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Author Topic: Need mobo recommendations, my computer flaked
Drako
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posted 07-19-2004 10:08 PM     Profile for Drako   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I'm not sure what triggered it, but my mobo & RAM seem to have flaked out on me and they need to be replaced (fixed & floating memory errors, random lockups, etc). Here's the problem: My PC is currently a P4 1.6Ghz OC'd to 2.4Ghz running on an older Asus mobo (P4B266C). I don't see much point in replacing the mobo & ram while sticking with the old CPU, so I'm going to pick up a faster processor too.

What's good right now? I was thinking about picking up a 2.8Ghz (should be good for Doom3) but I haven't been following motherboards since the BX era and have no clue what the current chipsets or hot performers are.

Also, how is AMD stacking up in the performance arena these days? I'm sure they've still got the price/performance market cornered, but I'm more interested in pure performance and I'm not afraid to pay for it. In terms of pure performance, how are they stacking up these days?

Advice?

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Posts: 931 | From: Northern California | Registered: Jun 1999  |  IP: Logged
Drako
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posted 07-19-2004 10:10 PM     Profile for Drako   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Ugh, that was poorly written (I'm coming off a 12 hour workday).

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Posts: 931 | From: Northern California | Registered: Jun 1999  |  IP: Logged
Cyrus
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posted 07-19-2004 10:15 PM     Profile for Cyrus   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I recently upgraded to a 2.8Ghz and went with the Asus P4P800-E mobo and so far it has been extremely good. It also supports dual channel ram.

http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket478/p4p800-e_d/overview.htm

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Shiny.


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Headstone
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posted 07-19-2004 10:18 PM     Profile for Headstone   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Are you looking for bang for the buck speed or just speed?

If somewhere in the middle get a Via KT880 mobo and an athlon 64 3200+

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Yep it really is me.


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Acid
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posted 07-19-2004 11:15 PM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Definately get a Socket 939 AMD 64. Though Doom3 doesn't take advantage of the 64bit processing, newer games will (hell, someone will probably make a mod for the game that will take advantage of it). It is also what AMD is moving to fully, so there is no point in buying the older format.

I don't know much about the motherboards for the A64s, but there are plenty of reviews out there for them

Also, Crucial just rolled out their "performance" ram (Ballistix). http://www.crucial.com/ballistix/

^^ Supposed to be better than Corsair XMS, but my oh my is it expensive :\


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Zippy
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posted 07-20-2004 03:43 AM     Profile for Zippy   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
P4P800E Deluxe
P4 2.8C
OCZ DDR400 Plat. Dual channel.

and yes dual channel does make a big differnce in performance.

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Acid
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posted 07-20-2004 08:22 AM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Or he could stop spending more money on (lesser) Intel products when AMD is bettering them right now.
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Snag
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posted 07-20-2004 08:38 AM     Profile for Snag   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Acid:
Or he could stop spending more money on (lesser) Intel products when AMD is bettering them right now.

whoah, it must be hot in here cause the fanboys are blowing hard!


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Acid
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posted 07-20-2004 09:23 AM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I'm not a fanboy by any means. The AMD 64 is an awesome chip. Intel has what to compete?
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GFKiller
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posted 07-20-2004 09:39 AM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
If you aren't concerned with spending money on a new video card either, I would definetely buy a chipset that supports PCI Express. Intel's 925 chipset carries all that support along with the new form factor P4 (LGA 775 pin lay-out). So if you go with something like that, you're good for the next two years.

You'd definetely save money with an AMD setup, but I wouldn't know much about those. I've never bought an up-to-date AMD product line for my own personal usage.


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Cacophonous
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posted 07-20-2004 11:14 AM     Profile for Cacophonous   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
What the fuck is a 'fanboy'? Is that some sort of homosexual talk?

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Drako
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posted 07-20-2004 12:08 PM     Profile for Drako   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Headstone~ I'm looking for pure speed more than bang for the buck. I do have my limits...single CPU, no RAID, etc, but I don't upgrade my computer very often and prefer to go the high performance route when I do.

GFK~ Whether or not I replace my video card will depend on how my Ti4200 handles Doom3

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GFKiller
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posted 07-20-2004 12:36 PM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
The Ti4200 will handle Doom3 just fine (they recommend at least a GeForce3 Ti). The reason why I'm asking is because if I know you, you'll want to upgrade now and be able to hold off for a couple of years.

If you're going to do that, you want a motherboard with PCI Express in it. MB's with PCI Express do not come with an AGP slot. Sooooooo, if you want a mobo/processor that'll last a good two years, you're looking at a video card upgrade too (c'mon, who couldn't use a new video card .


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outrider
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posted 07-20-2004 12:53 PM     Profile for outrider   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
AMD config makes best gaming box right now.
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outrider
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posted 07-20-2004 01:11 PM     Profile for outrider   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
intel config makes best gaming box right now.
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GFKiller
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posted 07-20-2004 03:55 PM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Make up your mind, damn you! I don't know, I'm just an intel kind of guy. Never had a problem, burn out, incompatibility, or regret. Plus I've seen AMDs in action (especially the charred ones).
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outrider
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posted 07-20-2004 03:58 PM     Profile for outrider   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I can't make up my mind so I have both, heh.
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Devastator
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posted 07-20-2004 05:39 PM     Profile for Devastator   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I am and always have been an Intel guy as well. Cyrix taught me the only lesson I care to learn concerning processors.

Heh of course, I drink Bud Long Necks, smoke Marboro Reds (shorts), use real sugar, and gobble up as many carbs as I can.

Says something about me personally I suppose.

[ 07-20-2004: Message edited by: Devastator ]


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GFKiller
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posted 07-20-2004 05:52 PM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Yeah, you're not living long.

(like I should talk, don't even ask for my list of vices, I might scare some of you)


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Acid
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posted 07-20-2004 06:19 PM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I drive on average 10mph+ (15 around home) and occassionally drink (to get drunk).
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Headstone
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posted 07-21-2004 01:14 AM     Profile for Headstone   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Drako you could still get the mobo cpu combo suggested above and then add in the 6800GT for your vid card and then you will be set for at least another 2 years of gaming. (maybe up the cpu to the 3400+)

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Yep it really is me.


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Zippy
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posted 07-21-2004 02:27 AM     Profile for Zippy   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
did i hear that somebody here is a fanboy? shame on you, bad boy, don't do it again or else i'll tell your mother! does your father know what kind of a computer you've built? he would be ashamed of you.

Intel Inside is all you need to know, that and hyperthreading and dualchannel ddr and 865 or 875 chipset and then...
no and then, just go get a P4 thats right for your budget, P4's have been dropping in price like krazy... 2.8E(1mb of Cache) for only $235.00cnd, Asus p4p800 Deluxe $165.00cnd, OCZ ddr400 512mb dualchannel platinum $225.00cnd or even better 1gb @ $420.00cnd.

Quit thinking about what if's and future systems, just go get what you can afford(cough,Intel,cough). Enough said!

[ 07-21-2004: Message edited by: Zippy ]

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Acid
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posted 07-21-2004 08:53 AM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
AMD costs less than Intel, so I don't know what you're coughing at

Does the 6800GT require a huge PSU as well? Those things are power hungry and require like a 600W+ PSU. ATi is supposedly releasing a lower clocked X800PE with more pipelines to run it into the dirt. It should be out soon..


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jondster
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posted 07-21-2004 02:21 PM     Profile for jondster   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Man, when they say Doom3 will run just fine on a Ti4200, I shudder.

UT2004, BFVN and Far Cry don't run very well on a 4200, so why the hell should DOOM3 ??? Carmack will tell it will so you buy his game. He knows you're gonna end up dumping cash on at least a 5700 Ultra anyways, why shouldn't he get his 55 bucks first ?

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GFKiller
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posted 07-21-2004 03:58 PM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
UT2K4 ran just fine on my Ti4200. Only reason why I now have a 9600XT is because of my sticky fingerz.
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outrider
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posted 07-21-2004 04:12 PM     Profile for outrider   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
What res did your 4200 run ut2k4 fine at? Sure, a 4200 *may* run doom 3 fine at 640X480 with all the bells and whistles turned off.
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jondster
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posted 07-21-2004 04:21 PM     Profile for jondster   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Ditto on OR

Had to dumb down to 800x600/32 or 1024x768/16 to get a decent framerate out of my Ti4600

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GFKiller
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posted 07-21-2004 04:45 PM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I believe I was running UT2k4 at 800x600/32 with 2x AA.
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Acid
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posted 07-21-2004 04:58 PM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Why get a 9600XT? They're not near as fast as a 9700 Pro (same price area really), and the 9800 Pro (which can be found cheap if you look) just completely dominates it.

In other news, the new logitech z-680s look amazing. Waiting for dad to get up (long night) so I can crank these bitches up.


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GFKiller
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posted 07-22-2004 10:58 AM     Profile for GFKiller   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Once again, sticky fingers are not selective. They take whatever they can get!
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Acid
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posted 07-22-2004 11:08 AM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
There are some benchmarks for Doom3 out now. They show the ATi X800-PE getting mopped up (somehow) by nVidias newest cards (the 6800GT should not beat it, but does). Most likely, ATi needs to get some good openGL support in there.
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Drako
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posted 07-22-2004 12:29 PM     Profile for Drako   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Damn. Well, the wife imposed some hard cash limits on me (we're expecting #3 in a few months, and she wants the money for the nursery), so I've had to scale back my plans

Since I'm having to go cheap, I'm looking at picking up a P4 3.0E (Prescott/HT), an Asus P4P800 SE, and a Corsair Value PC-3200 1GB dual channel kit. The whole package will set me back about $475 at NewEgg.

Anyone see any red flags?

Also, what AMD setup would match the performance of this combination?

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Acid
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posted 07-22-2004 02:13 PM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Well, supposedly, an AMD AXP 2500 (1.83ghz)[GET MOBILE] = P4 2.5ghz, but the 2500 is supposed to outperform it. As long as you buy a good NF2 board, you can easily bounce it up to AXP 3200 (2.2ghz) which is the equiv. of a P4 3.2ghz. Now with the mobile chips, you can acheive 2.4ghz no problem since they use less voltage and are multiplier unlocked off the shelf.

Also check out Crucial's new ram. It's supposed to be faster than Corsair's lineup. Not sure how the prices stack up though.


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AcidWarp
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posted 07-22-2004 11:44 PM     Profile for AcidWarp   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
About the 2500+ and 2600+ chips

AFAIK the AXP 2500+ (barton) Desktop has been EOL'd

The AXP2500+ M (barton)which actually runs natively at 266Mhz FSB with a vcore of 1.45, is fully unlocked and I've seen peeps running them up to 2.7Ghz stable, with a vcore of 1.95, the mobile can absorb vcores some of the full desktop chips can't. If you run it to match the desktop specs (11x166 instead of 14.5x133, they run the total clock speed a little higher in the mobiles) it'll run somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50watts dissipation.

The AXP 2600+ (barton), which I just purchased, I think is the replacement to the desktop 2500+ Oc's just as well (up to 2.3Ghz and over, in some cases 2.5 and 2.6), and can absorb vcore changes almost as well as the mobile 2500.

If you DO go the AMD route, do yourself a favour, and when you open up the box, take the AMD cooler and toss it. Get yourself a Thermalright ALX-800. It can be used with any 80mm fan, so if the 1.3amp, 76cfm fan it ships with is too loud you can change it out. It's also almost HALF the weight of it's equivlants.

If you go intel, you might do well with a 2.8e (?, the prescott one, I can't remember the intel naming conventions) 800FSB and HyperThreading. And very oc'able apparently. The 3.06 prescott is pretty good as well.


Oh, and to answer your question Drako, an oc'd AMD 2500+ barton mobile would do well. . 2.5Ghz seems average, and that's something like a 3600+ if such a chip existed.

But to match performance. . . probably a 3200+ AMD, 64bit if you can get it. If it wasn't for the HyperThreading on the Intel chips, I'd say a 3000+ Same ram, and an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe. Or maybe an MSI K7N2-Delta ILSR.

[ 07-22-2004: Message edited by: AcidWarp ]

[ 07-22-2004: Message edited by: AcidWarp ]

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“I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.”

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

--Dr. Stephen Hawking.


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Acid
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posted 07-23-2004 01:42 AM     Profile for Acid   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
If he's going 64 bit, he has to get Socket 939. That's what they're moving on with in the future I believe.

I also read something about AMD making a new Socket A chip called "sempron" or something. What is it, or did I read wrong? Was reading an article on Epox's new "8rda6+" board which actually looks really good (comparable to DFI in overclocking settings). I want it just for the overclocking + soundchip [has optical out].


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Zippy
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posted 07-23-2004 02:34 AM     Profile for Zippy   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
P4 2.8c ocd to 3.4 with zalman alcu 7000 hs & fan and my sata hd is noisier than all of my sys fans. in case your wondering i am using an antec sonata case with 2 120mm fans.

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