Help the newbie with his build!!

[Talonman]

I am going to keep my 3.8GHz forever I think. I noted that at 3.9GHz my temps rose from 3.8's 40°C, to 3.9's 53°C on all 4 cores in 45 minutes run time. I still want to throw a monster GPU in the same loop too. I don't think the 3.9 vs 3.8 will actually buy me much in real world feel, but will in fact cost me 13°C higher temps on each core. This is also the coldest time of year so I pritty much should plan on some higher temps come summer.

I think it wise to leave some slush room on core temps, for my future GPU to still not surpass my RAD's ability to cool.

I am extremely pleased with my system, and just feel like a stable cool running 3.8GHz is the correct choice for me.

If I were to ask my Q6600 about it, I'm sure he would say that a setting of:
CPU Voltage : 1.5120v (BIOS)
CPU PLL Voltage : 1.58v (BIOS)
was more than plenty for him!

Siginature Froze!

I now am only intreasted in tuning my 3.8GHz system. I hear the next BIOS update is giving us better memory control...

Could be some performance for me to find there withought adding extra heat into my loop, or voltage to my CPU!

Trivia: With the exact same BIOS settings that produces my 3.8GHz and 40°C max core temps, was run at a higher room temp. We fired up the wood/coal burner today (Trying coal), and ran the basement temp up to 71.4°F. I thought it was a good time for a temp run on my water cooling rig to see how it would do.

At 3.8GHz and 55°F room temp, Cores maxed out at right about 40°C.
At 3.8GHz and 71.4°F room temp, Cores maxed out at 50°C.

My room temp went up 16.4°F, and my cores max temp went up 10°C or 18°F.

Possible water cooling lesson for me: Lowering my room temp 16.4°F, will take 10C off my cores max temps... ?

I also noted that 16.4°F of a warmer air temp, made 18°F extra core heat! It's a cruel world isn't it!!

My temp reading equipment is far from professional quality, so my ambient to core relationship may very well be a direct and linear one at that?
It could be on my system, that 17°F higher air temp, produces exactly 17°F more heat on my cores.

This just serves to reaffirm that you could buy the best water cooling equipment in the world, but if you set it up in a hot room, your temps are going to be disappointing.

It may also serve to show the importance of not feeding your RAD warm air that your case had preheated. You probably would be paying with higher temps throughout your entire loop.
To the RAD, warm air is a performance killer!

Note: My Motherboard sensor is always 15°F above ambient on my rig.

Update: I am actually amazed how consistant my mobo sensor -vs- ambient difference is. My new number is 14.2°F for MOBO hovering above ambient, and still held true even at 71°F too.

[Buckeye]

I think that 3.8 GHz or even 3.6 GHz for that matter is a great speed to run 24/7. The slight difference in speed will be hardly noticed and in return you will have a better cooled CPU/System.

You have a really sweet setup and no need to push it to extreme for everyday use. Wait until new GPU’s come out and adjust whatever you can to get a smooth running system for everyday use.

[Talonman]

Thanks buddy!!
Sounds like a good plan to me...

I keep hearing rumors about mabey the 9800GTX in March. I am holding my breath and hoping for the best. I am ready to buy!!
http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/GeFo...arch/5574.html

"VR-Zone learned that the fastest single card from Nvidia, the GeForce 9800 GTX (D9E-20) will be launched in late March, about 2 weeks after the 9800 GX2. It is G92 based and it is rumored to be clocked between 750-850MHz".

We can only hope!!


Games I currently have installed:
Call of Duty4
Crysis - Rinning slow on my 8600GT!!
Bioshock
BattleStations Midway
Halo-2

A Q6600 at 3.8GHz, and that card, would do games well at my 1,920 x 1,200 res I'm guessing...

[zlojack]

3870 x2 in CrossfireX

Put a couple of these on them: http://ekwaterblocks.com/shop/produc...6347dd1b5303f5

That's my plan right now...

[Buckeye]

Yes I have been liking what I have been seeing on those 3870 x2 in CrossfireX. Tho I am not a fan of dual GPU cards this is looking pretty good so far.

[Talonman]

I need a single slot GPU, due to my PowerBridge Cooling on my SB.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1276241

Not sure the 3970's are the way to go until the drivers come around...

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

Looks like the nVidia 9600GT is beating it, even though it shouldn't....

Perfromance on Call of Duty4 at 1920 X 1200.

----------- Stream ---------Max
-- GPU ---- Processors ---- FPS
9600GT ----- 64 ----------- 120
HD 3850 ---- 320 ---------- 115
HD 3870 ---- 320 ---------- 111
8800GT ---- 112 ---------- 108

What is wrong with this picture!

Crazy GPU market right now. It's hard to figure out what is really best for me...

[Talonman]

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

Also note on Crysis, looking at the minimum FPS at 1280 X 1024.

----------- Stream ---------Min
-- GPU ---- Processors ---- FPS
9600GT ----- 64 ----------- 14
8800GT ----- 112 ---------- 14
HD 3870 ---- 320 ---------- 10
HD 3850 ---- 320 ---------- 9

Still looks like the 9800GTX is the way to go?

[zlojack]

Does that Enzotech heatsink block putting another card on?

[Talonman]

I don't believe so, but when you add the fan on top of it, probably.

[zlojack]

Ah.. well I'm probably going fanless on mine...

Or I might put a fan blowing at it from a different angle or something. The SB doesn't get too hot anyway.

[Talonman]

The SB doesn't get too hot anyway.

No it dosen't...

I also believe passive will do fine for you.

I just like 1 GPU, or I would remove my fan in a heart-beat if I really wanted 2 GPU's.

[Talonman]

I am wondering if G92's new compression technology, is the thing that is helping to make the 9600GT faster? The memory bus width of this core has been reduced over it's predecessor, G80.

[Talonman]

This page: http://www.digitimes.com/mobos/a20080222PD207.html

indicates the 9800 GX2 is going to be King over the 9800GTX.

I think I still want the GTX. The GX2 is actually 2 boards in 1 box, and I want to water cool my GPU. I think getting water blocks on the GX2 might be rough?

I think the GTX will still be the card to have.

On 1 SLI note, it appears 2 9600GT's in SLI, can take down HD 3870 X2...

http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/h...ting_qualitaet

I just wish I had my 9800GTX...

[Buckeye]

Yeah there is just to much going to make a purchase right now.

This time tho I am going hold off a bit and see how some of these new boards if/when they come out hold up on tests. Last time I jumped right in and purchased a 8800gtx the very day they were released, late at night actually. Then later Ultra's came out

[Talonman]

It's killing me, but good advice. How long was it between the release of the 8800GTX, and the Ultra?

Another example is even the new 8800GT's, 10 different versions get made within a few weeks of it's initial release, and it's always nice to see a shootout article posted first, to help you weed a few 'lesser boards' out.

I would love a 9800 Ultra!!

If nVidia reads this, note that I am available for BETA testing Super Fast, High Level Secret GPU's...

I love that chart in the second link. When I hover the mouse pointer over my current GPU (nVidia 8600GT) it changes to 100% on the graph.
The 9600GT showes as 307% faster, and 2 9600GT's in SLI show as 557% faster...
Hehe.... That's good news!
A 9800GTX will probably blow my hair back some!
Me and my rig need some GPU Techno-Shock Bad!

[Buckeye]

I would love a 9800 Ultra!!

If nVidia reads this, note that I am available for BETA testing Super Fast, High Level Secret GPU's...

HAHAHA ! I second that !

[zlojack]

Hmmm interesting.

Well, definitely it's a good time to wait and see what comes out next....

[Talonman]

__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Trying to keep all of nVidia's cards straight in my head, this is what I think is currently correct:

D8M: Eighth generation Mainstream:, previously named G98 (The old 8 series cards, 90nm processor design.) (Have been out for over a year now.)
D8M: The odd bird - (GeForce 8800 GTS SSC, 112 stream processors, 90nm processor design.) (Out now) Memory listed as (320MB or 640MB).
D8M: (The New 8400 GS, (G98), 65nm processor design, Pure Video 3 engine, ment to replace previous 90nm versions of the G98 Mainstream cards. (Out now)

Eighth generation Performance:
D8P: (The New 9600 GT 512MB, G94 GPU, 64 stream processors, 65nm processor design.) (Out now)
D8P: (The New 8800 GT 512MB, G92 GPU, 112 stream processors, 65nm processor design.) (Out now)
D8P: (The New 8800 GTS 512MB, G92 GPU, 128 stream processors, 65nm processor design.) (Out now)
Note: All three D8P GPUs share the same architecture and transistor improvements over the older G80 GPUs. http://hardocp.com/news.html?news=Mz...VzaWFzdCwsLDE=

Eighth generation Enthusiast:
D8E: (The New 9800 GTX 512MB, G92 GPU, 128 stream processors, 65nm processor design.) (Out soon...) http://www.nordichardware.com/news,7394.html
D8E: (The New 9800 GX2 512MB x 2, (2)G92 GPU's, 256 stream processors total, 65nm processor design, 1GB frame buffer, two PCB's.) (Out any day.)

__________________________________________________ _____________________________
http://www.nordichardware.com/news,7394.html
"GeForce 9800GTX will be the fastest single-core graphics card from chip maker NVIDIA, when it arrives before the end of next month. The rumors have been speaking of core frequencies all the way up to 850MHz, which was way off. According to a post over at Expreview, GeForce 9800GTX will sport no more than 675MHz core frequency, which is basically slightly faster than the GeForce 8800GTS 512MB.

This means that the shaders operate at a frequency of 1688MHz and the memory have been upgraded to 1100MHz GDDR3 (2200MHz DDR). The amount of memory is still 512MB and since this is just a new flavor or the G92 chip, it sports a 256-bit bus, which in no way will limit performance. They also confirm that this is the G92-420 chip we've been reporting about.

The table now looks something like this;

Card SPs GPU clock Bus Mem clock
GeForce 9800GX2 2x128 600MHz 256-bit 2000MHz
GeForce 9800GTX 128 675MHz 256-bit 2200MHz
GeForce 9800GT 112* - 256-bit -
GeForce 9600GT 64 600MHz 256-bit 1800MHz
GeForce 9600GS - - - -
GeForce 9500GT 48* 650MHz* 128-bit 1800MHz*
GeForce 9500GS - - - -

* Not confirmed, and should be considered with a pinch of salt"


I am hoping what ever black magic nVidia used to make the 9600 GT with it's 64 stream processors, be able to run with the new 8800 GT and it's 112 stream processors, get's used in the 9800 GTX too!

If the 9800 GTX with it's 128 stream processors, are as fast as the 9600 GT's, it could be double the speed of the 9600 GT?

If not, I may have to give the 9800 GX2 a hard look when the benchmarks are released.

Note the GTS and GXT have the same number of stream processors... The GTX would have to be faster though??

[zlojack]

From the sound of that nordichardware article, the GTX specs are just a higher clocked GTS....

[Talonman]

I kind of hope the article is wrong. I wanted more than that for the GTX model.

I guess I need to see the numbers, but I actually am starting to think about the GX2 more... I might end up being a 1 slot SLI guy afterall?

What are the odds of getting a 2 PCB card like the GX2, fitted with water blocks?

What are your plans zlojack? Are your still thinking 3870 or nVidiaville now?

[zlojack]

I kind of hope the article is wrong. I wanted more than that for the GTX model.

I guess I need to see the numbers, but I actually am starting to think about the GX2 more... I might end up being a 1 slot SLI guy afterall?

What are the odds of getting a 2 PCB card like the GX2, fitted with water blocks?

What are your plans zlojack? Are your still thinking 3870 or nVidiaville now?

I'm pretty much set on my course of the 3870 X2 (since I already have one up and running and just sold my 8800 GTX ) with EK waterblocks.

Here's a review of how CrossfireX scales with multiple GPUs on the new beta CrossfireX drivers: http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=11874&page=2

Looks like it scales well up to 3 GPUs, then the gains with a 4th are minimal so far with those particular drivers.

I'm still probably going to go for another 3870 X2, just for symmetry's sake. According to that test, a 3870 X2 + 3870 setup would give the best balance at this time. It looks like ATI is determined to make this work and are working hard at those drivers....

Then of course, the rumoured specs for the 4800 line for June look very interesting, but I don't think I'll wait that long.

[Talonman]

Thanks for the link! Gald to see ATI hard at work.

Just to be clear, can my X38 mobo do SLI if it is the GX2?

The best GX2 link I have found so far: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

:GeForce 9800 GX2
1GB Frame Buffer
Two PCBs
Two 65nm GPUs Total
256 Stream Processors Total"

Acording to FUD:

Quote:
Geforce 9800GX2 to cost $599
Written by Fuad Abazovic
Monday, 25 February 2008 08:59

600MHz/2000MHz memory

The Geforce 9800 GX2 has finally got its final specification. It has two G92 chips clocked at 600MHz and both of them have 128 Shader units clocked at 1,500MHz.
The memory on a reference card runs at 2,000MHz and it has a 2 x 256-bit memory interface.
Naturally many partners will overclock their cards, but the manufacturer suggested retail price is set at $599 which is $150 more than the current price of a Radeon HD 3870 X2. This is the price for non overclocked Geforce 9800 GX2's while the overclocked models should end up even more expensive.

http://en.expreview.com/?p=261

"The GeForce 9800 GX2 have been dismantled a long time ago, but NVIDIA still holds the card’s detailed specifications tight. But finally we now know their little secret and decide to post it here.

Stream Processors - 256 (128 each GPU)
Core= 600MHz
Shader= 1500MHz
Memory= 1000MHz 1GB (512MB per GPU)
512 bit BUS (256-bit per GPU)
Memory bandwidth 128 GB/sec
Texture filling rate 76.8 Billion/sec

The core clock is similar to 8800GT’s, but as you can see, memory clock raised up to 1000MHz. Also, source mantioned the card supports OpenGL 2.1.(8800GT only supports OpenGL 2.0)".

[zlojack]

As far as I know, the GX2 should run on any chipset as it's only one card... but I'm not 100% sure.

[Talonman]

FYI - The 1GB GTS'es are starting to hit the market. I can only bleieve the GTX will also have a 1GB version pop up too. Mabey the Ultra will?

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?op...5640&Itemid=34



New GTX info link: http://www.vr-zone.com/articles/GeFo...iled/5599.html

"VR-Zone has gotten some details and photos of the GeForce 9800 GTX (G92-P392) card. It comes with 12-layer PCB at 4.376" by 10.5". This card is clocked at 673MHz for core and 1683MHz for the shader while memory clock is yet to be determined. The memory interface is 256-bit with 512MB of 136-pin BGA GDDR3 memory onboard. It comes with two DVI-I and one HDTV-out. There are two SLI connectors and two 6-pin PCIe power connector. The card employs the CoolerMaster TM67 cooler where the fan is rated at 0.34A, 4.08W, 2900rpm, 34dBA. The total board power is 168W".

So both web pages are reporting about the same thing. This info is starting to sound like it's the real deal:

-- VR Zone 9800 GTX ----------------------------- Nordic 9800 GTX (G92-420 Chip)
Core= 673MHz ------------------------------------- Core= No more than 675MHz
Shaders= 1683MHz --------------------------------- Shaders= 1688MHz
Memory= ????MHz 512MB GDDR3 (136-pin BGA) ------ Memory= 1100MHz 512MB GDDR3 (2200MHz DDR)
256-BIT BUS --------------------------------------- 256-BIT BUS
Two DVI-I and one DHTV-out
Two SLI Connectors
Two 6-Pin PCIe Power Connectors
CoolerMaster TM67 Cooler (I believe it's this one: http://en.expreview.com/?p=276)
Total Board Power= 168W.

[Talonman]

This could be some of nVidias black magic right here?? :
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/d...Processor.html

"Nvidia’s code-named G92 graphics processor, which powers the latest GeForce 8800-series products, was launched as A2 with certain capabilities disabled. Those features are expected to be re-enabled only in A3 version of G92 set to be out in February or March".

It makes me wonder if this was enabled 'on the low down' with the New 9600 GT 512MB, and it's megar 64 stream processors, resulting in it still able to run with the New 8800 GT 512MB, and it's 112 stream processors?
The New 8800 GT was released in October of last year I believe... Too early to have the black magic enabled.

There is still someting odd about the hole thing...

The GTX with Black Magic enabled, -vs- a GTS withought Black Magic enabled might change the speed equation significantly?
The BME Factor is hard to measure...