N00b's guide on what to buy for A64 rig

Before You Buy Read This!

Issue #1: DTR (Desk-Top Replacement) Mobile A64s and their significance

DTRs overall are higher quality CPUs and are definatly an OCers friend. 4 Important things to know about DTRs:

#1 Physical differences:
<DTR Clawhammer>

<Standard Clawhammer>


#2 They are S754 only (for the moment) Currentally all DTRs are Gaurnteed CG clawhammers. They will eventually be replaced with "Oakville" and "Newerk" but for the meantime they are all Hammer cores

#3 They require modded BIOS to work on mobos, often times the mobo will not even POST with a DTR in the CPU socket. The only manufacturer that has made attempts to allow users to use DTRs to their full potential is DFI, thus making it the most popular board among entusiasts seeking S754 setups.

#4 In addtion you must use a cooling device that bolts onto the mobo (like the SLK948) to prevent you from cracking the CPU core since they do not have an IHS (integrated heat spreader, see above). Using a coolign device that has the standard mounting system *will* prove disasterous.

____________________

Issue #2: Winchesters and S939 compatability issues.

Current S939 mobos are not *fully* designed to work properly with Winchester / 90nm based CPUs. In order to make them compatable you must flash your BIOS to the latest version avaibale from your manufacturer.

Symptoms of CPU incompatability problems:
No Boot with Dual-Channel Enabled
No boot / POST
Warning Siren via internal speaker (no CPU inserted)
Instability with Dual-Channel or Single-Channel

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Issue #3: Winchester / 90nm CPUs and Sub-Ambiant Temps

This probably will not affect anyone here, but it eventually could. Winchester CPUs are known to not POST / function properly with temps below ambiant / case.

Solution: Same as above, flash to the latest BIOS. If this does not work RMA the mobo for a newer version of the chipset that *supposedly* fixes this issue.
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Issue #4: Thermalright Compatibility Issues:

Thermalright said:

So far, we have not found any board that is not compatible with XP-90. If you've found any, we would appreciate if you could report them to here.

* Unlike other motherboard makers, Gigabyte uses a customized plastic motherboard backplate for its K8 motherboards, which is not compatible with XP-90 K8 retention bracket. Users need to remove it and replace it with a standard metal backplate before installation of Thermalright XP series heatsink. For more information regarding AMD K8 backplate please see Athlon64 processor thermal design guide (Fig. 5 & 6). And the metal backplate is also available from Thermalright here.
** Large fan bearing heatsinks (80-92-120mm) can encounter problems with motherboards with sockets close to the edge of the motherboard and some cases with power supply brackets. Another potential problem with these types of motherboards can be large fans mounted in the bottom of the power supply and without the fan drills recessed.

Click to expand...

^^ This applies to all Giga-byte mobos not using a backplate

BEST OCING SETUPS (thus far)

FOR SOCKET 754 AGP:

(#1)
CPU = DTR 3000+ / DTR 3200+ / DTR 3400+ / DTR 3700+
MOTHERBOARD = DFI Lanparty UT 250Gb

(#2)
CPU = 3100+ // 2800+ / 3000+ / 3200+ / 3400+ / 3400+ (Hammer) / 3700+
MOTHERBOARD = Abit NF8-S

(#3)
CPU = DTR 3000+ / DTR 3200+ / DTR 3400+ / DTR 3700+
MOTHERBOARD = Giga-byte K8NS PRO

(#4)
CPU = 3100+ // 2800+ / 3000+ / 3200+ / 3400+ / 3400+ (Hammer) / 3700+
MOTHERBOARD = EPoX EP-8KDA3

(#5)
CPU = 3100+ // 2800+ / 3000+ / 3200+ / 3400+ / 3400+ (Hammer) / 3700+
MOTHERBOARD = Chaintech VNF3-250

Average CPU + Mobo Cost=$280

_________________________________

FOR SOCKET 939 AGP:

<#1>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum

<#2>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD =Asus A8V Deluxe (rev2.0)

< #3>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = Giga-Byte K8NS

<#4>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = Abit AV8

Average CPU + MOBO Cost=$350

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FOR SOCKET 939 PCI-E:

<XXX>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = Abit AN8-S / V

Average CPU + MOBO Cost=$380

________________________________________


FOR SOCKET 939 2X PCI-E (SLI):

<XXX>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = Abit AN8-S Fatil1ty (SLI)

<XXX>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = MSI K8N Neo4 Diamond

<XXX>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = DFI K8XXXXX (SLI)

<XXX>
CPU = Athlon64 3000+ / 3200+ / 3500+ / 3800+ / 4000+ / 4200+ / FX53 / FX55 / FX57
MOTHERBOARD = Asus K8XXXX (SLI)

Average CPU + MOBO Cost=$410

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FOR SOCKET 940 AGP:

CPU = 140 / 142 / 144 / 146 / 148 / 150 / 240 / 242 / 244 / 246 / 248 / 250 / FX53 (!!WARNING NON-DUAL!!)
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU = 140 / 142 / 144 / 146 / 148 / 150 / 240 / 242 / 244 / 246 / 248 / 250 / FX53 (!!WARNING NON-DUAL!!)
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU = 140 / 142 / 144 / 146 / 148 / 150 / 240 / 242 / 244 / 246 / 248 / 250 / FX53 (!!WARNING NON-DUAL!!)
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU = 140 / 142 / 144 / 146 / 148 / 150 / 240 / 242 / 244 / 246 / 248 / 250 / FX53 (!!WARNING NON-DUAL!!)
MOTHERBOARD =

Average CPU + MOBO Cost=$540

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FOR SOCKET 940 PCI-E:

CPU =
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU =
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU =
MOTHERBOARD =

CPU =
MOTHERBOARD =

Ram Compatability List

S754
Abit

Asus

Chaintech

DFI Lanparty UT-250Gb

Epox

Giga-byte

XXXXXXXXXXXX


S939
Abit

Asus

DFI XXXX

Epox

Giga-byte

MSI K8N Neo2 Platnium

S940
Abit

Asus

DFI XXXX

Epox

Giga-byte

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Reccomended Power Supplies

For AGP A64 Motherboards

Antec:

Fortron / Sparkle:
Fortron 530W

OCZ:
OCZ Powerstream 520W

PC Power And Cooling:

Thermaltake:

_______________

For PCI-E A64 Motherboards

Antec:

Fortron / Sparkle:


OCZ:
OCZ Powerstream 520W

PC Power And Cooling:

Thermaltake:


________________

For SLI A64 Motherboards

OCZ:
OCZ Powerstream 620W

PC Power And Cooling:

Reccomended Cooling And Accesories

Silent Air Cooling
Hyper6
MSI K8N Neo2 (Y)

Zalman 7700
MSI K8N Neo2 (N)

Peformance Air Cooling

XP-90

Thermalright said:

AMD socket 754/939/940 platform

XP-90 is designed to fit all AMD socket 754/939/940 motherboards (*Gigabyte K8 motherboards .....).....

Click to expand...

XP-120

Thermalright said:

Abit AV8 can not use Dimm #1
AV8 Third Eye can not use Dimm #1
KV8 Not Compatible
KV8-Max3 Not Compatible
KV8 Pro Not Compatible
KV8 Pro - 3rd Eye Not Compatible
AX8 can not use Dimm #1
ASRock K8S8X Not Compatible
Asus A8V Deluxe Okay
SK8V Okay
K8V *caps mechanically obstruct pipe slightly, cap tilting necessary
K8V Deluxe ****may not fit. Caps make installation difficult
K8V SE Deluxe *caps mechanically obstruct pipe slightly, cap tilting necessary
K8N-E Deluxe Okay
SK8N Okay
Chaintech ZNF3-150 ZENITH Not Compatible
DFI LAN PARTY UT nF3 250Gb Okay
ECS 755-A (1.0a) Okay
755-A2 (1.0) Okay
KV1 Deluxe (1.0) Okay
K8T800-A (1.0) Okay
EPoX EP-9NDA3+ Can not use Dimm #1
EP-8KDA3+ Okay
EP-8KDA3J Okay
Gigabyte **Require Metal Motherboard Backplate
K8NSNXP-939 Okay
K8NS Not Compatible
MSI K8T Neo-FIS2R Okay
K8TM-IL Okay
K8T Neo2-F Okay
K8T Neo2-FIR Okay
K8N Neo-FSR Okay
K8N Neo Platinum Okay
K8N Neo2 Platinum *caps mechanically obstruct pipe slightly, cap tilting necessary

Remark
* Tilting capacitors may damage motherboards. Users do this at their own risk.
** Unlike other mobo makers, Gigabyte uses a customized plastic motherboard backplate for its K8 motherboards, which is not compatible with XP-120 K8 retention bracket. Users need to remove it and replace it with a standard metal backplate before installation of Thermalright XP series heatsink. For more information regarding AMD K8 backplate please see Athlon64 processor thermal design guide (Fig. 5 & 6).
*** Large fan bearing heatsinks (80-92-120mm) can encounter problems with motherboards with sockets close to the edge of the motherboard and some cases with power supply brackets. Another potential problem with these types of motherboards can be large fans mounted in the bottom of the power supply and without the fan drills recessed.

Click to expand...

SLK-948 (!MUST BUY TO USE DTR CPU!)
**Should fit on any mobo without issue

Reccomended Fans
Silent
High Peformance

________________________________

Silent Water Cooling

Peformance Water Cooling

Reccomended Pumps
Silent
High Peformance

_________________________________

Reccomended W/C Kits

Reccomended Video Cards

ATI (AGP)
X800XT PE
X800XT
X800PRO
(X700XT?)

9800XT
9800PRO

______________________

ATI (PCI-E)

X850XT
X800XT
X800XL
X850PRO

9800?

______________________

nVidia (AGP)

6800UE
6800U
6800 (2nd Edition)
6800GT
6800GT (2nd Edition)
6800NU
6600U
6600GT
6800LE

______________________

nVidia (PCI-E / SLI)

6800UE
6800U
6800GT
6800GTO
6800NU
6600U
6600GT

Reccomended Thermal Paste

TIM for CPUs with Heatspreaders

TIM for CPUs without Heatspreaders

TIM for CPUs going below 0c*

Other Reputible Pc Shops

Hardware Stores
Cheif Value
Directron
eXcaliber PC
Monarch Computer
ZipZoomFly


Cooling Shops
Danger Den
Frozen CPU
Heatsink Factory
Jab-Tech
SVC
Sidewinder PC

GO Sen. GO!!!

yo4444 said:

GO Sen. GO!!!

Click to expand...

..arrg...you know damn well this is gonna be painful to type. Oh well I guess somone's gotta do it

Look here Sentinel...something similar's been attempted:-
http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=46730

Ah very nice.... I had seen that one, but this was more geared to help people decide WHAT to buy instead of constantally asking here

haha I'm sorry that can't be any fun to do. Then again not much is less fun than answering 100 new posts a day titled "New athlon 64 rig"

Thank you Sen, I'll bet I'll need this in a month or two.

Sen:
You could use some stuff from here:-
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=295328

scotty20857 said:

haha I'm sorry that can't be any fun to do. Then again not much is less fun than answering 100 new posts a day titled "New athlon 64 rig"

Click to expand...

Or being barraged with hundereds of IMs a day . Either way I am happy to anwser questions, even if its asked a million times Frankly it makes my responses easier, plus its pratically a free post.

Not even a minute later after I sign on trillian does THIS happen



I promise I will start this tonight....and thanks for the info Nade

Damn! You are popular! Don't close those windows too fast you may miss out on a potential hot date .
I can't wait to see it up and running.

Good Job!

It'd also be cool to add some pros and cons

And point out pitfalls....like the XP120 won't fit right on certain MoBo's and that it hits the RAM (if it has heatspreaders) in Slot 1.

Sen, you should add in that the xp-120 fits on the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum, even tho the website doesn't say so.