CPU Suggestions for attempt at 4ghz

[Buzzdog]

I am very close to breaking down and building a new machine to make an attempt at 4ghz. I am trying to decide which processor to make my first go at it. I plan on picking up a IC7 Max3 and sending it off for the full set of mods. I will also pick up a pair of Corsair XMS PC-4000 512mb sticks. I am not sure if I want to get a pair of SATA hard drives for a new raid or use my existing. Other then these new additions I will basically be using the components in my signature. I plan on picking up a new nvidia card when they become more available and the price stabilizes more.

Now onto suggestions of which processor to go with. My initial thoughts are to go with a 3.2 processor and try to get 250fsb overclock. This would get me the 4ghz goal and let me keep the memory at 1:1. What I am at odds with though is whether to go with a NW or a Prescott. If I were to try a prescott I am aware of the heat issues, but at least for the processor I would have that under control with the Prometia. I guess my main concern would be the extra stress that it would put on the motherboard, and whether or not the HOTES on the IC7 Max3 can keep it under control. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Airbornederekc]

well if ur worried about the heat presshot is not the way to go if u can luck out and get a nice 30 cap northwood u might have a chance. the ram aint bad choice either if u get the matched pairs. sata hard drives rock i got a 60 and a 250. they both have thermal diodes in em. only thing the abit board is gonna read hot. mine reads very hot

 

[Buzzdog]

Heat on the CPU is not a real consideration, I have a Prometia to tackle that issue. My concern with heat would mainly be for the motherboard it self with the extra current draw required for the prescott.

 

[dmzguy]

Buzzdog,
I personlally, believe that your proposed course of action is definitely the way to go to have the best shot at 4ghz. The IC7 Max 3, not only has OTES Cooling for the mofsets and MB Caps, but has better caps than the standard IC7, the mods will also not hurt. If you look at the intel spec sheet for the 3.2ghz Prescott you will find that it is listed has needing only .975-1.0 Vcore... using .5 volt less than other prescotts, could quite possibly, make it a better overclocker as well. I think that the motherboard being able to handle the prescott is not an issue and with a Prometia on the CPU heat is DEFINITELY not an issue. I personally think that you have the perfect recipe for a GREAT Prescott overclock. I have just recently ordered a 1v 3.2 Prescott, it will be here Tuesday, if you would like to wait and see how it does on aircooling and then make your decision, I will be reporting my results on this forum by Wednesday at the latest.

Dmzguy

 

[dmzguy]

P.S. where are you sending your board to be modded and how is this going to cost you? I would really like my IC7 modded, but am no expert with a soldering gun.

Dmzguy

 

[Lancelot]

dmzguy: I just received my 3.2 Prescott today but it's a 1.4V C0 stepping...

 

[dmzguy]

Cool let us know how it does; I ordered an SL7KC 1.0v D0 stepping... this will be a good comparison. (you have the ic7 max3 and i have the regular ic7, but still pretty similar configuration)

 

[oc-rookie]

You should hit 4ghz with the 3.2c no problem with phase change. My old 3.2c from the first batchs was doing 260-270, I would imagine they would be doing just as well if not a bit better now.The prescott's have an even higher chance of hitting 4+ghz.

 

[dmzguy]

OC-rookie,

He does not have a 3.2c he has a 3.2E (prescott) the stepping is C0, as opposed to the new D0 stepping.

Dmzguy

 

[oc-rookie]

I meant to the original poster, he's got a machI.

 

[sramjones]

IMO I would use OCZ Before carsair http://team-bau.net/wil22/315fsb.jpg

 

[Jiggahurtz]

I love my OCZ, also I think an X800PTE would be better than the geforce 6800. One reason it pulls less power so it won't strain your psu from delivering as much love as the cpu needs.

 

[aNTiChRisT]

Simple equation for you here, less vcore = more wattage

:. More heat

I would suggest a 3.0E/3.2E DO stepping should break 4ghz on a re-gassed prommie, probably even a normal prommie, just check the mosfets. The OTES is good for northwoods, but these prescotts REALLY pressure the mosfets, i would take off the bridge and get a 120 fan blowing over the whole area, with some nice heatsinks on it.

~t0m

 

[Home-Chicken]

save yourself some money and stay away from raid 0, as you can see from anandtech and storagereview.com striping is basically worthless. If you were going for a raid1 setup, by all means go for it!

 

[Buzzdog]

Well the order has been made. The delay has been that newegg has been out of stock on the IC7-Max 3. Here is what I have ordered

Retail P-IVe 3.2
IC7-Max3
OCZ PC 4200 EL 2x512mb
and a tube of AS5

I was torn between a 3.0 and a 3.2. I think the nail was the reports of retail D0 stepping 3.2's at newegg. Here is to hoping that lightening stricks twice.

The memory was hard for me at first. I have been out of the loop for quite a while. Back when I built my last system OCZ was not a very reputable name for memory. They were fairly new, and there was some talk that they may have been associated with Geil. Anyone that was on the boards back then can attest to the contraversy at that time. Back then Corsair was king. After doing a little homework, it seems that Corsair may be milking their name right now. Seeing some of the results that others on the forum have got with OCZ has swayed me, and I am going to roll the dice with them. I should also note the tests that Batboy had done comparing 1:1 loose timings vs 5:2 tight timings weighed in my decission. I was also wanting to use a swiftek nb cooler, but they were out of stock also. I will hold off on this to see how this does out of the box with what I have for now. I am expecting to get the goodies next tuesday. It will take me at least 24 hours to prep the MB for condensation. I plan on sinking it up at that time to allow the epoxy to cure for the sinks. Future upgrade for the video is looking more towards ATI right now. I am tempted on trying to pick up a x800 pro and see if I can hit the lottery on modding it to a XT.


Personal goal for this rig is 1:1 running at least 250fsb. If I get more out of it then great, if I can only reach this goal then I will be a happy camper. I am wanting to build something that will tide me over until dual core's come to fruititon. In the future I might try and pick up some pieces to build a system around an old 1.8a I pulled out of a dell a while ago. It was stable to 180fsb on air, never really tried to push it on the promitia. But that will be left for another thread.