Re-Introduce me to AMD

[charlie]

All,
Like I said in an earlier post, I'm building a new desktop/gaming/web creation/web surfing/photo editing rig. I HATE to sit on high priced components and watch their value drop. So I kept my FX-51 for a couple months, my Prescott for a while, but now want to build a box that will stay. I need some advice/tips for this:
1) from a member of this Forum, I purchased a NF7-S v2 with a Vdimm mod
2) considering a XP-M. 2400+ @ $77, 2500+ @ $95 and 2600+ @ $101..
3) I have lots of spare parts laying around, some BH-5 that does 250+, Maxtor 40gb 7200 HDD's, CD/DVD/RW drives, TTGI PSU, Win2K, and all that kind of stuff.

Now remember, the last NON-A64 setup I had was a KX7333-R motherboard and the first batch of t-bred xp2200+'s. I don't remember it well, and don't remember it performing very well ;)
SO what are some configuration tips? Tell me about the NF7-S v2, options, features, what's the L12 mod thing? Do I need it for XP-M?
My goal here is a CHEAP 2.5gHz AIR cooled desktop that flies around the desktop, opens files in a flash, flies through a SD card when I bring home the digi camera after vacation....want to work on my website, AND play games. New stuff, Halo, HL2, RTCW, BF1942 etc... don't NEED blazing speed mind you...
I guess the goal that i've set is for this rig to be faster than the rig I just built for my son:
P4 2.66, 845 motherboard, 256mB DDR, Xabre 200 and Coolermaster strange blower squirrel cage thing :D

I'd like something that runs cool, I'll be going for a near-silent rig. Options? Well, instead of a $50 hs/f maybe I could work up a waterblock/pump/radiator?? But rather stay AIR. In fact I've got quite an idea for AIR. When I ran the FX-51 on air in between DI sessions I used the Zalman flower thing with the built in 92mm fan. I believe that I can rip out the stock fan, take a high output one and cut out the fan frams with an xacto knife and remount the center portion to the hs... use a fan controller and life is GOOOD.
Now Video Cards...hmmm....want to spend $100...that pretty much means Newegg refurb, which is OK. 5600ultra is do-able, 9600 is close, 5700NU is close...there's a few options.
But I guess my main question is about the CPU/Mobo/DDR combination....NF7-s v2, BH5 and XP-M.... or do you think I should just find a 1800+ somewhere in the $40 range??
BTW, building a rig with CHEAP stuff is fun 'cuz you don't really think too much before you whip out the cash... now staring at a 9800xt and it's $499.99 pricetag + tax at Best Buy that was a different story! Especially the second time after I returned one for burning up!! CHEAP rigs = GOOD!

C

[Super strokey]

If you look in forums you can get 9500np softmods for abotu 110, might be viable, also why not go with an slk for the HSF? they are costly but work real good. As for a processor you can get bartons for real cheap now, same thing with chips like 2200s.

[charlie]

Originally posted by Super strokey
If you look in forums you can get 9500np softmods for abotu 110, might be viable, also why not go with an slk for the HSF? they are costly but work real good. As for a processor you can get bartons for real cheap now, same thing with chips like 2200s.

Hmmm.... but is 9500np fastre than 9600XT?? I need to find RAL cheap cpu's

[Super strokey]

when they are soft modded they are, they as fast as 9700 nps then. Just make sure that the mod holds from who ever you would get it from.

[blinky]

for the zalman mod, someone at OC forums did this and put a TT SF2 in there, i say go for the tornado in there, and get a beefy fan controller (PWM style)

for the vid card, id go with 5700u if u can get that, or 9600xt if ya cant, the thing is a 9800pro is only 210 at newegg so if ur getting a 180$ card u might as well just spend the extra 30

[r3b0rN]

NF7-S r2.0 = only outdone by infinity for socket-a boards!! nice choice!
CPU - If $101 is considered cheap to u then by all means, get the 2600+ mobile, they are sweet! go read the thread on them... some awesome results!
BH-5 RAM = as u already know, some awesome ram, give it more than 3.2v and watch it go. (you said the board had vdimm mod, hopefully u can get it up around 3.3-3.5v)
Video Card - 5700NU's are sweet.. however the 9500np softmodded to 9700 pro performs even better.
To cool CPU, without spending to much cash, get maybe an Thermalright SLK-800U... I have a Volcano 12 and i think its quite a solid performer.
Hope i helped, sorry about all the !!!!'s :D

[STEvil]

what r3b0rN said.

[DarKcyde]

Vidcard. Single most important thing when gaming. I second (third?) the advice on 9500np. Heck, have a look around, you might be able to find a 9700pro used for cheap somewhere. Generally, avoid the newer generation of cards, the older ones are actually better.

For the NF7, worry more about FSB than overall clocks. This forum is filled w/ knowledge on any and all mods required. The L12 mod to 166 fsb will prolly help you get better fsb speeds IF you use a 133fsb chip (which includes the mobile bartons). Vdd will help w/ the FSB, you can even pencil mod it real easy. Check out motherboardfaqs.com for the goods. Just make sure u got good cooling on the NB (better than the default anyways).

As for "open files fast" I dont think a 40gb maxtor will be optimal... If you can justify spending the money, a better HD with good desktop performance would be in order. Look around Storage
Review, they know HD's like Xtreme knows OCing (but if you hang out here, u prolly knew that...) :)

For cpu's, i'd go w/ a Mobile. Check ocforums, they have a huge thread on mobile clocks and steppings. If cost is your overriding factor, go w/ the 2400, it'll prolly clock close to what a 2600 would anyways.

One last comment on the mobo... your single best gaming feature is summed up in one word... Soundstorm.

[charlie]

Darkcyde,
great tips...
Newegg says the 2500+ mobile is only 1.25v is it typo? Better than 2400+??

c

[kommando]

Get a mobile 2600+ these are great chips from threads i've seen on the forum. Maybe pick up a second hand radeon 9700pro, great vid cards should lasr ya :)

Nf7-S is a great mobo, not sure what mods you'd need maybe look in the mobile threads should answer your vmod questions :)

[tc_overclocker]

Yeah the 1.25v on NewEgg is a typo, it should be 1.45v according to the F in the line code on the chips. Although like everyone is saying I'd go for the 2600+ XP-M as there are people on the forum getting in excess of 3Gig wiv them.

You might strike lucky wiv the NF7-S if it's an older board as the older boards allowed for rocket high FSB, it's only the newer ones that hit a wall at about 225 FSB.

The BH-5 Ram you have will sit nicely in amoungst all that as it will allow for some luverly 1:1 wiv the Mobile for uber FSB and bandwidths. Just wish I could get hold of some :(

As for the GFX card all of the above suggestions I would go with... the 9600XT's seem to be doing well at present, but have you considered a 9800SE AIW, which I believe can be bought for around the same price as all these cards, just giving you the extra features for the TV Tuner, and you may be able to soft mod it :D

Hope this helps

TC

[kommando]

Why not 9800 se and see if you can softmod to 9800pro :)

[tc_overclocker]

Bingo ;)

[Dajo]

Will this rig really play the new games?

Becase people said that my P4 rig wouldnt handle them all that great...

//DAJO

[DarKcyde]

Dajo: those ppl are on crack.

Remember, this is Xtreme. We are like 0.00001% of the population. The other 99.99999% ppl who buy games are lucky to be running a rig like Charlie built his son...P4 2.66, 845 motherboard, 256mB DDR, Xabre 200 and Coolermaster strange blower squirrel cage thing

[r3b0rN]

Originally posted by Dajo
Will this rig really play the new games?

Becase people said that my P4 rig wouldnt handle them all that great...

//DAJO Just out of curiosity... can i stab these people?

[texuspete00]

Yeah, someone's jealous of your PC. I first went to go check your ram because I am starting to have issues with 512 in new games but you're all over that. XS is ahead of the curve on average and your Gig of ram will really help out more than some few hundred MHz or so some one might have on you. Top notch. Damn I want a gig!

Try the farcry demo. It's beautiful and about as rough as PC games will get for awhile. Breathtaking.

Charlie's rig will play games... mine does. Though a little flexibility with the card price would help alot. Im a big fan of the eight pipers. Charlie- if you have board fsb issues, like the 10 and 10.5 multi problem.... some people swear by tictacs bios's... especially his newer ones. I dont know how far out the loop you are so Ill mention he is a member so that little search button will get you there. No google req'd.

edit: Crap Darkcyde... is that pc3700 Gold you are running?... please take a look here... http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31498 .... I want to know if CPC works and some little advice. Sorry to thread steal. PM me if you can. I want a gig!

[charlie]

I found a 9700 Pro for $138.95... I'll tell you why I'm hesitant though... I have a 9700 Pro right HERE that I killed with a failed IC7 Vagp mod, sitting right here. Now if I buy another, it'll remind me that I already KILLED one. If I buy something different psychologically I'll believe that I just got something NEW :D

C

[texuspete00]

That's exactly the kind of deal that makes me say you should stretch the 100$ limit. Pick that up! If not pass that along as Im sure other could benefit. 200 for a 9800pro might be worth it for those that have the money, but for those that dont or are not buying a primary card I'd definitely put up for that instead.

[saaya]

if you just want 2.5ghz on air a 2400+ mobile will be all you need.
L12 mod =higher default fsb. nf2 board automatically set diferent internal timings if a cpu with a higher default fsb is recognized wich means a higher fsb oc. no idear if it helps on the mobile xps but i guess it does as my mobile doesnt like an fsb above 230

a 9500pro is faster than a 9600xt with extreme ocing, at default theres no big diference id say.

[ricjax99]

Originally posted by charlie
I found a 9700 Pro for $138.95... I'll tell you why I'm hesitant though... I have a 9700 Pro right HERE that I killed with a failed IC7 Vagp mod, sitting right here. Now if I buy another, it'll remind me that I already KILLED one. If I buy something different psychologically I'll believe that I just got something NEW :D

C

Lol just buy it, i bought a 2100+ killed it and bought another, i smashed the other ones core to bits it made me feel better in the end :D

Shopping list:

Proc:
XP-M 2400+/2500+

Mobo:
Abit NF7-S V2.0 & 1x 10K VR ;)
DFi Infinity NFII & 1,000,000 mosfet sinks :D
DFi Lanparty NFII RevB & 1,000,000 mosfet sinks :D

Ram:
512/1024 of your favourite spare BH5

Vid card:
That 9700 Pro hands down.

[GazC]

Originally posted by charlie
I found a 9700 Pro for $138.95... I'll tell you why I'm hesitant though... I have a 9700 Pro right HERE that I killed with a failed IC7 Vagp mod, sitting right here. Now if I buy another, it'll remind me that I already KILLED one. If I buy something different psychologically I'll believe that I just got something NEW :D

C

I think you should go for it Charlie. I killed two 2800 Bartons before this one. That looks like a good buy.

[charlie]

I'm SICK, just SICK!!! I couldn't pull the trigger on a 2400+ XP-M with the 2600+ only $24 more....

So I got the 2600+ XP-M!!!!!!!!! Knowing Newegg it'll be here tommorrow!!!!!!!! Yeah!! I'm SICK, SICK, SICK!!!!!
And of course before I dedicate this kit to the desktop, this dark thing inside of me will FORCE me to mount my DI rig and see what she can do....anyone know a shrink? :confused:

C

[mongoled]

Good call,

I just got 2 of these badboys here right now, check the thread out

mong

[DarKcyde]

Originally posted by charlie
I'm SICK, just SICK!!!

Yeah!! I'm SICK, SICK, SICK!!!!!

...this dark thing inside of me will FORCE me to mount my DI rig Give in to the dark side Charlie. Give in to the hate. It will make you powerful! :hehe:

[Walrusbonzo]

Originally posted by kommando
Why not 9800 se and see if you can softmod to 9800pro :)

Just what I was gonna say :)

I must have had 11 softmoddable 9800SE AIW from a batch of 22 :D

[Dojo | Warlord]

Good choice, the 2600-M won't fail you. I did 2.7ghz on air with mine @ 1.85v

:up: :toast: :toast: :toast: :up:

[STEvil]

we want 3.3ghz or blood! :D

[saaya]

*looks at charlie* *looks at dry ice box* *looks at charlie* :D

[charlie]

Originally posted by saaya
*looks at charlie* *looks at dry ice box* *looks at charlie* :D

Well.... it WOULD be a SIN to buy the hottest OC'ing AMD on the market and not kick it in the ribs a little bit :D ...
Should be pretty simple the way my DI tube mounts... the NF7-S HAS 4 holes!!
BTW, where's the NF7-S Vcore mod?
Did I just say that? Bad Charlie! This is a desktop rig for fun and games not overclocking! Responding to myself: "Shut Up!!" My bipolar, multipersonality disorder has been brought to you by PC Overclocking :D
Bad Charlie peeks head out again: "Anybody know what's the WR for Barton + 9800XT in 3DMark '01??"

Goes in search of Zoloft bottle...

C

[STEvil]

Whats the vcore chip on the NF7?

If its the HIP6301 then its a simple 50K pot from pin7 to ground (I just did that exact mod on an old 8kta3 not 20 mins ago, too, heh).

Two 9.8k ohm (they're actually 10k, but measure at 9.8k each) resistors in series gave me a .1v increase on vcore..

This is saying that you dont have to do a vdroom and isen mod..

[Poki]

I was looking around at Newegg today and noticed they had refurbed Sapphire 9800pro's for $156. Pretty good bang for the buck if ask me if your still in the market.

[STEvil]

Dang, wish I had $156US on hand.. ;)

[kommando]

So what Charlie you gonna get a nf7 or an infinity?

[Crankster]

He already han a NF-7 i thought he said?

[Dajo]

Originally posted by r3b0rN
Just out of curiosity... can i stab these people?

Of course be my guest... I dont reallyknow anything about games, so i wouldnt know... i dont have a single one :mad: but im getting HL2 and Doom3 and Hitman3

//DAJO

[r3b0rN]

Originally posted by kommando
So what Charlie you gonna get a nf7 or an infinity? lol dude, we knew from the beginning he would be using the nf7-s r2.0. his main dilemma now seems to be which video card to get.
Originally posted by Dajo
Of course be my guest... I dont reallyknow anything about games, so i wouldnt know... i dont have a single one :mad: but im getting HL2 and Doom3 and Hitman3

//DAJO NOT A SINGLE GAME!?!?!!! my friend, you have been missing out on 1 of the pc's best uses! :p: ... oh well its never to late i guess, and what a better way to start ur collection than with those top games :D

[tictac]

Good Luck Charlie... :thumbsup:

[charlie]

thanks tictac, my NF7-s v2 that I'm getting Monday has your d22 xtreme BIOS, can you tell me a bit about it? voltage options?

C

[buff]

definatly try some of the others bios's from tictac. The best for mine was 22BK. Also, dont do the L12 mod first, my NF7 dosn't need it at all for my 2500+M.

video:
Be carefull with the softmod cards. The 9800 softmod is about 55% with the AIW cards, much lower for the normal ones. I had about 75% with the 9500np's, but the cost $144 for the 256bit models. My best did 470/335 benchmarking on air:D
I'd say try and get something from newegg refurb:)
Buff

[charlie]

How fun.
Am starting to collect parts to build my 24/7 HOME Desktop Powerhouse :D, today I picked up a D-Tek Spiral socket "A" WB for $25...will pick up a scratch and dent 120mm rad from him also. I have pumps laying around here (I'm into aquariums) so I may as well put watercooling on my 24/7 rig!!! Total cost will be about $75....

So it's starting to look like this:
2600+ XP-M
NF7-S v 2.0
2 x 256 KHX3000 BH-5
Radeon 9800Pro AIW
TTGI520W PSU
DVD-RW
CD-RW
Maxtor 40gB 7200rpm HDD IDE
120mm D-tek Readiator
D-Tek Spir@l WB
Eheim pump

[saaya]

if you want to play the latest games on it id suggest you to get more hd space and more memory (bf and far cry like more than 512mb)

[charlie]

Originally posted by saaya
if you want to play the latest games on it id suggest you to get more hd space and more memory (bf and far cry like more than 512mb)

Saaya,
Yeah, but then I'd have to spend more MONEY!!! lol
Sure, some 512mB KHX3200A would work OK, at like 2-3-3-6...
And HDD, they're EXPENSIVE!!! Maybe just use my other Maxtor (they're a matching pair) in RAID0, and grab another HDD for a spare :D

C

[charlie]

hmmmm
confusion here... if NF7-S has 3 DIMM slots, and I fill all 3 with 256mB, does DC still work? I think not.

C

[r3b0rN]

quite sure it does charlie... and i see ur picking 9800pro aiw over 9800se aiw, i say get the se and softmod it, if its not succesfull send it back and get 9800pro.

[charlie]

I decided to get the 9800Pro AIW because I can record live TV, I can watch TV on monitor, play games well and all that good stuff :D
Now I just want to know what software I need to recoed live TV onto a PC HDD??

C

[Clay]

hmmmm
confusion here... if NF7-S has 3 DIMM slots, and I fill all 3 with 256mB, does DC still work? I think not.

C
It'll work in dc mode. perhaps not as well as it might with 2x256 +1x512 memories of the same type.(IC"s,same default spd values,ect) Or 2x512 matched sticks. Best megahurtage if I remember right was 2x256.(But you knew that.) You might not clock as nice w/ 1x256 on 1ch and 2x256=512 on the other ch. But they'll work fer sure.

[IvanAndreevich]

It'll work in dc mode. perhaps not as well as it might with 2x256 +1x512 memories of the same type.(IC"s,same default spd values,ect) Or 2x512 matched sticks. Best megahurtage if I remember right was 2x256.(But you knew that.) You might not clock as nice w/ 1x256 on 1ch and 2x256=512 on the other ch. But they'll work fer sure.
Way to dig out a thread from a couple of years ago :fact:

[Clay]

Speakin' of old thread's that's what I was lookin' for. My nf2 "Infinity" died so I pulled the A7N8X-E Del out of retirement.(Third backup) And am in the process of sinkin' all the' hot spots on the board. I saw once along time ago. Someone had allready mapped all this out and posted it here. Somewhere for a7n8x-e del. That's when I happened across this thread. Back to searchin' I know it's here somewhere.

[dogsx2]

Wow, I started at the first of this thread wondering how I missed it and then realised that it was two years old. Old Clay really must have done some digging to go back that far.LOL

[Clay]

Oh Geeze I was lookin' at the month day!!!(Not the year Hehe) OMG LOL I'm not getting any smarter R.I.? Well I was lookin' around the right dates. For what I needed anyway.(I think) 3-18 (Miised the 04 part)