1st post and a massive bunch of questions!

[airchie]

Hi folks,

I was pointed here for a thread about the new Abit AN8 Fatal1ty board I'm thinking of buying so I thought I'd put a few questions to you.

I think I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get this board over the DFI ones.
I've had Abit boards ever since my KT7-Raid with my Thunderbird 800 and not had any problems (apart from file corruption on my NF7-S at over 200 FSB with SATA raid :rolleyes: ).

I'm also planning on getting a heap of other stuff too.
Here's the list.

Abit AN8 Fatal1ty
winny 3500+
1GB Corsair 3200XLPT
2x 300GB Maxtor +10 HDDs
Coolermaster stacker case

Questions:-
1. Which is the best core CPU to get? I hear a lot about the SPAW steppings of the winnys. Also, I hear the Venice core will be released soon, is it worth me waiting for that?

2. Memory. I like Corsair memory almost as much as I like Abit mobos. You think I'm better off buying the 3200XL stuff or the PC4400pt stuff to go with this setup. I do plan to OC as far as I can.

3. By any chance, do any of you guys have the stacker case and have you by any chance tried mounting a 120.2 WC rad in the front? Easy enough to do?

4. I currently have a Laing D4 12v pump for my WC which is not as quiet as I hoped. I had a Laing 12v DDC pump that was nigh on silent but didn't always start. Have any of you had this problem with the DDC pumps? What pump do you think would suit me best? I'm aiming more at silence than massive cooling tbh.

5. Is there any chance of a 'best setting' thread being made any time soon for the AN8 mobos?

6. Are you still awake? :D

Anyway, that's all for now.
TIA for any replies.

airchie. :)

EDIT
7. Tygon hosing, is it much better than other stuff?

[i found nemo]

as far as water cooling, i can't answer as i know notin' about 'em

the ram you selected (4400) would be nice especially if you run 1:1 then ur almost garunteed 275, but if you wanna run 1:1 higher then o/c ur ram a lil bit but pc 4800 is good for 300 mhz

other than that i think you have a pretty solid setup

oh and also if you REALLY want good o/c wait for venice, the only reason i say it will o/c good is because it hits high o/c's on default v.core lol read around you'll see

[RaptorRaider]

1. Venice and San Diego are best. I personally think they're worth waiting for.

2. I'm not sure on what type of chips those are based but I'd recommend the PC4400 dimms since most PC3200 dimms will only overclock high with a high voltage; something the DFI Nf4 can offer but the Abit AN8 can't.

3. Should be easy with some modding. Even seen a guy put a 120.3 there.
EDIT: Here (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45323).

4. You should've RMA'ed the DDC; such malfunctions aren't normal.

5. There is a thread about the AN8 somewhere. :p:
EDIT: Here (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56099).

6. Definately.

7. Probably. I wanted to buy Tygon but it was out of stock so I bought Clearflex. Many people seem to recommend it so it's probably a little bit better.

EDIT:
BTW, welcome to Xtreme Systems. :toast:

[airchie]

1.
Cool, I think I'll wait for the venice then.
Theoretically they'll be available from 4th April, is that likely?

2.
The Corsair 3200XL is TCCD and is capableof 2-2-2 at 3200 but goes to higher speeds at looser timings and being TCCD doesn't really need higher voltage. But I'm not too sure yet which one to go for.

3.
Sweet!!
That's exactly the kinda thing I wanna do to mine!
Thanksfor that link Raptor! :)

4.
I couldn't RMA the DDC since I'd modded it a bit.
Beforeyou guys say it, it was broken before I modded it! :D
Shame I couldn't say the same about my 1st X800XL! :(

5.
Yep, I found that thread, will be very usefull.
Guess I just gotta be patient until a few more folk get the board and have a play.

6.
Glad to hear it ;)

7.
May as well get the tygon like i wanted in the 1st place.
Since I'll be re-plumbing for a new case and mobo. :)

8.
Thanks for the welcome! :)