Support NeoGAF

[dark10x]

I've been out of the loop for a while (my current hardware is closing in on the 2 year old mark), but I'm looking for some new hardware.

My parents machine is starting to act up (it's actually MY older P3) and they want an upgrade. So, following tradition, I'm offering my old PC to them for a reduced cost and upgrading. Not really planning on taking it too far, of course, but a some extra kick would be worth it.

I'm in the middle of checking things out myself, but I figured I'd pop the question in here as well. If you have any good mobo recommendations, I'm interested in hearing about them...

 

[mashoutposse]

Abit IC7-MAX3
Abit IC7-G
Asus P4C800E-Deluxe

 

[dark10x]

Thanks.

One question, I already have two sticks of 512mb PC3200 ram. As long as a board supports DDR-400 ram, I should be able to use them...right?

 

[pestul]

Nvidia PIV boards are on the way..

http://news.com.com/Nvidia+to+put+m...cessors/2100-1047_3-5460034.html?tag=nefd.top

 

[teh_pwn]

"Abit IC7-MAX3
Abit IC7-G"

^
Agreed.

However, the MAX3 boards were discontinued. You can get almost the same thing in the ABIT IC7-MAX2 Advance.

Those ABIT IC7 boards are awesome. They perform better than pratically all other manufacturer's at stock. And they can overclock like hell with good stability.

Here's what I recommend:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-152&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-163&depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-109-119&depa=0

I've got that and I'm running at 3.6 GHz with max temps of 53 C, 41 Idle. I've got a relatively quiet CPU fan. 27-33 dB variable 90mm Enermax fan.

Edit:

You'll note that the hardware we're recommending is just over a year old. That's because the new intel chipsets suck. Even though the hardware is old, it can overclock to speeds that'll compete with AMD 3800+ S939. But as far as stock speeds go, AMD has by far the best right now.

 

[mashoutposse]

Thanks.

One question, I already have two sticks of 512mb PC3200 ram. As long as a board supports DDR-400 ram, I should be able to use them...right?

Yes. If you pick up any of the boards we listed, you will be able to run them in dual channel mode (effectively doubles the memory bandwidth).

 

[Hooker]

I've always liked the ASUS boards

 

[teh_pwn]

The only problem I forsee with RAM is something about the IC7 boards being sensitive to RAM sticks that need voltages above 2.8 Volts.

 

[dark10x]

The only problem I forsee with RAM is something about the IC7 boards being sensitive to RAM sticks that need voltages above 2.8 Volts.

OK, both of my sticks are rated at 2.5v (one is a Corsair stick and the other is something else that I can't recall). Those should work, right?

I went with the ABIT IC7-MAX2 Advance board. Sounds pretty good, based on what I've just read...

Thanks for your help!

I wonder what kind of performance boost I might see, though? I'm not expecting a whole lot, but an extra punch would be nice.

Currently, I have a 2.4b 533 MHz bus P4 chip on an ASUS P4GE-V mobo. That board only supports DDR333, but when I purchased ram, I was able to get DDR400 for the same price. So, I've been running DDR400 at 333 speeds. My videocard is only a Radeon 9700 Pro, however, so I doubt my framerates will see a huge boost...

 

[mashoutposse]

You should be able to run a memory/FSB speed divider (3:2) to clock the memory at its rated speed.

 

[teh_pwn]

I wonder what kind of performance boost I might see, though? I'm not expecting a whole lot, but an extra punch would be nice.

Currently, I have a 2.4b 533 MHz bus P4 chip on an ASUS P4GE-V mobo. That board only supports DDR333, but when I purchased ram, I was able to get DDR400 for the same price. So, I've been running DDR400 at 333 speeds. My videocard is only a Radeon 9700 Pro, however, so I doubt my framerates will see a huge boost...

Not sure I understand. I thought you were giving your parents all of your stuff.

If you're still using a 2.4B 533 MHz on the Abit board and you run memory at DDR400 at 3:2, performance will be a little bit higher.

But if you're getting a new CPU, it should be much higher. A 2.4 C is about as fast as a 3.06 B. If you get a 3.0C, it should be much faster in applications, especially if you overclock.

In games, however, that 9700 Pro will bottleneck you mostly. I'm in the same boat. I've got my CPU at 3.6 GHz, but my video is a 9800 Pro. It runs most games just fine, and I don't see the point of spending $500 on video cards now when they just run twice as fast as a 9800 pro, but with pratically no new video effects. I think the next gen cards will be the time to upgrade.

Oh, and it's very important that you upgrade your Intel Chipset Drivers if you want Ati's Smart GART to work. If you don't do that, you'll lower your video card's performance.

 

[teh_pwn]

If you decide to OC, you may find this helpful.

http://www.pcholic.net/overclockingIC7.htm


I dunno why Navig switched to that annoying background color...

 

[dark10x]

It's like this, they are using an older P3-733. The mobo is starting to fritz out and they wanted it replaced and asked me about fixing it up.

So, I'm giving them my ASUS board + P4 2.4b + 1 512mb stick of PC2700 ram that I had lying around (as opposed to the pair of 512mb PC3200 sticks that I will use in the new machine).

On their PC, I am leaving their old HDD and CD drives in place as well as re-using their old case. The mobo I am giving them has built in ethernet, sound, and video (never used the video mysefl, but it's there).

I will then use the new ABIT board as well as the P4-3.0c chip for myself. I am re-using my two sticks of PC3200 ram, 9700 Pro, DVD burner, 3 HDDs, and possibly my sound card. So, basically, I'm just replacing my current mobo/CPU combo with this new equipment.

Sorry for the confusion.

I don't really see any reason to upgrade my videocard right now either. It would be nice, of course, but I just can't justify the extra money right now.