My first Intel and serious overclock build...

[Nomak]

My wifes box is seriously outdated and is no longer able to play her game of choice (The Sims)

So I decided to pass my box off to her and build a new rigg.  I tried to be smart and do a bit of reading before ordering anything.  This article http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/10/dual_41_ghz_cores/  from "Toms Hardware" really caught my attention.

To paraphrase the article briefly...... They took a D805 dual core intel chip (2.66 gig)  and ramped it up to 4.1 gig with just the addition of a decent fan and heat sink.  The performance numbers are pretty incredable.  They claim that this ($97.00 from newegg) 805 chip when overclocked will out perform the AMD64 FX-60 and the Pentium Extreme 955.  Yes you read that right.  A processor for a C-Note that can run with and even out perform the processors that go for $800.00 plus.

To make it even more appealing it uses the same 775 sockett that the new core 2 duo uses.  So if my overclocking attempt crashes and burns all I have to do is pick up a core 2 duo ES6400  for $242.00 and all is good.

Here is the parts list that I orderd from Newegg this A.M.

   1 ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131031  $259.99  

   1 eVGA 256-P2-N567 Geforce 7900GT KO Superclocked 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130016  $289.99  

   1 Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817103932  $96.99  
   
   1 Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 533MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core,EM64T Processor Model BX80551PE2666FN - Retail
Item #: N82E16819116001  $97.00  

   2 Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Read Black ATAPI Model DVR-111D - OEM
Item #: N82E16827129001  $63.98  
 
  1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007  $5.99  
   
   1 COOLER MASTER SLC-S41-U1 40mm Blue LED Light Chip Set Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
Item #: N82E16835103155  $6.99  

   1 Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum/Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811133154  $149.99  
   
   1 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145034  $269.00  
   
   1 Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136012  $234.99  

   ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail
Model #: CNPS9500 AT
Item #: N82E16835118003    $62.99  
 
So this should be interesting.  I am really looking foreward to the build.  

One thing I am not sure about though..... This type of ASUS board uses a fanless Northbridge set up.  I did do some reading where some people were seeing high temps.  So I orderd a real basic Coolermaster northbridge fan.  I am not sure if it will work on this board or not.  Time will tell.  I will post results once the system is up and running.  

Any and all comments are welcomed and encouraged.

Thx.... Dave

Edit..... I really considerd going with 2 7600GT's in SLI for this build.  I really didnt want to spend $500 on 2 7900GT's.  In the end I went with 1 7900GT.  Would 2 7600's have been a better choice?

Thx again.... Dave

[Wolfala]

Havn't had any problems with the heat pipe on the north bridge. But i've got 3 120mm intakes, 1 120mm exhaust, 90mm cross and 50mm top exhaust - loaded temps are in the mid 40s.

Generally, it works pretty well stability wise.

[Skuzzy]

The P5N32 does not support the Conroe core.  You need an Intel based (975 or 965 chipset) in order to be able to switch to Conroe.

At least, that is my current understanding.  I have not checked with ASUS to see if the Nvidia chipset boards have been altered so they can support Conroe.

[Roscoroo]

Nomak, the Corsair Ram is ussually cheaper at Fry's (outpost.com)

I was comparing Newegg and Frys the other day ... Newegg is getting kinda overpriced lately .

looks like 239.00 here


i saw some good deals on surplus dual sli video cards on ebay lately too ... you  might be able to get a good price on matched set .

[FLS]

Instead of spending $160 on an older CPU and Cooler just get whatever Conroe you can afford. It's a better CPU and you can still overclock it if you want to.

All Pentium D 805's will not overclock the same as the THG sample did. I had one running stable at 3.8 but even with water cooling it was hot and really was happier at 3.6.

You'll eventually get back the extra money you spent on the Conroe with reduced electric bills and you'll apppreciate the lower heat and noise compared to the Smithfield.


Skuzzy that MB is listed as supporting Core Duo.

[Nomak]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
The P5N32 does not support the Conroe core.  You need an Intel based (975 or 965 chipset) in order to be able to switch to Conroe.

At least, that is my current understanding.  I have not checked with ASUS to see if the Nvidia chipset boards have been altered so they can support Conroe.

It says that its supported so I am assuming that it is

ASUS
Model P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe
Supported CPU
CPU Socket Type Socket T (LGA 775)
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Pentium EE/Pentium
FSB 1066/800MHz
Supported CPU Technologies Hyper-Threading Technology
Chipsets
North Bridge NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16

[Nomak]

Originally posted by Roscoroo
Nomak, the Corsair Ram is ussually cheaper at Fry's (outpost.com)

I was comparing Newegg and Frys the other day ... Newegg is getting kinda overpriced lately .

looks like 239.00 here


i saw some good deals on surplus dual sli video cards on ebay lately too ... you  might be able to get a good price on matched set .

Its funny you mention price because I just looked again and it went up just since this morning

I shouldnt have posted the prices but it was a quick cut and paste deal (Shrug)  

I do know that better deals can be had ....but Newegg has 6 months same as cash right now.  I always take advantage of that and am willing to pay a bit more for it.  

Thx Roo   Dave

[Nomak]

Originally posted by FLS
Instead of spending $160 on an older CPU and Cooler just get whatever Conroe you can afford. It's a better CPU and you can still overclock it if you want to.

All Pentium D 805's will not overclock the same as the THG sample did. I had one running stable at 3.8 but even with water cooling it was hot and really was happier at 3.6.

You'll eventually get back the extra money you spent on the Conroe with reduced electric bills and you'll apppreciate the lower heat and noise compared to the Smithfield.


Skuzzy that MB is listed as supporting Core Duo.

You may very well be right on all accounts there.  However I am going to give it a run and see what happens.  I am sure I will end up with the better Conroe..... but for 97 bucks,  I dont think I can lose.  Especially since I can plug in the better processor anytime I am ready to.

Ya never know....... If I can duplicate thier (Toms Hardware)  results than my D805 will out perform the Conroe that I can afford

Thx for the reply.... Dave

[Waffle]

Originally posted by Nomak
My wifes box is seriously outdated and is no longer able to play her game of choice
 

Oh man...theres just WAY too many comments I could make..... LMAO

[Balsy]

Originally posted by Waffle BAS
Oh man...theres just WAY too many comments I could make..... LMAO [/

B]

Thanks waffle, I was worried that I was going to read a whole post with no humour in it... and that is NOT why I come here.

Balsy

[SuperDud]

My ASUS P5B is configured to support core 2. It's simple to overclock with ASUS too, so that's another plus. Of coarse I've never tried to overclock anything before so I really don't know:D

[Brenjen]

As far as the fanless chipset; my Asus board has a fanless chipset & I only saw high temps when I switched to water cooling because the heatpipe heatsincs use the CPU fan exhaust to cool it. When you remove the CPU fan, the heatsincs do not get any air moving through them. Lucky for me I was expecting this & just set a 120mm fan in front of my oven....er I mean my 7950 GX2 video card & that cools both the chipset & the card. I've been on this PC all day & the mobo temp is only 31C

[Roscoroo]

Mine uses the cases side intake to blow right on to the North bridge and were the CPU fan would normally be .  My N bridge heatsink is always nice and cool .

on my old gamer I screwed a small fan right to the heatsink .


With a good case and a couple of 120mm fans it should stay cool inside.

my problem is i keep looking for fish food to feed my pc
(Water cooled guys will understand )

[38ruk]

my problem is i keep looking for fish food to feed my pc  

Hehe , since you mentioned it Roo , i would say that trying to clock that Pentium D840 to 4 gig  is prolly going to require water for longevity. With decent complete water kits around its alot easier to do now a days . My Tt 745 was my first kit , and would be simple to install for a new build.  Ive been at 3ghz (up from 2.2ghz ) for almost 8 months now without a hitch , i dont think i would have left it turned up all this time if i was on air .  Another plus is the lack of a high speed fan for the heatsink , my system sounded like a leaf blower prior to water, now its nice and quiet with just the case fans going .  GL  38

[Roscoroo]

water is the best way to go for anything over clocked . and with more and more graphic gpu power there gonna be needed the adv of water too ....

There as fast as a 1.0 -1.3 ghz pc was these days .  so compare the power and heat from those old pc's .

The thermaltake water kits are the best built and bang for buck  as far as ive seen .. I helped a friend install that new crucial water kit which is cheaper then the thermaltake one ... but yes its alot cheaper ... spring bands, no visibility into the cpu block (harder to check for air) and the resevoir  isnt as nice .

figure it costs at least 45-75 bucks for the top of the line cpu heat sink fan combo's ,  for 100-145 your into a water setup . this takes id say about 95% of the cpu heat out of the box .. now your just dealing with hard drive ,gpu ,ram temp mostly .. two case fans can pritty much take care of this effectively .