New motherboard and cpu needed

[Pollock]

Most do it because or can say that they are overclocking. Fact is that no matter how well one cools the component you shorten its' life simply by directing more voltage to it then it was intended to handle......sorta like trying to put 6 gallons of water into a 5 gallon bucket....only what is overclocked will handle it for a shorter term then desired.

That would make sense Hajo.  I have to say I have been very lucky (knocks wood) regarding overclocking.

I have been overclocking since 1997 if memory serves.

SYSTEM 1:
I did celeron 300A to 550mhz worked for me for about 1 year.  I then sold it an upraded.  The gal I sold it too quit using it in 2000.

SYSTEM 2:
AMD K62 No overclocking and a real POS!  This sucker would BSOD, reset,lock up you name it. (before ACES HIGH) this went in the trash bin I thinked I stripped first.

SYSTEM 3:
I did a AMD TBIRD 850mhz to 1.3GHZ for a year and ran Aces High on it with lock up issues regard the VIA chipset.  Bloom25 helped with that back in 2001. (thanks Bloom)

(system 3 went to my wife since 2002 with no problems execpt a noisy fan and then the chipset fan started buzzing.  I forgot to mention at the start of my thread that I cracked the cpu wafer replacing the fan, which started my thread.

SYSTEM 4:  Currently using. And my largest endevor.
Bought in July 2002 for 300 dollars from newegg.

P4 Northwood 1.6A with an Asus P4B266 MOBO. This puppy is rock stable @2.4GHZ!

with overclocking I feel as long as you use decent hardware and do not have lofty goals you should be ok.  I tend to overclock because I am cheap, stingy, resourceful whatever.  I try to squeeze my PCs as long as possible.

I still have not made my final decision on system 5 yet.  But I am steering again towards the P4 Northwood option.  If system 5 keeps me playing ACES HIGH 2 with good framerates until mid 2006 I will be satisfied.

System 6

Will be a ground floor build due to all the changes coming with home PCs, ie 64 bit processing, pci express, etc.  Still ACES HIGH has never been as demanding as games like doom, half life, etc.
So I think I am on the logical path.

Oh,  Did I mention that I plan to use system 5 as a future HTPC, when system 6 is built.

I think I may still need to research (as time permits)  I look to the community for the continued input of their opinions and suggestions.

[wombatt]

Been running my system for two years now without any issue's
Even had It running of Phase Change cooling for awhile at 3.6 and 1200FSB with no worries.

[Estes]

Mr.Black used Phase cooling too.

He also had a habit of random capitilization.

[wombatt]

That's nice.

[Roscoroo]

Originally posted by Estes
Mr.Black used Phase cooling too.

He also had a habit of random capitilization.

so true ...

[Hajo]

Just trying to pass on some sound advice on overclocking.

If you plan on keeping the system for a year or two at best, then overclock.  You still have to remember tho that system instability and short lifespans of components is a definate consequence.

Built many systems....for myself and others.  I advise all who wish me to build them a system that overclocking may sound cool, it's always best to use electronic equipment using specifications.
If RAM, CPU,and /or Video Card fail because of overclocking, there is no warranty.  Get out your wallet...you've just wasted your money.

[Skuzzy]

Hajo is quite right, but I would add this.

If you are 'conservatively' overclocking, which simply means you are running the device within the parameters of the design, but faster than the part was shipped at, you will probably be ok.  It is good to leave some room there as well.
Most manufacturers will spec the parts given certain parameters, such as voltage levels, and thermal characteristics.  If you manage to keep the thermals below what they are expected to be, then there is a good chance you will get normal life from an overclocked product (keeping within the operating range the manafacturer designed for).

However, if you are 'extreme' with overclocking, pumping up the voltages and so on, then you pretty much will kill the device long before its normal life cycle is reached, regardless of the thermal conditions.

[Pollock]

I agree Skuzzy and Hajo take it on at your own peril.  i will be happy with a 3GHZ overclock. some people view it as a hobby, challenge, whatever.  But thats not my game.  I just want to stretch my hobby budget as far as I can get it.  I still have not made up my mind what in what combo to use.  I want to avoid having a mr freeze tank or turbine fan that sounds like a dyson vacuum coming from my pc.

Any opinions on the AMD system I am considering.  I havent had much luck searching the internet.

Abit KV8 PRO K8T800 85.00 at newegg
AMD Athlon 64 2800+ 512kb l2 cache 128.00 at new egg.

Oh,

And today my buddy is telling me to wait a month for the nforce 4 chipset to come down in price and that is the way I should go.

The goal again is $250.00 maximum budget, with FR above 30 in dicey situations.

[Hajo]

Pollock

Athlon 64 is a good choice for your budget.

I've run some performance Benchmarks against baseline PCs' that are Pentium4s, Athlon XPs' and even dual CPUs

The Athlon64 technology is great.  Any Athlon64 would be my choice.  Of course I would say that because that is what I chose.
Hypertransport is nice.

Also....can't go wrong with an ASUS board and it's jumper free settings.....used many ASUS boards and have never had a problem with them.

[Pollock]

Thanks Hajo.

[wombatt]

I am running at stock voltages.

[Pollock]

Wombatt,

You say stock voltage? is that 1.5V core.

On my current rig I have the retail fan and heatsink, and I never had a need to check the temp (northwoods run cool).

i wonder if I can get to the 3GHZ with a retail fan and heat sink.

I am still researching before making the purchase.  I did some evaluations last nite on my current rig.

What do you benchmark your rig at in 3dmark 2001

My current settings in AH2 are:

1024 X 768
refresh @ 85 I think.
preferance slides 75% towards performance.

Frame rates maxed at 85.
In furious action down to 18 and choppy.
Averaged FR of 60.

These are ok with the exeption of the heavy action which really hurts the game play imo.

I ran a 3D mark 2001 this morning with default settings and scored 13363.

Settings I would like to play AH2:

1280 X 1024
4 X FSAA would be nice (but not critial)
preferance sliders set 75% towards quality
These were the settings I played AH1 in from 2002 to 2003 and I never dropped below 30 fps.


I estimate that if I can benchmark above 20000 in 3dmark 2001, would put me at the desired settings.

Hajo,

I am really curious to know youre 3dmark 2001 is.  That system sounds like it would put you into the high 20s easily.

I have yet to locate a 3dmark 2001 for the amd combo I am looking at.

[Hajo]

Pollock

I'll run 3DMark 2001 and post it here with settings.

OK   results

Default settings were 1024X768, I reset to 1280X1024

Default setting for FSAA was none, I reset to 4X

Default setting Frame Buffer double, I left it at double

Texture Format Compressed   F-Buffer Depth 24

Rendering Pipeline: D3D Pure Hardware T/L

Result of the Benchmark: Score 5282

By the way.....I left Vertical Sync ON in Display Settings.
Most turn off Vert. Sync during Benchmarking.

I set everything on the Benchmark to setting I use in AH EXCEPT
I use 6XFSAA....still hold high 70s' to a max 86 FR in AH.

My monitors refresh rate is set to 85

Hope this gives you somewhat of an idea.

[Pollock]

Thanks...

[Skuzzy]

Just for comparisons, mine ran 24,251 in 2001SE at stock settings for 2001SE and the video card.

Intel P4, ATIX800XT

I'll have to rerun at the above settings you mention when I get home tonight.