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Socket 939, NF4, PCI-E 6800, or Socket 754, NF3 250, AGP 6800GT?

I

imported_Salvatore

Senior member
Hello. I was planning on building a 754/NF3 250/AGP 6800GT system, but I was just over at NewEgg when Socket 939 and NF4 gained my interest. I've already done the calculations price-wise, and I was wondering if you could answer me one question. I believe tha you hate these kinds of topics, so I'm trying to keep it as short as possible. Should I go with:

EPoX "EP-8KDA3J" NForce3-250Gb - $69.50

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket 754 - 512KB Cache, 2 Ghz - $146.00

nVidia geForce 6800GT AGP8X 256MB 256-Bit - $369.99

Total: $585.49

OR

Chaintech nVidia NForce4 Ultra - $109.00

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket 939 - 512Kb Cache, 1.8Ghz - $155.00

MSI nVidia GeForce 6800 PCI-E 256MB 256-Bit - $329.99

$593.99

-----------------------------------

I'll be overclocking either 3000+. However, the PCI-E solution seems more future proof. I am a gamer, and I will be gaming heavily(HL2, UT2004, FC, STALKER, Joint Ops, Battlefield 2, CoD) When PCI-E prices deflate, I'll be ready for the next generation of cards. I would like a PCI-E 6800GT, but they are expensive. The same PCI-E solution with a 6800GT would cost $679. If I could find an inexpensive NF4 board, I might be able to fit a 6800GT in, but I cannot find one. So, I'm looking for input. Thanks.

EDIT:

Foxconn nVidia NForce 4 - $84.00

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket 939 - 512KB Cache, 1.8Ghz - $155.00

eVGA nVidia GeForce 6800GT PCI-E 256MN 256-Bit - $399.99

$638.99

I think that would be the best way to go.





 
i have a 754 3000 with a nf3 250 and 6800gt and a 939 3000 with a nf4 sli and 2x 6600gt and the nf4 at least feels as fast and smooth as the 754, at least. playing far cry, they run about dead even, at least to my eye and the feel of the game. No benchmarks, just real playing side by side.
 
Go with the 939. It is much more future proof. Many have also said that the normal feeling of speed usually associated with Nvidia's chipsets just isn't their in Nforce3, but is their in Nforce4.

Sam
 
yeah, i agree with customcoms. the 939's also have a dual channel memory controller. CPU mag did a review of the foxconn and rated it better than the chaintech if that means anything to you.
 
Thank you all. I thought of the X800XL, but immediately wrote it off because I heard all the complaints about it being overpriced. Now I just have to convince my mother that building is better than buying. And, yes, I do believe I am capable.

Thank you all, once again.
 
Its your choice 😉, I was just pointing out a cheaper option (with simmilar performance) because you made it sound like the 6800GT cost more than you wanted to spend.

Good luck 🙂

edit: added a few smiley faces and a "good luck" to show Salvatore its all good, no offence intended or taken 🙂
 
Weren't there issues with overclocking on the Foxconn Motherboard???????

"Although the WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS has advanced options for controlling the voltages, and this can be of much help at overclocking, some important overclocking functions are missing. The top frequency of the clock generator (250MHz) is ridiculously low for a mainboard on the nForce4 chipset that can clock the PCI and PCI Express buses asynchronously. Besides, this mainboard cannot change the CPU multiplier at all. So, until future BIOS updates increase the maximum frequency of the clock generator, we can?t call the WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS an overclocking-friendly product." - Foxconn WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS

Hopefully a BIOS update will fix that. You'll have to download ClockGenerator to achieve a better overclock. Here is the result: 249FSB max
Also, the mainboard supports Cool?n?Quiet technology, but cannot adjust the fan speeds depending on the CPU temperature. I mean, what can you expect for $80. But you should read up on the limitations before u drop $$$.

Still, sure X800XL is overpriced. But even after being overpriced, its a better deal than $400 6800GT since it's just as fast for $50 less. AT $299 MSRP it's a smoking deal. At the same time, it doesn't mean it's a bad deal right now, even if it is above MSRP compared to the choices you have. I mean compared to the MSI nVidia GeForce 6800 PCI-E 256MB 256-Bit - $329.99 you were going to purchase????? Think about it.


 
Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Weren't there issues with overclocking on the Foxconn Motherboard???????

"Although the WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS has advanced options for controlling the voltages, and this can be of much help at overclocking, some important overclocking functions are missing. The top frequency of the clock generator (250MHz) is ridiculously low for a mainboard on the nForce4 chipset that can clock the PCI and PCI Express buses asynchronously. Besides, this mainboard cannot change the CPU multiplier at all. So, until future BIOS updates increase the maximum frequency of the clock generator, we can?t call the WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS an overclocking-friendly product." - Foxconn WinFast NF4UK8AA-8EKRS

Hopefully a BIOS update will fix that. You'll have to download ClockGenerator to achieve a better overclock. Here is the result: 249FSB max
Also, the mainboard supports Cool?n?Quiet technology, but cannot adjust the fan speeds depending on the CPU temperature. I mean, what can you expect for $80. But you should read up on the limitations before u drop $$$.

Still, sure X800XL is overpriced. But even after being overpriced, its a better deal than $400 6800GT since it's just as fast for $50 less. AT $299 MSRP it's a smoking deal. At the same time, it doesn't mean it's a bad deal right now, even if it is above MSRP compared to the choices you have. I mean compared to the MSI nVidia GeForce 6800 PCI-E 256MB 256-Bit - $329.99 you were going to purchase????? Think about it.
Click to expand...

The Foxconn ended up being MicroATX, something I do not want to work with. So, I stuck with the VNF4 Ultra. Thanks for looking out, though. I really do appreciate all of the comments.

And justly, I really did appreciate your input. Your post makes it seems as if I did not. Just clearing that up.

EDIT: I just read my message again and it really did seem ungrateful. What I meant when I said, "I thought about the X800XL but immediatly wrote it off...", was that I had PREVIOUSLY wrote it off, but thanks to your post, it was the solution I was going with. Extremely sorry about the mix-up.

 
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