Please rate my planned conroe build and suggest improvements

[Howard]

Originally posted by: w00t

Originally posted by: Howard
****** Newegg doesn't work in Opera for some reason. ****** Newegg and their ******.

one sec...

It's there site I have the same problem with Firefox.

Try getting rid of the "www." in the URL. That fixed it for me...

Originally posted by: LW07

A little on the high side, but that's fine.

DDR2-667 memory will let you get up to at least 3.0GHz with an E6600, if the CPU can get up that high (and it should). DDR2-800 isn't necessary unless you want much more than that, like 3.2GHz+, depending on how high typical DDR2-667 memory can go.

 

[LW07]

What's the standard overclocking method for OCing a CPU? What could I expect from the E6600 on the stock cooler, or are those numbers you listed based on having a stock cooler? I really like the idea of OCing, but the thing that keeps me from trying is the prospect that I could fry the CPU or something, throwing $300 down the drain.

 

[Howard]

Standard OCing method? Increase the FSB. The CPU clock (for Intel) is determined by FSB * CPU multiplier, which in the case of the E6600 is 266MHz (266MHz*4 = 1066) and 9x, respectively.

I don't know what the stock cooler is like, but people with Conroe samples have brought theirs to 3GHz+ using air cooling. You can get quite a lot of bang for your HSF dollar nowadays.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Howard
For a 2.4GHz C2D (the E6600), in order to reach DDR2-800 memory speeds, it would have to be clocked at 3.6GHz. Does that give you an idea?

Maybe i'm wrong here, but doesn't Intel have the higher than 1:1 RAM dividers available?

Default is 1:1 (533), but he could also use the 667 or 800 divider, no?

We're not talking A64s here, & from all the reviews i've seen, there's a definite difference between running 1:1 & 4:5 (667) or 2:3 (800).

Maybe i'm confused on how dividers work for Intel, but i'm pretty sure i'm not.

Anyway, i personally wouldn't get lower than DDR2-800 after reading this:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/623-10/intel-core-2-duo-test.html

 

[Howard]

I'm guessing most mobos do have dividers available, but if you go with a higher memory speed, you only gain a few more frames in Far Cry, according to that link. And by few, I mean few. From DDR2-667 4-4-4-12 to DDR2-800 4-4-4-12, you get an extra 3.3FPS. With DDR2-800 5-5-5-15 (definitely not as pricey), the lead dwindles to 0.3FPS.

 

[LW07]

But even running at stock, it'd still be wise to stay with the E6600 rather than go any higher?

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: LW07
But even running at stock, it'd still be wise to stay with the E6600 rather than go any higher?

Ah heck, you should go all out.

Might as well go for the X6800 man.
It's only $1200 USD right now.

Should annihilate your budget nicely by itself





Nah seriously, no point in higher than the E6600 for a "budget" C2D rig.

 

[tjpark1111]

Originally posted by: Howard
Standard OCing method? Increase the FSB. The CPU clock (for Intel) is determined by FSB * CPU multiplier, which in the case of the E6600 is 266MHz (266MHz*4 = 1066) and 9x, respectively.

I don't know what the stock cooler is like, but people with Conroe samples have brought theirs to 3GHz+ using air cooling. You can get quite a lot of bang for your HSF dollar nowadays.

im a serious nub with intel, so help me a bit here. What's the 266*4 for? I know 266x9 is 2400 which is the CPU speed, but what's with the multiplying by 4 for?

 

[n7]

The FSB advertised is basically 266 MHz quad pumped.

266.66 x 4 = 1066

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: LW07
Please rate my planned conroe build

"D+"... Lacks originality.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: LW07
Please rate my planned conroe build

"D+"... Lacks originality.

Let's see yours

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: LW07
Please rate my planned conroe build

"D+"... Lacks originality.

Let's see yours

Well I'd need to know more about what he actually is building this rig for.
So far all I see that he wants to do with it is play flight sims, OC and have a CPU for something he calls "maximum proficiency", whatever that means in his mind...

Originally posted by: LW07
Well, I want my conroe to be at maximum proficiency...
Plus, I like to play a flight sim called Pacific Fighters, which is pretty heavy on all things.

Originally posted by: LW07
I have never Overclocked anything before. What kind of ram would you recommend I look at getting for OCing.

You must admit that details of this hypothetical system's usage is sketchy at best.
LW07, come across with more detailed information as to this system's future use if you want a better rating from me :laugh:

 

[LW07]

I am using this rig for gaming. I play first person shooters as well, not just flight simulators. I also want it to be more responsive as well. And what I mean by "maximum proficiency" is that I'm wanting to add an X-fi Extreme Music because it'll take the sound load off of the CPU, giving me the maximum CPU resources to boost my performance.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Seems kind of stupid to go upgrade already.. you have a 3500+ system that will last a bit.

 

[OSX]

Originally posted by: LW07

Could I use the Jumper on my Maxtor drive and place it on my Seagate and everything work?

You can use a bit of bubblegum wrapped in aluminum foil if it fits and doesn't touch any other pins.

 

[OSX]

Originally posted by: LW07
Well, I want my conroe to be at maximum proficiency and the X-Fi will make sure of that. Plus, I like to play a flight sim called Pacific Fighters, which is pretty heavy on all things. I play it in OpenGL mode because I cannot stand DirectX mode. Why is it that some benchmarks claim that they get playable FPS on that game in OpenGL mode with an X1900XT with 4xAA/16xAF at 1600*1200, yet I don't get their kind of smooth framerates. Performance is a lot better since I cleaned up the Nvidia drivers, but flying over Iwo Jima and flying into an anti-aircraft barrage from an aircraft carrier slows things down alot.

http://firingsquad.com/hardware/sapphire_radeon_x1900_gt/page7.asp

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/powercolor-x1900xt_14.html

Those 2 reviews show the X1900XT getting 50+ FPS in the game(I know that they have Athlon FXs in them), but I, with my 3500+ and 2 gigs of PC2700 ram, don't get that kind of smooth performance.

nVidia is better at OpenGL, ATi is better at Direct3D.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: djmihow
Seems kind of stupid to go upgrade already.. you have a 3500+ system that will last a bit.

But what about multi-threaded games that are going to be out in the future? Wouldn't they slow a 3500 down? My X1900XT might be powerful enough(although it's strange that I have to leave it at 2xAA and no AF to get good FPS in Pacific Fighters, unlike those benchmarks who get good FPS with an X1900XT at 4xAA and 8xAF.

It performs good in COD2 and FPSs, though.

But I still want to be prepared for multi-threaded games that'll be out, and the extra smooth responsiveness will be great, too.

 

[Howard]

I can't believe I didn't think about this, but have you tried OCing your A64 to see if your FPS in Pacific Fighters increased?

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: Howard
I can't believe I didn't think about this, but have you tried OCing your A64 to see if your FPS in Pacific Fighters increased?

My ram is at PC2700 speeds, and I fear frying my system(I'm not getting the conroe until Christmas), so that makes me not want to overclock. Plus the PC2700 ram(it's OCZ ram) is a bottleneck.

It WAS origionally PC3200, but I got BSODs from it at PC3200 speeds, so I had to set it back to PC2700.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146970
This is the ram I got, back in November of 2005 when it was like $220 or so.

I guess I should have spent more and got better quality ram. That's why I don't want to cheap out on the ram this time.

 

[Regs]

The last of your worries should be threaded games. If the Conroe's raw power comes to life in a week, then you'll be living almost a 20% performance leap accross the board.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Regs
The last of your worries should be threaded games. If the Conroe's raw power comes to life in a week, then you'll be living almost a 20% performance leap accross the board.

Maybe more than that...

Originally posted by: LW07

Originally posted by: Howard
I can't believe I didn't think about this, but have you tried OCing your A64 to see if your FPS in Pacific Fighters increased?

My ram is at PC2700 speeds, and I fear frying my system(I'm not getting the conroe until Christmas), so that makes me not want to overclock. Plus the PC2700 ram(it's OCZ ram) is a bottleneck.

It WAS origionally PC3200, but I got BSODs from it at PC3200 speeds, so I had to set it back to PC2700.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146970
This is the ram I got, back in November of 2005 when it was like $220 or so.

I guess I should have spent more and got better quality ram. That's why I don't want to cheap out on the ram this time.

You can use memory dividers so that the memory speed is tailored to your liking.

 

[LW07]

Do you think that my PSU will be compatable with the conroe mobos?

Because in one of the Conroe Reviews(http://hardware.gotfrag.com/portal/story/33492/?spage=4)), they had problems because their mobo, the D975XBX, required an EPS12V PSU, and that worries me. Will all conroe mobos require a EPS12V?

Never mind. I looked on newegg and that EPS12V 8-pin connector was only for that mobo, for what I looked at. I'm good to go now.

 

[LW07]

Alright, which one of these routes should I take?

1. Get the Conroe system I'm thinking about.

2. Upgrade the 3500+ to an X2 4600+ S939

3. Wait for Quad Core CPUs to come out.

4. Get an E6300 or E6400 to use as a stop-gap until the Quad cores come out and I can save up the $.

 

[Howard]

Isn't option 4 the same as option 1, but with a later upgrade?

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: Howard
Isn't option 4 the same as option 1, but with a later upgrade?

Well, with option 1, I would get an E6600 and keep it for 3 years, until 2009.

Option 2 would only cost me $400-430 with an Xfi Extreme music, compared to $780-820 with the E6600 rig(provided that the E6600 is close to the MSRP by November) but then I'd probably be faced with a lot of buyer's remorse, like I always do when I get something slower than what I can get.

So, I'm down to those 2 options, as the Quad Cores are going to be out of my budget, even if I waited until March, as I've found out, doing research on Google.

So, which should I do, get the E6600 rig, or get a 4600+?