Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
Just a thought, but make sure you are CPU or memory bound before you
start throwing money at the problem. Use Windows System/Performance
monitor to make sure. On 90% of the systems out there disk is the
biggest bottleneck. My laptop performance was horrendous, until I
turned off paging entirely in XP. XP pages way too much stuff.
Performance is still pretty bad because I have a slow laptop drive.
Gaming may be a completely different story, but if your CPU bound it
is pretty easy to see in Perf Mon.
mitchd123
nospam@needed.com (Paul) wrote in message news:<nospam-0307042300210001@192.168.1.177>...
> In article <csadnZ4EXOxkh3rdRVn-gg@adelphia.com>, "silient1"
> <vegas4craps63NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Paul,
> >
> > Wow, excellent information. Now I just have to spend my 4th of July
> > weekend researching everything you mentioned
> >
> > Fot starters, his video card is ATI 9600XT, and I confirmed that there
> > is only (1) 512MB stick.
> > So he would need another stick to take advantage of the dual-threading.
> >
> > If we go with the motherboard, does the onboard sound ( need 5.1 ) take
> > less resources that his (very) recently purchased Audigy2 ZS Platinum.
> > He's running Kipsch DMX D-5.1 speakers which inclue thier own digital
> > encoder. Problem is that it turns out that I can't use the optical or
> > SPDIF outputs of the card ( seems to be proprietary for Creative ).
> > (see link for info i was provided)
> >
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=oBDFc.375%248_3.29%40newsfe2-win.ntli.net
> >
> > I'd like to get a board that has has the nVidia Soundstream ( I think )
> > or somthing comparable.
> >
> > So I guess my request is... Suggestions for an 800FSB dual channel MB
> > with onboard nVidia Soundstream or equivilent.
> >
> > He does like the input capabilities of the Audigy2, because he can input
> > his guitar and record, but he's still considering his options.
> >
> > I may need to start a new thread but await any responses...
> >
> > Thanks Paul - you were a great help.
> >
> > Devon
> >
> <<snip>>
>
> First of all, dual channel matching varies between chipsets. For
> example, dual channel on Intel requires the second stick to use the
> same width of chips ( say (16) 32Mx8 chips on each module ). If
> you go AMD/Nforce2, the matching is a bit more relaxed, and there
> you more or less match the size of modules, as you could have x8
> chips on one module, and x16 on another module. Matching orphan
> modules takes a little more research, as every chipset family will
> be a little different.
>
> I don't know if I would steer my computer purchase, around a choice
> of sound chips. For example, I would think the analog output of
> the Audigy would blow away any motherboard sound chip, and if I
> had an Audigy in my possession, the connectors on the motherboard
> would never get used
>
> The trick with the SPDIF output, is it is basically stereo, as you've
> discovered. There is some option, to reduce the number of bits
> per audio sample, and make four channels, but I haven't read of
> any hardware that uses that option.
>
> To send five channels, over a two channel interface, requires a
> coding scheme. There is a patent on the AC3 method, owned by Dolby
> Labs, and a device or program that does encoding, owes Dolby Labs
> a license fee for the right to use the method. I think if you have
> a DVD, for example, and it has AC3 encoded output, that can flow
> straight through your existing hardware path to your stereo, and
> you should hear five channels. In that case, the company making the
> DVD paid for the right to encode AC3 in the tracks on the DVD, and
> your motherboard is a "straight wire" to the stereo. So, anyone
> should be able to enjoy a DVD that way via SPDIF.
>
> The Nforce2 chipset, with the MCP-T Southbridge, has a DSP block,
> and as far as I know, Nvidia has licensed the right to encode
> AC3, to be sent over the SPDIF. That means the MCP-T can encode
> an unencoded source and send that. You may want to verify this on
> the Nvidia web site. (I don't know why a software program couldn't
> do this with any SPDIF device though - barring delay issues.)
>
> nForceAudioControl.pdf manual from Nvidia
>
http://www.nvidia.com/object/LO_20021002_6443.html
>
> APU_TechBrief_71502.pdf (Soundstorm feature set)
>
http://www.nvidia.com/object/LO_20020712_6735.html
>
> Soundstorm is available on the A7N8X Deluxe or the A7N8X-E Deluxe
> (the -E is the one you'll currently find in shops). These boards
> have the MCP-T Southbridge on them. ($99 at Newegg)
>
> You'll need an AthlonXP to go with it. Here is a summary of models:
>
http://www.qdi.nl/support/CPUQDISocketA.htm
>
> First up, a 2500+ FSB333 Barton ($80). People overclock these routinely
> to FSB400. They are multiplier locked, so playing with the FSB is the
> only adjustment. With your current PC2700 DIMM, that would operate
> at 1:1 at stock speed. If you overclock the FSB, then the memory
> bus will have to run slower (83% setting). If you get memory errors
> in memtest86, you can move the two DIMMs onto one channel, which will
> fix it. If it behaves itself, you can run dual channel, with one
> DIMM on each channel. (There are three DIMM slots, two on one channel
> and one on the other channel.) When overclocked, this processor runs
> at 1833MHz x 400/333 = 2200MHz, equivalent to Barton 3200+.
>
>
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-379&depa=0
>
> If you buy an actual Barton 3200+ FSB400, expect to fork out $187.
> That is the attraction of overclocking the 2500+.
>
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-390&depa=0
>
> Finally, some people have been using the AthlonXP-M mobile processors.
> These are multiplier unlocked, due to the Powernow heat management feature.
> Overclocking to more than 2200MHz is possible with these processors,
> as long as you have good ram to experiment with. It looks like the
> Mobile 2600+ FSB266 for $95 (OEM - no heatsink/fan) can easily do
> 200x12, which is faster than the Barton 3200+. Since AMD boards
> make great gaming platforms, your $200 will go a lot farther than
> with Intel. (Note: 200x12 means 200Mhz clock fed to processor, causing
> FSB400 transfer rates to Northbridge. The multiplier applies to the
> clock and not the FSB value. It is easy to get confused...)
>
>
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=property&catalog=343&propertycodevalue=4181,%200,%200,%200,%200,%200,%200,%200&minprice=&maxprice=&mfrcode=1028&DEPA=0&InnerCata=343
>
> Consult cpudatabase.com for overclocking statistics.
>
> If I didn't have to control my compulsion for upgrading, I'd buy one
> of these myself
>
> Visit the forums of nforcershq.com for more info on doing
> stuff with Nforce2.
>
> Paul
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