Setting up a new monster with P4B533-V, what to choose?

[Skipper]

Hello all, a newbie here...

I am building a list of components for my new system, to be bought and assembled shortly. I've read _many_ posts and have gone to many recommended links here in forums. Learned quite a lot, there is plenty of great advice, however there still seem to be no "best" solutions for this or that, so let me ask for some advice before it is too late...

I'm settled to go with P4 2.4B (seems reasonable pricing for the moment, anything faster is too expensive) and Asus P4B533-V board, coupled with Crucial XMS3200 CAS2 (DDR400) memory sticks, 2 times 512Mb of RAM. HDs (2x in a HighPoint RAID-0 config.) and the rest of the hardware is fixed, but I have hard times choosing cooling solutions, cases, etc...

My goal is to overclock the 2.4B and DDR to a stable running configuration, not to achieve records, and NOT to use water cooling for the moment. So, if I get anything between 10-20% overclock speed, I'd be fine, unless it turns out I can safely do a little bit more. RAM to be overclocked to DDR400 speeds I guess...

So, I'd appreciate some updated discussion here and possibly some advice. Please note prices are less important than to get the best there is out there!

First, a dummy question: how'd I know that I am actually taking a "correct" P4 2.4B 533FSB version if it is only advertised from my vendor as "P4 2400MHz Northwood 8/512K cache"? Does this imply what I am after, or should I double-check with them?

I am pretty much set to go with Thermaltake Xaser II A6001A+ case, which already has 2 front, 2 rear and 1 side (intake) fan, all 80x80mm. Enermax 430W PSU to be installed inside. Anyone had experiences with this case? I like their design, is there any better alternative (Lian Li seems quite basic, others do not seem to offer anything significantly better)...?

Now, with such a case, does it make any sense to purchase Thermaltake Hardcano HD cooling solution for my future 2 HD drives, in respect to noise generated and given there are already 5 case fans? Also, Hardcano V and some others seem to have thermal sensors, but I wonder how can this work if I take 3rd party (not Thermaltake) heatsinks and/or fans? [they seem to claim one can insert a sensor between the CPU and the heatsink, which does not seem like a good idea to me!]

Does it make any sense to get memory cooling solution, in particular as XMS3200 already seems to have a heat dissipator stuck on them?

Finally, and most difficult, which of these CPU coolers would you guys recommend for my intentions, keeping in mind that I do not want to get the noise of a jumbo taking-off in my room:

AlphaPAL 8942
Swiftech MCX4000
ThermalRight AX-478
..any other for 478 socket?

I've been recommended CoolerMaster IHC-L71 from the vendor, but I seem to read it is very loud. Volcano 7+ and 9 seem to target Socket A, but what's unclear is that some shops advertise them for P4 478 as well. Are these "adaptable" for 478 and how bad is that idea?

Should I be looking into installing a 92mm fan over the 80x80mm heatsink to reduce the noise, has anyone tried that?

Are there any issues with mounting sinks and/or fans on P4B533-V board (space, holes)?

I know, sorry, lots of questions, but as this is my first attempt to get a decently overclocked and well cooled solution that will cost me quite a bit, I do not want to get completely wrong and waste my money...

Help greatly appreciated.

[Yodums]

Don't know how to differentiate between the 133fsb as opposed to the 100fsb, you may want to check the Intel CPUs for that. As for case, I find that case rather expensive for a case, it is like an upgrade of an Antec SX1000 with additional addons which I think is poorly done. If you do get that case, I believe there's an LCD Temperature at the front, and it wouldn't be necessary to get a Hardano unless you really wanted to as IDE HDD don't tend to get that real hot.

I do recommend a Chieftec case and then get an Antec PP412X PSU. That PP412X PSU provides adjustable pots inside the power supply and if your P4 is draining too much power and you get low 12v rails, you can turn the pot and get a higher one. Do not be mistaken from the PP403X which isn't P4 compliant since it doesn't have any of the connectors for a P4.

The Chieftec cases provide some good airflow, just as good as the Tt ones without the price tag, and looks alot nicer if you ask me. I prefer the Silver Chieftec Dragon. I do recommend using Sunon 50's as your case fan or if you have cash the Tt Smart Fan II which has an adjustable variable switch which controls the RPM/CFM of the fan and you can tune it so you get good performance while maintaining a quiet PC area if you plan to study or something it's very useful I speak from experience ;)

As for CPU Cooler, you should get the AX478. The Alpha and Swiftech deal with bolts and all that and it's just very time consuming because the P4 uses brackets which is very secure mounting not like lugs. The AX478 out performs both of them on the Overclockers.com CPU Die Smilulator Test:

http://www.overclockers.com/articles373/

It's best to base it on the CPU Die Simulator tests because it is so accurate, putting out a specific amount of watts and then measuring it with a diode which is far more accurate than a thermistor located on the bottom of your chip. If you can stand some noise, the Vantec Tornado 84 would be a good fan for this since the AX478 absorbs alot of heat so there's going to be alot of heat build up and you want as much cool air pushing towards it as possible.

The AX478 has a very easy mounting method, it uses the P4 brackets and clips on to it, and you're mounting 180 degrees which you won't damage anything (Very important on AMD since their cores are so fragile).

Hoped that helped.

Yodums

[Skipper]

Thanks Yodums, really appreciated, plenty of useful details you gave me...

As for Chieftec cases, thanks for the hint: I do not know anything about them but will try to explore that now... However, from what I've quickly seens, their cases seem to come without fans by default, so if I add to this base price some 5 case fans, I may not have it all for much cheaper than Xaser II, which has all included and mounted... I agree though that their design is nice too... To be decided, so if anyone has more pros or cons, they're welcome.

Regarding AX478, it does deserve a good point: I've taken a look at articles link, it seems good performer. I notice they use 2 types of fan in tests, standard 80mm, with 54-68 CMF but quite noisy! I may give it a try by combining this 92mm one (http://www.titan-cd.com/a9225.htm) or this 120mm one (http://www.titan-cd.com/a12025.htm).

This should give me anything from 50-80 CMF with less than 32 dBA noise, according to specs, and if well bridged with an adapter to 80x80 fan. First have to see if I can fit these into the case and onto the mobo...

One last concern is abouth P4 mounting brackets and possible weight of heatsink+adaptor+120mm fan. I would not want to put that weight on the CPU... Are these mounting brackets solid enough (sorry for the question, my current PC is still a PIII 400MHZ)?

Another thing I notice: I dont seem to be able to find but only plastic 120 to 80mm fan adapters, so I wonder how bad this may be? With a nice copper or aluminim (like AX478) heatsink, and an aluminim fan, it seems to me like a bad idea to put a piece of plastic between them, no?

Above aluminium fans have just been discussed in some of the forums, I may give them a try as specs seems almost too good to be true, if I can get hold of one.

[Skipper]

I may be set for AX478 then, will give it a try...

I am still wondering (and waiting from some replies, please.... thanks) about the mounting weight...

With AX478 "easy mounting" method, if it only clips on P4 brackets, is this safe enough to mount the heatsink, an 92mm or 120mm adaptor, and a huge fan on top of all this?

Of course, all would be in a vertical position in a tower case...

Any opinions greatly appreciated.