Upgrade, but is it good ?

[SnowFox]

Hi !
I'm hopefully going to upgrade my computer a little bit and I was wondering if the system I have set up is good.

System Upgrade:

- TwinMOS DDR2 PC5300 2048MB Dual Pack http://www.twinmos.com/dram/dram_p_dt_ddr2_667.htm
- ABIT Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI http://www2.abit.com.tw/page/no/motherboard/motherboard_detail.php?pMODEL_NAME=Fatal1ty+FP-IN9+SLI&fMTYPE=LGA775
- Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/index.htm

My System Specs:

- Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz
- 1Gb DDR2 RAM (clockspeed unknown)
- 250Gb HDD 7200 rpm
- Motherboard unknown
- 420W PSU
- ATI X1900GT 256Mb GPU

I am also planing to overclock the prosessor a little bit maybe and buying two packs of the DDR2 RAM.

And can anyone tell me if the new upgrade is good for Windows Vista ?

Tanks for your suport !
And if there is anything missing, let me know =D

[SgtM]

Either system you have spec'd there would run Vista. I'm running a P4 2.66, 1Gb (333mhz) RAM, 160 Gb IDE HDD, and Ge-Force 5950 Ultra.

edit: Dual booting XP Pro and Vista Business. This same setup ran Vista Ultimate Beta 2 and RC1 with no problems. I don't know about the upgrades. I've only used the full versions.

[Durrthock]

Looks good any reason on the 667 ram though

[SnowFox]

Looks good any reason on the 667 ram though

It's cheap ! Don't cost so much her in Norway these days ! I think it is 187 us dollar for 1Gb .. but I'm not sure.
I can't afford the 800MHz DDR2 RAM ... =(

[SgtM]

Norway's expensive. I was in Trondheim in 99. I remember blowing about $150 usd before I knew what happened. Beautiful country though. I wouldn't mind going back.

[Nagoshi]

Your current system already supports Vista. I made it run on a P4 2GHz with 512Mb RAM, and a GeForce FX 5500, and it actually ran the Aero skin (which I really was impressed of, thanks to the fresh format).

I would recommend a Gigabyte DS3 motherboard instead of the FATAL1TY. Its the best board in the range of ~$120. And unless you absolutely want to go SLI... I saw you already own a X1900 from ATI, that ain'T gonna be crossfire-compatible with the Fatal1ty. In case you don'T know, SLI and Crossfire are different, and CF doesnt work on SLI, vice-cersa.

Are you considering overclocking? the DS3 offers the best performance, but also is one of the best overclocking boards for Conroes. If you are not considering this option, you may stick with the Asus board, but unless you don't need the SLI you may go with another board. Also, if you are not afraid of overclocking, you could buy an E4300 and pump it up all the way to a E6400 :)

Last thing, what is your power supply's model? 420W can comes from many brands, including cheap stuff.

[Omega]

So, my Athlon64 2.2GHz, 1gb RAM, and X800SE should run Vista too? Cool. Too bad I don't have it and I won't for a while.

[Mitternacht]

So, my Athlon64 2.2GHz, 1gb RAM, and X800SE should run Vista too? Cool. Too bad I don't have it and I won't for a while.

I was thinking of getting it, but honestly, wait for the driver issues to get resolved.

[DevilTeck]

hardware sounds good but as for vista i wouldn't upgrade to vista untill they get some stuff worked out. I recently bought a HP pavillion for the family pc(not my personal one) and it has vista on it and within a week window explorer had a problem and would shut do every four seconds, so i then wipe the HD clean and re+Install and it will not play any games that are more than a year old even in capatiblity mode. IT SUCKS I HATE IT AND DID I MENTION IT SUCKS.

[SnowFox]

Norway's expensive. I was in Trondheim in 99. I remember blowing about $150 used before I knew what happened. Beautiful country though. I wouldn't mind going back.
Well thank you ! But have you tried the online store, it's very impressive !


In case you don'T know, SLI and Crossfire are different, and CF doesnt work on SLI, vice-cersa.

Well THANK YOU I did not know that ! so the Nvidia SLI does not work in crossfire eighter ?

[Nagoshi]

No.

Guessing you may want to go CrossFire, you may want some infos on Nvidia and ATI at the moment.

The new 8800GTS 640Mb from Nvidia blows two 7950GTX Nvidias running SLI in smaller resolutions gaming.

The new 8800 from Nvidia blows anything on the market right now, crossfire/SLI or not (unless you're going for high resolutions, CF/SLI is winning, but you need the latest cards for that...)

You may want to wait for ATI's answer to the 8800 if you want something powerful. I don't know if you plan to stick with ATI or going Nvidia, but if you plan on going dual-cards you'd better check which cards you may want. Dual X1900 running in Crossfire will be beaten by a single 8800GTS 640Mb.

[Silenced_Coyote]

I vote for the Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 instead of the E6400. By the way, the E4300 doesn't support virtualization. If that is a feature you want, then I would suggest the E6300. About $50 USD less that the E6400. Since you plan on overclocking, you really don't need to look at the default speed. Both are great overclockers. Basically, the only thing you are paying for with the E6400 is a higher multiplier.

I don't know what is available to you in Norway. But RAM prices are getting pretty low. You can get a good pair. Here is one and it is 800 MHz too for less after rebate.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220144

[CanaBalistic]

Here's some cheaper, faster ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231114
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) 4-4-3-5
For $209.99

Compared to:

Link above
Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 4-4-4-12
For $214.99

[SnowFox]

Well, I don't got the X1900 Crossfire edition so if I am going to buy a new pair of GPU's and put them in SLI or Crossfire ... what's the best but not to expensive solution for DX9 ? I was thinking of two XFX GeForce 7900GS 256MB or something like that !

[Nagoshi]

Youd be better with a single GeForce 8800GTS 640Mb.

At which resolution do you play games? Also note that Crossfire/SLI does block any multi-screen possibilities, so if you are going with 8800GTS you'll be able to put at least 2 screens on your system. I don't know what is your current upgrade goal... and SLI/CF is not that good, unless you are aiming for 1600x1200 or higher gaming resolution at full graphics settings.

[SnowFox]

Youd be better with a single GeForce 8800GTS 640Mb.

At which resolution do you play games? Also note that Crossfire/SLI does block any multi-screen possibilities, so if you are going with 8800GTS you'll be able to put at least 2 screens on your system. I don't know what is your current upgrade goal... and SLI/CF is not that good, unless you are aiming for 1600x1200 or higher gaming resolution at full graphics settings.

I use 1280x1024 in all games ! So .. when is the cheaper DX10 cards coming, and what is the estimated prise for the DX10 ATI ?

EDIT: http://www.lc-power.com/ This is the power supply i got ! It's the 420W Silent Giant !

[Nagoshi]

1280x1024, eh... keep your current X1900 card for a while, since it still packs alot of power, but wait till the next gen DX10 cards goes out before buying anything.

Do you know that DX10 technology is currenly only handled by Vista? I think that these cards will function under XP, but without the DX10 improvements. You can't trust me on that point tho, since I only got a GeForce FX 5500... ^_^; I was writing that by memory of what Ive seen on different forums.

Take a look at the benchmarks, you'll find what's good for the future. When it's written SLI or CF just after the card name, it's because the benchmark was realised by using two of that card in SLI/CF mode. The 8800GTX is used all alone in it... hehe

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html?modelx=33&model1=606&model2=585&chart=231

Oh, and I was wrong all the time, it's 8800GTX... lol.

[SnowFox]

Well, the system setup is a good upgrade so I am settled with that and I think I will rest my case with the graphics a little while and wait for the DX10 to get out on the marked for full eh !?

Thank you all for helping me ! :D
(PS: I'm not going to buy Windows Vista yet, cause it's not good for gaming and that's what I do )

[Nagoshi]

Besides, Vista doesn't support multi-channel audio on other cards than X-Fi and some of the best Audigy from Creative, which, in my opinion, is a bad thing.

and yes, you could wait for ATI's answer to nVidia about DX10 cards, then make a choice there (or wait for nVidia's answer, too... lol)

[SnowFox]

Besides, Vista doesn't support multi-channel audio on other cards than X-Fi and some of the best Audigy from Creative, which, in my opinion, is a bad thing.

and yes, you could wait for ATI's answer to nVidia about DX10 cards, then make a choice there (or wait for nVidia's answer, too... lol)

Yeah I got the Creative X-Fi Extreme Music and it rock's man ! And I'm not going for dual lcd screen ... yet ! lol ! Personaly I think Vista is full of holes and problems !

[Nagoshi]

Besides, Ive heard of benchmarks of games under Vista and XP, and XP was winning by a few FPS on the same system. My guess is that we wait fora couple of months until the drivers comes out and Vista fills the holes they have.

Woot, just passed the 300 posts :)

[SnowFox]

Just a simple question so i don't have to make a new tread !

With this http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Liguid/DIY/cl-w0076/cl-w0076.asp
H2O Cooling system it makes 19 - 30 Db .. can I swithc the fans to more silent fans ? and do the radiators make noise ?

[Silenced_Coyote]

Yes you can switch the fans and no radiators do not make noise. But before switching fans, you want to see how many fins per square inch there are. Because if it is packed, you want a fan that is rated with decent air pressure. If not, then a silent fan with low air pressure will do.

How quiet do you want it anyways?

[SnowFox]

Yes you can switch the fans and no radiators do not make noise. But before switching fans, you want to see how many fins per square inch there are. Because if it is packed, you want a fan that is rated with decent air pressure. If not, then a silent fan with low air pressure will do.

How quiet do you want it anyways?

Let's say 17 - 21 Db ..

[SnowFox]

The Aerocool 120mm "Turbine 3000" presses 63.6 m³/t and makes 19.7 dB(A) that sound's good or what ? And yes it got 16 fan blades =D

Her is a link !
http://www.aerocool.us/p-accessory/turbine%20fan/turbine%20fan.htm

[SnowFox]

The thin is that I want to lower the Db on my pc .. but the H2o cooling has fans to so .. ?

[Silenced_Coyote]

It depends on how you got your water cooling set up.

Lets say you use that Thermaltake Big Water and you use it externally like the pics Thermaltake has. You are just going to be adding more fans to you system.
But, if you mount it internally on existing fans in your case (this can also be on the outside too), you would have at least one less fan, which is the CPU fan. You could take more fans away if your chipset has its own fan and if you water cool the GPU. Water cooling is more efficient than air cooling, so you can sacrifice high CFM fans for lower CFM fans (which means lower dBA fans).

You know, you could achieve lower noise without going water cooling. But it all depends on your needs. There are heatsinks that can be paired up with a very low noise/low CFM fan and still be able to cool the CPU well enough. But you most likely won't have a lot of overclocking headroom. But this is a lot less expensive. I recommend the Thermalright Ultra-120 (use it passively or with a fan of your choice). I know they are coming out with an updated one that adds 2 more heatpipes to it if you can wait, but I'm not sure exactly when they will release it.
You could try adding sound dampening material inside your PC. Though I have never tried it before so I don't know how well it works.
Another easy solution is to switch out all your fans for silent ones. Some of the best ones are the Nexus, Noctua, and Scythe S-Flex.

By the way, what PC case will you be using?

[SnowFox]

But you most likely won't have a lot of overclocking headroom.

Like I said i one of my first posts I am going to overclock my CPU a little bit :D And I might buy a Intel e6300 instead of the e6400. That means more clocking to.

By the way, what PC case will you be using?
Right now I have a Chieftech Miditower ( looks similar to Dragon ) but if I get any money I will buy my self a Cooler Master Mystique 631.

I read about a guy from Norway that overclocked a Intel e6300 from 1866MHz to 3150Mhz with BigWater cooling =D

[DaveW]

I read about a guy from Norway that overclocked a Intel e6300 from 1866MHz to 3150Mhz with BigWater cooling =D

That's nothing. I've seen an AMD Opteron overclocked from 1800 mHz to 3500mHz. I pushed mine up to 2000mHz just by ****ing around with it. It's considered one of the most overlockable chips ever made. Oh, and my temperatures? Never seen them go above 35 degrees, avarages at 29. Yes, that's CPU, not case.

Why am i telling you this seeminly irrelevant information? Because i like the Opteron! :p

-Dave

[SnowFox]

That's nothing. I've seen an AMD Opteron overclocked from 1800 mHz to 3500mHz. I pushed mine up to 2000mHz just by ****ing around with it. It's considered one of the most overlockable chips ever made. Oh, and my temperatures? Never seen them go above 35 degrees, avarages at 29. Yes, that's CPU, not case.

Why am i telling you this seeminly irrelevant information? Because i like the Opteron! :p

-Dave

Do you know if the mainboard I want is good for overclocking CPU ?

[Silenced_Coyote]

I read about a guy from Norway that overclocked a Intel e6300 from 1866MHz to 3150Mhz with BigWater cooling =D

You can hit that overclock with the stock cooler. So saying the Big Water can hit that is not saying much. Only difference would be the noise and temps. But you can change that by getting an aftermarket air cooler.

[SnowFox]

You can hit that overclock with the stock cooler. So saying the Big Water can hit that is not saying much. Only difference would be the noise and temps. But you can change that by getting an aftermarket air cooler.

I've heard so much complains about the Intel e6300 stock cooler being awfully bad and that an upgrade to another cooler would be the second thing you do after buying it ! ( and this is at stock speed )

It was not the colling I was aiming for, it was the overclocking friendly processor I was so amazed about :D

But if I overclock my processor to around 2,8GHz or something like that, can the motherboard take that ? Or will it break ?

( I do not understand what you mean with "aftermarket air cooler" )

[Silenced_Coyote]

I meant it as a 3rd party air cooler (heatsink and fan). An air cooler you buy made by another company.

Well, the Core 2 Duo's are so much cooler compared to the Prescotts that the you can actually overclock with the stock Intel heatsink. Of course, there are a lot of better coolers out there, way better.

I'm not sure about the motherboard itself. But I know that the chipset on the motherboard, the Nvidia 650i, is a good chipset and is good at overclocking. But the rest is up to Abit and their BIOS. For example: the max voltage you can set, how small the increments they are, stability, north/south bridge cooling, etc.

[SnowFox]

I meant it as a 3rd party air cooler (heatsink and fan). An air cooler you buy made by another company.

Well, the Core 2 Duo's are so much cooler compared to the Prescotts that the you can actually overclock with the stock Intel heatsink. Of course, there are a lot of better coolers out there, way better.

I'm not sure about the motherboard itself. But I know that the chipset on the motherboard, the Nvidia 650i, is a good chipset and is good at overclocking. But the rest is up to Abit and their BIOS. For example: the max voltage you can set, how small the increments they are, stability, north/south bridge cooling, etc.

Oh ! I have some friends that can help me with overclocking my CPU doh !

[SnowFox]

I don't mean to jump in, but I wanted to answer this if I may:

Your processor's overclock is done essentially by increasing the multiplier's to the current voltage, or by increasing the voltage and then adjusting the multiplier for that. The higher you can set your voltage/multiplier, the bigger your overclock will be. The motherboard is going to send whatever voltage to that spot as it is asked to. The only thing that is going to "break" the motherboard or anything else in these processes is heat. You can get North and Soutbridge controller heat sinks or other cooling options. As for sound, the bigger the fan, the quieter it can spin (right?), although I'm not 100% sure on that. I know that my case came with built in watercooling, and at load my CPU is at..... 39degrees (C) at the stock 3.0ghz setting, and my mobo is 30degrees (c) all fans spinning on high (2x120mm, 2x80mm, PSU fan). My noise is ~50dB like this, but there is a constant "beep" every half second from the output display letting me know the waterpump is working. It is like 10dB worth of the noise. I have the option of buying waterblocks if I want to cool my north and soutbridge chipsets as well. I only have a 450w power supply, so as soon as I try to overclock to anything past 3.2, it gets maxxed.. but it will run at 3.2ghz at around 42degrees(c). that is my sockt478 P4 (prescott?) (the hot ones :/ )
Can you tell me if the motherboard is good for overclocking ?

[Silenced_Coyote]

I don't mean to jump in, but I wanted to answer this if I may:

Your processor's overclock is done essentially by increasing the multiplier's to the current voltage, or by increasing the voltage and then adjusting the multiplier for that. The higher you can set your voltage/multiplier, the bigger your overclock will be. The motherboard is going to send whatever voltage to that spot as it is asked to. The only thing that is going to "break" the motherboard or anything else in these processes is heat. You can get North and Soutbridge controller heat sinks or other cooling options. As for sound, the bigger the fan, the quieter it can spin (right?), although I'm not 100% sure on that. I know that my case came with built in watercooling, and at load my CPU is at..... 39degrees (C) at the stock 3.0ghz setting, and my mobo is 30degrees (c) all fans spinning on high (2x120mm, 2x80mm, PSU fan). My noise is ~50dB like this, but there is a constant "beep" every half second from the output display letting me know the waterpump is working. It is like 10dB worth of the noise. I have the option of buying waterblocks if I want to cool my north and soutbridge chipsets as well. I only have a 450w power supply, so as soon as I try to overclock to anything past 3.2, it gets maxxed.. but it will run at 3.2ghz at around 42degrees(c). that is my sockt478 P4 (prescott?) (the hot ones :/ )

Aren't you missing the FSB part about overclocking. After all, that is part of the equation. FSB x Multiplier = Speed. I'd say it is a bit more important because most CPU's have a locked multiplier.

Yes, you are right about bigger fans. Bigger they are, they quiter they are compared to their smaller counterparts. When airflow is equal, the bigger fan will be quieter. But in your case, since your fans are running at 100%, it may actually be louder because it is pushing more air. Even if the motor is silent, you will be able to hear the massive amount of air being pushed.