Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: System upgrade

  1. #1
    Huggable
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Starburn's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Epox 9NPA+
      • CPU:
      • A64 4000+ (@ 12x210)
      • Memory:
      • 2x1gig Corsair XMS Pro (DDR400 @ 420)
      • Storage:
      • 2x80gig Raid0 & 1x200gig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon X1800XT (above stock)
      • PSU:
      • Hiper Type-R Modular (580W)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Wave
      • Monitor(s):
      • 19" TFT & 50" TV (for games)
      • Internet:
      • Be 24mb

    Question System upgrade

    Well it's been sometime since my last upgrade.. and I'm tired of crashing 4 times a day trying to play WoW (pretty sure it's the graphics overheating.. even with it's brand new, rather expensive, cooler).

    Currently have Epox 8RDA+, XP2500 @ 3200, 1 gig Geil Value, Radeon9800pro.

    I'm looking at the MSI K8N NEO4 Platinum, A64 3200 (Venice core), keeping the old ram, ATI X850XT PE (PCI-E).
    Any advice? .. will the MSI need a bios flash before I can use the venice on it (I've heard something about that)?
    Is it worth the extra £40ish for PE on the graphics?

    Oh and also: is it really the best time to buy (ATI price drop? - is there a new card out soon?) - I've been glancing at the price of the X850 for a while doesn't seem to have changed much :| although the venice is fairly cheap thankfully

    Lots of questions.. I hate spending lots of money heh.
    Thanks.
    We cannot choose what we are.. but what are we but the sum of our choices?

  2. #2
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    if you're going for a 3200+ venice, might as well be getting a 3000+ venice, 30 quids cheaper... OC just as far as your Neo4 can take you. I did stability test on a 3000+ not long ago on 285MHz HTT... Also.. You might want to wait a tad bit, AMD's probably b having a pricecut soon.

    Ati... well, I'm sure they'll figure something out when 7800 GTX comes out. Might just grab that cash for another few weeks...
    Me want Ultrabook


  3. #3
    MacDaddy! darrensen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Sussex
    Posts
    1,695
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    43 times in 37 posts
    • darrensen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte z77 UD3H
      • CPU:
      • i7
      • Memory:
      • 8gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • Loads!
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 780 GTX
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 850Watt
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Storm Trooper
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 24"
      • Internet:
      • Plusnet Fibre 80mb
    why do you think amd are having a price cut? I havnt seen much of a price cut since the X2 chips.

  4. #4
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    heard it off Rave... ehehehe...
    Me want Ultrabook


  5. #5
    Huggable
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Starburn's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Epox 9NPA+
      • CPU:
      • A64 4000+ (@ 12x210)
      • Memory:
      • 2x1gig Corsair XMS Pro (DDR400 @ 420)
      • Storage:
      • 2x80gig Raid0 & 1x200gig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon X1800XT (above stock)
      • PSU:
      • Hiper Type-R Modular (580W)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Wave
      • Monitor(s):
      • 19" TFT & 50" TV (for games)
      • Internet:
      • Be 24mb
    Quote Originally Posted by sawyen
    if you're going for a 3200+ venice, might as well be getting a 3000+ venice, 30 quids cheaper... OC just as far as your Neo4 can take you. I did stability test on a 3000+ not long ago on 285MHz HTT... Also.. You might want to wait a tad bit, AMD's probably b having a pricecut soon.

    Ati... well, I'm sure they'll figure something out when 7800 GTX comes out. Might just grab that cash for another few weeks...
    thing is.. how far will the Geil Value DDR400 be able to go? .. I doubt it'll push 1mhz over.. no idea how the A64s work but if it's the same as the XP's it's FSB OC'ing? .. so it'll be memory dependant too? - thus I won't be able to overclock without forking out an extra £100-150 for decent memory (which I really don't want to do considering I only bought this RAM about a month ago..).
    We cannot choose what we are.. but what are we but the sum of our choices?

  6. #6
    Resident abit mourner BUFF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Sunny Glasgow
    Posts
    8,067
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    181 times in 171 posts
    Quote Originally Posted by Starburn
    no idea how the A64s work but if it's the same as the XP's it's FSB OC'ing? .. so it'll be memory dependant too? .
    Run a divider - there is no penalty on A64.

    MSI P55-GD80, i5 750
    abit A-S78H, Phenom 9750,

    My HEXUS.trust abit forums

  7. #7
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    yeap... dividers usually work fine.. you could run ur system front side at 200MHz while ur memory bus retains at 133 (DDR266) or 166Mhz (DDR333)... thus when overclocked, your memory will only increment from 333MHz or 266MHz onwards... plenty of space... Geil value should do fine... but don't expect lightning fast timings at DDR400... Excess OC wouldnt go far as well... my guess would be roughly 5~10 Mhz off 200MHz FSB..
    Me want Ultrabook


  8. #8
    Huggable
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    • Starburn's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Epox 9NPA+
      • CPU:
      • A64 4000+ (@ 12x210)
      • Memory:
      • 2x1gig Corsair XMS Pro (DDR400 @ 420)
      • Storage:
      • 2x80gig Raid0 & 1x200gig
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ATI Radeon X1800XT (above stock)
      • PSU:
      • Hiper Type-R Modular (580W)
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Wave
      • Monitor(s):
      • 19" TFT & 50" TV (for games)
      • Internet:
      • Be 24mb
    Quote Originally Posted by sawyen
    yeap... dividers usually work fine.. you could run ur system front side at 200MHz while ur memory bus retains at 133 (DDR266) or 166Mhz (DDR333)... thus when overclocked, your memory will only increment from 333MHz or 266MHz onwards... plenty of space... Geil value should do fine... but don't expect lightning fast timings at DDR400... Excess OC wouldnt go far as well... my guess would be roughly 5~10 Mhz off 200MHz FSB..
    My Geil Value is DDR400 though.. and runs fine at 2.5-3-3-6
    which isn't exactly tight; but the performance difference between my £55 Geil Value at these timings and one of my housemates Corsair XMS LED fancy whatsit £200 odd stuff at 2-2-2-3 or whatever it does is so small it made me happy

    edit: with my XP2500 it seems to give up at 206mhz .. though that could be the passively cooled NB and no cooling on the SB (when the 8RDA+ isn't actually quoted for DDR400 in the first place.. good little mobo tho).
    We cannot choose what we are.. but what are we but the sum of our choices?

  9. #9
    Senior Member sawyen's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Sheffield University
    Posts
    3,658
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    22 times in 21 posts
    • sawyen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Laptop motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 740QM
      • Memory:
      • 8192MB DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 256GB SSD, 1TB WD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Mobility HD 5870
      • PSU:
      • MSI stuff
      • Case:
      • N/A
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 64bit
      • Internet:
      • Virgin ADSL rubbish
    Quote Originally Posted by Starburn
    My Geil Value is DDR400 though.. and runs fine at 2.5-3-3-6
    which isn't exactly tight; but the performance difference between my £55 Geil Value at these timings and one of my housemates Corsair XMS LED fancy whatsit £200 odd stuff at 2-2-2-3 or whatever it does is so small it made me happy

    edit: with my XP2500 it seems to give up at 206mhz .. though that could be the passively cooled NB and no cooling on the SB (when the 8RDA+ isn't actually quoted for DDR400 in the first place.. good little mobo tho).
    You won't see much difference during gaming and benchies.. probably able to squeeze about 5fps if you were able to go 2-2-2-5.. However, the system will generally feel more nimble, starts program faster... generate articles faster... simulate process faster (if you're using stuff like HYSYS or ChemCAD)... 2-2-2-5 timings shaved off a whole 15 minutes on my 1 hour long reactive distillation column profile simulation... compared to my current 2.5-3-3-8... I'm leaning back a lil as my RAM does get a little hot to the touch on 2-2-2-5 at 2.85V
    Me want Ultrabook


  10. #10
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Colo Spgs
    Posts
    35
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    Have you tested you memory? I hate to play into what Blizz says, but I had 2 errors in over 13 hours when I checked. I also crashed olot each night. I upgraded from 512 to 1 gig on the mem, replacing the original completely. This solved my crashing prob. If you hate to spend money, try that first.

    Of course, now I am pricing out a new rig completly, now that I am running well!
    I used to have something here.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 8
    Last Post: 27-03-2005, 01:14 PM
  2. Best upgrade for this system...
    By DrMah in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 21-12-2004, 07:50 PM
  3. Abit NF7-S revision 2 information
    By Lee H in forum SCAN.care@HEXUS
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 30-10-2004, 07:13 PM
  4. Keeping your system healthy and secure
    By Paul Adams in forum Software
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-10-2004, 09:35 PM
  5. FarCry/IL2 capable system upgrade and 19" CRT
    By Zathras in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 29-03-2004, 06:02 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •