need help picking new cpu/motherboard (P4)

[BrianP]

I haven't upgraded in over a year and haven't been keeping up to date on stuff, plus I haven't owned an Intel since my PII450. So there is just too much information that I'm unsure off. Right now I have an XP1900, 2 256MB crucial PC2700, and a Ti440. I'd like to keep the RAM but will upgrade if I have to.

I'd like to keep things around $300 (not including RAM), and I have a GC for amazon.com that I would like to use (looks like they only have processors that are not 800mhz FSB). It looks like the $100 Albatron Px865PE PRO would be a good choice, but what about a processor? I do want to overclock, but I don't want to go over board. Should I be looking at a 533mhz or 800mhz FSB processor, and would I have to get new RAM now or not?

Thanks for any help. I have been reading up on articles and in the forum, but I'm still unsure of a good budget combo to get.

 

[Corporate Thug]

2.4C are a great choice as they can OC like mad

 

[BrianP]

Originally posted by: shady06
2.4C are a great choice as they can OC like mad

Ok, that's what I was leaning towards. Would I have to get new memory with a 2.4C, or is there a way to use PC2700?

 

[Corporate Thug]

well, you can change the memory/FSB ration to get the most out of your pc2700. somewhere down the line, you should prolly get pc3200 or better, but you can get by with it for now

 

[BrianP]

Thanks for all your help. As an alternate plan, I've been reading about how well the XP 1700 overclocks. Would I see a sizeable performance increase using my MSI KT3 Ultra, and replacing my 1900 with the 1700 and overclocking it?

BTW, the reason I want to upgrade is I'm getting some pretty low framerates playing Morrowind. I'm running it at 1600x1200 but it seems just as choppy at lower resolutions, and the only fix is lowering the view distance quite a bit. I'm using the Geforce4 4400 overlclocked slightly. I'm pretty sure I'm being held back by the CPU in this case, does that seem right?

 

[Corporate Thug]

actually, i think the 1700+ would be a better choice. i got mine from excaliberpc and it was rather pricey @ $70 but considering it does 2300 Mhz, it is well worth it. you may want to place the MSI on board on the FS/FT forum and get an nforce2 board. you can get a refurb 8rda+ for $64 or a new one for $85 @ newegg. that will also help with the ram situation, since the 8rda+ will unlock the 1700+, you can use a higher mulitpler and keep your ram

 

[BrianP]

Would the $42 one at newegg be fine? Is 2.3 GHz pretty normal to reach?

I'm fine with getting a new motherboard, but the KT3 won't work here?

 

[Corporate Thug]

your not guareenteed that the newegg one will be a tbred "B" core, B cores reach 2200-2300 fairly easily. i think a new mobo is called for because the nforce2 board will unlock your CPU which will allow you to keep you RAM. Also, you OC wont be nearly as good with that board. however, you can try with your mobo first, and if you like the results, keep it. if you dont like your OC, then you can buy yourself a new board

 

[BrianP]

Ok, last question, I promise. Here are the listings from the place you mentioned:

AMD Athlon XP1700+ 1.47G 384K 266 BOX(JIUHB:0310WPMW/XPMW) AMD $80.00
AMD Athlon XP1700+ 1.47GHZ 384K 266 Tbred (TRAY)(JIUHB:0310XPMW) AMD $70.00
AMD Athlon XP1700+ 1.47GHZ 384K 266 Tbred B (TRAY) (JIUHB:0302) AMD $60.50
AMD Athlon XP1700+ 1.47GHZ 384K 266 Tbred B (TRAY) (JIUHB:0307) AMD $60.50

I assume you got the top, retail one? Are the bottom two the same, just OEM?

 

[Corporate Thug]

i dont mind the questions . i actually got the second one (WMPW instead of an XPMW but oc results will basically be the same). I dont recommend retail because you are not gonna use the stock HSF to OC, get the OEM XPMW and put the 10 dollars you save towards a nice HSF (perhaps an SLK800 or an SK7)

 

[Necrolezbeast]

Yes, the top it the good one for retail, and if you go OEM get the next one down...those 2 are the 0310 and are the 1.5v rather than 1.6v and overclock higher than the 0302 and 0307....get either the top one or the next one down if you want top overclocking capabilities...as for the KT3 Ultra, you may be able to use the higher multipliers(if your board is lucky enough to unlock them, my Ultra2 did but I upgraded anyway) and pair it with a 166mhz FSB to keep the PCI/AGP in good placement. Although the highest multiplier you cna get iwthout modding is 12.5 and with a 166mhz FSB that is only 2075mhz, not bad at all as that is exactly what speed my 0302 can get at any FSB I can put at it, but it will hold you over 'til you can get a new mobo and take it to around 2200mhz...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Necrolezbeast
Yes, the top it the good one for retail, and if you go OEM get the next one down...those 2 are the 0310 and are the 1.5v rather than 1.6v and overclock higher than the 0302 and 0307....get either the top one or the next one down if you want top overclocking capabilities...as for the KT3 Ultra, you may be able to use the higher multipliers(if your board is lucky enough to unlock them, my Ultra2 did but I upgraded anyway) and pair it with a 166mhz FSB to keep the PCI/AGP in good placement. Although the highest multiplier you cna get iwthout modding is 12.5 and with a 166mhz FSB that is only 2075mhz, not bad at all as that is exactly what speed my 0302 can get at any FSB I can put at it, but it will hold you over 'til you can get a new mobo and take it to around 2200mhz...

why bother with the retail? the stock HSF is not gonna cut it when ocing to 2200 Mhz or more

 

[BrianP]

http://lowyat.isentral.com/nuke/guides/athlonxp/

At the bottom of the page it shows some average results. It looks like the 0307 did the best, just slightly better than the 0310.

I'm definately going with the new motherboard. So if I'm lucky I should be able to do something like 14.5 x 166 FSB, resulting in 2.4GHz?

 

[Corporate Thug]

be careful with that guide, notice it's 2.4 on 1.9V. not too many people are willing to pump 1.9V into there CPU as it will lower the lifespan considerably. you are almost assurd 2200 and most likely 2300 MHZ with the 0310 with 1.8V or less so i would just go with that as the extra 100 Mhz is not worth the extra voltage. btw, i do 2200 on 1.65V

 

[BrianP]

Though at 1.6V the 0307 is still averaging 2.3GHz, the same as the 0310. Either way it is only a $10 price difference, I just want to make sure I'm getting the best one.

 

[Corporate Thug]

yeah, i would get the 0310. you want 1.5V (DLT3C) not 1.6V (DUT3C). also, xpmw seems to be one of the more cooler running 1700+