Want A64, Advise NF3 or NF4?

[moz_21]

I want A64.
I don't really have the budget for a PCI-E setup.
I feel that my 9800Pro is good enough for the gaming that I do.
Therefore, I am thinking of getting the "DFI Lanparty NF3 Ultra D"

Using the parts I have:

2x 512MB Mushkin BH-5
74GB WD Raptor
Fortron 530W PS
Radeon 9800Pro
and add the DFI NF3 Mobo
cooling would likely consist of my watercooling setup in sig w/ a RBX A64 top

Does that seem like a decent system? Another question, how's the onboard audio? I'd also like an X2 processor EVENTUALLY (6+ months down the road).

Or should I bite the bullet and get a PCI-E setup?

[Scott9027]

That looks like a perfectly good system, should be able to do pretty much anything you ask of it. The onboard audio is good as long as you aren't an audiophile. You will be able to put an X2 in that board, assuming there is a BIOS that supports it, so I would double check. I would recommend getting a PCI-E setup, but you could save some money and stick with NF3 if you would rather, it won't make much of a difference for now.

[aeiou]

if you already have the 9800 pro and are happy with it, I see no real reason to go with pci-express. This is the same thing I am hoping to do sometime in the near future.

[moz_21]

if you already have the 9800 pro and are happy with it, I see no real reason to go with pci-express. This is the same thing I am hoping to do sometime in the near future.

That's kind of my reasoning. I strongly believe SLI is overrated, and with newer Nvidia and ATI cards available in AGP, I would still have an upgrade path.

I've been reading on the DFI forums, and it seems this board has a very flaky bios, with even flakier betas. I'll have to search for Hoot's posts on this board, I saw he had been posting over at the DFI forum.

I'm thinking an Venice core, 3200+ would match my ram decently (assume I can hit 270-280 with my BH-5)?

[BrutalDrew]

if you already have the 9800 pro and are happy with it, I see no real reason to go with pci-express.

Ditto. You wouldn't have much of an upgrade path though as the 7800GTX probably won't even be in AGP.

[moz_21]

Ditto. You wouldn't have much of an upgrade path though as the 7800GTX probably won't even be in AGP.

Isn't the X800XL/6800GT about 2x the performance of a 9800Pro?

And if anyone can price out a NF4 platform with a cheaper graphics card that is approximately the same speed in 3D as the 9800Pro, I'd appreciate it for the price comparison.

[BrutalDrew]

Yes, they are much more powerful. I was talking about the 7800GTX though and the fact that AGP is being phased out rather quickly.

[1cem4n]

I guess if any games right now actually took advantage of the bandwith that PCI-E actually provides, I'd go with PCI-E but since you're perfectly happy with the 9800pro in AGP, then nForce3 should be perfect.

-1cem4n

[aeiou]

Its not the games that are limiting the speed of the bus, its the graphics cards themselves, and they have not matched the speed of even agp 8x, much less pci-e.

[lilxvietxboi]

AGP is being phased out more quickly than I thought. If you wait a bit, I say bite the bullet(If you have a current system to keep the 9800 Pro in, I wouldn't want it to goto waste). If you sold your parts, then I say NF3(But you may need to upgrade sooner then you might think).

If I were you, I'd bite the bullet or wait a tad bit longer.

@aeiou
It doesn't matter that the videocard isn't utilizing all AGP8X speeds, its the upgrade path. Not all cards are going to be AGP anymore we got lucky with the 6600's and thats how nVidia won the mid end market over ATi's X700's. And the X700's are not even in AGP, what makes you think the newer series will? They even announced that the 7800's arn't going to be AGP. So whats there left to do with your AGP bus.

Or you can go the gay route and get that board with AGP and PCIe on it.(DO NOT! I repeat DO NOT! Get the board with AGP and PCIe, I have seen nothing but bad come from it. Correct me if you had a good experience with one of these evil things from hell)

[apu318]

AGP bit the dust faster than it should have. It was all built up and hyped up but not used up. I'm grabbing an X800XT in AGP. I'm not going PCI-E until it deserves it. It's just a marketing ploy really, since the motherboard industry wasnt exactly booming before the talks of DDR2 and PCI-E or even the next gen of CPUs.

[Diggrr]

Personally, I'm loving my DFI LanParty UT NF3 250gb.
What a brute, and the sound is quite nice. It doesn't even make the wierd sounds that all my other boards did while using the scroll mouse.
Use SATA ports 3 & 4 if you're overclocking ~240+ fsb.

Oh, though unsupported officially, it's running my DTR clawhammer like a champ.

That's my .02 worth...

[moz_21]

Lets say I wanted to go NF4 and get approximately the same 3D performance as I currently have. I would need a new powersupply (currenly 12V = 18A) and video card in addition to a mobo and CPU. So approximately $80+200+130+180= $590

I could sell my A7N8X, 2400+M, 9800Pro, and a FSP 530W ps: 60+60+100+70=$290

I have a $240 coming from my job, + 120 previously, plus like another 50= $410

So, let's figure I have a $700 budget for an NF4 mobo, A64 CPU, vid card. Build me a system!

[jnev_89]

dfi ultra-d- 130
3200 venice- 190
6800gt- $320

=$640

[rseven]

Well, I'm in the same boat with a 9800pro. The problem is that nf3 boards are pretty quirky in general and that includes the new DFI board. The nf4 seems to be much better, but requires a pci-e card and then you are into a lot more bucks. I believe the nf4 is worth it. You could sell the 9800 while you can still get a decent dollar for it and move up to the nf4.

[lilxvietxboi]

dfi ultra-d- 130
3200 venice- 190
6800gt- $320

=$640

You forgot to factor in the PSU. Well, your prices are unaccurate.

DFI Ultra-D : $129
3200+ Venice : $190 (But the 3000+ is $117!!!!)
6800GT : $300 (Or X800XL $250)
Fortron BlueStrom AX-500A : $78
$697 Perfect for the setup that he chose (Except if you live in California where you get tax from the Egg/ActBuy for PSU)
$574 for setup with 3000+(I forgot where from, check Cyber Deals) / X800XL

[moz_21]

You forgot to factor in the PSU. Well, your prices are unaccurate.

DFI Ultra-D : $129
3200+ Venice : $190 (But the 3000+ is $117!!!!)
6800GT : $300 (Or X800XL $250)
Fortron BlueStrom AX-500A : $78
$697 Perfect for the setup that he chose (Except if you live in California where you get tax from the Egg/ActBuy for PSU)
$574 for setup with 3000+(I forgot where from, check Cyber Deals) / X800XL

The Bluestorm is a dual 12v rail design, correct? Would I be better with a single rail, 30+A design PS? I'd lean toward the strong single rail myself.

I may go with the 3000+ Venice to save some money, as I do want X2 soon. I can use dividers on the memory to keep it down around 270-280mhz if needed, right?

[rseven]

Yes, that will work fine. Also, for now the strong single rail may be better. The dual rails will probably be changing in the next year to meet current and future power requirements.