Motherboard and overclocking

[satimis]

Hi folks,

I'm planning to build a AMD Athlon64 dualcore 4000+ (cache 2048KB), socket AM2, box and do overclocking.

Motherboard selection :

According to
http://www2.amd.com/us-en/recmobo/ResultsHandler/1,,30_182_869_9460%5E9461~73649,00.html

I preliminary select;
Asus
M2NPV-MX/VM
http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1169&l1=3&l2=101&l3=0

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1138&l1=3&l2=101&l3=0

OR

M2N-SLI Deluxe
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1160&l1=3&l2=101&l3=0


Gigabyte
========
GA-M51GM-S2G/GA-M55PLUS-S3G
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2281&ProductName=GA-M51GM-S2G

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2283&ProductName=GA-M55plus-S3G

OR
GA-M57SLI-S4
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2287&ProductName=GA-M57SLI-S4

Please provide some advice, (economical preferred, IF POSSIBLE). TIA

I heard Gigabyte more suitable for "overclocking". Would it be correct?


This is my 1st time doing overclocking. I found following steps on Internet searching;
Enter BIOS during startup PC. Select the Bios Features Setup -> Modify CPU Host Bus Frequency, External Clock (PCI). -> In CPU Core section find the Multiple Bus Frequency or Multiplier factor and modify the value of the CPU Multiplier -> save the changes to the CMOS and exit.

1) Whether the forgoing steps are correct?
2) What is FSB (Front Side Bus) speed of motherboard. How to find it?

Advice would be appreacited. TIA


B.R.
satimis

[pparks1]

Why bother with overclocking? In the end, you spend more time trying to track down system instability and providing adequate cooling all the while shortening the lifespan of the processor for a small performance boost. (which is most likely unnoticeable in most real world applications).

[satimis]

Hi pparks 1,

Why bother with overclocking? .
Because Athlon64 X2 4000+ (AM2) has cache 2048KB and 4,200+ ,4600+ only with cache 1024KB

Apart from overclocking, any recommendation on mobo? TIA

B.R.
satimis

[mick]

Hey, Satimis --

Yeah; you could o/c with any of the boards mentioned. Add an extra case fan, and away you go. I've been running an AMD Athlon 64-2800+ (1800MHz) at 2200MHz on an Asus mobo for the last eleven months, 24/7 for the most part, without any problems. ;) Before that, I had a Gigabyte board that ran solid at the same speed.

But, you know, I have to agree with pparks1 - why bother with overclocking? If you do intend on running the '4200, you really won't need to. Even running stock, this thing screams! :D

Peace!
Mick

PS - Wanna see something hilarious? I know it's not an AMD, but check out this article on Tom's Hardware - o/c'ing a Pentium D 805 clocked at 2.66 GHz to 4.1!!! :eek:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/10/dual_41_ghz_cores/

[satimis]

Hi mick,

Tks for your advice and URL

Really I'm not interested on overclocking. So I never run it before.

I'm interested on higher speed. First I was planning to get 4200+ even its price being higher. Later I found 4000+ has 2048KB L-2 cache and further found with overclocking 4000+ can be run ever >4200+. That is the whole story.

B.R.
satimis

[pparks1]

Are you running something that "really" requires the extra L2 cache memory?

I honestly think the speed difference between a 4200 and a 4000 is going to be almost imperceivable. I certainly wouldn't go through the effort of overclocking to simply make up that difference.

[steve941]

i recommend ASUS, ive used em in two computers ive built so far no they
I just built my brothers computer used an M2N-E (chipset Nvidia 570 ultra, am2) that one was around $95
in my many days of searching for best pc parts ASUS is seems always to be #1 on PCWORLD but i also have heard they are a bit more expensive.

Umm the over clocking (CPU and memory) on this M2N-E has a million options ... but for me I don't overclock so i just use defaults / auto ..
anyway thats my recommendation i think its worth payin a bit more for higher quality

but if it makes you feel better ASUS and Gigabyte are forming a new company togther
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/08/08/gigabyte_asus_mobo_jv/

[satimis]

Hi steve941,

Tks for your advice.

Before reading your posting, my adjusted planning is as follow;
Motherboard
M2N-SLI Deluxe
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1160&l1=3&l2=101&l3=0

CPU
Athlon64 Dualcore 4400+ socket AM2
Cache 2048MB

RAM
1G, dualchannel in pair (512M x2)

The reason for me turning away from "Asus M2NPV-MX/VM" is that they look like a
modified socket 939 mobo. Athough their price is much cheaper than
"Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe"

The price of AMD cup 4400+ continues to drop. It has 2048MB L-2 cache now.

I'll purchase an economic graphic card because I don't game.

I'll make use of an AMD old box, Athlon 1.4 cpu, to experience overclocking. But I don't
know whether 2th Max 8KHA supports overclocking.

After reading your posting, now I'll further adjust my plannning selecting "Asus M2N-E" mobo as recommended instead of "M2N-SLI Deluxe". The price of the former is quite interesting.

Any comment? TIA

Others noted with tks.

B.R.
satimis

[satimis]

Hi pparks1,

Tks for your advice.

I found Athlon64 Dualcore 4400+ socket AM2 having cache 2048MB. Its price continues to drop. Therefore I'm now considering to get it.

I also adjusted my planning please see my other posting replying steve941. Your comment is welcome. TIA

B.R.
satimis

[steve941]

here's specs for ASUS M2N-E:
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=3&l2=101&l3=308&model=1181&modelmenu=1

price
i use price grabber to order my cpu parts -- well to find best price
here's a comparison of all ASUS AM2 motherboard prices:
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/form_keyword=am2/topcat_id=/page_id=40/vendors%5B%5D=ASU/lo_p=0/hi_p=0/sortby=priceA

the board isnt SLI, and doesnt have onboard 1394 thats the only items you should be aware. that's fine, cus i didnt have money for dual gpus and i never use firewire 1394. umm if you do get it, be sure to go to support.asus.com and get latest drivers especially bios. also for ram: i recommend Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 dual channel setup

well anyway, lemme know if you want more specs on the parts i used for the M2N-E system i just built.

[satimis]

Hi steve941,

Tks for your advice and URL.

I think AUSU M2N-E will be the mobo for me. I don't need those fancy items. I'll use the money saved to get an economic graphic card. I don't game. However looking at the spec. I found only 1 IDE connector. On testing software I'll make use of ATA HD (the old stock). If only 2 devices will be supported, then I can't connect DVD-Rom. I need 2 IDE connectors, if possible, for ATA HD (old stock), DVD-Writer and DVD-rom. But this is only a minor matter.

also for ram: i recommend Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 dual channel setupIt is a good suggestion although its price is quite high. Where can I find the URL for this item? TIA

B.R.
satimis.

[steve941]

yeah, you can only connect two pata devices, i only have one which is dvd writer, so no biggie for me.

holy cow prices went up for ram
I bought my Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 2x512 kit for $100
its up to 130
http://www.chiefvalue.com/product/productdetails.aspx?submit=&item=20-145-566&ATTMemory%20Gaming%20System
looks like thats the lowest for DDR2 800

umm here's some 2x512 corsair xms2 ddr2 667, but with lower latency for about $110
http://www.payhalf.com/product/25/14/30348

make sure you have latest bios .. for m2n-e its rev. 0304
there were some review i read that stated m/b didnt recognized certain memory like lower latency / high performance when AM2 boards first came out.

my mem worked was recognized even before i updated my bios
anyway, happy ram hunting