3000+/DFI NF4/7800GTX

[suklee]

Please Rate My Config and make suggestions! Even though I WANT a SN25P SFF, a mid tower is simply waaayyy more economical. Here's what I'm looking at:

CPU: Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice core)
-probably save a few bucks here as opposed to going for the 3200+

Mainboard: DFI NF4-D (939)
-this can be 'hacked' into SLi-D?

Video: Inno3D 7800GTX
-is this overkill for my CPU? I'm planning to run my games (ie. BF2) at 1600 x 1200.

Case: Antec Sonata II
-looking for something quiet. but is the PSU enough for mild overclocking and powering the 7800GTX?

RAM: 1x1GB Corsair PC3200 2.5-3-3-8, 2x512MB GEIL PC3500 2-3-3-6 (from old system)
-any issues from mixing the RAM, and filling up 3 slots? will it hinder system stability / overclocking?

Any other issues you can think of, feel free to point out. Thanks for reading :beer:

 

[TankGuys]

video card isn't over-kill, especially since the 3200 OC's very well.

As far as the case, you could also consider the P180, (but then you must buy a seperate power supply, which would also alleviate your concerns about sufficient power for your 7800). It's a very quiet case and looks very sharp.

RAM looks fine, the mixing may make your OCing a bit harder, but using what you have will definitely save you some money!

 

[Mirko]

Originally posted by: Kai920

CPU: Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice core)
-probably save a few bucks here as opposed to going for the 3200+

Video: Inno3D 7800GTX
-is this overkill for my CPU? I'm planning to run my games (ie. BF2) at 1600 x 1200.

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ath...4_geforce_7800_gtx_scaling/default.asp

7800GTX benchmark with many cpu in that link. Look like best performance if you overclock to 2.2GHz, but not much more after that.

 

[suklee]

Thank you for the link, I will check it now. (edit: after reading, it appears as stated, that 2.2GHz is the minimum clock speed I should shoot for)

Unfortunately the P180 is too tall for the space I'm working with, I only have max 18"H of headroom (P180 = 21.3"H; Sonata = 16.8"H)

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Uhh wtf it depends on the game too.. a lot of games now are CPU limited as shown by Anand's benches.

The firingsquad review is horrible. THey're benching at 1024x768x32, a nearly extinct resolution if you ask me. You need to be benching at 1600x1200 like Anand does or even higher resolutions... Let the graphics card stretch. In the end, your CPU will be the bottleneck at high res.

 

[rise]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Thank you for the link, I will check it now. (edit: after reading, it appears as stated, that 2.2GHz is the minimum clock speed I should shoot for)

Unfortunately the P180 is too tall for the space I'm working with, I only have max 18"H of headroom (P180 = 21.3"H; Sonata = 16.8"H)

i don't know what kind of psu is in the case but you should visit dfi.street and browse around a bit. they have a recommended psu list and their somewhat overkill "requirements" are 480w, native 24 pin and at least 24a on the 12v. the last two are most important, especially as nv wants 26a on the system for the 7800gtx.

anyway, i think you're better off getting a decent case and a seperate very good psu. there are plenty for less than $100 that will set you up for oc'ing stability and longevity.

as for the case and the dfi board, front intake/s are very important considering where the chipset is located. it makes it a lot easir to cool when you can blow some air directly over that area.

 

[AmdInside]

I suggest getting a 3200+ instead. It has a better multiplier to make it a little bit easier for overclocking. As for a graphics card, I'd hold out for a 7800GT. Save yourself around $150. Use that money to get 2GB of RAM

 

[Crescent13]

I don't think the graphic card is overkill, but I personally would get the 7800GT (when it comes out), and use the extra money for a 3200+ (because of 10X multiplier).

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Uhh wtf it depends on the game too.. a lot of games now are CPU limited as shown by Anand's benches.

The firingsquad review is horrible. THey're benching at 1024x768x32, a nearly extinct resolution if you ask me. You need to be benching at 1600x1200 like Anand does or even higher resolutions... Let the graphics card stretch. In the end, your CPU will be the bottleneck at high res.

First person shooters mainly, with BF2 (of course) being the game du jour...
I see 1600 x 1200 benches on FS for some games

 

[Ike0069]

You don't want to use 3 sticks of RAM. You most likley won't even be able to post. You need 1, 2 or 4.

Quote from DFI NF4 Ultra manual.

Q: Why will the board fail to boot when 3 Dimms are used?

A: The integrated memory controller in AMD's 64-bit socket 939 series CPU supports dual channel however the controller is not capable of accurately distinguishing detween dual and single channels resulting to boot up problem. If you have luckily booted the system, the total memory size detected is from 2 Dimms only, not 3. Therefore we do not suggest using 3 Dimms.

Going to be the same for all S939 boards.

 

[BOLt]

All is fine, but I recommend BFG or eVGA for the 7800 GTX. You're gonna need that card to run 1600 x 1200 smoothly on games like BF2.

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: rise4310
i don't know what kind of psu is in the case but you should visit dfi.street and browse around a bit. they have a recommended psu list and their somewhat overkill "requirements" are 480w, native 24 pin and at least 24a on the 12v. the last two are most important, especially as nv wants 26a on the system for the 7800gtx.

anyway, i think you're better off getting a decent case and a seperate very good psu. there are plenty for less than $100 that will set you up for oc'ing stability and longevity.

as for the case and the dfi board, front intake/s are very important considering where the chipset is located. it makes it a lot easir to cool when you can blow some air directly over that area.

It's the SmartPower 2.0 450W ATX12V v2.01 power supply, according to Antec's website. (specs)

Couple threads I found on AT:
PSU: Sonata 1 vs Sonata 2
X2 4400 and Antec Smartpower 450 2.0 (this thread says it's enough for a X2 & 6800GT)
Sonata II (isn't 2.01 just a 2.0 PSU with the 24 pin MB connector?)

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
I suggest getting a 3200+ instead. It has a better multiplier to make it a little bit easier for overclocking. As for a graphics card, I'd hold out for a 7800GT. Save yourself around $150. Use that money to get 2GB of RAM

It depends if I can wait another two weeks for the 7800GT to come out

 

[suklee]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
You don't want to use 3 sticks of RAM. You most likley won't even be able to post. You need 1, 2 or 4.

Quote from DFI NF4 Ultra manual.

Q: Why will the board fail to boot when 3 Dimms are used?

A: The integrated memory controller in AMD's 64-bit socket 939 series CPU supports dual channel however the controller is not capable of accurately distinguishing detween dual and single channels resulting to boot up problem. If you have luckily booted the system, the total memory size detected is from 2 Dimms only, not 3. Therefore we do not suggest using 3 Dimms.

Going to be the same for all S939 boards.

Spot on info, thanks. So would I have trouble with 1GB + 512MB (two sticks)? I know it won't be dual channel, but should work okay with few percentage points in performance loss?

 

[Ike0069]

Originally posted by: Kai920
Spot on info, thanks. So would I have trouble with 1GB + 512MB (two sticks)? I know it won't be dual channel, but should work okay with few percentage points in performance loss?

You likely would see no gain from running it that way, possibly even a loss of performance. You can always run some benckmark tests with 1GB vs. 1.5GB and check the difference.
My suggestion would be to go 2x1GB sticks if you want to go >1 GB. Otherwise just use the 2x512 stikcs of Geil you already have.