Need help with CPU selection for new PC

trevor0323

Senior member
Jan 4, 2006
356
0
71
Hi guys,
I need a little help choosing the correct parts for my new PC. After looking over this forum for the past few weeks it seems like the Opteron is a very popular choice for a CPU. Tonight I just order a 165 Optiron from Tank Guys but canceled it after more reading. I am very pleased with the results of the single core Opterons and would be interested in one but I think I would like a dual core processor. The 165 seems like a good choice but I have not seen any solid evidence that it will overclock like the single core optys.

On another note I have nevered overclocked a PC before and dont know if it would be beyond me. I dont know much about ram timing and I have no idea what dividers are! I guess what I need to know is if I buy an opteron 165, will I be able to figure out how to OC it.
After canceling my tank guys order I started looking at the x2 3800's. I was wondering if you guys could give me some good ideas of what to buy. I probably dont need convincing that the Opteron 165 is better than an X2 and has more potential, Im just more worried that I will never know how to OC it.

OK here are a few questions for you guys
1. If I buy the X2 3800 what core do I want?
2. What motherboard would give me the best potential overclock for the Opteron 165 and also cost under $100
3. What would be the best 2x1gb ram to use if I went with the Opteron system

The motherboards that I have looked into are some of the DFI ones. (although I am confused at which DFI mobo would be the good for OC'ing the 165 and being the best value) I dont need a lot of fancy features and plan on running just a single 7800gt as I dont think SLI is that great. I also looked at the ASRock Dual SATA mobo because people were saying it overclocks very well.

So far my budget looks like this
CPU= arround 300
mobo = arround 100
memory = whatever overclocks well at the cheapest price

thanks guys


 

Wentelteefje

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2005
1,380
0
0
1. Manchester... Should be able to get it up to 2.4 - 2.5GHz...
2. EPoX EP-9NPA+ Ultra... Slightly above budget, but a very decent overclocker...
3. OCZ, Corsair XMS, Mushkin High-Performance, GeIL One (lot of voltage needed however...)

These memory sets all cost about $ 200 - 230...