Well, ordered new rig! Tell me what you think!

[housecat]

Athlon 64 3000+ retail winchester
Geil Ultra Series DDR500 2.5 7-4-4
Asus A8N SLI
2x BFG 6800GT OCs
550watt PSU BFG branded Fortron
antec superlanboy (love this thing; aluminum, sidepanel, audio out/mic out on the front and right in the middle)
2x160gb maxtor diamondmax plus 9 drives in RAID0=320gb of speedy space (already have these)

Hoping to overclock the CPU to 2.7ghz or beyond. But hoping for 2.7ghz (about equivalent to FX55 speeds).. wont complain then. Goign with cheap processor because I will A) highly likely burn to burn whatever i get up, and/or B) get the first dualcore that comes out in '06

Crossing fingers for 2.8ghz OC.

Just need a DVD burner but the one I want (brand new Lite-On), doesnt seem to be available yet. Not really a important part to me anyway.
Besides DVD burner, also considered getting a Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 (heatpipe cooler).. but I dont know how much I'll need it, cant seem to get too many opinions on that one versus the stock cooler and so I'm going to try stock first I guess.



Any comments or suggestions, go ahead. I think this puppy will be a screamer. I finally gave up on that stupid Dell Outlet, this will be much better deal and faster than the stuff I was looking at there.

 

[SunSamurai]

ya know.. people really otta do the 'tell me what you think' gig BEFORE they order.

 

[amol]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
ya know.. people really otta do the 'tell me what you think' gig BEFORE they order.

ahahah!! YEP!

 

[n7]

Since i'm cheap & RAM bandwidth means little on A64s, i woulda skipped the expensive RAM & got some good Corsair value PC3200, & only one 6800 GT since barely any games will need two.

But overall, that looks good.

 

[jpeyton]

I would've dropped the extra cash for the 3200+ Winnie; not only for the higher clock speed, but for the 10x multiplier. You're going to need a 300MHz HT speed for 2.7GHz with your 3000+.

 

[Insomniak]

Looks good. If I were you, I'd take that Winnie up as high as it will go (should make at least 2.4Ghz - almost all of them do, but remember, YMMV), otherwise it's going to be strangling those SLI 6800GTs.

 

[housecat]

I'll respond to some of your comments.

First I really appreciate your guys' input.

Originally posted by: n7
Since i'm cheap & RAM bandwidth means little on A64s, i woulda skipped the expensive RAM & got some good Corsair value PC3200, & only one 6800 GT since barely any games will need two.

But overall, that looks good.

I went for the RAM because I'm planning on some relatively massive OCs (1ghz over stock).. and I dont think its possible without it. Could be wrong.
Thanks though!

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I would've dropped the extra cash for the 3200+ Winnie; not only for the higher clock speed, but for the 10x multiplier. You're going to need a 300MHz HT speed for 2.7GHz with your 3000+.

I can still call and switch to the 3200+, it wont ship until Monday.
So you think 3200 for 2.7+ghz? Thats fine, I am just trying to get the most for the least!

If you will, please explain why this is important (why I dont want 300mhz HT speed). Thank you, I love this place (for the most part )

Originally posted by: Insomniak
Looks good. If I were you, I'd take that Winnie up as high as it will go (should make at least 2.4Ghz - almost all of them do, but remember, YMMV), otherwise it's going to be strangling those SLI 6800GTs.

No doubt. I am going to do some extensive testing.. and dont know if ultimately I'll keep the SLI. Prob will. But thats another SLI advantage, I can downgrade too. I'm kinda pumped for the new Nvidia cards, but want something great now too (so SLI it is!)





Also, this is all to be used with my Dell 2005FPW. I'm aware of the widescreen issues, and I know the workarounds which I'm willing to do until dell issues a fix.

I'm mainly concerned that I should call and up the 3000 to a 3200+

If that means the difference between 2.7ghz and 2.8+, then I'm in for a 3200.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: housecat
I'm mainly concerned that I should call and up the 3000 to a 3200+

If that means the difference between 2.7ghz and 2.8+, then I'm in for a 3200.

Anything above 2.6Ghz is just "did you get a good chip?". Remember, all the .09 Athlon 64s are the exact same core as the FX-55 but with less cache - some even speculate that all the chips are 3800+ chips which are just tagged to be sold as 3000+ on up, because almost all Winnies make 2.4Ghz, which is the 3800+'s native clockspeed.

The only thing that makes OCing (sometimes) easier on a 3200+ is that the multiplier is an even ten, so it can be a little easier to get the RAM to cooperate with your OC. However, there isn't really anything a 3200+ can do that a 3000+ can't do, it's just a matter of will your motherboard features allow the numbers to line up correctly.

 

[n7]

You cannot run DDR400 @ 1:1, no.

But you can run @ a 4:3 or 3:2 divider, & the PC3200 would be fine.


I would second getting the 3200+, since 9*300 will be a difficult task i'm guessing.

Also, not to be pessimistic, but i would aim for a more achieveable goal, like 2.5GHz, since not everyone is getting 2.7. Then, if you hit 2.5, you can go for 2.6 & so on...
That's just my way of thinking though

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: n7
You cannot run DDR400 @ 1:1, no.

But you can run @ a 4:3 or 3:2 divider, & the PC3200 would be fine.


I would second getting the 3200+, since 9*300 will be a difficult task i'm guessing.

Also, not to be pessimistic, but i would aim for a more achieveable goal, like 2.5GHz, since not everyone is getting 2.7. Then, if you hit 2.5, you can go for 2.6 & so on...
That's just my way of thinking though

Yeah I run my RAM downclocked one step to DDR333 and then OC to 2.2 on the processor, which brings the RAM up to about DDR410.

Divider should work fine for im.

 

[housecat]

Originally posted by: n7
You cannot run DDR400 @ 1:1, no.

But you can run @ a 4:3 or 3:2 divider, & the PC3200 would be fine.


I would second getting the 3200+, since 9*300 will be a difficult task i'm guessing.

Also, not to be pessimistic, but i would aim for a more achieveable goal, like 2.5GHz, since not everyone is getting 2.7. Then, if you hit 2.5, you can go for 2.6 & so on...
That's just my way of thinking though

I would settle for 2.5ghz, I"m just trying to set myself up for the best possible results, and crossing fingers. its a cheap processor, so whatever i get, i'll take.

Thing I dont want to do, is run a divider.. doesnt that hurt performance?



i think i'll stick with the 3000, sounds like the only issue is the ram.. and i have pretty good confidence in that stuff. BUT the 10x multi sounds like it will be alot better bet.



Cuz from my calculations I'll be maxing out that DDR500 if i try to pull off 2.7ghz+, correct me if im wrong.

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: Insomniak

Originally posted by: housecat
I'm mainly concerned that I should call and up the 3000 to a 3200+

If that means the difference between 2.7ghz and 2.8+, then I'm in for a 3200.

Anything above 2.6Ghz is just "did you get a good chip?". Remember, all the .09 Athlon 64s are the exact same core as the FX-55 but with less cache - some even speculate that all the chips are 3800+ chips which are just tagged to be sold as 3000+ on up, because almost all Winnies make 2.4Ghz, which is the 3800+'s native clockspeed.
q]

That is highly unlikely, onsidering the 3800+s use a 130nm technology, while the winchester chips use 90 nm. It would be physically imposiblr to just underclock and rebadge them as 90 nm. They are completely diffent cores. One is based on 130nm, 1Mb L2 the other is 90nm, 512MB L2. Even with a winchester at 2.6, the FX-55 would probably outperform it (unless you factor in OCed RAM, etc.) due to the larger cache. you would likely need to reach 2.7GHz to start outperforming a stock FX-55 with any certainty.

Getting an Oc over 2.6 GHz is going to be alot of luck. hopefully you will get a later fab week (48 are supposed to be great). Good luck with the awesome system.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo

Originally posted by: Insomniak

Originally posted by: housecat
I'm mainly concerned that I should call and up the 3000 to a 3200+

If that means the difference between 2.7ghz and 2.8+, then I'm in for a 3200.

Anything above 2.6Ghz is just "did you get a good chip?". Remember, all the .09 Athlon 64s are the exact same core as the FX-55 but with less cache - some even speculate that all the chips are 3800+ chips which are just tagged to be sold as 3000+ on up, because almost all Winnies make 2.4Ghz, which is the 3800+'s native clockspeed.

That is highly unlikely, onsidering the 3800+s use a 130nm technology, while the winchester chips use 90 nm. It would be physically imposiblr to just underclock and rebadge them as 90 nm. They are completely diffent cores. One is based on 130nm, 1Mb L2 the other is 90nm, 512MB L2. Even with a winchester at 2.6, the FX-55 would probably outperform it (unless you factor in OCed RAM, etc.) due to the larger cache. you would likely need to reach 2.7GHz to start outperforming a stock FX-55 with any certainty.

Getting an Oc over 2.6 GHz is going to be alot of luck. hopefully you will get a later fab week (48 are supposed to be great). Good luck with the awesome system.

Well, then the speculators are obviously wrong

Thanks for pointing that out.


EDIT: To clarify, the core DESIGN of Winchester is the same as the 3800+, FX-55, et al, it's simply shrunk down to .09, IIRC. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[Duvie]

Housecat...I know you and I aren't buds!!! However my advice would be is to steer clear of Geils and doing any ocing...get some different sticks if you wont to hold those PC4000 speeds

How much for the geil sticks???

I have tried multiple sticks (single and dual) on multiple platforms and I have never got them to do rated speeds and timings....They did the worse on my amd64 system. As soon as I started raising the fsb this thing couldn't even do it rated speed....


Likely you could do say 2.5-2.6ghz and with a 3000+ that will be 280-290fsb...using 1:1 or 200divider will be difficult IMO with geils. I couldn't get my geils to ever run cas 3 on my A64. You likely will be running 166divider and pushing ~480ddr. A lot of stick will do this and probably cheaper and more reliable.

Also chances are the Asus SLI will not clock as high an fsb so hopefully 290 is achieveable...

If this was a Neo2 you could always run an 8x multiplier and 330fsb like me. It helps me push the ~550ddr speeds...

 

[Insomniak]

What's wrong with Geil? I love 'em, all the reviews I've seen have spoken very highly of them. They'd be my first choice after OCZ.

 

[Duvie]

I would go 3200+ if you want 1:1.....That is a 250fsb for 500ddr with 1:1 for 2.5ghz (probably do that at default vcore)...I still question whether the geils will do the rated cas 2.5 at that...

Running dividers doe not hurt perfoirmance other then the ddr speed will obviously be lower. Howeever that may be the difference of running cas 2.5 or even running at all....260fsb is possible with 1:1 with many cheaper sticks of ram with cas 2.5 with 2.9v....

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
What's wrong with Geil? I love 'em, all the reviews I've seen have spoken very highly of them. They'd be my first choice after OCZ.

Read the user reviews throughout sites....I had zero luck with my sticks and another stick running cas 3 or even running near rated speeds. There are IMO better sticks for cheaper that will run those speeds much more proven on AMD64 systems....

Geils after OCZ!!! LOL...not even close....There are about 2-3 to place in there before Geils....My gskills for one, but they are a bit pricey....

 

[housecat]

a friend tells me geil is just samsung hand picked..

 

[housecat]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
What's wrong with Geil? I love 'em, all the reviews I've seen have spoken very highly of them. They'd be my first choice after OCZ.

i was kinda along the same lines.

now you can see why me and him dont exactly get along.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

I have Crucial Ballistix DDR500, how good is this compared to others?

 

[housecat]

as far as i know, pretty good!

i'm kindof a crucial fanboy myself.. always used them up until now. expensive but up there with the best.

 

[Duvie]

I get crucial before geil....plus I heard the same BS when I got my geils.

POll that one...geil is not even in the top 4 by most of the moderate to serious ocers....GSkills are handpicked samsungs...That is why they can do PC4400 at cas 2.5,3,3,7...cas3 up to 620ddr for a whole bunch of guys over at extreme.....

 

[w00t]

hope ur a lucky one who can oc that high good luck

 

[Duvie]

I have to agree with woot....I have not seen many asus sli boards oc that high on the fsb...that is why I highly recommend the 3200+ at least if you want 2.5-2.6ghz.....I dont think you will get it with the 3000+ and its lower multiplier...

 

[housecat]

i was kinda basing my system around this guys results
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ord1=3000%2b+overclock