Suggestions for A Mobo

[Nerdz]

This won't last you 5 years. Come back with a total of $800 and I can get you something that MIGHT squeak by for 4. $400-$600 will get you around 2-3 (being very liberal). You'll probably see that 560 go to the slow side within 1.5, and the CPU will be ashes (it's already old as dirt) in about 2 years. Save another $200, or expect things to be dead slow compared to everything in 2 years.

But doesnt Software Move as Fast as the hardware that supports it? Im aware of Mores Law but As it is, Only a handful of games are truly multi-threaded and support Quad Core, While some still support dual (atleast afaik).

2 years of use is fine by me, but I just wonder how I got 5 or so years out of a socket A rig, shouldnt a quad last the same? However doesnt longevity depend on Usage, frequency of gaming, and keeping tabs on todays games? I have to wonder if social networking will play a great deal in Future Upgrades, since back in 2002ish, there was none of that (or very little)

 

[Davidh373]

This quad isn't 'new' though. Socket AM3 is over two years old. NEW technology will last you 4-5 years. 2 year old technology will last 2-3 years by the same logic. I think you might be a little too focused on that it's a 'quad core' and not considering that there is more that goes into a processor than just how many cores it has. There are dual core processors that are more expensive than what you are getting because they outperform it (the current gen. i3). There are also many... MANY better quad cores.

Don't get me wrong. You'll be very happy with the Athlon II X4 for current tasks and games, but it will not perform near as well as a Bulldozer CPU (launching from AMD soon) or a Sandy Bridge CPU from Intel. They are all quad core, but there is a very noticeable difference in performance. Just don't get yourself even thinking you'll be playing new games on that thing in 3 years. That is an absurd thought.

 

[mfenn]

This quad isn't 'new' though. Socket AM3 is over two years old. NEW technology will last you 4-5 years. 2 year old technology will last 2-3 years by the same logic. I think you might be a little too focused on that it's a 'quad core' and not considering that there is more that goes into a processor than just how many cores it has. There are dual core processors that are more expensive than what you are getting because they outperform it (the current gen. i3). There are also many... MANY better quad cores.

Don't get me wrong. You'll be very happy with the Athlon II X4 for current tasks and games, but it will not perform near as well as a Bulldozer CPU (launching from AMD soon) or a Sandy Bridge CPU from Intel. They are all quad core, but there is a very noticeable difference in performance. Just don't get yourself even thinking you'll be playing new games on that thing in 3 years. That is an absurd thought.

:thumbsup::thumbsup: And it gets even worse in the gaming GPU world.

 

[Nerdz]

True True Technically I could have waited a few more months and gotten a bulldozer BUT looking at the $200 price tag..well its a bit out of my range. If it were Sub 150 then Most likely I could get one. I guess times are different since the Athlon came out.

 

[Nerdz]

Well I got the parts in a few days ago, and I had installed the mobo, cpu and heatsink. I used Arctic silver (the one with 99% silver) for the paste. I had semi-modded the case (removed the HDD cage for more airflow). The Heatsink is HUGE, It just about makes the size of the case, theres about of 1/4 inch of space left between the heatsink and case. its so large it covers 2 fan holes. It also covers 2 of the 4 ram slots so theres just about 40mm in height left for ram.

This thing is LOUD when cranked up. I was going to route the pots for the fan control to the front of the case, doesnt seem to make sense to have them inside the case.

it was my first time installing a heatsink this huge, so I payed close attention to details, hopefully I didnt screw anything up. This next paycheck though I might get a cheap-o video card Just to get it started and make sure nothing is broken (like the proc, and mobo- they have 30 day return policy).

So Question, Are IDE to USB 2.0 enclosures worth it? id rather not get rid of my Backup drives and would still like to use them just to store photos/movies/games.

Another question: Are 44 CFM 120mm Fans enough to cool this new rig? I tried looking up the CFM of the fan that comes with it, and it seems rather low. I dont want to spend a whole lot on 4 fans, it seems outrageous to pay 12 bucks for one fan (since I need 4 its going to be quite the expense!)

I was thinking of getting these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103052

Should the fan slot over the graphics card slot be blowing In (since the heatsink covers one slot)?

 

[Davidh373]

Another question: Are 44 CFM 120mm Fans enough to cool this new rig? I tried looking up the CFM of the fan that comes with it, and it seems rather low. I dont want to spend a whole lot on 4 fans, it seems outrageous to pay 12 bucks for one fan (since I need 4 its going to be quite the expense!)

lol, my grandma has an Athlon II X4 in her computer... stock cooling all the way... If I would have known you were going to get a huge cooler I would have recommended against it and had you put more into the processor or GPU.

Should the fan slot over the graphics card slot be blowing In (since the heatsink covers one slot)?

The fans on top and in the back should be blowing out, front and side should be intake (I believe).

 

[Nerdz]

lol, my grandma has an Athlon II X4 in her computer... stock cooling all the way... If I would have known you were going to get a huge cooler I would have recommended against it and had you put more into the processor or GPU.

I didnt think it was that Huge when I saw the pics online Lol, I wondered if I should just have gone with a hexa core proc. This makes me wonder if the mounting holes for AM3+ will be the same as AM3...because if so...I can still use this heatsink

Ive been looking up the reviews for a GTX560 (the one that was suggested) and I think it will be fine for years to come, considering the resolution I run at is a bit less than 1600x1200 (1280x1024). If anything I'll be proc limited, but thats what overclocking is for

 

[Davidh373]

I didnt think it was that Huge when I saw the pics online Lol, I wondered if I should just have gone with a hexa core proc. This makes me wonder if the mounting holes for AM3+ will be the same as AM3...because if so...I can still use this heatsink

again, focusing to much on core count. The Hexi-core Phenom IIs don't do that much better than the quads. No need to worry at this point I suppose because it'll only make you feel bad. Enjoy your new system while it lasts! AM3+ (I believe) has the same mounts.

Ive been looking up the reviews for a GTX560 (the one that was suggested) and I think it will be fine for years to come, considering the resolution I run at is a bit less than 1600x1200 (1280x1024). If anything I'll be proc limited, but thats what overclocking is for

Ive been looking up the reviews for a GTX560 (the one that was suggested) and I think it will be fine for years to come, considering the resolution I run at is a bit less than 1600x1200 (1280x1024). If anything I'll be proc limited, but thats what overclocking is for

It's a nice card. Nicer than the one in my rig.

 

[Nerdz]

again, focusing to much on core count. The Hexi-core Phenom IIs don't do that much better than the quads. No need to worry at this point I suppose because it'll only make you feel bad. Enjoy your new system while it lasts! AM3+ (I believe) has the same mounts.

Thats good to know, otherwise Id have to break out the Tap and Die Set .

Im hoping once this system is complete, the cooler will give me a slightly better change at higher overclocks, I want to try and Hit 4Ghz or atleast get as close as I can.

Now If I got Ram Rated For DDR3 1800, would it run at the fastest speed the mobo can support (which is 1600) or would it try and run at 1800? But If I got said ram, wouldnt that mean I could Push it more than Ram rated at 1600?

 

[mfenn]

Now If I got Ram Rated For DDR3 1800, would it run at the fastest speed the mobo can support (which is 1600) or would it try and run at 1800? But If I got said ram, wouldnt that mean I could Push it more than Ram rated at 1600?

It will run at the highest speed supported by both the mobo and RAM. Not that I recommend wasting money on really expensive RAM when that could be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Nerdz]

Well I got the comp ALMOST complete (it is running- since I got a cheap-o video card) and I love it. I put on Kubuntu on it, and Im amazed at how quick it boots. I find it interesting on how the OS scales the CPU depending on my usage, it will sit at 800Mhz on idle and then go up to 1.6Ghz, or 2.8Ghz depending on how demanding my application is.

Oddly enough even at full load, the CPU doesnt even touch 40C, it hovers around 33C with Idle around 23C. Im amazed at what this cooler can do, but I really want to give it a run for its money once I get windows 7. Im sure once I get a game installed I can really throttle this thing up and see its performance

Some Oddities though. 1) When I overclock, If I put the Ram up to 1600 it wont boot. However, If I overclock at 1333, let it boot to the OS, restart THEN bump up the Mem to 1600 it will boot. I find it a tad odd, but its nothing worth complaining about

2) Linux doesnt "see" that I overclocked the CPU, it will scale it as a 2.8Ghz CPU. But I noticed when running super pi via WINE, I do See a decrease in time it takes to get to 1M, which leads me to believe that even though its reporting 2.8Ghz max, the CPU is running at overclocked speeds.

I cant wait till I get my video card Thanks all for the help

 

[mfenn]

Glad you like it! Try doing this under load:

cat /proc/cpuinfo

That'll tell you what the kernel is using for your CPU speed. That's probably more accurate than what a desktop widget reports.