Yet Another AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+ thread

[Matt_2000_17]

ATI X1800XL (if you like lots of AA) or a 7900GT.

I'd go with the ATI if my motherboard supported crossfire but it doesn't. I'd rather go nVidia so the option to get a second card for SLI is open to me. Thanks for the suggestion of the X1800XL. I'm looking into a 7900GT but undecided yet.

[Noni]

Hi there,

What PSU do you have?

You basically have 2 choices- you can eat it, or throw it away....

Nah just kiddin

1800XT 256mb or 7900GT?

Pionts-

7900GT uses less power, runs cooler and is quieter. It is also shorter (if that means anything to you) and overclocks like mad with the Voltmod.

But it suffers from a problem where overclocked 7900GT's are dieing, loads are being RMA'd.

1800XT is a more powerful card at stock and depending on which 7900GT you pick, its also cheaper. You can run HDR and AA at the same time, which you cannot do with the 7900GT.

But it is loud, and hot, and takes up 2 slots with that big cooler. Also, the drivers are not the best in the world.

My choice? I would go for the 7900GT, because I love NVidia and it suits my needs.

Thanks.

[Matt_2000_17]

Hi there,

What PSU do you have?

You basically have 2 choices- you can eat it, or throw it away....

Nah just kiddin

1800XT 256mb or 7900GT?

Pionts-

7900GT uses less power, runs cooler and is quieter. It is also shorter (if that means anything to you) and overclocks like mad with the Voltmod.

But it suffers from a problem where overclocked 7900GT's are dieing, loads are being RMA'd.

1800XT is a more powerful card at stock and depending on which 7900GT you pick, its also cheaper. You can run HDR and AA at the same time, which you cannot do with the 7900GT.

But it is loud, and hot, and takes up 2 slots with that big cooler. Also, the drivers are not the best in the world.

My choice? I would go for the 7900GT, because I love NVidia and it suits my needs.

Thanks.

I have a 600W PSU but it's not a branding PSU like Hiper. It's been working fine the past 2 years I've had it.

I won't be overclocking the gfx card.

I've always liked nVidia, they've never failed me. I'll go with a 7900GT but I need to find one that suits my needs and isn't over my budget of £200.

[Noni]

These look good-

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=378690

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=385945

Sign up for free scan shipping.

http://www.lowestonweb.com/Products/...7-77D609A60BE4

Or the top one here-

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...agx_2d044_2dco

[Matt_2000_17]

I was just wandering, don't the 7900GT's have a 6 pin power connector? If that is the case then i'm going to need a new PSU because my current one doesn't have a PCIe power connector.

[itswesty]

You can buy a converter, saves you money!

[OV3RCLOCK3R]

You can buy a converter, saves you money!

I believe there is always one included with the card

[shaithis]

I'd go with the ATI if my motherboard supported crossfire but it doesn't. I'd rather go nVidia so the option to get a second card for SLI is open to me. Thanks for the suggestion of the X1800XL. I'm looking into a 7900GT but undecided yet.

Having owned an SLI setup (2 x 7800GT), I would question why you would want SLI, unless you are going for a 3d mark record score...It really is a waste of money for any other reason.

[dangel]

Having owned an SLI setup (2 x 7800GT), I would question why you would want SLI, unless you are going for a 3d mark record score...It really is a waste of money for any other reason.

I'd go along with that - the gains aren't really that impressive (perhaps it's important for people with very large screens - 24" for example) for the investment. I've gone through 3 SLI motherboards without actually bothering with it and didn't think twice about going for the X1800XT despite not having crossfire. I'd rather buy one big honking card to do it all than have to pay for two (and cool and power them). 'dual gpu' cards can give you SLI in a single slot (read: slot used, not physical size) if you really must go down that route.

[Matt_2000_17]

I ordered the following products this morning from Overclockers

Graphics card Top one.

Memory 2nd from top.

What do you think?

They'll arrive tomorrow.

[Matt_2000_17]

Well, it was suppose to be today but City Link fouled it up. They sent my package to the wrong delivery depot.

So now it'll be Monday. At least Overclockers will refund my delivery cost.

[Veles]

My 3800+ is plenty good enough and can reach 4200+ speeds with ease. Just my setting my mobo's overclock feature to 10% did the job (I'm too lazy to overclock properly )

[dancingmatt]

WHOA on buying a 4200+ AM2 - it's one of the models that doesn't use the DDR2 effectively.

Certain models of AM2 X2 processors end up underclocking DDR2 because they have an odd clock multiplier, so its not divisible by an integer and therefore the memory runs underspeed.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...px?i=2762&p=10

When I was planning my AM2 rig I was getting a 3800+ or 4000+, depending on which came into stock first. But because they didn't I started reading about Conroe. Dunno what I'll do now.

[Matt_2000_17]

WHOA on buying a 4200+ AM2 - it's one of the models that doesn't use the DDR2 effectively.

Certain models of AM2 X2 processors end up underclocking DDR2 because they have an odd clock multiplier, so its not divisible by an integer and therefore the memory runs underspeed.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...px?i=2762&p=10

When I was planning my AM2 rig I was getting a 3800+ or 4000+, depending on which came into stock first. But because they didn't I started reading about Conroe. Dunno what I'll do now.

I've decided to not go for an AM2 setup. I'm going to stick with the 939 socket. I'll still be getting a dual core processor when the prices drop (not sure on which one). I'm also considering a new motherboard, possibly a crossfire board.

But first things first, I need to get my hands on the memory and GFX card i ordered from Overclockers on Friday. I paid for Saturday delivery and it turns out it ended up in Chester which is 150 - 200 miles from where I live. I get told it'll arrive today but when I rang City Link they told me it was still in Chester and that I won't get it til tomorrow now. The service I have received is terrible. City Link even suggested I make my complaint through Overclockers but why should I, it's not their fault for misplacing it.

[dancingmatt]

Nope, that's definitely City Link's fault!

I used Overclockers a few years ago, had no trouble with them but sounds like a lot of people do. I'd always thought I'd use them again and avoid eBuyer, but might have to avoid Overclockers too... still, they are rarely the cheapest except for the occasional weekly deal

DM

[DanceswithUnix]

WHOA on buying a 4200+ AM2 - it's one of the models that doesn't use the DDR2 effectively.

I think that is a bit of an anomoly at Anandtech. Everywhere else they basically tell you that none of the AM2 cpus are helped by the DDR2 interface as they are not starved of memory bandwidth. Odd that they go into such detail of what seems a totally academic problem. Besides, a slight overclock and all those calculations go out the window