Which combo should I buy?

[#ball3r]

I'm getting some new stuff to replace my current cpu, mobo, and ram and need some final help making my final decision. This will be a gaming system which is used pretty much 24/7 and will want to overclock to the max. My current stuff i'm replacing will go to my gf's gaming system so it's a win/win situation for both of us . I'm hoping it will beat the speed of my 3000+/Abit NF7-S, and 256 Twinmos 3200 BH-5. I'm running 10.5x223 ca2 2,2,4 right now because of the extra heat of summer (can run 10.5x230 easy stable), and usually run 11x220 DC sync but I got a stick that needs to be RMA'd. I plan to water cool but until then I'm going to use the stock hsf and will be using at least 2 sata hd's in raid.

Please give me some feedback as to why you voted for what you did, and give me some other options as long as they are not more expencive.

Thank you and have a great weekend..

[CCW]

Why not wait for the Abit IC7-G Max3?

Craig

[Alexandrus]

2.4C with ABIT IC7-G if that's your only choice, but I'd rather get a better mobo myself.

[r00t3d]

try the Epox 4PCA3+ for a board

/me wishes Epox would pay me for all this

[Liquid3D]

Although the Abit MAX is enticing, I'd stay away from Abit right now. People are having troubles with their BIOS. I have 4x256MB sticks of Corsair Twin-X4000, and 2x512MB Twin-XMS4000 and cannot run either memory in my IS7-E, or IC7-G at 3:2 or 5:4 ratio's. And I've tried several different BIOS versions, and am currently using ver.16 to no avail. OCZ will run well, but with 2.8VDIMM, your handicapped. I also question the quality of the 875/865 chipset's Abit purchased to build these boards. I dfon't see too many people getting past 300FSB with either series from Abit. I realize your getting the OCZ GolD which I also have, and have had the best results with. I definately agree with the Epox recommendation. DO NOT make the mistake I did. And your wasting your money buying a 2.6C, and I'd be so bold to say even a 3.2 when the 2.4C's are pretty much doing 3.4 to 3.6GHz on air, and default vcore's.

The 875 chipset is basically a MCH on steroids. It's designed to provide a Dual-DDR platform for Intel 800FSB processor's, and does really well. It's Intel's answer to the nVidia Nforce chipset. BUT if you don't have the VDIMM your screwed. The Epox allows for 3.3VDIMM which is the best I've seen, and another reason I'd wished I'd stop jumping over to Abit boards. While they offer thye Bells and Whistles, I still beleive the Epox is the hard-core Overclockers mobo. Legit review's obtained 532MHz with the same Corsair Twin-XMS4000, I can't get much above 500MHz, and this is all due to VDIMM.

I belive with a 2.4C (I have two which do 3.6GHz at default vcore) and the Epox 4PCA3+, and OCZ GolD 3700 the sky will be the limit. If you really want to rock get the same combo with OCZ GolD 4000. Below are some results I got with a 2.4C, IS7-E and OCZ GolD 3700;

[Shane5578]

hasn't the DFI mobo only got 2.7 vdimm max.

[#ball3r]

First off thanks for the replies and suggestions. I live in Canada and the Epox board and Max3 are not sold and don't see them being available anytime soon. The Asus board I can get but it's still close to $300 where as the two boards I listed are only $250. Being a case modder I'm also looking at the looks of the board and I think that Asus products are the ugliest parts ever made and plan to never purchase a product from that company. I know all the hype but I find that more the not, the products from Asus are way overpriced especially here in Canada. I don't really have many options and I'm not ordering from the states. The reason I chose the Abit is because it seemed like a very popular choice. Oh and I can't even find a place that sells the ocz 4000 and like I said plan on buying very soon, so don't plan on waiting on any new products. Is the 4000 really that good over the 3700 anyway with the very relaxed timings?

[Liquid3D]

I'm waiting on the package (OCZ GolD4000) if it arrives today (it better) I'll let you know immediately on that one. In so far as the Mobo choices, where are you in Canada, maybe I can find you a store near you. I think your making a mistake buing the Abit or DFI mobo, but I understand your circumstances. If you can get the Asus do it! Looks don't mean crap, if the dam thing can't perform. After all you spend more time looking at the performance on the screen then staring at your motherboard in the case right?

The Asus P4P800 or P4C800 are both excellent choices, and I beleive will certainly out-perform the Abit. If you get the Abit I can tell you right now where your linmit's will be. Your not going to get over 300FSB, and the highest bandwidth you can expect with the OCZ GolD 3700, and Abit combo will be about 6000MB/s. If your gaming or running 3DMark2001/2003 benchmarks then you'll be running it at 280FSB 5:4 ratio max, and 240FSB 1:1 ratio max. With my Tyan Tachyon 9700, the highest 3DMark2001 I've attained with this combo is 18500. If your happy with those numbers go for it. If you want significantly better performance go with the Asus/2.4C/OCZ combo.

PM me and I'll make you an excellent deal on my brand new Abit IC7-G four days old, or IS7-E three weeks old!

[Hell-Fire]

Ok, even tho I am not using Intel components at the moment, I have to truly LOL at Liquid. You sorta bashing the Abit boards when you a running a 1.2ghz fsb.....ummmm...that isnt to shabby.

Asus or Abit is the question alot of us mull over when buying a performance board. Some say Asus for a certain number of reasons, others say Abit foe certain reasons. I say go with what you feel will be right for you. Do some research on your own before taking anyone elses advice is always the best thing.

Hell, sometimes I just scan thru threads to check peeps sigs to see what they are running in their rig, and what they got running 3Dmark if a link is included with their sig.

I can say this, the IC7-G and the new Max3 are nothing to sneeze at.....in contrast, I have always been an Asus man, so the P4C800 is looking good to me....so I am sort of in the same boat as I am gonna join the DARK side soon and put an Intel riggy together to bench with.

Big thing to remember here is anytime you start running any component past its specs, then you cant truly complain to much if it acts fickle about it. You may have to do some modding on any board when you start pushing well past stable conditions.

[#ball3r]

liquid I'm scoring over 19000 2k1 with my current setup and will be just replacing the cpu, mobo, ram. you sure that's all i'll get? my 9700 pro is oc's to 400/350 usually.

[Liquid3D]

No, no, it's just an example of what I'm getting. My video card sucks, and it's been more unstable then a three legged dog in a flea scratching contest.

[#ball3r]

oh and YGPM

[LBJGH]

check these guys for product and prices... I've dealt with both. They can check availablity if not listed....

http://www.ramstore.ca/
http://www.e-compuvision.com/shop/index.php

Originally posted by #ball3r
First off thanks for the replies and suggestions. I live in Canada and the Epox board and Max3 are not sold and don't see them being available anytime soon. The Asus board I can get but it's still close to $300 where as the two boards I listed are only $250. Being a case modder I'm also looking at the looks of the board and I think that Asus products are the ugliest parts ever made and plan to never purchase a product from that company. I know all the hype but I find that more the not, the products from Asus are way overpriced especially here in Canada. I don't really have many options and I'm not ordering from the states. The reason I chose the Abit is because it seemed like a very popular choice. Oh and I can't even find a place that sells the ocz 4000 and like I said plan on buying very soon, so don't plan on waiting on any new products. Is the 4000 really that good over the 3700 anyway with the very relaxed timings?

[#ball3r]

thx but you do know that ecompuvision is one of the most expencive places in Canada? They are selling the IC7-G for over $300. Ramstore isn't bad, and I actually bought some ocz dc 3500 from there. The problem with them is they haven't updated there site in like almost 3 months and you can get the gold ram for $40 cheaper in other stores.

[LBJGH]

there are discount codes for ramstore you can get from the computer papers...

Originally posted by #ball3r
thx but you do know that ecompuvision is one of the most expencive places in Canada? They are selling the IC7-G for over $300. Ramstore isn't bad, and I actually bought some ocz dc 3500 from there. The problem with them is they haven't updated there site in like almost 3 months and you can get the gold ram for $40 cheaper in other stores.