Absolute0: I'm using the Epox 9NPA3 Ultra. Supposedly the 9NPA+ which is the same as mine except has firewire and more USB ports is the best budget overclocker, well pretty much one of the best overclockers available behind DFI boards.
On the good side, I did get the dual core stock HSF in today. So I'm gonna shut down in few here and put 'er in, and I'm following the exact directions from Artic Silver for Ceramique, since I didn't exactly do what they say (just put a BB size on the middle of the heatspreader) when I installed it a week ago. But this time I'll make sure everythings cleaned, apply with finger in plastic on the HSF, then to the cpu etc etc. ANYTHING to help I figure.
SpeedZealor369: You shouldn't need to increase your RAM speed. If you have PC3200 rated memory, then make use of the dividers to keep it as close as possible to 200mhz, but likely you will not be able to go over at all (so under 200mhz is fine). As you raise your HTT, you'll need a lower memory speed/divider to compensate. Check out the stickied Zebo's A64 overclocking thread. That should tell you everything you need.
So still experiment with your 3200. Say you get your 3200+ to 2.3 or 2.4ghz. This is equivalent to about a 2.2-2.3ghz Opteron. So if you bought the opty and worst case only got it to 2.5-2.6ghz, you only gained about 300mhz in speed (since the extra L2 cache is a little helpful, but not that much in most apps). If you play games, 300mhz is going to make VERY little difference, and the money would've been much better spent on RAM or video card.
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