Newb needs advice

[TopShotter]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here, but ive spent a couple days lurking. And have found some useful info already!

Anyway my question/situation

I currently have an xp 1900+ an asus a7s 333 mobo, 512 pc2700 generic ram, and a radeon 9500 pro (saphire @ 330/303 that i overclocked just yesterday using rage 3d tweak)

Im looking up upgrading my Cpu motherboard and ram.

I was looking at getting an Xp 2500+ Barton, a GA-7n400-L motherboard, and 2x256 Corsair pc3200 twinx ram.

Ive been reading and the xp 2500+ to 2.2ghz seems a safe and reliable OC by upping the FSB to 200 (which conicides nicely with the pc3200 correct?)

Im using an Antec fan rated for up to a 3200+ as my cooling and one case fan (I have an antec sonata case with true 380w antec power)

Im asking is this as safe and easy as It appears or no? Also would i be fine most likely with my current cooling, or should i get some AS5, or possibly even a better fan/hs? Money is a bit of an issue, and i cant spend a whole lot more than im already spending. This will be my first real overclock and i've never flashed a bios before, but im confident.

Any thoughts?

I apologize for the length of the post.

Regards.

[65stang]

ram is good, pc3200 is 400mhz ram, which will coincide nicely with you upping the board to 200 fsb. Id get a different mobo, but thats just me. Cooling is prolly ok, id get a few more case fans and as5.

[c627627]

Your q is regarding upgrading CPU, motherboard and ram?

CPU: if you can, get a mobile Barton.

Mobo: nForce2, either Abit, DFI or Soltek.

RAM: good PC3000 or PC3200 is a great investment, deals on these change all the time, check the RAM section if anyone knows what the latest is on the best RAM.

[TopShotter]

Thanks for the replies!

How come you guys recomend a different motherboard?

Regards

[XunknownX]

The "asus a7s 333"... see the 333, that may hold you back from doing 400FSB. I had a K7N2G-L 333 mobo, and I couldn't push it to do 400FSB. So I purchased a mobo that supports 400FSB and voila, my 2500+ was running at 2.2Ghz. Then I upped the multiplier to get 2.3Ghz. So whatever you decided to do...good luck and welcome to the forums!

[TopShotter]

Well I was planning on upgrading the MB to a 400fsb nforce2 chipset, and was looking at the gigabyte ga-7n400-L , but the two previous posters recomended a different motherboard, and I am curious as to why?

Thanks in advance!

[The Coolest]

Gigabyte are great boards but they aren't that much of an "Overclocker's" board, the ones mentioned are Abit NF7-S or the more exotic version AN7, DFI Infinity, on the soltek's model I'm not too sure of how its called. the first two are boards that most people are buying right now tho, they are great for overclocking and are blasted with features. easily are better value than the gigabyte.

[Sentential]

First off...
WELCOME TO THE FOURMS!!!
...and the sickness:eek:

The reason why is because those 3 are the top-performing Nforce boards available. Trust us on that one. Pplz have put DFI's and Abit's boards thru hell.

Getting either:

Abit's NF7-S Revision 2.0 or DFI's NF2 Infinity Ultra B / NF2 Lanparty B

Would yield the highest Overclocks and performance possible on the AthlonXP platform

-Sen:cool:

[TopShotter]

Ok, so Abit and DFI are better for overclocking, but is there a reason to say get the DFI NF7-S over the NF7 other than sata/raid?

(im rather ignorant in the area of sata/raid, i thought it was only for multiple HDDs? I only have 1.)

Thanks for the replies! Im definitely learning some new stuff.

[The Coolest]

The NF7 doesn't have onboard SATA RAID, it doesn't have sound storm (an actual APU, Hardware sound), and it doesn't have firewire, other than that they are the same motherboard. the NF7 has a usual 6 channel onboard sound tho, so you still get sound with NF7, just not as good as on the NF7-S

[Susquehannock]

Originally posted by The Coolest
Gigabyte are great boards but they aren't that much of an "Overclocker's" board, the ones mentioned are Abit NF7-S or the more exotic version AN7, DFI Infinity, on the soltek's model I'm not too sure of how its called. the first two are boards that most people are buying right now tho, they are great for overclocking and are blasted with features. easily are better value than the gigabyte.

Soltek are great Overclockers. Not sure how much they would sell
in Canada for, but as far as speed vs. price the Soltek was my
choice after researching for months. Liked my first one enough
to buy a second.

Soltek = SL-75FRN2-L (SL-75FRN2-RL = RAID)
If you can get one in Canada give it a look.

As always ... just my opinions here. :)