Need a mid priced MOBO for AMD XP2200. Any suggestions?

[Audette]

I'll basically be using it for gaming and media.

 

[Insane3D]

First off, welcome to Anandtech!

Now, I'm not sure what you consider "mid-priced", but I think the Epox 8K5A2+ is an excellent motherboard for a very decent price of $101 here.

 

[Audette]

That is a very good board from what i'm reading. The only question I have so far is should I go with this EP-8K5A2 since I don't need raid. Keep in mind I'm a newb.

 

[Insane3D]

The 8K5A2 is the same board without RAID, and one less PCI slot. You can only use DDR in the newer boards..not SDRAM. The technical name for DDR is DDR SDRAM, so that can be a bit confusing. Only 184pin DDR will work in this board, not 168pin PC133 SDRAM. The 8K5A2 is like $85 so you can save yourself $15 if you don;t need the RAID or 6th PCI slot.

If you can, I would try to save up for some good DDR, preferrably PC2700. The prices are actually pretty good right now and a good 512mb stick of Samsung PC2700 is around ~$125. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a private message and I'll help you out.

 

[Mem]

For gaming you don`t need RAID so I`ve listed non-RAID boards(they do a RAID version as well),so good boards like MSI KT3 Ultra2 (MS-6380E) & any of the Epox KT333 boards like EP-8K5A2 from here ,it`s really down to price and what specs you really want etc.

Btw welcome to the AT (Anandtech).

 

[Audette]

Thanks Insane, I can see already this forum is great. 1 more thing. I see this board is good for overclocking. I won't be the one doing it but could I save a couple more bucks and get a XP2000 and overclock it up to a xp2200. My friend who's on vaca knows how to do it.

 

[Insane3D]

Actually, if the system is overclocked with good components, and done correctly, it can be just as stable as a non-overclocked machine. If you are going to overclock, a good choice would be the ultra cheap $50 Athlon XP 1600+. If you have decent PC2700 DDR, you can simply make it run on a 166mhz (333mhzDDR) Front Side Bus speed intead of the normal 133mhz (266mhzDDR) FSB speed. This makes the CPU run faster, 1.74ghz vs. 1.4ghz....somewhere between a 2100+ and a 2200+. This way all you are overclocking is the CPU, and everything else in your system will be running normally. Overclocking can be quite confusing if you are new to it, but I or other people on here will be glad to help you out.


The best thing to do is figure out what you mainly want to do with the system, what you need, how much you can spend, etc. Then do some research on what options you have.

 

[Mem]

Good quality PSU,Ram, cpu heatsink/fan etc all help with overclocking performance.Go over to the CPU/Processors & overclocking forum,there`s always lots of help and info there.

 

[Audette]

Do I need the 333Mhz DDR ram? Take a look at what I have so far. Feel free to change anything around.Here

Oh, here is what I'll be using with it.
Western Digital 40 GB 7200 rpm
Midiman Audiophile 2496 sound card
radeon 8500 retail
I'll get a better cooling fan before I start to assemble everything.

 

[Mem]

No you don`t need PC2700 ram (DDR333) since Athlons run on 266 FSB bus,but future Athlons will be going over to 333 FSB so it`s handy to have for the future and better for overclocking as well.

Western Digital 40 GB 7200 rpm

that`s fine but if you want the fastest HD get the 8MB cache version Western Digital .

Midiman Audiophile 2496 sound card

the Epox has good onboard 6 channel sound so no add-in sound card is really needed,if you still want to get one,I would go with Philips Acoustic edge or Philips Seismic edge or Santa Cruz sound card or Audigy.

 

[Insane3D]

Do I need the 333Mhz DDR ram?

You do if you are going to run that @ 166mhz FSB (166 x 2 = 333mhz=PC2700).

What you have looks good, except you can save some money by not buying it in a bundle like that..

Here is what I would suggest...

Get the motherboard here for $86.67.

Get the CPU here for $54.99 with free shipping.

Get the Samsung PC2700 here for $125.

Finally, get the Taisol CGK760092 Copper Insert HSF here for $15.

That brings your total to $281.66, add in $5 for shipping the Taisol HSF, and whatever the board costs you to ship, and you are still under your bundle price before shipping.

 

[Audette]

I already have the western digital hard drive and the sound card. And my sound card is used for recording mix tapes off of turntables. check it out here.

 

[Insane3D]

No, the soundcard is nice...semi-pro stereo card....definately keep that. Not the best for gaming, but excellent for everything else. What OS will you be using? XP?

 

[Audette]

I owe you one Insane. You've been a great help. I'm about to order this stuff in a few minutes. I'll let you know how everything turns out.

Yes, Windows XP. I already have the radeon 8500 hundred also.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Audette
I owe you one Insane. You've been a great help. I'm about to order this stuff in a few minutes. I'll let you know how everything turns out.

Yes, Windows XP. I already have the radeon 8500 hundred also.

Hey, no problemo. I have the Radeon 8500 in my main system as well...great card. When you get all the stuff send me a PM and I'll walk you through the best way to set everything up. Also, I've got the 8K5A2+ coming this week for a new build of mine, so I will be able to test the best settings for you.

Good luck!

 

[chanfo]

I would go with the 8K5A2+ over the non+. In addition to Raid it has one more PCI slot, better on board audio, and on board LAN as well. Besides the price difference is only like $15 between the two. I received my 8K5A2+ a few days ago to replace my Abit KR7A raid and everything went smoothly. I also have the Midiman Audiophile 2496 card and the SB Audigy and the difference between the two is obvious. The 2496 is a semipro so if you plan to use and external amp that is the way to go.

 

[drewdogg808]

hey insane3d, is that samsung that you linked the "ctl" or the "dtl" version? and if you have it, how high have you been able to overclock it?

 

[aldente]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Actually, if the system is overclocked with good components, and done correctly, it can be just as stable as a non-overclocked machine. If you are going to overclock, a good choice would be the ultra cheap $50 Athlon XP 1600+. If you have decent PC2700 DDR, you can simply make it run on a 166mhz (333mhzDDR) Front Side Bus speed intead of the normal 133mhz (266mhzDDR) FSB speed. This makes the CPU run faster, 1.74ghz vs. 1.4ghz....somewhere between a 2100+ and a 2200+. This way all you are overclocking is the CPU, and everything else in your system will be running normally. Overclocking can be quite confusing if you are new to it, but I or other people on here will be glad to help you out.


My near future gaming system:

EP-8K5A2+
512MB 333Mhz DDR SDRAM PC 2700
128MB TI4200 (MSI or Gainward)
Athlon XP 1600+ w/AX-7 & Orix fan, overclocked
OR 2100+ w/AX-7 & Papst fan, non-overclocked
Antec performance plus 1080 server case w/USB on front (is there an equivalent Chieftec?)

I?ve learned a lot from this thread, and I think I?m just about ready to purchase my new system. I really like the idea of overclocking the memory and the FSB up to 333. Thanks for pointing that out, Insane 3D. I have a CPU question. A few posts ago, Insane 3D mentioned that a 1600+ could be overclocked to the performance of a 2100+ or 2200+. That sounds good (and inexpensive!). However, I was planning (and had budgeted for) a 2100+ T-bred all along. My question is, as a first time OCer (if I could afford it) should I just get the 2100+? Because I?m concerned about stretching my system too far as a first-timer. Also, Insane3D, may I e-mail you privately when I get all this in check out your mobo BIOS settings vs. mine?

 

[chanfo]

I've not done much overclocking lately but isn't the P4 1.6 the best choice if you want to overclock on a budget? My XP1900+ hardly overclocked at all. My new XP2200+ overclocks a little better. I'm running it at 146 x 13.5 currently which equates to about an XP2400+. Haven't unlocked the chip yet.

 

[xenolith]

Chanfo, the AMD 1600+ (1400mhz) with "AGOIA-Y" stepping is a very, very good oc'er. You should be able to easily reach 1600mhz, and with good cooling and voltage tweaks, 1800mhz and above would not be out of the question. I read somewhere that Newegg is indeed still selling this stepping at $55 shipped (see Insane3D's link above). Last I checked, the P4 1.6A (northwood) is selling for $143 shipped. IMHO, AMD is the better deal if you're on a budget.

EDIT:

In fact, I just had to buy one because of what I just read in newegg's buyer reviews section: "Oh Hell.. I just ordered two of these cause I couldn't stand everyone being so excited (about this chip) all at once." Me too... LOL

 

[Insane3D]

I?ve learned a lot from this thread, and I think I?m just about ready to purchase my new system. I really like the idea of overclocking the memory and the FSB up to 333. Thanks for pointing that out, Insane 3D. I have a CPU question. A few posts ago, Insane 3D mentioned that a 1600+ could be overclocked to the performance of a 2100+ or 2200+. That sounds good (and inexpensive!). However, I was planning (and had budgeted for) a 2100+ T-bred all along. My question is, as a first time OCer (if I could afford it) should I just get the 2100+? Because I?m concerned about stretching my system too far as a first-timer. Also, Insane3D, may I e-mail you privately when I get all this in check out your mobo BIOS settings vs. mine?

Ok, I'll try to answer this question for you. First off, you need to understand with overclocking, there are no guarantees. There is always the possibility that your new CPU won't o/c as well as you would like. Now, that being said, most of these 1600+ XP's are basically 2100+. Most of them will easily do 1.6ghz - 1.7ghz without any additional voltage. With a kick up of the vcore a bit, it's very common to hit the 1.8ghz level, or basically a 2200+. Let me explain a bit about CPU's first to help you understand.

AMD makes a batch of XP's. They test each one and find out the max speed it will run stable at the default vcore. Some will be 1600+, some will be 2100+, and some won?t work at all and aren't used. This is commonly referred to as yields. This is over-simplied of course, but you get the idea. It's sort of like baking in a way. Say you make a batch of cookie dough. That amount of cookie dough will yield so many cookies, depending on the amount of dough you use in each one. Smaller cookies you will get more, larger cookies you will get less. As you make more and more batches, you use what you learned baking the previous batches to maximize the yields. Anyway, back to the subject at hand.

As they make each batch of processors, they improve the process slightly and improve the yields. As each batch is completed, the amount of CPU's that will run the top speeds is increased, and there are less and less low end or non - functioning ones. What starts to happen is that almost all the CPU's are basically the high end 2100+, but AMD still needs to sell the lower speeds, so they set them to run lower than they will run to fill that market demand. So, basically, almost all of the 1600+ are no different than the high-end 2100+.

Now, another advantage to the 1600+ XP is the low 10.5 multiplier. If you get a 2100+ with a 13 multiplier you have a good deal less headroom without unlocking the CPU and changing the multiplier. If you wanted to run a 166mhz FSB, on a 2100+ that would make the CPU try to run @ 2.16ghz (13 x 166 = 2158mhz), much higher than it would ever run. With a 1600+ XP and a 10.5 multiplier, if you cranked the FSB to 166mhz you would only be running 1.74ghz (10.5 x 166 = 1743mhz), just a tad over a 2100+, but with the extra bandwidth of a 333mhz FSB. So not only would you be saving your money on the much cheaper 1600+, you would be faster than a stock 2100+ due to the faster FSB (266mhz vs. 333mhz).

The Epox board is basically designed to be overclocked, so you are starting out with some very good components. This makes it even more likely that you will hit those speeds. However, like I said before, there are no guarantees. As to your other question, I would be glad to help you set up your new system. Feel free to send me a private message when you get your stuff and I will be glad to help you with any setup or tweaking questions you have.

 

[Insane3D]

Bump for aldente.

 

[austin316]

Whats a good Heatsink AND Fan for the 1600+? Also, what are some good case fans. The cheaper the better.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: austin316
Whats a good Heatsink AND Fan for the 1600+? Also, what are some good case fans. The cheaper the better.

I really like the Taisol CGK760092. It has an excellent clip, performs well, and has a decently quiet fan. It's only $15 here.

As far as fans go, I like these Crystal Clear Ball Bearing Fans for $3.25 ea. They are a nice blend of of good airflow without too much noise. Also, they look pretty neat compared to your typical cheapy case fan.

 

[BigGame]

I decided to finally upgrade my old Celeron 300a (450) to something made this millenium... ordered the Epox 8K5A2+/1600XP combo with Volcano 9/AS3. Will be pairing it with Crucial 2100 ddr. Thanks to all who have provided input. From some reading I've done it seems the easiest overclock for me would be to increase the FSB to 166 and not worry about unlocking the CPU (sounds tricky to me). For those who have done this, any issues I should expect before trying to do this? How does 2100 speed ram hold up being overclocked?