need advice on oc system

[zigzagzoom]

first off thanks im new to oc and have learned alot searching this forum.

i would like to play americas army, far cry type of games and stay above 30fps 1280x1024 and good detail. i have not ordered any part yet

looking for advice on this setup

mobile 2600 xp
powercolor 9800 pro 128
abit nf7
enermax case

the ram which would be better
OCZ OCZ4001024PDC-K Dual Channel Premier Series 1024MB DDR400 PC3200 CL 2.5-3-3-7 $213
found here http://www.axiontech.com/srcmfg.php?mfg=OCZ&cat=HARDWARE&sub1=COMPONENTS&sub2=MEMORY+MODULES&ksfavl=&ksfprc=&ksfrat=&ksfcnd=&ksrt=avl&kdir=&ksspg=0&kstl=84&kspg=2

or
512 mb corsair xms extreme 2-3-3-6 at newegg or similiar with better timings $140

in other words more ram higher timings less ram better timings i dont understand the timing stuff.

also has anybody used this ram says it is pc3200 cas2or pc4200 cas2.5 with good prices from hardcore cooling
http://www.hardcorecooling.us/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=201

also whats a good quiet fan for cpu under $30

thanks for your help

 

[myocardia]

Buy the Corsair XMS. Memory timings are very important with Athlon XP's, the lower the better (faster).

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Buy the Corsair XMS. Memory timings are very important with Athlon XP's, the lower the better (faster).

yeah but he will definantly benefit more from 1024 at OCZ timings (which are still good) then only 512 of the XMS

-get a good PSU-Enermax/Antec
-Make sure the 9800pro is 256bit

 

[AristoV300]

or even a 9800xt... They should be dropping rapidly as the x800's start becoming more available.

 

[Corporate Thug]

i recommend 2*512 of kingston valueram for $160 direct from kingston

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: myocardia
Buy the Corsair XMS. Memory timings are very important with Athlon XP's, the lower the better (faster).

yeah but he will definantly benefit more from 1024 at OCZ timings (which are still good) then only 512 of the XMS

-get a good PSU-Enermax/Antec
-Make sure the 9800pro is 256bit

Oops, I was just skimming. Yeah, get a gigabyte of ram, especially for FarCry. OCZ isn't bad stuff. Plus, when I reread the OP, I noticed you were looking for a cheap heatsink. This one is good for 2.3-2.4ghz, and is CHEAP: Speeze FalconRock.

 

[Sylvanas]

is say corsair xms (because its the best) and MAKE SURE YOU DONT TOUCH THE 128MB 9800PRO

 

[MichaelZ]

he means 128 "bit" 9800 Pro.

 

[Zebo]

1. The first one it has a much better price/performance ratio. In fact I'd get the cheapest PC4000 newegg sells and OC FSB. for faster than both,


2. Zalman CPNS 7000 CU is the quietest decent perfroming HSF. The AL/CU version is a much better buy though. $30% less money for virtually identical cooling,


Oh and if you expect to get over 210FSB without lvl12 mobo mod id get the DFI ultra infinity.

 

[zigzagzoom]

thanks for your responses


quote:
Originally posted by: zebo
1. The first one it has a much better price/performance ratio. In fact I'd get the cheapest PC4000 newegg sells and OC FSB. for faster than both,

i thought of doing this then in future i could use it and just upgrade mb and processor thats assuming new chips will be raising fsb.
does the timmings go up the faster the ram i noticed most pc4000 is cas 3 some 2.5. also hardcore cooling has i guess their own brand
pc4000 1gb dual channel cas 2.5 $223 linked above its their "insane deal" or is that mean your insane to buy it.

quote:
Originally posted by: zebo
Oh and if you expect to get over 210FSB without lvl12 mobo mod id get the DFI ultra infinity.

what is lvl12 mod and are there any drawbacks to the dfi board

 

[Zebo]

i thought of doing this then in future i could use it and just upgrade mb and processor thats assuming new chips will be raising fsb.
does the timmings go up the faster the ram i noticed most pc4000 is cas 3 some 2.5. also hardcore cooling has i guess their own brand
pc4000 1gb dual channel cas 2.5 $223 linked above its their "insane deal" or is that mean your insane to buy it.
-----------------
There are severel reasons overclokers want the PC4000 which I will try and explain in a minute but to answer the second part of the question. Use A-data PC4000 instead of high priced OCZ 512MB, it's only $108 at newegg.com and they have true 4ns chips and OC insane on low voltage. Here is a review of the ram.

http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=194595&P=1

The main argument against buying the extremly expensive LL ram is the price-to-performance ratio is terrible compared to the A-Data PC4000. Yes, hypothetically if both ran at PC3200 speeds, the performance of LL expensive ram is faster by about 10% more running 2-2-2 (LL) vs. 3-3-3 (A-data, which will run tighter timings) But this ~10% performance increase does not match up very well with it's 50%-100% price increase, does it. Now when you bump the FSB using the A-data to a capable 250Mhz, which the LL is incapable of achiving, we see performance of the cheap A-Data high latency but high speed ram overtaking the LL expensive 3200. So buying LL ram you're are paying 50-100%% more money for equal or less performance. LL is a very poor value right now.

Second reason is futurabilty/upgrablity...faster is always better to match up with the higher speed chipsets being released every day. If you read that review, 280 Mhz was no problem for this ram and I suspect will be good until DD2 becomes mainstream and affordable ( IMO 2years). While the LL stuff there is no guantee you can even overclock it let alone hit anything above 240Mhz even at the loosest timmings. And even if you could it still does'nt justify it's higher price.

Third reason is I've pointed you to a board (DFI ultra Infinity) which does 250+MHZ FSB out of the box so why not buy some ram which uses this bandwidth for cheap performance?





what is lvl12 mod and are there any drawbacks to the dfi board
------------------
Not near as many drawbacks as the ABIT has of late. Many report difficulty exceeding even 200 FSB and many more above 210. Link. They have cheapend this board up, with missing caps and smaller mosfets making voltage regulation and heat issues rear thier ugly head, my board undervolts by a hole tenth which is insane. Second it has a loud NB fan which the DFI does'nt. Third there is no way you will exceed 220 MHZ FSB w/o the LVL 12 mod which the DFI ultra infinity does trivially.See #2 for lvl 12 mod

 

[Zebo]

also whats a good quiet fan for cpu under $30
--------------------
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-108&depa=1

Not under 30, it's $35 but it's the best noise/cooling HSF out there.

 

[zigzagzoom]

thanks zebo

as soon as i find a deal on a hard drive i am gonna start buying componets i may get a 512 stick for now since my cost seems to keep getting higher then grab another stick later.

i'll get the dfi board also will there be any more heat generated by high fsb vs high multiplier just wondering.