Is this upgrade worth the $$$$

[bob4432]

hello,

i posted this thread in general hardware and was wondering if anybody from this forum would give their .02

thanks,
bob

 

[themusgrat]

I think the upgrade is really worth it. Do get a nF4 board, and if you get to 2.5, which is probable, it will outperform the P4. BF2, as long as you aren't having lag, won't see that much of difference. Video/ photo stuff will see definite improvements, they are the programs that can see performance increase with more L2 cache.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: themusgrat
I think the upgrade is really worth it. Do get a nF4 board, and if you get to 2.5, which is probable, it will outperform the P4. BF2, as long as you aren't having lag, won't see that much of difference. Video/ photo stuff will see definite improvements, they are the programs that can see performance increase with more L2 cache.

i need to stay with nf3 or go with the asrock board because i still have a decent agp gpu....

 

[JohnAn2112]

Get the MSI K8N Neo2 NF3 board.

 

[sodcha0s]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
Get the MSI K8N Neo2 NF3 board.

:thumbsup: I have my Opty 146 running on that board (platinum) at 2.8 at slightly lower than stock volts. I can do 3.0 but I have to bump voltage up too much, not worth 200MHZ to me...

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: JohnAn2112
Get the MSI K8N Neo2 NF3 board.

have any idea where i can find one? the pickings are slim for the nf3 boards now..... was looking at a gigabyte model

 

[o1die]

Newegg had them refurbished for around $50, but I don't know if they have any left.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: o1die
Newegg had them refurbished for around $50, but I don't know if they have any left.

i will check into it, thanks

 

[bob4432]

i thought, what the hell....i pulled the trigger on a 146 and a gigabyte m/b (one of the few nf3 boards left that has acceptedable o/c ability for the price and was not refurbed - http://us.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-K8NSC-939.htm. didn't want to get a refurbed board since i am jumping into unchartered territory for me.

 

[classy]

For that price I would say its worth it. DFI has good NF3 bord as well.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: classy
For that price I would say its worth it. DFI has good NF3 bord as well.

again, most places are out or the dfis were ~$100. the gigabyte one i listed above i picked up for ~$65, can do htt or fsb(i guess thta is the term, not sure of the terminology yet for a64) of 320MHz according to a user and 450MHz according to the manual (although 450MHz seems a little happy), can do cpu V from .8-1.7V and has everything i need.

i just hope i can use the sysrep method to combine my current os install with the new m/b & cpu.....should be interesting.

 

[Shenkoa]

I would overclock what you have. I would not upgrade from that setup nooooooo, a waist of money IMO.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Shenkoa
I would overclock what you have. I would not upgrade from that setup nooooooo, a waist of money IMO.

the parts are already on the way, no biggie. i want to learn about the a64 stuff anyway.

 

[n19htmare]

EDIT: saw you pulled the trigger...but im gonna kepe what I said


I would recommend the Asrock Dual Sata II. I am running this board right now with my opty146 currently clocked to 2.9 at 1.45v. Good board in my opnion.
The FSB is locked up to 274fsb but with OCWB1 bios (what im currently running), YOu can do around 350 easy. But if you're planing to do 2.5ghz OC, it should be no problem. Best of all it has AGP and PCI-e. Use your AGP card now till you decide to get a PCI-e. And even then use the same mobo until you have money to buy a nice PCI-e board like a DFI or Asus NF4 or something.
This is best choice in my opinion because it wont hold you back in other options.
You dont wanna buy an agp board and then decide you want to upgrade your vid card and are limited to agp cards again (look around, PCI-e is becoming the mainstream).
Heck I had the opportunity to upgrade from a BFG 6800GT AGP to a 7800GT PCI for $20!!!! now if i had an agp board, I wouldnt have been able to take that great deal.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Cooler]

I would have waited as well both AMD and Intel will have new stuff comming with M2 and Conroe.

 

[n19htmare]

Originally posted by: Cooler
I would have waited as well both AMD and Intel will have new stuff comimng with M2 and Conroe.

In my opinion if you are on a tight budget. Theres no point in waiting.
As you very well know, new products start at pretty high prices. He may not have been able to afford a new chip.

Maybe the prices could have gone down on the current supply..not too sure on that one.

 

[bob4432]

thanks all for the replies. the reason i didn't go with the asrock board was that lately i have been hearing it is a hit or miss, but more importantly by the time i need to go a pci-e i will get a board for one of them and by then the nf4 or uli boards will be dirt cheap. my $$$ situation, or lack there of, is short term too. also the difference in boards prices was very close to the difference in cpu prices and i went with a 146 over the 144.

i may kick myself in the arse later for this decision, but what can you do.

i know that amd/intel both have new items coming out, but i am never an early adopter as it costs way too much as i have learned in the past.

n19htmare - are you prime stable @ 2.8?