Upgrading Advice Needed!

[Tulkas]

Im currently using an Athlon 500 and Im looking to upgrade. I just have a few questions and some choices you guys maybe can help me with.

This is what im looking to buy right now, as its all that I can afford.

1) AMD ATHLON XP 1800+ 1.53GHZ 256K 266FSB OEM >>>> I was thinking of overclocking, what results would i achieve with a decent HSF? Is it better to just spend a little more and get the XP 2000+?

2) EPOX 8K3A KT333 SOCKETA 3XDDR333 AGP 6PCI ATA133 W/ AUDIO>>>> This is priced well, and looks like a good overclocker, If i dont overclock what other boards should i consider? I was looking at some of the RAID boards, but know nothing about it so Im gonna stay clear of RAID.

3) SAMSUNG 256MB PC2700 DDR333 184PIN>>>> Priced well, Should i spend the extra for the Corsair if i entend to overclock?

4) IBM DESKSTAR 120GXP 80GB HD ATA100 7200RPM 8.5MS 2MB>>> I know the older IBM drives had problems but this one performs well and is pretty cheap. If not this drive should I get the Barracuda ATA IV or the Maxtor D740-X.


Sorry for all the questions lol.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Tulkas]

BUMP

 

[CubicZirconia]

1) AMD ATHLON XP 1800+ 1.53GHZ 256K 266FSB OEM >>>> I was thinking of overclocking, what results would i achieve with a decent HSF? Is it better to just spend a little more and get the XP 2000+?

You will probably be best off with getting a 1600+. They have been overclocking best out of all the XP chips as of late. Most people seem to be able to hit 1.7-1.8 gigahertz.

2) EPOX 8K3A KT333 SOCKETA 3XDDR333 AGP 6PCI ATA133 W/ AUDIO>>>> This is priced well, and looks like a good overclocker, If i dont overclock what other boards should i consider? I was looking at some of the RAID boards, but know nothing about it so Im gonna stay clear of RAID.

Its a good board, go with it.

3) SAMSUNG 256MB PC2700 DDR333 184PIN>>>> Priced well, Should i spend the extra for the Corsair if i entend to overclock?

I wouldn't.

4) IBM DESKSTAR 120GXP 80GB HD ATA100 7200RPM 8.5MS 2MB>>> I know the older IBM drives had problems but this one performs well and is pretty cheap. If not this drive should I get the Barracuda ATA IV or the Maxtor D740-X.

Personally, I'd get a maxtor cause I've always had good luck with them. I'm sure you'll be fine with the IBM though.

 

[mackol]

i have almost everything u have i.e. ahtlon xp 1800+
512 mb ddr pc 2700 ram
1x 80 gb and 1x 40 gb hdd
mbd with 266 mhz fsb

and it does great for me
i havent even overclocked it
i bought the case (which had 6 fans in it)
the mbd
the processor with fan
a 2 or 4 x agp card with 32 mb
512 mb ddr pc 2700 ram
for just under $300
so it was a good deal for me
oh it was brand new

 

[AnAndAustin]

Well AthlonXP1800+ ($80) would be my choice, although if you factor in $30 for a good o/c'ing cooler you may find you could get the XP2000+ ($126) and a standard cooler which would be a much wiser move. You should get XP2000+ speeds out of the XP1800+, the XP2000+, XP2100+ and XP2200+ don't o/c at all, although this seems bad it would allow you to get a mobo for compatability and stability rather than the fantasticly fast, flexible and very tweakable VIA mobos which unfortunately have many quirks. However if the new Barton comes out at XP2400+ and can o/c to XP3000+ but only on a VIA mobo then you may kick yourself.

As for mobos, KT266A ($57) is every bit as good as KT333 ($72), KT333 simply adds 266+333 (FSB+RAM) support for a huge (LOL) 3% perf gain over 266+266 and a 1/5 PCI divider for 333FSB operation (AMD say SktA will never use and most KT333 can't handle anyway). The best speed comes from raising the FSB+RAM synced together and anything up to XP1900+ gets to 290+290 on VIA mobos. nForce2 are meant to be great o/c'ers. Out of the currently available chipsets VIA KT266A/333 are the fastest (slightly and not counting the nForce2 yet) and certainly offer the best o/c'ability but as mentioned they have the most quirks and incompatability probs too. SiS735/745 ($55/71) and nForce ($85) mobos are great for reliability and compatability, SiS are cheap while nForce offer great onboard goodies. SiS745 differs to SiS735 by offering 266+333 operation but since this is SLOWER on SiS than 266+266 it isn't very necessary. nForce mobos come in 215, 220, 415 and 420 varieties with a 'D' which denotes Dolby 5.1 onboard sound, the 4__ offer dual DDR functionality but it is ONLY useful if you use the onboard GF2MX gfx and finally the _20 come with the GF2mx gfx onboard, all have very good onboard LAN.

PC2700 is unecessary for SktA, if you use a VIA KT333 mobo then you can gain from 266+333 (PC2700 RAM operation) but true gains are small and only worth it if you are not going to o/c (XP2000+ and higher don't o/c). The only time you may want PC2700 is to o/c the FSB and still maintain fast RAM timings without RAM holding back the o/c. Of course PC2100 CL2.0 is pretty much as good for this as PC2700 CL2.5, and PC2700 CL2.0 and higher really are a waste. I really like Crucial myself, but Samsung are reportedly good too, in fact everything except OCZ should be fine. If you can get 512MB, I would prefer 512MB PC2100 over 256MB PC2700 myself, esp on SktA, and even more so if you use WinXP.

80GB ($80) is a nice size HD, but 120GB ($133) cost about the same per GB in most countries. You are right not to worry about ATA133, it isn't any better than ATA100 so isn't worth paying extra for. I'd avoid the BarIV as they are reportedly among the hottest and noisiest drives, Maxtor on the other hand are among the quietest and coolest and I have had excellent experience with them. Do consider WD HDs, esp with the 8MB cache (80GB $109), they are meant to be wicked.

You don't mention gfx card, I take it you are taking your current card with you. Anything less than a GF3 or Rad8500 will really effect your gaming perf.

One last note, P4 is no longer the expensive and under-powered option it used to be, the new Skt478 will easily outlive SktA and P4A 512k 400FSB CPUs are excellent cool runners thanks to the incredibly cool running 0.13mu process of the Northwood core. The P4A 512k 1.8ghz tend to easily reach 533FSB and 2.4ghz CPU without any voltage modification or good cooling, if you fancy trusting to luck a little, increase voltage and get better air cooling then you should get around 600FSB and 2.7ghz CPU! Since P4 take advantage of PC2700 and with it offer RIMM-PC800 perf the CPU is the only extra cost (Skt478 mobos cost about the same as SktA), worth considering anyway.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: Tulkas


3) SAMSUNG 256MB PC2700 DDR333 184PIN>>>> Priced well, Should i spend the extra for the Corsair if i entend to overclock?

That really depends on whether its Samsung Original (on a Samsung PCB instead of third-party PCB) and if it is, whether the part # ends in "CTL" or "DTL". If its third-party PCB or the part # ends in "DTL", then you might want to consider getting the Corsair (particularly if you decide to go for a P4 1.6A and OC it instead of an Athlon). If you decide not to OC at all, then just about any PC2700 RAM will do.

 

[Tulkas]

Thanks for the great advice and info guys you have been a huge help!!!

Thanks again!