new cpu and mainboard wanted faster then a 2500 barton

[stampee]

Hi all: First of all, Thanks to UD in my other posts on overclocking. I think I am up against a wall and my pc2700 memory is what is killing my overclock attempts.
I currently have an amd 2500 barton on a K7n2g-l mainboard with 1 gig Pc2700 memory and a 7600GS AGP video card. I do not have alot of cash at hand. I am not sure if buying new pc3200 memory is really worth it on this older mainboard.
What if anything could I do for around $200 that would increase my speeds, bearing in mind I need AGP bus for my new video card? I am not trying to make the killer machine here, just something that is visibly faster then this 2500 amd. for example I am getting 12 fps in Flight sim 2004 with alot of buildings. I would like to increase that to 16 fps. I can fly at 16, but not at 12. Maybe this will show people that if I am happy with 16 fps you can understand I am not overly greedy for my money.
I have really tried to understand all these new AMD cpu's and frankly my mind is boggled. Many of the AMD 3600 models in my price range say they only run at 2600 mhz. Would they be that much faster then what I already have? Am I throwing my money away on a dual core for gaming use? Doesnt the game have to be software coded to actually use the dual cores? What about 64 bit processors? once again, wont I need a new OS to make use of 64 bit? I currently only have XP home at the older 32bit style.
I see the Emachines selling a 3600 sempron for $300 with monitor and 512meg memory. This is over my price range, but I dont need a monitor anyhow, so was hoping I could find something for around $200.
WELL, even if somebody can point me to a useable comparison chart I would greatly appreciate it. I tried searching on google for some comparisons and struck out.
-Stampee

[uddarts]

well it's 12:02am in chicago so good morning.

here's your board

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-K8TN2F2

it's the only 939 agp board still available.

if your any good at ebay you look for a ASRock 939Dual-VSTA Socket 939 ULi M1695
would be another choice.

others may be able to suggest the best processor for gaming.

you've heard pretty much right on the oc of the main steam single and dual cpu doing 2600mhz.

opteron 2800mhz

with dual core get one with a 10 or 11 multi so you can stay in the 260-275 htt area.

ewiz has some good price on single core processors. same place as the motherboard.

you should have some money left for a nice heatsink combo. the stock amd cooler on non opterons are not suited for oc'n much.

the 170 opteron has a good stock cooler.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103586


ud

[stampee]

UD: Thank you for the information. I greatly appreciate it. From what I understand at this time only a few games make use of Dual core, and I would need Vista OS to use dual core anyhow. so... with the rip off price of Vista being so high, I would use all my money just to buy the OS.
What the devil is a 3600 duron? or was it reported wrong. My friends new emachine 3600 says it is a duron processor, but I cant find that made or listed anywhers. Maybe it is the Sempron and XP reports it wrong?
I like that motherboard, it looks fine. I am not sure what is better VIA chipset or Nforce. I hear good and bad about both. I guess if I have to stay with AGP I am kind of stuck at this time.
Thank you once again for your assistance.
-Stampee

[uddarts]

mornin' again.

1. the neo-2 is the only new board i know of with agp. it has the 800-pro chipset that is said to have pci lock.

2. 3600 duron? beats me! i would think it's a sempron buget cpu with lower cache. it's more than likely an am2 cpu.

3. by passing the dual core eliminates the update i was going to give on the opty cooler. it won't work for a max oc.

4. check egg and ewiz for a single core. then figure your best bang for the buck.

ud

[stampee]

Hi again UD: I have been searching and reading and going blind and...
I have checked some CPU charts and cant see where the new dual core chips are any advantage at all to me right now. They run at almost the same frequency as I now have so what would I really gain? I also would than need a new mobo, and memory and cpu and fan etc, so... I guess this shows I am tottaly confused because there must be gamers out there with blazingly fast systems compared to mine, yet the cpu spec numbers do not seem to show it. Maybe I need a 3d benchmark website where people list their systems to see what they are using for faster speeds.
I am thinking of just buying some faster pc3200 memory and MAYBE an amdxp3200 cpu and be done with it for now. Or maybe with the new memory I can overclock my xp2500 to 3200 speeds
I found this a-data memory that appears to be nice.
and not to bad price.
http://tinyurl.com/2mjzaj

any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks so much.
-Stampee

[stampee]

Its Me again! doh: Well I was looking at your suggested mobo again and I did not originally realize it would use my existing memory. With this in mind I see I can get the following
1) MSI K8TNEO2-F V2.0 for $62
2) thermltek venus 12 $24
3) amd64X2 6000 for $166 from newegg.
so for around $260 I could have a considerably faster system ( I HOPE) and the CPU is pushing the top of the line.
I realize my older pc2700 memory will hinder this new system some, but later on I can always upgrade the memory to pc3200
Any further thoughts you may have on these ideas. I would GREATLY appreciate.
maybe I am wasting my money on sucha fast cpu? maybe the cooler is not as great as it claims? Or should I go with the opteron and stock cooler you already meantioned for the $107 and not waste the extra money on the faster amd64 6000?
THANK YOU
-Stampee

[uddarts]

hey you again,

1. no to the 6000. it is a am2 and won't fit, work and you'll need ddr2, pci vid card, etc.

2. i'm not a gamer so giving exact answers on how much performance, ie: fps, i can't. i can give some comparisons. with a xp-mobile, my chaintech 7njs, corsair 3200LL and carbon coming from the rear fans, i was able to hit 39.99 sec in a 1m run of superpi. with a chaintech vnf3 a stock 754 3400 clawhammer would run 42 sec.

3. i see four choices for cpu.

a. 4000 single core oem $59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103037
b. 146 single core opty $66
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103598
c. 170 dual core opty $120
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103586
d. 175 dual core opty $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103584

4. the volcano 12 will work fine. the fan is a bit obnoxious. the 170 retail fan will work and the cpu will top out about 2800(temps will be a little iffy at that point). the rest will need the v12 especially the 175 which should do 3000mhz + or -. the others i don't have any experience with.

5. remember the a64's don't give much by over volting the cpu. my 170s about 1.425v and the 175s about 1.45v. core temp usually gives the best temp reading. your ram won't matter. they will be fine. i don't know exactly the oc options in the bios in the neo-2 but those in the neo-4 are adequate.

a little incentive!!!!! 175 & msi neo-4

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9986/pi282ayo5.jpg

did i forget anything?


ud

[stampee]

UD; Wow you saved me big time. I did not realize the 6000 was AM2. I was all hotset to order. THANK YOU.
I hear the opterons overclock nicely so maybe that is a good option. or get the fastest amd64 I can find. I found a 4200 on Ewiz for $78
so I could go with that also.
I had a bad day of it, my office computer harddrive went bad last night. We had a power outage and I dont know if that messed up the harddrive or if it is just coincidance. At any rate I have to put this project on hold for a few days while I rebuild the office computer.
UGG always something.
Thank you so much for your assistance.
-Stampee

[uddarts]

the ewiz 4200 will get you 2600mhz. they were a great buy when the opty were $300 or more. i have one.

yeah can relate. i have a mirror array on my business comp. lost one of the hds a couple of months ago. had to use r-studio to grab my data files.

http://www.data-recovery-software.net/


ud

[stampee]

UD: A quick question. How did you figure out the 170 opteron from Newegg comes with a cooler? I was almost ready to place the order but wanted to be sure.
Thank you so much for all of my questions. I really do appreciate it.
-Stampee