Thinking about giving Intel a try

[Jeff7181]

Being an avid AMD user for years and years and years... and seeing all the people who swear by Intel... and seeing overclocking results of Intel processors at stock voltages, I'm starting to think about giving an Intel rig a shot. But I'm curious... If I have PC3200 RAM that doesn't even like to go to 210 without increasing the voltage to 2.8 and relaxing the timing to 8-4-4-2.5, how will that effect overclocking? I've heard of the dividers and such... what dividers are available? The 2.4C should have a multiplier of 12 right? So to get it to 3 Ghz you need the FSB at 250... and with the FSB at 250, I'd need the RAM at 200... that's 80%, or 4/5. And if I want to hit 3.2, I'd need the FSB at 266... in which case I'd need a 3/4 divider. With the newer boards, can you lock the RAM at a certain frequency and then just increase the FSB till your heart's content?

 

[oldfart]

The boards have 1:1, 5:4 and 3:2 didviders.

5:4 = 80%
3:2 = 67%

2.4C 266 FSB
5:4 = DDR426
3:2 = DDR356


If you can swing a few extra $$, get a 2.6C. You wont have to drop to a 3:2 ratio until a much higher CPU speed. I run a 2.6C @ 257 FSB 3.34 GHz, 5:4, DDR412.

 

[Jeff7181]

:light: I was thinking... Wouldn't it be optimal for the actual RAM speed to be twice the FSB? Since the FSB is quad pumped, and DDR is only double pumped... you'd need twice the speed to get the same data throughput. Has anyone tested this? I know it would be hard because of Intel's locked multipliers... cause as soon as you increase the FSB, the internal speed comes with it and there's no way to shove it back down.

 

[smahoney]

That is why the 875 and 865 chipset have dual channel memory - The CPU is running at 4x FSB and two memory channels at 2x FSB (DDR)

4 x 1 = 2 x 2 x 1

64 bit wide bus at 800MHz = 6.4GBsec for the processor
2x64 (dual channel) bit wide bus at 200MHz with DDR = 6.4GBsec for memory

 

[oldfart]

800 MHz FSB quad pumped. (really 200 x 4)
DC DDR = 200 MHz x 2 (DDR) x 2 (dual channel) = 800.

 

[CraigRT]

don't do it!!!

I went Intel, took a loss, sold that stuff, and went back to AMD.. feels much better.. (never liked intel systems)

 

[Ilmater]

I'm not here to start a battle between Intel and AMD fans, but seriously, if you're looking at Intel because it's a good overclocker, then I just want to let you know that every single person that I've talked to that bought the 1700+ from SVC (DLT3C 0319) is getting it to run at 2.4GHz at no more than 1.8Vcore. I did it with mine last night. That's well over a 50% overclock, and more importantly, its performance is equal or better than a 3000+. That ain't too shabby for $60.

 

[Jeff7181]

That is why the 875 and 865 chipset have dual channel memory - The CPU is running at 4x FSB and two memory channels at 2x FSB (DDR)

Oh yeah... duh, lol

I'm not here to start a battle between Intel and AMD fans, but seriously, if you're looking at Intel because it's a good overclocker, then I just want to let you know that every single person that I've talked to that bought the 1700+ from SVC (DLT3C 0319) is getting it to run at 2.4GHz at no more than 1.8Vcore. I did it with mine last night. That's well over a 50% overclock, and more importantly, its performance is equal or better than a 3000+. That ain't too shabby for $60.

I want to try an Intel rig because I've never owned one... and regardless of how good AMD is, Intel must be good too or there wouldn't be so many people who use them. Besides... I don't have the money right now... but I'm thinking about it =) When I get some spare cash, I might build a whole Intel rig in addition to my AMD rig and if I don't like it, I'll sell it to one of you Intel fans =)

 

[pspada]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Being an avid AMD user for years and years and years... and seeing all the people who swear by Intel... and seeing overclocking results of Intel processors at stock voltages, I'm starting to think about giving an Intel rig a shot. But I'm curious... If I have PC3200 RAM that doesn't even like to go to 210 without increasing the voltage to 2.8 and relaxing the timing to 8-4-4-2.5, how will that effect overclocking? I've heard of the dividers and such... what dividers are available? The 2.4C should have a multiplier of 12 right? So to get it to 3 Ghz you need the FSB at 250... and with the FSB at 250, I'd need the RAM at 200... that's 80%, or 4/5. And if I want to hit 3.2, I'd need the FSB at 266... in which case I'd need a 3/4 divider. With the newer boards, can you lock the RAM at a certain frequency and then just increase the FSB till your heart's content?

TRAITOR! :disgust: lol

 

[Audiofight]

I haven't owned the newer Intel chipsets (but seriously considering going back to one), but I did own a P4 and it was a nice, stable, highly oc-able rig.

I had a 1.8A oc'ed to 2.7 GHz on an Asus P4B533 (845E chipset) and it was quite nice. A friend bought it off me around Christmas time when I needed extra cash and he still thinks it a good investment.

I have always tried to own most of the latest technology, desktop wise. I can't afford a dual Opteron or Xeon rig right now. I have owned dual P3 rigs, dual Celly rigs, Slot P3, Socket P3/Celly rigs, Slot Athlon, Socket A SDR & DDR. Via, ALi, Amd, Intel, & Nvidia chipsets.

Everyone has its advantages and disadvantages at one point in time.

I think it good for people to try the newer hardware out instead of reading someone else's review and believing them to be right, hands down.

Hell, I have a GFFX 5200 in my system right now and I give it much higher marks than the reviews do. I think everyone is being too hard on it. For a $50-75 video card, nothing out there can touch it. I max out the games I am playing and it is fine. But, to each his own.

Give the Intel rig a shot and sell it if you don't like it. The guy that is claiming he took a huge hit selling it to go back to AMD.....well, that happens. But how much did you really lose? Spend $400 on a great mobo and cpu....sell it for $375 or so. You might lose $25-50 but you will know what you are missing now.....instead of always wondering. I take more losses on hardware than anyone else I know, but I am always happy with the rig I have.

Good luck with your future purchases. Let us know how it turns out for you.

 

[Jeff7181]

You can bet when I have the funds to do it I'll be posting my benchies and opinion.