Sanity Check

[Texun]

I've got an ASUS A7V266C, XP1700 Pal, and 2x256 PC2100's which has been 101% solid since day one, but I'm looking for speed fix. Just not ready to drop the cash for an nForce2, XP2600(333), 2x512's of PC2700 or 3200 yet.

Would you:

- Get an nForce2 (Epox 8RDA+) and 2x512 PC2700's and keep the Pal XP1700? About $225 or close to it, and Would the Pal XP still allow dual channel memory utilization with the nForce2 and 2x512's?

- Keep the A7V266C and go for a Tbred XP2400? Around $150.

- Leave it alone if it ain't broke.

 

[DaveSimmons]

One of these:
- Keep the A7V266C and go for a Tbred XP2400? Around $150.
- Leave it alone if it ain't broke

What are you looking to speed up? If it's games then a faster video card might make more difference than moving up to a 2400+. If it's photoshop then another 512 MB RAM might help more.

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
One of these:
- Keep the A7V266C and go for a Tbred XP2400? Around $150.
- Leave it alone if it ain't broke

What are you looking to speed up? If it's games then a faster video card might make more difference than moving up to a 2400+. If it's photoshop then another 512 MB RAM might help more.

Maybe my perception is all wrong, but what I want is near instant (at least faster) response when I load or launch. As far as games, I play a little CS now and then but nothing real serious. I have a 128meg GF4-4200 which seems okay to me. ???

 

[mechBgon]

If you want snap, get the nForce2 board plus a Seagate Cheetah 15k.3 an an Ultra160 card, and you'll be cookin' with gas 😀 The low seek time (below 4ms), high sustained transfer rates (up to 75Mb/sec) plus the inherent efficiency of SCSI will speed up the slowest part of your system. I have the same CPU as you in my office system, along with the predecessor to the 15k.3 (the X15-36LP), and it's much more responsive in actual use than our other nForce2 system, which has the 80Gb Special Edition drive and a 2200+.

Based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend this if you don't upgrade your motherboard, however, because there are PCI-efficiency issues with the KT266A chipset that will negate some of the benefits.

 

[mastay]

I think if it's not broken, don't fix it. Seriously, if you reinstall your OS to clear away some of the junk registries sitting around, you probably have achieved what you wanted.

 

[compudog]

The XP 1700 Pal on any nForce 2 board will work with the faster memory. I have the Asus A7N8X deluxe, but wish I would have waited for the Epox because people in here seem to think the Epox board is the shiznit. Not that there is anything wrong with the Asus. You will definately see an increase in speed from the A7V to an nForce 2.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: mastay
I think if it's not broken, don't fix it. Seriously, if you reinstall your OS to clear away some of the junk registries sitting around, you probably have achieved what you wanted.

I agree, though easier said than done.

Bill

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: aRCeNiTe

Originally posted by: mastay
I think if it's not broken, don't fix it. Seriously, if you reinstall your OS to clear away some of the junk registries sitting around, you probably have achieved what you wanted.

I agree, though easier said than done.

Bill

You and Mastay are probably right about the reformat - reinstall part. It's been a while and my Win2K is a little slower than it should be. I may try that if I can fight off the temptation to get new parts. I am one of those who gets bored when it all comes together and there is nothing left to do. This ASUS is so solid it's not even funny, but the thought of spending money and possibly ending up with no real improvement isn't exactly pleasing. I use Photoshop play CS a little. Other than that I don't do much more with it. However, I have found that any speed improvement I get from upgrades usually ends up in finding more apps to use it on.

Thanks,

 

[FishTankX]

Texun:Response is the exclusive domain of SMP and SCSI. For your requirements, more SCSI. I'd reccomend getting a SCSI controller, and mirroring your current HD onto the SCSI drive, then boot from that. And install all of your non critical programs on your current HD, use the SCSI drive for windows/proggies that you use. That will get you the response time you want.

I assure you. You spend your $$$ on a Cheetah 15K.3 and you'll have the fastest harddrive setup for years to come. It takes forever for IDE HD's to catch up to seagate's cheetah series. And from the reviews on the net, noise and heat for the 15k.3 variant is tollerable.

 

[Texun]

Originally posted by: FishTankX
Texun:Response is the exclusive domain of SMP and SCSI. For your requirements, more SCSI. I'd reccomend getting a SCSI controller, and mirroring your current HD onto the SCSI drive, then boot from that. And install all of your non critical programs on your current HD, use the SCSI drive for windows/proggies that you use. That will get you the response time you want.

I assure you. You spend your $$$ on a Cheetah 15K.3 and you'll have the fastest harddrive setup for years to come. It takes forever for IDE HD's to catch up to seagate's cheetah series. And from the reviews on the net, noise and heat for the 15k.3 variant is tollerable.

Thanks everyone. Now you got me bookmarking SCSI pages. 🙂

R