Asking for Opinions for Socket 939 PC

[shawn26il]

Question for you guys, socket 939 system, currently with a 3500+, looking at something for a cheap upgrade, I want to move to 2 gigs of ram later, and better video.

Currently...

Cheiftec clear sided case
Biostar geforce 6100 mainboard
1 gig pc2700 ram
1 20 gig hard drive
1 40 gig hard drive
dvd burner
7300 le video card
400 watt ultra v series power supply


Ok, so I know probably the PSU will need upgraded a little later. Thinking cheap upgrade, want to lose the pc2700 ram, and go to 2 gigs of pc3200, as I want to overclock, or will the pc2700 make that much difference overclocking socket 939 chips? Also know I need more hard drive space, will address that at later date.

Mainly, I'm asking right now about the processor, something to get me by another couple of years without breaking the bank. Looking at this one......


http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2927576

Reason is price, and seeing the 1 meg cache on the x2. So the same cache as some of the opterons, if I'm reading right. But do you think it would be difficult to overclock this chip to say 2.6 or 2.8 ghz? If so how do I go about it? Sorry, new to overclocking, but by no means new to building pc's etc. For cooling...currently I have this....

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2604150&body=REVIEWS

As well as I will be applying artic silver 5.

So any suggestions are appreciated. What do you guys think of that chip, or do you think I'd do better with 4200 x2?

 

[dicobalt]

cant speak to oc amd that much but my recommendatoin is to check these out

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2417&

 

[Falken699]

If you want to ditch the RAM and the Processor, you are MUCH better off getting a new Motherboard as dicobalt suggests.

The only time people hang on to their MB is usually to keep the RAM at least, for example, if you have 4 x 1 GB DDR 400.

I would strongly suggest just getting a new Motherboard, RAM, and processor. At least then you have an upgrade path.

 

[chrispyski]

I hate to be a downer, but if you plan on doing some overclocking, that MB just isn't going to work out well for you. It just doesn't have the BIOS options that other boards have, believe me, I have tried to overclock a buddies opty with that same board and it just doesn't work well. If I were you, I would move onto another socket (AM2, Core2) because with DDR2 prices so low these days, it really makes getting rid of S939's not a bad idea anymore (as opposed to upgrading).

 

[shoota]

yeah i was just about to say the same, unless you do light gaming, then i would just just try to find one more gig of cheap DDR ram and one of these CPU's. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2+50001028+40000343+1051707439+1302820275&Configurator=&Subcategory=343&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

remember, the 3800+ you mentioned has 1 meg of L2 cache (512x2) but the opterons have 2 meg (1x2 per core).

but like the others have said that board won't be too great with mixed RAM and the CPU's can easily be beaten for less $$ now. But it's up to you and what you plan to do with your rig.

 

[shawn26il]

yeah, I guess too I'm trying to stay within my budget. How about the PSU, think it'll be ok for a while? I read the specs and it's listed as 20 amps on the 12v rail.

 

[shawn26il]

Btw, I was looking at the 3800+, from the description I was thinking it was 2 cores and 1 meg each. But with the prices....I'm kinda wanting to stay within 150, would like to squeeze a new video card, even an 8400 gs, I figure it would be better than the 7300 which only has 64 meg onboard.

 

[shoota]

you might get away with it for a midrange video card but anything halfway newer like the x1900's, 8800's and such won't run it... it would help if you posted your budget and your PC usage activities.. we might be able to help more.

 

[shawn26il]

Between 150 and 200 bucks. Mostly some internet, some casual gaming, used to be way more into games, but being married, don't have the time for it I used to have, so as long as I can get some details, and good framerates, I'm good. Like you guys said, it almost makes sense to go with a new board and new chip, b/c it's not that big of a difference...

 

[shoota]

It really isn't that big of a difference but you could get a 3800+ for $60, another 1gb (2x512) of Corsair Value select for $60, and an x1650gt for $70. that's about the best you can do with $200 bucks on this system.

 

[shawn26il]

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.asp?ID=8660587

I'm thinking maybe something like this to restart my system, would be a good foundation, add another gig later and up the video card down the line, but that I'm thinking would give me a good foundation to build off of. What do you guys think? I know the mobo is cheap, but I've used some pc chips boards when building computers for others and seem to have had decent luck with them.

 

[shawn26il]

Btw, really needing 2 IDE headers as my hard drives and dvd burner are all IDE. So that I don't end up having to upgrade those right away too.

 

[shoota]

if that's your saved wish list we can't view it...

 

[shawn26il]

Sorry didn't realize that.... Try this....

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813185083

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103774

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820161028

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814127296

 

[swifty_morgan]

That motherboard is fine. The machine I'm using to write this is the one that it's in. Had it for years, expect it to last a while.

the 3800 isn't going to be faster that your single core. Get a 4200 or 4400 to give about the same performance........... single core/core performance. You'll notice when having the dual core has it's advantages.

upgrade the memory to pc3200/400. Two gigs if you can afford it.

the 6100 doesn't over clock very well. Think it has mostly to do with heat.

shop at newegg. more to pick from and usually less expensive.