new system almost complete

[Maximus96]

i had originally ordered an Asus K8N-E delux with the A64 3200+ 1mb from monarch. I just heard from monarch that AMD no longer makes the 3200 with 1mb cache. they offered the 512k version. i figure i might as well research some more before completing the system

the rest of the parts are:
Audigy 2 ZX
200gb Seagate SATA
1gig mushkin basic pc3200
Zalman CNPS 7000A Cu
Gainward 6800GT
mouse/dvd/keybord...etc


I read some good reviews on newegg regarding the asus K8V. please recommend me a good motherboard for overclocking i don't want the epox or msi boards. also, i see that newegg has the 1mb version of the 3200+. i am still confused about the newcastle/clawhammer/C0/CG/1mb/512k business. i know that the CG is better than C0 for overclocking. is newcastle better than clawhammer? which one is the 1mb and which is 512k? most of all, which is better?

thank you

 

[Maximus96]

bump

 

[MDE]

I'd go for the Zalman AlCu instead of the all copper, it's lighter and performs virtually the same.

Clawhammer = 1MB L2
Newcastle = 512k L2

They should overclock the same, but I'm not really sure.

 

[UK Frost]

No one chip is better than the other,it's really close.I would go for the Newcastle with the extra clock speed.The on die memory controller is very efficient and will more then make up for the difference in cache.Just look at the benches between the AMD64 3800 and the FX53.

Regards....

 

[Mik3y]

it's been mentioned that the newcastle performs unnoticably better then the clawhammer (by very, very, very little), and that the clawhammer is the better performer when overclocked (by very, very, very little also).

 

[Maximus96]

i've made up my mind to get a 3200+ newcastle. only problem left is the motherboard. i'm not sure if i should wait for the DFI, or go with the Asus K8V, or Asus K8N-E.

 

[UK Frost]

I wouldn't totally discount the MSI K8N Neo Platinum board Zaku.I have one here in a new machine and its a brilliant board.
Plus it will overclock for you with DOT.Up to an 11% increase in clock speed without you having to lift a finger.

 

[epsilon9090]

Ivr got a chaintech vnf3-250. With the latest bios flash, its an excellent overclocking board and very stable (even without the falsh.) I don't overclock personally, but I know that it is a good board. Its also only $80.

 

[Maximus96]

i have read both good things and bad with the MSI board. members here claim that its a great board with great overclocking features but at the same time theres plenty threads where the board won't boot up or have other problems.

 

[lrmat]

i too was going to go for the msi but members talked me out of it (too many horror stories and this being my first build alone don't want to deal with possible problem mobos) i was pointed towards the Asus K8N-E DELUXE. i'm pairing it with an athlon 64 3400.

 

[Maximus96]

anybody know when the DFI will be available thru the normal retailers, ie Newegg, ZZF?