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Upgrading System to DDR Athlon, need advice and comments plz

R

Ravenium

Junior Member
Hello,

I have a P III 800 system (see the link to my rig in my sig) that I am considering selling for a DDR Athlon setup. I'd like this one to let me do some modest overclocking, so that's why I'm banking on an axia Athlon:

1.2 ghz Athlon AXIA batch 266 mhz fsb = $200
256 mb PC2100 Crucial DDR Ram (CAS 2.5, ECC) = $107

Alpha PEP66 w/Delta Fan (LOUD, oh well) = $35 OR
Alpha PAL6035 w/Delta Fan = $32 OR
FOP32 by Globalwin = $19

iWill KA266 (version 1.03)<-Ali Chipset = $138 OR
ASUS A7M266 = $172 <-AMD 761 chipset OR
FIC AD11 = $117 <-AMD 761 Chipset
---

Ok, As you can see my only decisive problems are with the motherboard and the cooling system. I've heard good things about all the coolers, but HOW loud is that delta fan? my system already
has 5 fans before you count whatever goes on the processor...Any overclockers out there have good things to say about any of these? No, I am not spending $80 on a swiftech! 😀

As for the motherboards, I have heard that while the early iWill boards had stability problems, the 1.03 edition not only corrected most, it brought back the voltage adjustments. The ASUS board, while nice, doesn't have processor multiplier adjustments, and for 170+ bucks it doesn't seem worth it, especially when you can get the FIC board for less with the exact same chipset. However, I have heard quite a bit of vocal support for both the asus and iwill boards, but not much about the FIC.

I would appreciate your feedback before I make this fairly expensive investment.

Thanks!
 
I have the same setup you're considering... Iwill KA266, 256MB Crucial PC2100, and a 1.2G 266mhz Tbird... I love this board! It's rock solid stable and is very fast as well. As for the heatsink, I have a Taisol CGK742092 and it's very good, and reasonably quiet. I'd go with the new copper bottom version though, the 760092, if I was buying one now. Deltas are LOUD fans. Someone did a comparison of heatsinks that included clips of the noise they make, but I can't find the link now... 🙁

Dave
 
I do not recommend a DDR board with the ALi chipset or the VIA chipset. I'd go into why, but it'll turn into a big flamefest and I don't want that. You're just looking for advice. 😎



My professional and candid opinion: I suggest nearly ANY board with the AMD760 Northbridge. The Biostar M7MIA (that's what I use personally. LOVE IT), the Asus A7M266 or MSI K7Master (if you can find them), the AD11, etc. Go with the AMD recommended list. I don't see any lemons there. All the DDR boards I see on their list are boards that I have had NO ISSUES with. And yes, I've built A LOT of DDR boards, with and without the AMD chipset. 😉



DaveJ (or anyone else running an ALi chipset @ 266 MHz FSB): Have you tried your board with TWO of the 256MB PC2100 sticks in them at the 266 FSB? Can you try it for me? We have an ABSOLUTE EPIDEMIC with the Asus AVA266 board not being able to run at 266MHz FSB and two sticks of PC2100. It'll run with one stick (like your current configuration) and it'll run with two at 200 MHz FSB. I've tried both Crucial and Samsung RAM and can't find any kind of resolve. Was wondering if it was an ALi issue or an Asus issue.

I need to find out because there's an angry mob outside my door carrying torches in one hand and little Asus boxes in the other. Thanks!
 
You can get the 1.2 gig 266 thunderbird from Newegg for around $155.

If you want a board with overclocking settings, you might want to check out the MSI K7 Master, which also uses the AMD 761 chipset, and has gotten good reviews. Runs around $153 also from Newegg.

 
Yeah. just remember that the CPU that Dentari is suggesting only has a 7 day warranty, a 15% restocking fee, and the board is not supported by the vendor, has a 30 day warranty, the same 15% restocking fee and getting a hold of MSI for tech support is a nightmare.

Other than that, the MSI is an EXCELLENT recommendation. MSI quality with a rock solid Northbridge.
 
Nooooooooooooo!!!!!

Save your money, stay with the intel platform, you won't be sorry. 🙂

And if you DO go to AMD, listen to what Jonny says. 😎
 
Tech support? Isn't that what you guys are for? 😛

Hmm, I am curious though, how many people have needed to use their warranty on their motherboard or chip?
 


<< Tech support? Isn't that what you guys are for? 😛

Hmm, I am curious though, how many people have needed to use their warranty on their motherboard or chip? >>



Care to gamble with YOUR money?

Oh and Jonny. You forgot.. 15% restocking fee even on DEFECTIVE returns...
 
I didn't think it was fair to add that as an extra item against them since the 15% restocking fee is a blanket for ANYTHING returned to them. Good or bad.

 


<< I suggest nearly ANY board with the AMD760 Northbridge. >>



very good advice - if only this didn't mean the 686b via southbridge also ..sigh.
 


<<

<< I suggest nearly ANY board with the AMD760 Northbridge. >>



very good advice - if only this didn't mean the 686b via southbridge also ..sigh. >>



True.. true..

Who makes a board with BOTH an AMD Northbridge AND AMD Southbridge? A board using the AMD-766 Southbridge?
 
Abit are supposed to be though...the KG7....and whilst i know Abit get a bad rep for QC, id be willing to risk it for the all AMD chipset goodness...not to mention recent reports that its performance aint bad.. 🙂
 
w/ a cpu that fast on a 761 chipset, multiplier adjustment is virtually useless...
get the FIC AD11, run it at 155mhz fsb (aggressive memory settings) and get your 1.4ghz of fast notepad loading.
besides, u probably wouldnt' get much more out of it...and damn is that board inexpensive...

i wouldn't use a 7k delta fan...i wouldn't go fop32-1 either (simply because the volcano II is as widely available, cheaper, quieter, and performs identically to it)...vantec's been my fav. for awhile, though people are creaming
over the taisol CGK...

 
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