Upgrade

[WannaGoFast]

I am getting ready to order parts for an upgrade, and was wondering
if I would have any obvious issues with the parts I have picked out.

I am a gamer...and I would also like to be able to overclock some.

EPoX EP-9NDA3J Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail

THERMALRIGHT XP-90C Heatsink - Retail

Patriot 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered
Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model PDC1G3200+XBLK - Retail

I will be using the case/psu/vid card/drives etc in my sig.

Any thoughts or input is welcome....dont wanna have to build this twice

[Exile69]

Looks good. You might wanna think about a socket 939 Opteron 144 or 146. They've got the 1Mb level 2 cache and are easily overclockable to 2.7Ghz and beyond.

[Razorfish]

The XP90c is a great choice, but exiles right, aim for the new socket 939 opteron, you wont be disapointed...

[Rocketman6800]

I agree with the Opteron recommendation too.

Also, if you have the money I would get a new video card. Your 9800XT seems a little weak for the newer games out there now.

The AGP motherbaords will limit your choices for video cards. So if you were planning to move to a better video card in the future you are better off waiting until you can aford to purchase a PCIe video card and motherboard.

[WannaGoFast]

The online retailer where I'm getting my parts does not list 144 or 146 opterons at this time.
Would the Venus cores like the 148 939 opteron be the same?
Only slightly more $$ then the 146's?

*Cant do a new pci mobo and vid card this close to xmas. This mobo is fairly cheap.
New mobo and vid card will be my next push...give this one to kid*

[cadaveca]

If you can find an 0512 or 0516 Sandiego, go for it over the opteron. You'll get about the same clocks. That being said, the Nforce3 boards do not overclock like the Nforce4, so getting that opteron to it's max won't be so easy, but should be able to overclock fairly well...the cpu should not be the limiting factor in overclocks in the system you propose.

[carlo75]

I would go for PCIe vcrad too and a PCIe mainboard, since AGP high level cards are more expensive than their counterparts on PCIE.

an example x700pro
AGP version 150us
PCIE version 110US

[WannaGoFast]

Is the AMD Opteron 148 Venus 1GHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor similiar to what you guys have suggested?
If I understand correctly this would have an 11 multiplier and the lower multipliers unlocked?

peace

WannaGoFast

[Seperah]

I"m sorry, but did ATI ever make a design for an AGP x700? Becuase I didnt think so...unless you have a PCI-E ---> AGP bridge.

My suggestion is this...hold off for upgrading until you can get the cash for a CPU/mobo/ram/GPU combo. You said you want to OC, and he's absolutely right, NF3 boards wont push as far as NF4. The 9800xt I wouldnt call by any means "weak" becuase it will still get the job done, but yes, being a gamer, I would aim for a better card...possibly a 6800gs, 7800lite...

The thing is, I know you want to upgrade now, but getting a nice Venus Opteron or 3200+ Venice on an NF3 board, just wont justify your upgrade...especially trying to push a max OC. So save your money, this way your not buying a new 939 motherboard with an AGP slot....then later having to buy a newer board thats PCI-E capable... when you could have saved that $$ buy just simply waiting...

Just my 2cents...

[carlo75]

Originally Posted by Seperah

I"m sorry, but did ATI ever make a design for an AGP x700? Becuase I didnt think so...unless you have a PCI-E ---> AGP bridge.

My suggestion is this...hold off for upgrading until you can get the cash for a CPU/mobo/ram/GPU combo. You said you want to OC, and he's absolutely right, NF3 boards wont push as far as NF4. The 9800xt I wouldnt call by any means "weak" becuase it will still get the job done, but yes, being a gamer, I would aim for a better card...possibly a 6800gs, 7800lite...

The thing is, I know you want to upgrade now, but getting a nice Venus Opteron or 3200+ Venice on an NF3 board, just wont justify your upgrade...especially trying to push a max OC. So save your money, this way your not buying a new 939 motherboard with an AGP slot....then later having to buy a newer board thats PCI-E capable... when you could have saved that $$ buy just simply waiting...

Just my 2cents...

Yes there is a X700pro version on AGP, and a X850XT version too, but this chips where originally made for pcie, somehow they managed to made the connection.

Same goes to 6600 vcards.

[Hozee]

Yes i very agree with Seperah. Consider also that a pci-e board is just as expensive like the AGP version. If you go for a ATI vid-card then the best choice would be to start with de X800 series for good gaming. If you wish to play the latest games, like QUAKE 4 or F.E.A.R with a lot of "eye candy" then you must for sure choose the ones ending with XT and for nvidia at least with GT.
So in your case (and for a lot of others) it's only the vid-card who will torture your budget because it is an extra expensive component you must buy if you change from AGP to PCI-e.
And an other thing, if jou go for the NF 4 then do'nt hesitate to buy a SLI version because jou have then the possibilty to go for two vid-cards, if you wish. Good luck.

[jnansley]

There is another thing to consider - the Opterons are horribly overpriced above their MSRP. It's a fad and now is the most expensive time to buy in. Suckers.

I am personally in a similar situation and have bought a 6600GT to replace my RMA'd 9800Pro rather than "going all in." A good way to get into 64-bit on the cheap would be a 9NDA3J and a 3200+, especially if you don't have a XP-M/late Northwood generation system right now.

HOWEVER, I am not totally convinced that a 3200+ @ 2.4ghz is going to be a tremendously noticeable upgrade over my XP-M @ 2.5ghz, and it's hard to justify spending even $220'ish on a not-tremendously-noticeable upgrade, when stepping up to a 9NPAJ + Opteron + PCI-E 6600GT would be well worth the $350'ish it would cost IF Opterons were priced closer to MSRP.

So, as for me, I'll wait some more. That's another viewpoint to think about.

[Hozee]

Originally Posted by jnansley

There is another thing to consider - the Opterons are horribly overpriced above their MSRP. It's a fad and now is the most expensive time to buy in. Suckers.

I am personally in a similar situation and have bought a 6600GT to replace my RMA'd 9800Pro rather than "going all in." A good way to get into 64-bit on the cheap would be a 9NDA3J and a 3200+, especially if you don't have a XP-M/late Northwood generation system right now.

HOWEVER, I am not totally convinced that a 3200+ @ 2.4ghz is going to be a tremendously noticeable upgrade over my XP-M @ 2.5ghz, and it's hard to justify spending even $220'ish on a not-tremendously-noticeable upgrade, when stepping up to a 9NPAJ + Opteron + PCI-E 6600GT would be well worth the $350'ish it would cost IF Opterons were priced closer to MSRP.

So, as for me, I'll wait some more. That's another viewpoint to think about.

What you mean with overpriced? In mi country the opteron 146 is about 30€, or less, expencive like the 3000+ and has about the same price like the 3200+, and if you look at the OC potencial and also the 1Mb cache then i think that the term expensive is a bit exaggarated, IMHO.

[jnansley]

In my country the 146 costs 33% more than the 3200+

[carlo75]

Originally Posted by jnansley

In my country the 146 costs 33% more than the 3200+

Yep opterons are high now because demand is high, and thoose who have them sell them at high prices; i bought a 146 opteron but a week ago I recived a no Stock mail, so refund was in order, then I looked eveywhere and found that monarch had the 146 opteron but at 200 dollars!, looked a bit more anad the same opteron 148 939 was 207 + shipping, so I bought the 148, hope it gets here soon.

[Seperah]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131307

Took me a while to find that...but I guess I was wrong, however I did know there was an AGP X850.

Yea, honestly bro, wait for this upgrade, especially if you can start saving.
1Q 06 is the launch for the R580's and Nvidia should have another card by that time too. Then the newer single core CPU's from Intel should drive down AMD's pricing--- so wait my friend, just wait a little longer and you can throw down for some nice parts.

BTW, whats with all the upside avatars?
Is it time I gotta give my say no to drugs speach?? LOL

[DEZMOND]

Another vote for opteron.

[Exile69]

Originally Posted by Seperah

BTW, whats with all the upside avatars?
Is it time I gotta give my say no to drugs speach?? LOL

It's the latest fad. Duh.

[DEZMOND]

Also I would try to get another 3-6 months out of the 9800 pro,in 06 ati's new chips gonna own.

[cadaveca]

I hope it does...i need HDR and 4xAA!