I want to upgrade my 2.8c - but to what?

[samwY]

I have an Abit IC7 Max 3 and P4 2.8C CPU @ 3.0 stable
I can bump it up to 3.3ghz but then I rather keep my 1:1 memory timings (corsair xms 3200LL).

I'm thinking of getting a P4 3.2 chip but what version chip is the fastest? e? c?

Should I just upgrade my mobo and get an entire new chip? If so, what MOBO and what CPU? Will my 1 gig Corsair XMS 3200LL ram be good?

Because I can sell my computer parts for the same price I bought them and I am willing to pay some extra bucks for new parts if there is a big increase in performance.

I am looking to order stuff this week. So any good advice will be helpful.
Thanks

[hUMANbEATbOX]

my advice is to use a devider and actually OC the chip you have now. i bet it will do more than 3.3, probably 3.5+.

deviders/ratios don't really hurt performance that much. i'd rather have my chip at 3.4 with a 5/4 devider, ram at 227mhz and a fsb of 288ish, than a 2.8 at 3.0 1:1.

save your money for a new vid card/new platform (ie lga775), new tv, new clothes, ect, ect...

[joelkyr]

You should go with the Norhtwood processor, they are much reliable and clock by clock faster than Prescott, but OC both of them, I think the prescott will outperform the northwood base from the recent benchmarking that ived read. As for the MOBO, get an ASUS P4P800 or P4C800, I think that would be great with your memory.

[samwY]

I don't need advice on what to do with my chip now. Its been at 3.4 with 5:4 divider for awhile but it wasn't completely stable so I just put it on 3.0 since that was at 1:1 and I was pretty happy with the performance.

But now I have an opportunity to get new stuff and that is what I am asking about.

I am getting the X800 XT when its available.

[samwY]

You should go with the Norhtwood processor, they are much reliable and clock by clock faster than Prescott, but OC both of them, I think the prescott will outperform the northwood base from the recent benchmarking that ived read. As for the MOBO, get an ASUS P4P800 or P4C800, I think that would be great with your memory.

The Asus is better than the MAX-3? I thought the Max 3 was one of the best for overclocking P4 chips.

Sweet, I think I will stick with Northwood. I want to be in the 3.8-4.0 with my OC...

[samwY]

anyone? :)

[xTrEmEoVrClOcKr]

You should go with the Norhtwood processor, they are much reliable and clock by clock faster than Prescott, but OC both of them, I think the prescott will outperform the northwood base from the recent benchmarking that ived read. As for the MOBO, get an ASUS P4P800 or P4C800, I think that would be great with your memory.

Pressies can overclock A LOT more than northwoods can depending on what setup you have. A 3.2E can overclock to 4.2ghz on water as for a northwood, they normally hit the wall at around 3.8 - 4.0ghz. The only advantages of having a northwood is they run a hell of a lot cooler.

[xTrEmEoVrClOcKr]

IC7 Max 3 owns the P4C800 Deluxe. Abits are known to overclock a lot better but not a heck of a lot better.

[Shuzzy]

uh.... take it easy there. i would'nt say they OWN the p4c800. considering i have a p4p800 and i love the thing. it's better then any other board i have had. i would say it's all personal preference between the two companies, as well as your system specs.

[hUMANbEATbOX]

both boards still need to be modded to acheive their full potential too.

droop and vdimm on the p4c800, vtt on the max3.

[Shuzzy]

both boards still need to be modded to acheive their full potential too.

droop and vdimm on the p4c800, vtt on the max3.

good point.

[samwY]

so anyone have any recommendation on the best chip to overclock?

[batboy]

The 3.0C is a good bargain and "most" can hit 250 FSB (3.75 gig). You will still need to use the 5:4 memory ratio though. If you are dead set to use the 1:1 ratio, then you need different RAM. That Corsair PC3200LL has pretty good timings, so I would use the 5:4 ratio and as tight of timings as possible. There is not much difference in P-4 systems compared to 1:1 ratio with relaxed timings. Higher FSB gives more performance than higher DDR speeds.

[samwY]

you'd get a 3.0c over a 3.2c or 3.2e?

[batboy]

I have both 3.0C and 3.2C (signature). Although my 3.2C can clock a little faster, the FSB and DDR speed is a little less, so in reality they both perform about the same. The 3.0C is a little cheaper, so yeah, I'd recommend the 3.0C. The Prescott 3.2E is another option if you are motivated to do extra cooling (see the Prescott cooling link in my signature).