[daedal]

Our union pulled through and we might be getting a bit over 1.5 grand of retro pay and I'm thinking "I'm dumping this into my PC!"

So here's my current setup:

• Motherboard: P4P800E-Deluxe (Socket 478)
• Processor: Pentium 4 Prescott w/HT 3.0ghz @ 3.6ghz
• Memory: 2 Gigs (4x512mb dual-channeled) of Corsair TwinX Value RAM 3200
• Video: ATI X850XT AGP

I want to upgrade my Processor as it's pretty severely bottlenecking my video card but I don't know which path to go down. My only restriction is that I want to keep my RAM. I was thinking of maybe picking up an Intel Extreme 3.2ghz which would allow me to be able to keep my Socket 478 board and save me the cost of a new Mobo.

On the other hand, I've always wanted to switch to AMD and I've been drooling over the FX57 but it's much more costly (about 300$ more) plus the cost of the motherboard. I'm also wondering if the FX57 runs at 3200 or would I have to get new RAM too or should I avoid the FX completely and pick up a 4800? Any thoughts, suggestions, help? Thanks!

[nitrousoxide52]

I personally think you should make the move to dual core, with the 4800+, then you can also make the move to PCI-E at the same time.

[daedal]

I was thinking about it but I don't want to move to PCI-E just yet. I just dumped 600$ on a new AGP card (I know ) and I sure as hell won't switch until I absolutely need to. I don't want to build a new PC, just get a new Processor.

[mike2h]

there is no way that 'proc is severley bottlenecking' that gpu. the cost of the 'ee' vs the perf raise you will get is not cost effective either. out side of possible faster hd there is not a lot of room for improvement there. & you are still talking diminishing returns. you have a very fast comp that can play/do anything you want now & for at least the next year or so. i would spend my $$ elswhere or save it for a 'super comp' down the road aways.
unless you feel you have to be faster just to be faster. then your still talking more than what you got for a full upgrade & still be at equivalent gaming speed.
the real kicker is , you could actually lose/not gain perf(highly doubtful but possible). you have a good oc there, if you get a cpu that just does not want to oc(like the 3.2prscott i just got ) you could end up with a better performing cpu operating at a much lower speed. something to think about.

one thing, at what speed is your mem running? i seriously doubt you are running a 1:1 ratio with that oc. you might want to consider buying memory that that will run at that fsb with tight timings. take a look at the high speed(someting in the pc4200+range) ocz gold or platinum. you could sell your ram to defray costs so you would not be out of pocket to much. & get a speed up on everyhting. would be a whole lot cheaper than that cpu($600+) you were talking about.

[daedal]

Hmm, I do plan of picking up a 72gig Raptor drive soon. As far as the RAM is concerned, I really don't want to dump 2 gigs of RAM that runs fine for little results. I'm running a divider so no, the RAM is not running 1:1.

[mike2h]

Hmm, I do plan of picking up a 72gig Raptor drive soon. As far as the RAM is concerned, I really don't want to dump 2 gigs of RAM that runs fine for little results. I'm running a divider so no, the RAM is not running 1:1.

the raptor is kickass. i have one partioned for my os & games then have a seperate partition on my 160 cuda for the swap file.
little results? with the right ram you could get, what, a 260/270 fsb at 1:1? you do realise that you get speed increase not just from the fsb increase but from the ram running synchronous with the cpu dont you? you are talking more bandwidth & more speed.
but you ARE willing to dump a perfectly good, very fast cpu & spend $600+ on another cpu for a probable small gain?
your mem is the biggest chokepoint you have right now. you said earlier that you thought your cpu was limiting your card(which i do not believe) what do you think that mem is doing to your cpu?

[daedal]

Moving this weekend to a non-air conditioned apartment so I'm not too sure how my OCs will go there. Case temps are about 19c to 23c here but will skyrocket up to 40c or so once I move. Sucks for that.

[mike2h]

know what you mean. we have 100+ temps on a regular basis. in fact it looks like we are in the middle of a multi week 100+ temp streak(107 today, yesterday, & tomorrow). case temps always go up.
thought about putting some of that $$ into more effecient cooling. do not know what you are using, but might want to look into it.

[daedal]

Was thinking of maybe watercooling it but I'm scared of shorting out my stuff.

[mike2h]

from what i have seen & read, with the new kits they have out now, you would have to actively work at it to do that check out the oc forum, there would be more help there on that.
i have been considering it, but since i can not get my 3.2 prescott to oc stable over 3.4 & the core temp does not go over 62c no matter what i do(i have really tried), does not seem much point in it for me.
that big swiftech with the evercool 80mm fan seems to do the job. that & the 100 other fans i have in my case

[CDsDontBurn]

when done properly watercooling will be alot more effective than air cooling any day. As far as shorting out your system, just make sure you get distilled water (i think it's distilled water) so it doesn't carry a charge and if the water block leaks, your components won't short out.

[CDsDontBurn]

Originally Posted by mike2h

from what i have seen & read, with the new kits they have out now, you would have to actively work at it to do that check out the oc forum, there would be more help there on that.
i have been considering it, but since i can not get my 3.2 prescott to oc stable over 3.4 & the core temp does not go over 62c no matter what i do(i have really tried), does not seem much point in it for me.
that big swiftech with the evercool 80mm fan seems to do the job. that & the 100 other fans i have in my case

i've gotten my 3.2e close to 80c on several different occasions .

[Necrosis]

I would say go /w the 4800 just because the 478 socket is dead, and you have the money now. Plus you can always sell your old parts, and be able to afford dual raptors. BTW, how many sticks of ram do you have?

[daedal]

I've got 4 sticks of 512mb for a total of 2 gigs which are two sets of Dual-channel.

[Necrosis]

K just curious since that should be fine on a Venice, San Diego, or Toledo core AMD. The only problem is it will more than likely run at 2T instead of 1. Also remember room temps are very, very important for water cooling. However, if you plan on cooling your radiator a special it would be ok.

[daedal]

Is the 4800 dual-core only? Unless I go for a 4000 and use the rest for the Raptor and new sound card I need. Ugh, don't know what to do anymore.

[nitrousoxide52]

Buy an airconditioner for your new apartment.

[daedal]

Already got one lined up, outside of the PC's budget.

[nitrousoxide52]

666

[Necrosis]

You could also for the 4400 instead of the 4800 to save quite a bit of money.

Heck you could just say screw it, get some raptors, sound card, and new lap top

[daedal]

Yeah, a laptop might be fun too so I could bring my work around. Damn I hope we get the cash!