• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Critique my A64 setup.

A

alghazanth

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 30, 2003
Messages
78
Mobo: MSI nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Athlon 64 Socket 754 CPU, Model "K8N Neo Platinum" (MS-7030) -RETAIL
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail
Memory: Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack) 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail But I have question about this, since I heard A64's don't support dual channel, will I have to get 1x1GB stick instead of 2x512?

I haven't ordered these yet, I just wanted to see what you all have to think about it. And I was reading reviews about that motherboard I was looking to get about how the temperature readings were off, is there another board that's like it with better readings (and by like I mean onboard SATA etc.)?
 
you won't have a problem using 2 x 512 sticks instead of 1 x 1gb stick, just because it's not dual channel doesn't mean it won't use the memory. dual channel simply means that it can access both banks at the same time. i run 2 x 512 sticks in my box and it works beautifully. i have the xl series just because i like the tight timings, even if they aren't worth the extra money (worth it to me).
 
2x512 still overclocks better then 1x512. Though you could buy a 3500+ on Socket 939 if you are prepared to pay a bit more. Otherwise if you would want to go 754 why not go with a clawhammer. It's extra cache makes up for the lack of dual channel support the 939 sockets cpu have :). True Newcastles are said to overclock a bit higher much thanks to it has all the CG stepping with run the mem at 2T (slower).

Thus my clawhammer is CG stepping don´t know if it´s because it's a mobile chip?
 
Thanks for the advice on the memory, and about the Socket 939 comment.. I don't think I can justify spending that much on a CPU. :p
 
looks nice to me..

i got the MSI K8T Neo-FSR and run the same memory as you.
my cpu temps are about 35C watching dvds, and 40C under heavy load (currently, got Outlook open, windows task manager running, core center open, dvd playing powerdvd, and posting reply in IE6)..

i'm wondering now though is another 512 worth it?? i mean my system runs crazy fast versus my barton 2500+ system...
or would i be better off getting a new video card, upgrade from 9600 128mb?

aiy, peace
seamonkey420
 
im not sure in understand the whole dual channel thing.
I did some benchies on my abit nfs7 v2 and it improved memory by maybe 1%
 
I've heard bad things from owners of the neo plat (stifled OCs, memory probs, etc etc...). I'd get the K8N Neo-FSR. Same board but without firewire and a couple SATA ports.
 
i just got the same system but with the OCZ PC-3500EB Dual Channel Platinum Edition 1GB Kit
 
seamonkey420 said:
looks nice to me..

i got the MSI K8T Neo-FSR and run the same memory as you.
my cpu temps are about 35C watching dvds, and 40C under heavy load (currently, got Outlook open, windows task manager running, core center open, dvd playing powerdvd, and posting reply in IE6)..

i'm wondering now though is another 512 worth it?? i mean my system runs crazy fast versus my barton 2500+ system...
or would i be better off getting a new video card, upgrade from 9600 128mb?

aiy, peace
seamonkey420
Click to expand...
So would you say your board has a more accurate temperature reading?
 
I think you have a bad mix of components here. Your memory is more expensive than your CPU. If you're looking for performance, I think you would be wiser to get a A64 3400 and some standard memory like A-Data PC3200 for $70 per 512mb stick, or Kingmax PC3700 for $83 per 512mb.
 
Benny Blanco said:
I think you have a bad mix of components here. Your memory is more expensive than your CPU. If you're looking for performance, I think you would be wiser to get a A64 3400 and some standard memory like A-Data PC3200 for $70 per 512mb stick, or Kingmax PC3700 for $83 per 512mb.
Click to expand...


You can't be serious.... That memory will probably be usable in his next two upgrades. I just dropped $300 for 1G of PC3500 EB from OCZ and it's the best memory I've had to date. Very worthwhile. Maybe I screwed up though because I paid $200 for my processor... :rolleyes: EV.
 
For the price of those 2 sticks of Corsair PC3200, you could get 3 sticks of the A-Data PC3200 and still have $19 left over to burn on something else.

Also, the Corsair he selected has timings 2-3-3. The A-Data has timings 2.5-3-3. You call that worthwhile? Maybe 2-3-3 is worth the extra $89 to some people, but it sure as hell isn't worth it in my opinion. I could see if it was 2-2-2, and even then, I'd still pass on it unless I had money to waste like that...

... which goes back to my original point, if he has money to waste like that, he should get 939 and a 3500+.
 
Well the thing is that those Corsair overclocks better. Now overclock memory is of course never supposed to be low budget memories ;). If you plan to overclock you should know better than go cheap on RAM anyway.

If you are on a budget yeah go Adata very good bang for the buck :)
 
Benny Blanco said:
For the price of those 2 sticks of Corsair PC3200, you could get 3 sticks of the A-Data PC3200 and still have $19 left over to burn on something else.

Also, the Corsair he selected has timings 2-3-3. The A-Data has timings 2.5-3-3. You call that worthwhile? Maybe 2-3-3 is worth the extra $89 to some people, but it sure as hell isn't worth it in my opinion. I could see if it was 2-2-2, and even then, I'd still pass on it unless I had money to waste like that...

... which goes back to my original point, if he has money to waste like that, he should get 939 and a 3500+.
Click to expand...

I doubt the no-name ram can overclock very well, and i am pretty sure it doesn't have a lifetime warranty. Those things are important to some people.
 
Benny Blanco said:
For the price of those 2 sticks of Corsair PC3200, you could get 3 sticks of the A-Data PC3200 and still have $19 left over to burn on something else.

Also, the Corsair he selected has timings 2-3-3. The A-Data has timings 2.5-3-3. You call that worthwhile? Maybe 2-3-3 is worth the extra $89 to some people, but it sure as hell isn't worth it in my opinion. I could see if it was 2-2-2, and even then, I'd still pass on it unless I had money to waste like that...

... which goes back to my original point, if he has money to waste like that, he should get 939 and a 3500+.
Click to expand...

And for any of us who have done research on A64 and memory timings, we all know that A64's favor tight timings much more than FSB. For instance, my OCZ runs 3-2-2-5-12-15 at 239 FSB... if you don't think that makes a difference over "cheap" ram, you are sadly mistaken. That was the point I was trying to make, that's all. EV.
 
ElectronVTEC said:
And for any of us who have done research on A64 and memory timings, we all know that A64's favor tight timings much more than FSB. For instance, my OCZ runs 3-2-2-5-12-15 at 239 FSB... if you don't think that makes a difference over "cheap" ram, you are sadly mistaken. That was the point I was trying to make, that's all. EV.
Click to expand...
Well anything at 239FSB is going to make a difference over 200FSB.

Let me put it another way. When you are trying to build up a car for more power, you look at different parts and you find out what will give you the most gain for the money. Some components give a little extra HP, some a little more than others.

So my point is this, if this guy wants power, I'd say better to put more money into the CPU than into the memory. I'd rather have 2.4ghz with 2.5-3-3 memory timings than 2.0ghz with 2-3-3 :rolleyes:

And anyone who disagrees with me is just WRONG :p (hehe j/k)
 
so_cal_forever said:
I've heard bad things from owners of the neo plat (stifled OCs, memory probs, etc etc...). I'd get the K8N Neo-FSR. Same board but without firewire and a couple SATA ports.
Click to expand...

LOL. u cant overclock it much then goes the FSR doesnt have the agp/pci locks. Maybe i am wrong it might have either the K8T800 "Pro" chipset or the nForce3 250 but i doubt it.
 
Benny Blanco said:
So my point is this, if this guy wants power, I'd say better to put more money into the CPU than into the memory. I'd rather have 2.4ghz with 2.5-3-3 memory timings than 2.0ghz with 2-3-3 (hehe j/k)
Click to expand...

I agree with Benny. However, if he's going to overclock his CPU, which I think he should, then it's better to go with the Corsair. But if he's not overclocking, there's no reason to get the more expensive RAM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top