I received goodies today. Everything but memory from NewEgg, memory from MWave ($125 per 2GB no stinking rebate and shipped as fast as the egg) :
Abit IP35 Pro
C2D e6420 (L711A420)
Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 4x1GB
Tuniq Tower
I assembled everything together and only changed [three things set FSB=425, DDRV to 2.0, Vcore=1.350]. That's 3.4Ghz 8x425 if you're too lazy to do the math. I've been running Vista x64 for the last couple of hours (will do proper CPU-Z and Orthos this weekend). This board rocks! I'm an Abit fan again after swearing them off when I bought the Abit AW8-Max.
The Tuniq rocks. I didn't think anything could beat my Ninja but wow 28C-39C on Orthos blend after 15min at 3.4Ghz, are you kidding me? And the AS5 hasn't even cured yet. I have the Tuniq exhausting air up towards the top exhaust fan instead of the back since heat rises anyway. Not sure if it makes a difference but makese sense to me and leaves more breathing room over the northbridge and more air space between the video card. This is a great configuration with the P182 since the PSU is at the bottom of the case.
I think I'll be able to hit that magic 3.6 if not better with this combo. I also have an e6300 which is why I bought the DDR2-1066 Ballistix so I'll be testing that this weekend with high FSB. I'm only testing with 2x1GB right now. Going to 4x1GB this weekend. 4GB on my DS3 resulted in lower overclocking so I didn't want to get discouraged. I hope this board fairs better. At last no cold boot problems like I have with my DS3. GREAT first impression so far.
I'll start with some cons:
- Firewire connector is in the rear beneath the pci-e video slot. It's the only cable I can't neatly hide in my Antec P182 case
- SATA connectors are on the edge of the board. Connectors are parallel to the board not perpendicular. Great for P182 since there is opening close to the headers. Could be problematic for tight cases.
- Couldn't find fuction key to select which boot device to use. Hate having to set this up in the BIOS (DS3 was F12 i think)
- Kill PS2, IDE and FDC connectors already!
- Tuniq sink touches 2 capacitors
- cheezy uGuru interface, not that i use it. can't anyone just use plain windows controls? make it simple like Everest
Pros:
too many to list
- mini reset and power buttons on the MB, external CMOS reset in IO panel
- NB and SB at 3.4 Ghz are warm but not hot (unlike DS3 which is painfully hot at 3.0Ghz)
- voltages galore in BIOS
- great layout except 1394 connector (lots of room between video card and monster tuniq)
- 2x eSata (a MUST for me), Firewire
- 4 Aux Fan Headers, Sys Fan, CPU Fan (all controllable through BIOS)
I returned an ASUS P5k Deluxe about a month ago since it didn't overclock an e4300 any better than my DS3 3.3. Must be the CPU. I can't compare apples to oranges since I have not tried Ocing the e4300 with the Abit. I'll just say I'm very happy with this board and it's $40 cheaper. ABIT is back!
Abit IP35 Pro
C2D e6420 (L711A420)
Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500 4x1GB
Tuniq Tower
I assembled everything together and only changed [three things set FSB=425, DDRV to 2.0, Vcore=1.350]. That's 3.4Ghz 8x425 if you're too lazy to do the math. I've been running Vista x64 for the last couple of hours (will do proper CPU-Z and Orthos this weekend). This board rocks! I'm an Abit fan again after swearing them off when I bought the Abit AW8-Max.
The Tuniq rocks. I didn't think anything could beat my Ninja but wow 28C-39C on Orthos blend after 15min at 3.4Ghz, are you kidding me? And the AS5 hasn't even cured yet. I have the Tuniq exhausting air up towards the top exhaust fan instead of the back since heat rises anyway. Not sure if it makes a difference but makese sense to me and leaves more breathing room over the northbridge and more air space between the video card. This is a great configuration with the P182 since the PSU is at the bottom of the case.
I think I'll be able to hit that magic 3.6 if not better with this combo. I also have an e6300 which is why I bought the DDR2-1066 Ballistix so I'll be testing that this weekend with high FSB. I'm only testing with 2x1GB right now. Going to 4x1GB this weekend. 4GB on my DS3 resulted in lower overclocking so I didn't want to get discouraged. I hope this board fairs better. At last no cold boot problems like I have with my DS3. GREAT first impression so far.
I'll start with some cons:
- Firewire connector is in the rear beneath the pci-e video slot. It's the only cable I can't neatly hide in my Antec P182 case
- SATA connectors are on the edge of the board. Connectors are parallel to the board not perpendicular. Great for P182 since there is opening close to the headers. Could be problematic for tight cases.
- Couldn't find fuction key to select which boot device to use. Hate having to set this up in the BIOS (DS3 was F12 i think)
- Kill PS2, IDE and FDC connectors already!
- Tuniq sink touches 2 capacitors
- cheezy uGuru interface, not that i use it. can't anyone just use plain windows controls? make it simple like Everest
Pros:
too many to list
- mini reset and power buttons on the MB, external CMOS reset in IO panel
- NB and SB at 3.4 Ghz are warm but not hot (unlike DS3 which is painfully hot at 3.0Ghz)
- voltages galore in BIOS
- great layout except 1394 connector (lots of room between video card and monster tuniq)
- 2x eSata (a MUST for me), Firewire
- 4 Aux Fan Headers, Sys Fan, CPU Fan (all controllable through BIOS)
I returned an ASUS P5k Deluxe about a month ago since it didn't overclock an e4300 any better than my DS3 3.3. Must be the CPU. I can't compare apples to oranges since I have not tried Ocing the e4300 with the Abit. I'll just say I'm very happy with this board and it's $40 cheaper. ABIT is back!