked from 1800MHz to a bit over 1900MHz the CPU didn't go over 53'C. I run it at 166MHz FSB, 11x clock multiplier normally - so 1826MHz, and it runs at 47'C unloaded, 51'C max temp. So I don't think CPU heat is a big issue.

As for the memory - PC2700C2 memory is only rated for 2:3:3 (instead of 2.5:3:3). Check out the various memory specs at corsair's web page to see what I mean. If you want to overclock and get the most out of your system, I'd recommnd faster memory - like a PC3000C2 module. That will run at 2:2:2 at PC2700 speeds (166MHz Memory bus - 333MHz DDR).

 

[WhoDeeny]

4 external case fans? Yeti, your PC's gotta sound like a jet engine! Didn't you hear the man say he was concerned about the sound levels? My current PC is Athlon based and I've always loved AMD, but I'm eager to have a P4 with the 512k cacce and 533 FSB, woo-hoo! So, if it were me, I'd get the P4 2.0 set up. More $, but I bet you hold on to it a lot longer...

 

[mchammer187]

#3

but I like Abit, Asus mobos

 

[Markfw]

I like the FPU of the Athlon for CAD work. I think the cooling thing is overstated most places. With the right case and one exhust fan placed correctly, and the right HSF unit, they are quiet and cool. I only use stuff from my local shop, so I will leave the recommendations to others that reply. The retail HSF unit seems fine to me, but I don't overclock. It can shorten the lifespan of the CPU. I just run an enlight 300 wat mid tower case, move the fan that comes with to the top by the CPU (per AMD spec), and run the retail HSF. It runs about 50 (idle)-55c (loaded). The case was $53 (no shipping cause it is a local shop)

 

[dancingpig41]

I have a Lite On black midtower case which has two fans and room for more. I am going to add a side mount fan and I have already upgraded the 300 W power supply to 400W. I am starting to lean towards the P4 system because I agree that it will stick with me longer than the Athlon (future upgrades considered). One of the things holding me back (besides the extra cost) is that the Gigabyte uses the Promise raid chip instead of the High Point chip used by Shuttle.

I know this is off topic for this forum, but what exactly would I need if I wanted to OC the P4 to around the 2.5 Ghz. range and the Athlons up to the 2.0 Ghz. range?

Jason

 

[AnAndAustin]

😀 For great P4 o/c'ing all you need is a P4A 512k 400FSB CPU like 1.8ghz or 2.0ghz. These will almost always hit 533FSB without voltage tweaks or special cooling and will boost the CPU to 2.4ghz and 2.7ghz respectively. The 1.8ghz CPU may be able to hit 600FSB with voltage tweaks and top HSF cooling giving it 2.7ghz too. I would say go for a P4A 512k 1.8ghz CPU and hope you can easily hit 533FSB without special cooling or voltage tweaks, this will give IDENTICAL perf to a real P4B 512k 2.4ghz but for a substantialy lower cost.

🙁 Unfortunately the top AthlonXP CPUs don't o/c much, if at all. The XP1800+ and XP1900+ should reach XP2000+ and XP2100+ (FSB o/c) speeds respectively, but they give off a lot of heat even at defaults. The XP2000+, XP2100+ and XP2200+ are VERY poor o/c'ers and VERY hot CPUs. HSF is very important for AthlonXP CPUs, I'd rec a Volcano7+ on its medium manual setting, nicely priced and pretty quiet but still VERY effective.

 

[AnAndAustin]

🙂 The AthlonXP is very cost effective, and generally faster than the equivilent P4, eg. XP1800+ usually gives P4 2.0ghz a good run for its money. However it does run hotter and will certainly req more (and noisier) cooling. SktA is nearing the end of its road IMHO, esp bad news that the 0.13mu T.bred AthlonXP CPUs run slow and hot, SktA has served us extremely well coming from 600mhz CPUs, if you may want to drop a new CPU in 12 months time then SktA may not be a very wise option. AthlonXP also gain VERY little from PC2700, simply 266+333 (FSB+RAM) only gains 3% perf on KT333 (and loses on other chipsets). PC2700 is best for maintaining the fastest latency settings whilst o/c'ing the FSB.

🙂 The P4A 512k CPUs are VERY o/c'able and certainly run much cooler than AthlonXP CPUs. Skt478 will surely have a much longer life than SktA and should see P4 CPUs running at and beyond 3ghz without the archy becoming limiting. PC2700 is yummy with P4 CPUs, they days of needing RIMM are gone.