Upgrade path from A64 3200+ to dual core

[ColdFlame]

Hello all,

I'm trying to figure out the upgrade path from my current system to a dual core system.

Currently I have:
AMD 3200+ @2.45 GHz
Gigabyte K8N-SLI
2 x 512 Kingston Value RAM

I have 2 goals to achieve:
1) I want to get some dual core CPU and OC that
2) I need to get to 2 GB of total RAM

For 1) I was thinking about either AMD X2 3800+ or AMD X2 4200+ and OC that to 2.4 - 2.6 (depending on luck)

For 2) - can I just get another 2 sticks of 512 MB to get a total of 4 x 512 MB RAM? I think in the past 4 sticks was a bad thing to have, is that still true? Would you recommend I put my 2 x 512 MB into some other PC (I have several) and buy new 2 x 1 GB (like Corscair XMS)?

Thanks for your help!

 

[lifeblood]

I'm basically in the same boat as you. I just ordered a 3800+ and two more 512mb sticks of RAM and should get them tomorrow. I believe performance wise two 1gb sticks are better than four 512mb sticks, but the performance increase probably doesn?t justify the cost. Just buy two more 512mb sticks and use any extra money for a faster CPU where you?ll see more benefit. Besides, the benefit of upgrading your current system is that you don?t have to toss any hardware except for the CPU. If you are going to replace both CPU and RAM you may want to at least consider also replacing the MB and upgrading to an AM2 or Conroe rig.

 

[TomKazansky]

Originally posted by: ColdFlame
Hello all,

I'm trying to figure out the upgrade path from my current system to a dual core system.

Currently I have:
AMD 3200+ @2.45 GHz
Gigabyte K8N-SLI
2 x 512 Kingston Value RAM

I have 2 goals to achieve:
1) I want to get some dual core CPU and OC that
2) I need to get to 2 GB of total RAM

For 1) I was thinking about either AMD X2 3800+ or AMD X2 4200+ and OC that to 2.4 - 2.6 (depending on luck)

For 2) - can I just get another 2 sticks of 512 MB to get a total of 4 x 512 MB RAM? I think in the past 4 sticks was a bad thing to have, is that still true? Would you recommend I put my 2 x 512 MB into some other PC (I have several) and buy new 2 x 1 GB (like Corscair XMS)?

Thanks for your help!

get the 4400. You'll thank me later.

 

[sprtfan]

[/quote]

get the 4400. You'll thank me later.

[/quote]

Does the extra cache justify the extra $75 or so? I'm trying to choose between the x2 3800 and x2 4400 myself. I will be doing a lot of audio and video encoding.

 

[chairbornrangerx]

if your doing a lot of encoding, yeah the extra cache is worth $75. If your looking to overclock, why not get a dual core opteron, they are great for overclocking.

 

[TomKazansky]

Originally posted by: chairbornrangerx
if your doing a lot of encoding, yeah the extra cache is worth $75. If your looking to overclock, why not get a dual core opteron, they are great for overclocking.

they cost a lot more now. the 4400 89W is on sale at most retailers right now until tomorrow. The opt 165 (1.8 ghz 2x1mb L2) costs more than the 4400 (2.2ghz 2x1mb L2)

 

[ColdFlame]

Well, local Fry's had X2 3800+ on sale so I went and got that plus 2 matched 1 GB sticks of Corsair XMS RAM (for a total of 2 GB).

I got my rig OCed to 2.45 which is very funny because this is exact same speed as I was able to get my Venice to (3200+ to 2.45 GHz).

My board seems to be able to do 300 MHz at least and my CPU crashes as soon as I hit 2.55 GHz while my RAM is at some low speed. So everything points at the CPU's inability to go higher than 2.45 GHz. I can work fine on 2.5 GHz but 3D Mark 2005 hung during the Demo so I backed off to 2.45 GHz.

Should I be happy with 2.45 GHz or I should try another chip? I don't think I *NEED* 2.7 GHz, I just want to get it if it is what most of the people get.

 

[myocardia]

Try giving your cpu some voltage. If you got to 2.45 Ghz on stock voltage, then 2.6 should be quite easy. Also, good move getting the 2x1 GB sticks of RAM. Overclocking with 4 sticks of RAM works about as well as old people **$%ing.

 

[ColdFlame]

I gave it 1.45v to begin with and did all my OC experiments at that voltage. I tried 1.5v but it still crashed at 2.55 GHz.

 

[myocardia]

That means that you're being limited by your motherboard, assuming you're using a memory divider. BTW, I forgot to welcome you to the forum, so welcome to the forum.

 

[ColdFlame]

Thanks for the welcome!

Why are you saying I'm limited by my motherboard? I have tested my motherboard for up to 300 MHz by setting the CPU multiplier to 5x, HTT to 2x and memory to 1:2 and raised the FSB to 300 MHz while running 2 instances of Prime95 with no crashes and my temps were low. I thought that meant that my mobo is good for up to 300 MHz.

When I had the CPU crash all other components were way below the spec and only CPU and motherboard FSB were overclocked.

Are you saying so because both of my CPUs crash at around 250 MHz FSB?

 

[KyaAvalanche]

@ 255 what is your CPU Multiplier @? What Memory divider are you using if any? What type of ram did you get DDR?

 

[ColdFlame]

When it crashes at 255 MHz I use the stock CPU multiplier (10x) and 1:2 RAM divider (I got 2 x 1 GB Corsair XMS DDR1).

When I run CPU with a 5x multi and same other settings I can go up to 300 MHz with no crashes.

 

[KyaAvalanche]

At normal settings you want to keep your HT as close to 1000 as possible example 5x*200=1000 (HT multiplier * FSB = 1000) 4x*250=1000 and so on. It can be below or just above. I am running my HT 4x*255=1020, Memory @ 166 divider due to the fact I am running DDR400 and want to keep it close to 200. 500 would be 250. Is your memory DDR400? DDR500?

 

[Alphafox78]

FYI, if you use 4 sticks of ram I believe with AMD it drops the speed down or something

 

[KyaAvalanche]

Originally posted by: Alphafox78
FYI, if you use 4 sticks of ram I believe with AMD it drops the speed down or something

I knew 4 sticks where not good for overclocking but didn't know why? Thank you

As for me I always stay with 2 sticks.

 

[ColdFlame]

It takes longer for the memory controller to query 4 sticks than to query 2 sticks hence when you have 4 sticks you used to get reduced performance (like DDR333 instead or DDR400). I'm not sure if this is the case anymore hence I asked in my original post.

And my memory is DDR400 but I was running it at like 150 MHz when I was OCing the CPU.

 

[ColdFlame]

I spent more time playing with voltages and here is what I've found:

It works fine at 2.6 GHz if I give it 1.55v. Unfortunately it seems it needs more cooling than I have (120mm Zalman copper HS) as bad things happen once I start Prime 95 and temps climb past 60C.

It also works at 2.5 GHz at 1.5v and temps stay around 55C. I had it folding proteins all night and then it locked up at around 8am. I increased the RPMs of the CPU HS fan and started another session.

I'm still debating whether I should be happy with this CPU or I should try another one. At some point in the future I will get Zalman Reserator 2 so my temps will drop 5-10C but it is unclear when it will become available in retail.

 

[myocardia]

Yeah, those old Zalman flowers weren't designed for dual-core processors. You could always get yourself a $29 Arctic Cooling Freezer 64. It is the cheapest, and easiest to install heatpipe available, for now. It doesn't cool as well as the big ol' heatpipes do, but it cools pretty well.