What would you get?

[Corey0808]

I'm stuck between these two memory modules. I'm tight on cash but I want to get something I can push past 200mHz. What one should I get?

2 x Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 $116
2 x OCZ Enhanced Latency Series 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 $104

 

[JustStarting]

dude- you have about 4 posts here asking basically the same questions?? combine them and maybe you can get some help.

my recommendation for an AMD rig:

NF7-S $99 shipped OR Epox 8RDA3+ $87 shipped
XP2100+ $60 shipped
Geil PC3500 $110 shipped

Whatever board you choose, read the reviews at newegg and see what memory people are having success with- just a tip.

A GOOD PSU!!- 400+W (Enermax, Antec, Fortron) I can't believe the # of people who b1tch about not getting a good OC, when they're using a $29 PSU!!
hope this helps and you achieve what you're looking to get out of it.

Two nice deals on the forum- I would not hesitate to buy on the spot from these fine traders
NF7-S
XP2100+ @ 2.3g

 

[Jeff7181]

Corey0808, you don't need a 400 watt power supply... all you need is a quality power supply like the brands JustStarting mentioned. An Antec TruePower 330 would be just fine... if you'll have a high powered video card and multiple hard drives and CD/DVD drives, then you might want to get the TruePower 380.

I use an Antec SL350 in mine, and I have an "XP3200," Audigy 2 ZS, Raptor, WD800JB, FX5900 @ 490/940, 2x512 PC3200, 52XCDRW, 16XDVD-ROM, 6-in-1 media card reader, 4 USB peripherals attatched at all times, and 4 80mm case fans. I also had a WD1600LB in there with no problems to format it before I put it in my other computer to use as a network drive.

 

[JustStarting]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Corey0808, you don't need a 400 watt power supply... all you need is a quality power supply like the brands JustStarting mentioned. An Antec TruePower 330 would be just fine... if you'll have a high powered video card and multiple hard drives and CD/DVD drives, then you might want to get the TruePower 380.

I use an Antec SL350 in mine, and I have an "XP3200," Audigy 2 ZS, Raptor, WD800JB, FX5900 @ 490/940, 2x512 PC3200, 52XCDRW, 16XDVD-ROM, 6-in-1 media card reader, 4 USB peripherals attatched at all times, and 4 80mm case fans. I also had a WD1600LB in there with no problems to format it before I put it in my other computer to use as a network drive.

Yeah- but are you jackin' 1.9v to the CPU or 3.0v to the memory?? The little extra that a better PSU costs, elimintaes a lot of "potential" problems while OC'ing. This is the OC'ing forum isn't it?? That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing.

See my rigs- you'll get the idea of my equipment. It all depends on you goals.

 

[high]

Geil sucks for AMD....get the OCZ 3200 EL stuff....I have it and love it...OCZ rules. Got some 4000 on it's way here now. But yeah this 3200 EL can do 240FSB 1:1 no problems...very respectable speeds for 3200

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: JustStarting

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Corey0808, you don't need a 400 watt power supply... all you need is a quality power supply like the brands JustStarting mentioned. An Antec TruePower 330 would be just fine... if you'll have a high powered video card and multiple hard drives and CD/DVD drives, then you might want to get the TruePower 380.

I use an Antec SL350 in mine, and I have an "XP3200," Audigy 2 ZS, Raptor, WD800JB, FX5900 @ 490/940, 2x512 PC3200, 52XCDRW, 16XDVD-ROM, 6-in-1 media card reader, 4 USB peripherals attatched at all times, and 4 80mm case fans. I also had a WD1600LB in there with no problems to format it before I put it in my other computer to use as a network drive.

Yeah- but are you jackin' 1.9v to the CPU or 3.0v to the memory?? The little extra that a better PSU costs, elimintaes a lot of "potential" problems while OC'ing. This is the OC'ing forum isn't it?? That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing.

See my rigs- you'll get the idea of my equipment. It all depends on you goals.

Allow me to quote Bart Simpson, "don't have a cow, man." You probably shouldn't have your CPU voltage at 1.9v anyway, but that's beside the point. The total wattage of the PSU isn't as important as the quality of it, and how much wattage is available on each voltage rail. VERY VERY VERY few people NEED a 400 watt power supply.

BTW... voltage doesn't effect the wattage as much as you might think. An XP3200 @ stock voltage has a maximum TDP of 76.8 watts. An XP3200 @ 1.9 volts has a maximum TDP of 88.35 watts. Hardly a significant increase in terms of the PSU's capabilities.
Increasing the clock speed by 100 Mhz to 2300 Mhz increases the TDP to about 85.1 watts. A 2.4 Ghz processor on 1.75 volts would have a TDP of about 100 watts. so really, when you're looking at the difference between a stock XP3200 vs. one at 2.4 Ghz on 1.75 volts, you're looking at about a 25 watt increase... MAXIMUM.

So... if your stock XP3200 does perfectly fine on a 330 watt PSU, but you overclock it to 2.4 Ghz on 1.75 volts, you MAY need a 350 watt PSU since we're only talking 20-30 watts difference. And the RAM is an even more insignificant difference since it only uses a small fraction of the power that a CPU uses.

If you look at the typical specs of a hard drive, under normal operation they use about 10 watts for a 7200 RPM drive. My Raptor uses only about 12 I believe.

IIRC, an nForce2 motherboard uses about 60 watts at most. I'm really not sure about a video card... but I would assume it's not more than a CPU... so... lets say we got 90 watts for the CPU, 90 for the video card, 60 for the motherboard... and lets be generous and say 15 per hard drive and lets say ya have two of them, and lets say another 20 watts for a killer soundcard like an Audigy 2, and lets say you have a few USB peripherals that aren't self powered, so you got about 5 watts per device, and lets be generous and say you have 4 and of course you have fans... and IIRC a typical 80mm case fan uses 2 watts, and lets say you have 4 of them. Then lets say you have two CD/DVD drives at 10 watts a piece. And you have 2 sticks of PC3200 RAM at about 10 watts each. That's 350 watts, and remember, I estimated on the high side of a few things, and these are all maximums, even while you're playing a game your CPU and video card won't be using the MAXIMUM wattage they're designed for.

Only thing I haven't taken into consideration is what voltage rails these things get their power from. I really don't feel like dividing everything up to what voltage rails they're on, so... yeah... I'm done rambling =)

*EDIT* BTW... I do overclock... I put XP3200 in quotes because it's an XP2500 running at 2.2 Ghz on a 400 Mhz FSB on 1.675 volts. And if you read my post, you'd see my FX5900 is overclocked quite a bit... more than the average FX5900. My SL350 is chuggin along just fine.
You said the minimum you'd choose for mild overclocking is 400 watts. I can go buy a 400 watt generic PSU for $20 that will fold like a cheap hooker who got punched in the stomach if I stick it in my computer.

Unless you've got a dual CPU system or have a HUGE RAID setup, you're better off looking for quality over quantity.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Unless you've got a dual CPU system or have a HUGE RAID setup, you're better off looking for quality over quantity.

Jeff, didn't you notice that JustStarting specifically recommended good psu's? Antec, Fortron, and Enermax are all well-respected, overclocking-friendly psu's. BTW, I went to the same page it looks like you went to, this one, and it said that even with my old GeForce3 video (not overclocked, of course), I need around 415 watts. So, I could probably squeeze by with a TruePower 380, but that would preclude me from being able to upgrade my video card, since a 9700 Pro uses 45 more watts than my GeForce3 does. I also think he should get at least an Antec 430 watt TruePower, for one very simple reason: power supplies last much longer than the average cpu/mobo, and, the more power your psu has, the easier it can handle whatever your needs are, which is going to make it last even longer.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Unless you've got a dual CPU system or have a HUGE RAID setup, you're better off looking for quality over quantity.

Jeff, didn't you notice that JustStarting specifically recommended good psu's? Antec, Fortron, and Enermax are all well-respected, overclocking-friendly psu's. BTW, I went to the same page it looks like you went to, this one, and it said that even with my old GeForce3 video (not overclocked, of course), I need around 415 watts. So, I could probably squeeze by with a TruePower 380, but that would preclude me from being able to upgrade my video card, since a 9700 Pro uses 45 more watts than my GeForce3 does. I also think he should get at least an Antec 430 watt TruePower, for one very simple reason: power supplies last much longer than the average cpu/mobo, and, the more power your psu has, the easier it can handle whatever your needs are, which is going to make it last even longer.

Lets see... yes... no... yes... no... and no.

Ok, I'll elaborate... Yes I noticed he recommended quality ones, but then he said "That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing."

No, that's not the page I used, I didn't use a page like that, I used WD's page for hard drive specs, AMD's for CPU specs, and memory for the rest cause I don't remember where I read the rest.

You can most definately use a Truepower 380 in your computer... I'd bet my life on it.

At least 430 watts? Nah... sorry, if you're recommending 430 watts as the minimum I have to assume you either sell PSU's, or work for a company that makes them.

The more power a PSU has is not directly related to it's total wattage used for advertising. As I said, I'll bet I can go buy a 400 watt $20 generic PSU that can't handle what I run in my computer on an Antec SL350.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181Lets see... yes... no... yes... no... and no.

Ok, I'll elaborate... Yes I noticed he recommended quality ones, but then he said "That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing."

No, that's not the page I used, I didn't use a page like that, I used WD's page for hard drive specs, AMD's for CPU specs, and memory for the rest cause I don't remember where I read the rest.

You can most definately use a Truepower 380 in your computer... I'd bet my life on it.

At least 430 watts? Nah... sorry, if you're recommending 430 watts as the minimum I have to assume you either sell PSU's, or work for a company that makes them.

The more power a PSU has is not directly related to it's total wattage used for advertising. As I said, I'll bet I can go buy a 400 watt $20 generic PSU that can't handle what I run in my computer on an Antec SL350.

Jeff, like I said, I could probably get by with a TruePower 380, but I'm actually wanting to upgrade my video card, and a non-overclocked 9700 Pro uses 75w, all by itself. AND, like I said, you're wasting your money if you buy a TruePower 380, since a 430 is only $6 more more! The closer you come to using the maximum output power of any psu, the sooner it's gonna go to psu heaven, so why not have more than you need? Is $6 really that important to you?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Jeff7181Lets see... yes... no... yes... no... and no.

Ok, I'll elaborate... Yes I noticed he recommended quality ones, but then he said "That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing."

No, that's not the page I used, I didn't use a page like that, I used WD's page for hard drive specs, AMD's for CPU specs, and memory for the rest cause I don't remember where I read the rest.

You can most definately use a Truepower 380 in your computer... I'd bet my life on it.

At least 430 watts? Nah... sorry, if you're recommending 430 watts as the minimum I have to assume you either sell PSU's, or work for a company that makes them.

The more power a PSU has is not directly related to it's total wattage used for advertising. As I said, I'll bet I can go buy a 400 watt $20 generic PSU that can't handle what I run in my computer on an Antec SL350.

Jeff, like I said, I could probably get by with a TruePower 380, but I'm actually wanting to upgrade my video card, and a non-overclocked 9700 Pro uses 75w, all by itself. AND, like I said, you're wasting your money if you buy a TruePower 380, since a 430 is only $6 more more! The closer you come to using the maximum output power of any psu, the sooner it's gonna go to psu heaven, so why not have more than you need? Is $6 really that important to you?

I'll turn on my webcam and slit my throat while you watch if a SL350 won't run your computer with your new video card =)

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Jeff7181Lets see... yes... no... yes... no... and no.

Ok, I'll elaborate... Yes I noticed he recommended quality ones, but then he said "That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing."

No, that's not the page I used, I didn't use a page like that, I used WD's page for hard drive specs, AMD's for CPU specs, and memory for the rest cause I don't remember where I read the rest.

You can most definately use a Truepower 380 in your computer... I'd bet my life on it.

At least 430 watts? Nah... sorry, if you're recommending 430 watts as the minimum I have to assume you either sell PSU's, or work for a company that makes them.

The more power a PSU has is not directly related to it's total wattage used for advertising. As I said, I'll bet I can go buy a 400 watt $20 generic PSU that can't handle what I run in my computer on an Antec SL350.

Jeff, like I said, I could probably get by with a TruePower 380, but I'm actually wanting to upgrade my video card, and a non-overclocked 9700 Pro uses 75w, all by itself. AND, like I said, you're wasting your money if you buy a TruePower 380, since a 430 is only $6 more more! The closer you come to using the maximum output power of any psu, the sooner it's gonna go to psu heaven, so why not have more than you need? Is $6 really that important to you?

I'll turn on my webcam and slit my throat while you watch if a SL350 won't run your computer with your new video card =)

It looks like you may have to do that, since I have an SL350 here, now, running my daughter's computer!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Jeff7181Lets see... yes... no... yes... no... and no.

Ok, I'll elaborate... Yes I noticed he recommended quality ones, but then he said "That's what he asking about. Minimum I'd go with is a 400W- even for mild OC'ing."

No, that's not the page I used, I didn't use a page like that, I used WD's page for hard drive specs, AMD's for CPU specs, and memory for the rest cause I don't remember where I read the rest.

You can most definately use a Truepower 380 in your computer... I'd bet my life on it.

At least 430 watts? Nah... sorry, if you're recommending 430 watts as the minimum I have to assume you either sell PSU's, or work for a company that makes them.

The more power a PSU has is not directly related to it's total wattage used for advertising. As I said, I'll bet I can go buy a 400 watt $20 generic PSU that can't handle what I run in my computer on an Antec SL350.

Jeff, like I said, I could probably get by with a TruePower 380, but I'm actually wanting to upgrade my video card, and a non-overclocked 9700 Pro uses 75w, all by itself. AND, like I said, you're wasting your money if you buy a TruePower 380, since a 430 is only $6 more more! The closer you come to using the maximum output power of any psu, the sooner it's gonna go to psu heaven, so why not have more than you need? Is $6 really that important to you?

I'll turn on my webcam and slit my throat while you watch if a SL350 won't run your computer with your new video card =)

It looks like you may have to do that, since I have an SL350 here, now, running my daughter's computer!

Pop it in.

 

[CaiNaM]

jeff i think you're being a bit too infelxible on this..

you are right, it's not necessarily the "total" wattage, rather how consistent the rail voltages are. you are also right (at least in spirit) regarding lower "wattage" antec's performing better than psu's "rated" higher. there's lot's of reasons why, but that's probably outside the scope of this disucssion.

that being said, i have a truepower 380. when i upgraded my system from the 2.0ghz p4, i found i was having some "stability" issues with random lockups, and every now and then full reboots. wasn't a common occurance, but it was happening every week or two.

i could go into all the details, but to make a long story short, upgrading my psu solved the problem completley. is the antec "bad"? i would say not, as i have it in my wife's pc which is running my old 9700p and a 2500+ barton oc'd to 2.2Ghz and is running completely stable. the most logical explanation to me is that i was simply pusing the limits of the psu on mine, which has faster processors and more peripherals.

another thing to consider is that if your components are hitting peak drawing as much power as possible, and your "lines" runs dangerously low, this can damage components over time. while you might be right he doesn't HAVE to get higher output psu, getting a good psu AND more power than you actually need is usually a sensible decision, and am not sure why you would argue so valiantly against this. IMO too much, especially in this case, is better than not enough

 

[Quino]

It will depend on all the stuff you have on the computer. I ran on a similar problem. I have a p4 2.6c running at 3.3, Seagate 15k hdd and Maxtor atlas 3 10k hdd, Plextor 40x cdrom and 12x cdrw, Radeon 9800Pro with termaltake Giagant 2 and 2 hdd coolers and 4 case fans and I started to have random reboots after 2-3 weeks. They would be completely unexpected (sometimes while browsing the interenet). The culprit was my Enermax 350 watt ps. I bought an Enermax 430 (which I have not swaped since I have had no time) but I solved the problem by disconectin the CD-ROM and it has not rebooted at all and I expect that the new ps will fix it too while everything is plugged again

Also, the best power supply I have ever had was an SPI that came with my Supermicro Server case I had a couple of years ago. It was rated at 300 watts only but it was bigger than the Enermax 430 ( and almost twice as big). I had a dual P3 700, 1 gig SDRAM Voodoo 5500 Card, 4 10k HDDs on a raid 0 Windows 2k server Adaptec 2100 Raid card Plextor CD-ROM and CDRW and 9 case fans plus the 4 hdds collers and it never messed at all. But then again I paid like $350 for the tower and PS I really regret selling it

 

[Jeff7181]

My point is that there's hardly anyone that needs more than a quality 350 watt power supply. To recommend 430 as the minimum is just absurd. If you tell some people they need a 430 watt power supply, they'll run out to CompUSA and ask for an TruePower 430, and the guy at the store will say "we don't have any of those, but we do have this 'Extreme Volt 430 watt' PSU for $35" it's going to be pure junk. Even if it does have a good amount of wattage on the rails, the voltage might fluctuate so much that it causes problems... or it might have fans in it with sleve bearings that will start to rattle and vibrate after 6 months.

Figure out what your power requirements are and buy a QUALITY power supply. There's no rule you can follow like "you only need 300 watts" or "you need at least 430 watts."

You're right, CaiNaM, I'm putting too much effort into this discussion. Everyone go buy whatever you want.