Msi + Amd = ???

[Bxroute]

As i got almost "disconnected" from the computers world for months, i'm not sure about some things :

I plan to buy an AMD T-Bird 1.4 GHz and a K7T Turbo-R (MS-6330). I'm not 100% sure that the CPU is compatible with the motherboard, and also, can it work with SDRam PC133 ? or it needs DDR ? I'm not sure, cos i can't afford DDR (i'm also buying other hardware), so i must know if SDRam PC 133 will work.

Also, i found that many people had problems with cooling their T-Bird 1.4, i'd like to know which measures could be taken. I dont plan to overclock it (1.4 GHz is enough isn't it ?), and i can't afford going into water cooling, peltiers and all that stuff.
So please, what should i do ?

[TranceBear]

Yes that chip is compatible with the MS-6330 but you will have to use SDRAM instead of DDR. I personaly prefer SDRAM until all the bugs are out of DDR. Glasiator or SK-6 are great coolers for the 1.4. What is nice that the MS-6330 supports the special mounting req. for those big heatsinks.

[Bxroute]

Thanks for your quick reply. I've got a question for you (TranceBear) : I've seen that you're running throught Prime 95 with 512 MB SDRam. I've just been reading in this forum that some people had doubt about the + 256 MB efficiency. I'm using Windows 98, so as you're experienced this, does it really improve performance ?

[TranceBear]

not a whole lot until you start burning DVD's. this is the only reason I got this much RAM. I think if you do something like this or photoshop you would see a diference. In Prime95 I do not see much but I only use this program to test out new overclocks.

[Bxroute]

Ok, then i think it might be useful. Anyways, i'm still curious about one thing : what are you using to maintain CPU T° at 39°C and 45° overload ???

[TranceBear]

Originally posted by Bxroute
Ok, then i think it might be useful. Anyways, i'm still curious about one thing : what are you using to maintain CPU T° at 39°C and 45° overload ???


Well that would be 32c idle, 39c load (see sig)120mm,coming in 120mm(top),92mm(back) going out plus a 160cfm industrial blower going into the case (see Hoot's cohesive cooling on the main page) I have a Glaciator with a Delta fan reduced to 7 volts for noise reasons and a 60mm chipset cooler fan and a 60mm Video card chipset fan. I also run a program called WPCREDIT/WPCRSET that enables the CPU halt command to lower my idle temps.

Edit
I also have a closed case with a large 7x10 inch vent on the side with A/C filter material.

[Bxroute]

Well, it's normal, with that full load of fans ! Great Job !
Thanks for your time !

[Über~PhLuBB]

... I'm not sure, cos i can't afford DDR ...

Everyone can afford DDR! It's barely 140% times as expensive--and when you see that SDR SDRAM is only $25 for a stick of 256MB, you can see, it's quite cost effective. :) (BTW, 256MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM is a scant $37. Not a generic stick-o-crap, but a name brand. Check out www.pricewatch.com if ya don't believe me.)

[Bxroute]

I believe you, but your prices are US prices. I'm now in france for vacation (i'm not living in the states, maybe later "sigh"), and here, DDR Ram costs 38 $... for a 128MB stick whan SDRam costs 44$ for a 256MB stick ! As i plan to buy 512MB, i really can't afford DDR here, as i must keep money for other hardware... I know, prices are really high here, but it's a lot cheaper than in my country (Morocco), so that's why... I wasn't lucky enough to born in the US :D !

Thanks anyway !

[Über~PhLuBB]

Those are online prices. Worldwide. And if the places selling the RAM that cheap (The ones I mentioned) wont ship outside the US, I'd be glad to help you out. Buy the stuff, have it sent to me, and I'll send it to you.

(Wow... that sure sounds like I want some free DDR RAM...)

I won't stiff ya. I dont have a DDR board. I dont even have a PC-133 board. I'm stuck with a measly BCM crapola mobo. I'm not about to go out and buy a DDR mobo and a new socket-A Athlon to fit some DDR ram I *COULD* but *WONT* get for free.

[Bxroute]

I would sure be happy if you could do this but, there is a big problem : maybe you don't know it, but France is a nasty country for a reason that fits in 5 letters : taxes. People don't want to live in France because what they call the FISC (it's the organisation that cares of taxes in France) is looking everywhere for something to get money from, really scary as i'm finding out.
So that's why if we do this, i'll have to pay for shipping, but that will be nothing compared to what i'll have to pay here. When i'll go to get the Ram, they'll make me pay something like 200% of it's price, so it's not worth it... It'll be even cheaper to buy DDR here... Anyways thanks a lot for your attention, really appreciated :) !

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by Bxroute
I would sure be happy if you could do this but, there is a big problem : maybe you don't know it, but France is a nasty country for a reason that fits in 5 letters : taxes. People don't want to live in France because what they call the FISC (it's the organisation that cares of taxes in France) is looking everywhere for something to get money from, really scary as i'm finding out.
So that's why if we do this, i'll have to pay for shipping, but that will be nothing compared to what i'll have to pay here. When i'll go to get the Ram, they'll make me pay something like 200% of it's price, so it's not worth it... It'll be even cheaper to buy DDR here... Anyways thanks a lot for your attention, really appreciated :) !

I'm sorry to hear that. It's very similar to that in Bengladesh. I was there for 3 months. They charge HUGE taxes on technology. More like 300%. It's so high, I had to smuggle my computer into the country, and hope they didnt catch me (They charge you for importing goods too). Is there any other way I could help you out?

[Bxroute]

The best way you can help me is providing me with informations.
I'm planning to buy a lot of hardware here, but i'm really afraid of getting wrong because when i'll get back with it to my country, i won't be able to go back if something goes wrong...

So here are the components i'm asking myself about :

MSI K7T Turbo-R
AMD T-Bird 1.4GHz 266 (will they work out without problems, how to get an efficient cooling for the CPU without going into water, peltiers and stuff)
Ge Force 2 GTS : what are the manufacturers and models for this card ?

If i get sure about this, it will be a great help !

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by Bxroute
So here are the components i'm asking myself about :

MSI K7T Turbo-R
AMD T-Bird 1.4GHz 266 (will they work out without problems, how to get an efficient cooling for the CPU without going into water, peltiers and stuff)
Ge Force 2 GTS : what are the manufacturers and models for this card ?



Here goes:
The AMD 1.4 GHz socket A chip, using a 266MHz FSB will indeed work without problems on an MSI K7T Turbo-R. No problems there.

To get efficient cooling, check out Overclockers.com's heatsink reviews. There are fantastic reviews for heatsinks of all sorts, including benchmarks and cooling performance. (I'd suggest a Swiftech MC462-A, or the Dynatron DC1206BM-O. Read up on them in the HSF reviews section.)

Go here for more information and benchmarks:
http://www.overclockers.com/topiclist/index15.asp#HEATSINK REVIEWS AND TIPS

As for GeForce2 GTSs, there are good reviews of several manufacturers (Leadtek, MSI, Powercolor) here:
http://www.pcstats.com/articlesearch.cfm?SearchValue=&Search=Search&Category=171&CategorySearch=Get+Listing

And more reviews here (Asus):
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/asus_v7700GTS/

And here (Elsa):
http://www.gamepc.com/reviews/hardware_review.asp?review=gladiac&page=1



Hope that helps you out at least a LITTLE. :)

[Bxroute]

Yeah, in fact it sure helps a lot ! I've been really anxious about doing a mess ! Thanks again for all your support ! :)

[Über~PhLuBB]

No problem at all. =)

[Tiger]

I note that you intend taking this stuff back from France to where you live. A word of caution here - while the 6330 is a great board and I love its stability, it is a well documented fact currently that they have a habit of dying on you after 6 months. If you are not close to where you bought it this could be a serious problem for you.

[Bxroute]

Dying all alone after 6 months ??? It's scary ! But what is the reason for this ??? I don't plan to overclock or anything from the beginning (for that reason also), so...
Well, is there anything to do about it ???

[TranceBear]

Originally posted by Tiger
I note that you intend taking this stuff back from France to where you live. A word of caution here - while the 6330 is a great board and I love its stability, it is a well documented fact currently that they have a habit of dying on you after 6 months. If you are not close to where you bought it this could be a serious problem for you.

I have not heard anything about this, what are your sources? Reasons?

[Bxroute]

So there's some hope !!! :D

[TranceBear]

Yes there is, I have had this board for over 6 months with not 1 problem. I always here about the Asus, Iwill boards going to crap, but never the MSI Boards. I would not put much merit in this until I have solid proof, this is not a flame to the original author of the post, but before I post something so controversial, I show reasons and sources.

[Bxroute]

I know, i would've bought it anyways, but i would've been scared a lot : whenever something goes wrong, i would be thinking that the glorious era of my MSI is over... even if the problem is only that i forgot putting the power online ! It would have been more a psychologic problem !!! I guess you know what it is... I've already lost a PIII 650 Coppermine when i tried lapping it because it wasnt flat and the temperatures were high (90° C sometimes and even more). And it was from France too so i couldn't do anything about it (anyways the guarantee wouldn't do anything for somebody who lapped a chip isn't it ??? :D ).

Anyways thanks for your support ! I'll try to find out something about that problem.