A n00b needs some enlightenment

[Buzzdog]

Let me give a little background about myself. I am currently on a stock AMD XP1700. I have a POS FIC board. 512ddr PC2100. I purchased this system in ignorance last year. I have recently been reading this forum and have decided to give Intel a shot. I am one of the Intel-AMD-back to Intel people. I am anxiosly waiting for the knock on the door from the FedEx man as I am typing this. He will be delivering to me a P4b 2.26, 2 sticks of kingston 1066 256meg rdram, and a gigabyte GA-81hxp MB.

I think I may have made a mistake with my choice in the gigabyte MB. The 156fsb ceiling on it will not allow me to break the 3.0 barrier. The reason I had chosen this board was the 533 fsb capability.

For all of the more experienced in OC'ing, please clarify for me. If I had gone with the abit th7-II and 1066 memory, even though the board only claims to have a 400mhz fsb, which as I understand it is the 3x multiplier for the rdram ( 3 X 133mhz=399mhz ). So if you went with a fsb bios setting of 180mhz with the rdram at x3 you would end up with a fsb of 534mhz for the cpu and ram, and a cpu clock of 3060mhz ( 17 X 180)?

I will probally stick with the gigabyte board for a little bit. But I may end up changing out with a different board in the near future for more flexibilty on FSB adjustments. What is the chance that gigabyte will increase the amount of FSB head room in future bios updates? Also would it be possible to add a pci/agp lock in future bios updates? If it is possible that these 2 hurdles can be overcome then I may stick with the gigabyte board. Also I am eventually planning on going with a h20 setup in the near future. I am tossing between going with a koolance case set up, or with the innotech kit. Any input or suggestions will be appreciated.

My supporting hardware for my main rig is a TI4600 and a SB audigy. I primarily use my machines for online gaming. The preliminary tests of the pc4200 rdram machines do not perform as well as the 1066 machines in 3d applications.

I eventually want to join the 3.0+ mafia but realize that it will not happen with the MB I have coming. So I will be more then happy to be kicked around by D for making a poor choice in MB's. But the way I look at it, I am single with no children, so other then my Harley and house payments, all I have to splurge on is my comps.

Thanks in advance,

Buzzdog

[JudgeDredd]

Originally posted by Buzzdog
For all of the more experienced in OC'ing, please clarify for me. If I had gone with the abit th7-II and 1066 memory, even though the board only claims to have a 400mhz fsb, which as I understand it is the 3x multiplier for the rdram ( 3 X 133mhz=399mhz ). So if you went with a fsb bios setting of 180mhz with the rdram at x3 you would end up with a fsb of 534mhz for the cpu and ram, and a cpu clock of 3060mhz ( 17 X 180)?

Well, in a way, be glad that you didn't go with the TH7II, because sometimes it's hit or miss on them on getting high overclocks.

First of all, I think your CPU FSB will always be 4x the motherboard FSB, no matter what your RAM multiplier is at. The difference between the A and B Northwoods is only the FSB, so you can stick a B processor in a motherboard that is rated for A processors, you just have to up the motherboard FSB to 133 MHz and your at the chip's default speed.

As for hitting 3 GHz, the only way you're going to do it with that motherboard is getting the 2.0A, 2.2A, or 2.4A. And since you plan to watercool, those might do fine. I'd say if you're happy with this right now, you can wait until Dual DDR comes out then switch motherboard and RAM. Or you can make the switch right now to DDR and go with the Asus P4B533, so you'll only have to buy a new motherboard when Dual DDR comes out.

-JD

[madsam]

BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH ...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH...BLAH... BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH...BLAH...BLAH..BLAH ...BLAH...

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WITH THAT GOOD OL' AMD? MAYBE DONATE IT TO ME? HE HE HE

[Buzzdog]

I am going to move it as my 2nd box. Trying to get set up to run 2 accounts for SWG when it comes out :D . I need something to do during the winter when I cant go out and ride my Harley.


Buzzdog

[Caffinehog]

Get a good cheap AMD board, like the shuttle AK31 and overclock that old chip. The AK31 is $42 refurbished on Newegg.com and should get you 150-200mhz more out of that thing. Don't waste what you have!