Need advice with my AMD 3200 (possible overclock)

[ibex333]

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I built my rig around 2 years ago, and now I'd like to upgrade it a bit.

1)I remember that my CPU is AMD 64 3200+ But I dont know what "type it is" I heared people using names like "Venice", "Barton", etc... What are those names and how do I know which name my CPU has? Unfortunately I threw away my CPU's box, and documents.

2)I want to either overclock my CPU or get a dual core AMD. I dont know which option is better for me, so I need your advice. Provided I dont want to pay more than around $150 for a new CPU at this time, what would be a better option for me? My case is Antec Super Lanboy and it has plenty of ventilation, so I'm thinking an overclock might be an option.

3)Is there any way for me to overclock through BIOS/Software ONLY? I really dont want to install any extra fans, use special cooling compounds, or do any physical tweaks.
Just how much performance gain I can hope for if I go that route?

4)My mobo is DFI Lanparty Ultra-D (non SLI) What is the best and the fastest possible processor this thing will take? Is there any good choices for me around $150?(preferably less)
How hard will it be for me to install a new CPU? The reason why I am asking is because I'm wondering if I'll have to remove the old thermal paste, and how hard will it be to do that. Can I just take out the old processor, slap in the new one, and have everything working right away?
I never installed new CPUs in place of old ones. I only have experience installing new CPUs in new mobos.


5)Is it even a good idea to upgrade to dual core right now? I want this thing to last me for at least 2 next years game/app wise. If better dual cores or quad cores will come out soon, I might as well wait another year, save up more $$$, and upgrade the mobo + CPU then.

6)If I will buy a new CPU, do you think my old CPU is still worth anything? I'd like to sell it on e-bay and get some $$$ back.



The thing is, I really want to upgrade now and not later, because I'm an avid gamer and I want to be able to play games like Supreme Commander, which I heared will truly benefit from dual core CPUs.




PS: When I was building my rig 2 years ago, AMD was king when it comes to games.
Now I see many people on forums saying they use Intel Core 2 Duo E6300. Is there something I missed? Is Intel "better" than AMD again? Is there something special about this particular CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6300?


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[tempoct]

1. Download CPU-z and find out about your core name and stepping.
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

2. Up to the applications you intended to use. Many game are still single thread which not going to benefit from dual core, so higher clock speed is more useful. On other hand, some applications are multi-thread, says Photoshop CS2, it will blow single-core CPU away.

3. OCing is simply trying to exceed the processor specified limit (and also other components on the board). So, it is likely to run hotter, so better cooling will relieve the stress and will make your system more stable. You can OC with everything stock but might not go far.

4. If it's socket 939, Opteron has good reputation. Says 148 or 146. I have the 3200+ on my HTPC too but might upgrade to 3700+ (coz it's cheaper!). You might be able to get some X2 with the price range.

5. Worth or not is up to how you use your computer. Apps are still behind HW...

6. You can always sell it here. Probably not get much considering newegg is selling brand new s939 A64 3200+ for about $60 (PIB).


PS: Currently, Core 2 Duo E6300/6400/6600 offers best bang of the buck and excellent performance across the board. Read the review. Many OCed E6300 perform better than high-end dual core AMD FX series (in test) at a fraction of price.

 

[myocardia]

4. Definitely not possible. Each time a heatsink is removed, new thermal compound has to be applied.

This is what you should buy: Opteron 165. With your motherboard and RAM, you'll have no problems at all overclocking it to well over 2.5 Ghz. And it comes with a heatsink that will allow overclocks to 2.6-2.8 Ghz, if you don't worry all that much about temps.

 

[ibex333]

Ok I ran cpuz and this is what I got:

Processors Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores 1
Number of threads 1 (max 1)
Name AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Codename Winchester
Specification AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
Package Socket 939
CPUID F.F.0
Extended CPUID F.1F
Brand ID 4
Core Stepping DH8-D0
Technology 90 nm
Core Speed 2009.3 MHz (10.0 x 200.9 MHz)
HT Link speed 803.7 MHz
Stock frequency 2000 MHz
Instructions sets MMX (+), 3DNow! (+), SSE, SSE2, x86-64



I will consider getting the Operton 165.


Does anyone know some links to sites that explain how to overclock in simple terms? Also I'm looking for a site that explains the differences between Intel processors and AMDs and compares them. I feel clueless when it comes to CPUs in general.


Also I like to know how much faster the Operton 165 is, compared to my Winchester.

 

[tempoct]

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1027479689#post1027479689

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Does anyone know some links to sites that explain how to overclock in simple terms?

Zebo's Quick and Dirty Athlon 64 Overclocking Guide is an excellent condensed OC guide.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Also I like to know how much faster the Operton 165 is, compared to my Winchester.

It's slower, not faster. It'll just overclock alot higher. Oh, and it's got two cores, of course.

 

[Rottie]

Winchester core has 333 FSB Venice core 400 FSB AMD says Winchester has some problems that is the reason AMD decided to make Venice core better

 

[ibex333]

Heh.. great... on top of me not knowing how to set multipliers and where to set them, my CPU has "problems".... oh boy.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I have a 3200+ Winchester thats been running 2.6ghz for over 2 years, there is almost no performance difference between the Winchester and the newer Venice 3200+

In single threaded apps an overclocked Winchester is still very competitive and you won't see much of an increase by upgrading unless you multitask heavily or use apps that can utilize a dual core.

I say if you mainly do gaming and single threaded apps just overclock your 3200+

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Heh.. great... on top of me not knowing how to set multipliers and where to set them, my CPU has "problems".... oh boy.

Winchesters have no problems, thats some hearsay FUD

The main improvement from Winchester to Venice was the ability to run 4 sticks of memory at DDR400, Winchesters can run 2 sticks at DDR400 but with 4 sticks drop to DDR333

 

[ibex333]

Okie.. I did a lot of reading lately, so I will be able to phrase my questions better.

I will try to raise my CPU's HTT, I was hoping you guys can provide the info I need instead of me sitting here for hours and trying to figure this out by trial and error.
I dont want to push my processor to it's limit. I just want to gain a 20-40% boost, so that I will have at least some overclock experience.

1)Provided that my RAM is Corsair Value Select PC3200 DDR400 CL 2.5 how high do you guys think I can push it, and what voltage should I give it? I'm assuming it wont overclock well at all. But still I'd like to raise it as much as it will go. I want to go the 5:4 ratio route, but if you got a better idea, I'm all ears.

2)Back when I was building my rig I couldnt afford more expencive RAM that would overclock well. Provided, I do have enough money to upgrade my RAM right now(which I dont) which RAM would you recommend that would allow me to overclock my CPU to around 2.6GHz?


PS:

A quick off topic question:

Every time I boot my PC I get this message in POST:

"The system is running in single channel mode when you plug DIMM module into DIMM1. Please install 2 RAM modules into DIMM 2 and 4 for dual channel operation"
Press F1 to continue...


I tried swapping the modules into different dimms, but the above config is the only way my RAM wants to work. Any other config simply doesnt work.
What is the difference between single shannel and dual channel? Am I sacrificing a lot of performance by running in single channel? What can I do to run in dual channel? Buy different ram? Switch the memory slots?

Oh, and I'm using two 512mb sticks.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Don't worry about overclocking your ram, high ramspeed on the A64 platform means almost nothing in real world performance. It only really maters in synthetic benchmarks like Sandra and Super PI. Just use a divider and maximize the CPU, you can overclock the CPU just as high with value ram as you can with the expensive stuff.

Dual channel is about 5-8% faster than single channel

 

[dahuang1]

Read the guide and you should do fine. It was a little much to digest at first, but then got my 3000+ winchester running well at 9x266 - ~ 2.4ghz and changed the ram (I also use the value ram) to 1T instead the the 2.5 or 2T timings (the guide said that was a better way to do it). Should be easy for you to get to 2.6.

 

[MadScientist]

Originally posted by: ibex333

PS:

A quick off topic question:

Every time I boot my PC I get this message in POST:

"The system is running in single channel mode when you plug DIMM module into DIMM1. Please install 2 RAM modules into DIMM 2 and 4 for dual channel operation"
Press F1 to continue...


I tried swapping the modules into different dimms, but the above config is the only way my RAM wants to work. Any other config simply doesnt work.
What is the difference between single shannel and dual channel? Am I sacrificing a lot of performance by running in single channel? What can I do to run in dual channel? Buy different ram? Switch the memory slots?

Oh, and I'm using two 512mb sticks.

Are you sure you're inserting your 2 sticks in the right slots for dual channel? On your board the 4 ram slots are at the top of the board above the cpu socket. From the top down they are slots 1, 2, 3, then 4 (closest to the cpu socket). Use 2 and 4 for dual channel. Make sure the sticks are fully inserted in the slots.

Follow Zebo's OC Guide.

 

[ibex333]

Allright.. I'll try again... Curently they are in 1 and 2.

 

[rileychris]

Is there a temperature limit that you need to be mindful of our will a stability test keep you from exceeding it, or show that you are?

Some comments on stability (Prime 95) vs looking at Temp readings might be helpful.