BF2S Forums rate my budget christmas upgrade

You know what you should get as well......?

A massive CPU fan. The 3700+ overclocks very nicely. At higher clocks you really see the benefit from the extra cache, it is in fact identical architecture to the FX55 and 57 chips so if you clock it up far enough you can get those sort of speeds.

I've got one. I typically run it at 2.4GHz, but I've had 2.6 (same as FX55) very stable (gets hot though) and I've had a bit beyond that running at usable stability, with the occasional crash.

Seem's a poor idea not to get a new GPU. That'll help your speeds more than the CPU. Getting a new MB and not going PCIe seems a bad idea too.

*edit*

Here's an idea. Scrap getting the new RAM, go for a different but similarly priced MB with PCIe and get a 7600GT as well. That should come to about $330 total I think. A tiny bit over budget, but you will get much better in game performance that way.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2006-12-01 13:07:05)

Bertster7 wrote:

A massive CPU fan. The 3700+ overclocks very nicely.

I have that processor and I am getting new zalman cnps(something like that?)9700 processor cooling. Have you any Idea how high clock speeds I could reach?

I would suggest same thing to him as you.

Jussimies wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

A massive CPU fan. The 3700+ overclocks very nicely.

I have that processor and I am getting new zalman cnps(something like that?)9700 processor cooling. Have you any Idea how high clock speeds I could reach?

I've got my Sandy overclocked to 2.8GHz @ 1.4v, idle temp 28C, load 39 with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. Others have reported hitting 3GHz on water cooling.

Word to the wise, if you're going to get the San Diego go with the BNBOX version, they're better overclockers.

To the original poster:

I agree with Bertster7, you'd see much better performance increase if you saved up a few more bucks and went with a PCI-e mobo and GPU. I my recent upgrade only cost $384 and got me:

Athlon64 3700+ San Diego
AC Freezer 64 Pro
abit KN8 SLi mobo
BFG GeForce 7600 GT

Jussimies wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

A massive CPU fan. The 3700+ overclocks very nicely.

I have that processor and I am getting new zalman cnps(something like that?)9700 processor cooling. Have you any Idea how high clock speeds I could reach?

I would suggest same thing to him as you.

You can get them over 3GHz on air with a bit of luck. Not sure about long term stability though, I've only tried it very briefly. It didn't crash while I ran 3Dmark, but it was only on for about 15mins so.....      I don't know.

You can comfortably run it at FX55 speeds though, no problems there.

As for upgrade:

EVGA 7600GT http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814130062

Another MB with PCIe, like this one, but maybe not this exact board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813186059

3700+

Case

Comes to $345. But you could possibly save a bit more on MB.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2006-12-01 14:42:31)

MECtallica wrote:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103539
processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814143049
card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6813186085
mobo

and with micro atx, i dont have to buy a new case....

oh yea and 512mb more ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6820161615

lol its funny, because with rebates its like 5$ more AND better, then what I was going to get >_>
thanks

There you go, sorted.

MECtallica wrote:

blargg, okay question, if a motherboard has 3200 standard, will 2700 (333) work? yea I know 3200 mem will be downclocked if theres a 2700 in but im not really too picky about ram speed and such, just the amount

Dual channel is important, frequency is important, latency is slightly less important.

It should work fine, just a bit slower.