Swapped out 8RDA+ for NF7-S, gooped 9800 as well

[MichaelD]

Hey there,

I swapped out my aging-gracefully 8RDA+ Rev1.0 for a NF7-S V2.0. Unfortunately, I am still using the same old XP2100 TBred. I got nothing new on the OC, but I did apply AS to the NB as well as my 9800NP videocard. I took pics...that's got to count for something, right?

The old rig w/the 8RDA+

I always remove the NB HS, remove the stock TIM (they are always cheap w/it!) and put on some AS.

When I removed it, this is what I found

I cleaned it up, here's the stepping. I have no idea if this is "a good one"; you tell me

NB serial

I applied a good layer of AS5


NB all gooped up



Then I started looking at my 9800 non-pro videocard which has never been able to hit Pro speeds (close...it's the memory!!!) and digured I should "goop it" as well.

I yanked off the HS and here's what I found

Looks like AS, but it was completely dried up and flaking off!!

I applied a good layer of AS5 (Side Note: The brass pins on the HS were a PITA to get back in!)

Much better!!


After all was said and done, here's a pic of what it looks like. IMHO it's very neat considering everything that is in there!!!! (See "The Money Pit" rig in sig for details, please)


Final product[/L]



Well, that's it! If anyone has any questions (doubtful...this IS an old rig....) I'd be happy to answer them.

I do plan on exploring this mobo's OCing limits once I get the 2500 Barton in there. It's not the latest chip, but it's a lot newer than the XP2100 in there. How old is this chip? Here's a pic of the stepping.

XP2100 Stepping

 

[Megatomic]

That chip is week 50 of 2002. It's an oldie, too. You ought to go for 200MHz FSB on it, you might be surprised.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
That chip is week 50 of 2002. It's an oldie, too. You ought to go for 200MHz FSB on it, you might be surprised.

That's what I'm sitting at right now. 200MHz FSB on the nose. I know for a fact it will do a 210MHz FSB, but that's at 1.85v and it was not completely stable, unfortunately.

2.00GHz is the STABLE ceiling for this chip.

 

[Megatomic]

2GHz is still pretty good for that chip. It's a heck of a lot faster than the stock speed eh?

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
2GHz is still pretty good for that chip. It's a heck of a lot faster than the stock speed eh?

Yep. Even though at first glance it's only 170MHz faster in total CPU speed, the FSB is at 200MHz instead of 133MHz. (200 x 10 vs. 133x13)

That is a HUGE increase and overall system performance is greatly increased.

 

[mechBgon]

[ completely missing the point ]

DUDE! NICE SCSI SETUP!!!

[ / completely missing the point ]

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
[ completely missing the point ]

DUDE! NICE SCSI SETUP!!!

[ / completely missing the point ]

*tips hat*

Gee...I wonder who gave me the idea that "SCSI is gooooood. Everything else suuuuuuucks?"

 

[Iron Woode]

I am still using my 8RDA+ with XP2500. I AS3 the NB and used a Vantec IceBerg kit (copper) on mine. I OCd my cpu only a little and it is at 2.008 GHZ.

I like my board very much. I don't plan on OCing much more anyway.

Next upgrade will be Athlon64.

 

[Mermaidman]

It's funny how our definitions of 'aging' differ. I did not consider my EPox KT266A board old until I was forced to upgrade it with a NF7-S. My CPU is a 1600+ XP

n00bish question: how do you reattached the NB heatsink?

 

[Megatomic]

He probably just reused the pushpins. That's what I do.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
He probably just reused the pushpins. That's what I do.

Yup, that's exactly what I did.

Mermaidman; if you're NB HS isn't attached w/pushpins, then it's expoxied on...removing it is probably not a good idea. :Q If it's held on w/pushpins, you remove the mobo from the case and just push the pins back thru the holes in thru the bottom of the motherboard. After that, a slight "twist and pull" to break the HS free from the stock goop and you're good to go.

 

[JSSheridan]

I want a SCSI setup. MichaelD, I had to add a passive HS to my southbridge on a A7N8X-D. How hot does your southbridge run? Thanks. Peace.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: JSSheridan
I want a SCSI setup. MichaelD, I had to add a passive HS to my southbridge on a A7N8X-D. How hot does your southbridge run? Thanks. Peace.

HOT. In my experiences, all NF2 mobo chipsets run hot, especially when overclocked.

Two years ago, I thought that I'd have probs for sure b/c my SB was hot. Much to my surprise, the SB causes no probs at all, even though it's almost too hot too touch. The NB controls FSB; no way I'm gonna risk it overheating, so I make sure it's cooled very well. I remove the NB HS, scrape off the stock goop and put AS on there. It really makes a diff.

If your SB is hot, don't worry about it as long as you have decent case cooling.

 

[Megatomic]

An uncooled SB chip has been known to cause problems with SoundStorm performance. I have kept my SB cooled since I first got my 8RDA+ and have had far fewer sound problems than many other NF2 users.

 

[MichaelD]

The SB on my 8RDA+ (which I used for 1 year+ until yesterday) was raging hot from Day 1. Never put a HS on it and I had zero sound probs. From what I've read, they NF2 SB chips run hot, period.

YMMV, but I never had a prob.

 

[cheetoden]

Am I the only one that thinks you used too much AS5? With that much, you'll never get the optimal heat transfer.

Appy thin, very thin.

 

[BZeto]

Did you have to use a razor blade to get that goop off the NB? I remember using a razor, along with some alcohol and a Q-tip to get the goop off my Epox's NB.


Also, I've heard that you shouldn't use artic silver on the NB, because its too conductive? I dont know what kind of side effects you would get, or if it even matters. So I was just planning on using the stuff that shipped with my thermalright heatsink.

Anyway, nice post, I plan on ordering my NF7-S today, I hope it is as good as people say.

 

[MichaelD]

The top of the NB is not metal, nor is it conductive. As long as you don't get an AS on the circuit traces coming off it, you're good to go.

AFA the heat transfer goes, the HS gets nice and warm, so I'd say it's good to go.

I didn't need a razor b/c the board was never powered up (except, I guess when Abit tested it at the factory!) So the goop had not hardened. It was like thick syrup, actually. I used paper towels, then cotton balls wet w/rubbing alcohol to get the rest off. It was easy, actually.

The 9800, OTOH was a PITA. The goop was dried up, sticky and flaky That took awhile to do. The NB on the board was a cinch.