Upgraded Rebuild thoughts?

[fariss]

Time to rebuild.
Anticipated new parts:

CPU: Athlon 64x2 4400+ Toledo
Mobo: DFI LanParty NF4 SLI-DR
Memory: OCZ 2x 1GB PC4200 EL Platinum
Video: BFG 7800GTX 256 (1 now & 1 later)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling 510 SLI
Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500

Everything else from old build.

Thoughts?
Tips?
Ideas?
Help?

 

[dhlucke]

Unless you're running games at 1920x1200 I simply don't see the benefit of SLI. By the time you buy a new card you might as well just replace the single 7800GTX with whatever is top dog then.

 

[theholylancer]

it seens that the new Daul core socet 939 Opterons are better than the X2s, for they have better memory controller (used for server operations) but they are perfectly good for normal and OCing (reports of 3 GHZ OCs on air are coming in)

get a xp-90 or a SI-120 (if you got some experince with aftermarket screw on cooler) or XP-120(if you got lots of experince with big aftermarket coolers) with a medium or low panaflo 120mm or high if you can bare the noise (or have one of them fan controllers or know how to make a easy one out of some resistors)

or get one of them LED or UV 120mm fans if you want some light in ur case

BTW i dunno if 510 W is enought for 2x 7800GTX.........

 

[fariss]

get a xp-90 or a SI-120 (if you got some experince with aftermarket screw on cooler) or XP-120(if you got lots of experince with big aftermarket coolers) with a medium or low panaflo 120mm or high if you can bare the noise (or have one of them fan controllers or know how to make a easy one out of some resistors)

I've always used Zalman coolers. Fanboy I guess. I'm going to stick with what has always worked for me. Thanks tho for the input. I like the combo of quiet & performance Zalman gives.

or get one of them LED or UV 120mm fans if you want some light in ur case

I use UV reactive in case already.

BTW i dunno if 510 W is enought for 2x 7800GTX.........

That PSU is one recommended by nVidia for SLI use.

 

[endyen]

The lancers suggestion of the dual core s939 opterons is a good one. They are a little hard to find, but they are a top binned chip.

 

[fariss]

How well do the Opterons OC?

 

[endyen]

They are hand picked chips. They OC better than the A64 X2s, generally by a good margin. YRMV, but the opterons do seem to get to 3ghz+, with decent cooling.

 

[fariss]

I just spent a little time over at DFI-Street checking it out. It does seem nice however the warning about using the Opterons voids any warranty. Which Opteron do you suggest?

 

[endyen]

Since the s939 opterons were designed to run on the 939 boards, I dont see how using one would void a warranty.
Ultimately, the 175 is the one to have, but at over $500, it is a little cher.
The 170 is very nice, and at about $400, is more practicle.

 

[pickxx]

I know you said you like Zalman.....and they are great coolers...i only have two reasons why i would go with the SI-120
1 its way lighter then anything from Zalman that competes with it....WAY lighter
2 you choose the fan you want. i would go with http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_info.php/products_id/283 Just because it can push over 100cfm but also comes with a fan controller so you can tone down the noise if you want. I have heard that running this fan at 75% is nearly silent and still have 70+ cfm.


Throw that beast on a 170opteron and you got a badass system.

 

[theholylancer]

the PSU thing, well i'd go with a named branded 600W because i think that you will be Ocing it will you not? and becides i'd rather have some more resurrance, than again if you can't afford it because of the cost of the 170 optys then get the 510W its just a precauction, not a must

and well they say it voids ur warrenty probelly DFI do not OFFCIALLY support 939 optys... so... or it could means because they take the IHS off most of them that will indefinatly void warrenty....

i'm still partial to the xp-120 or si-120, though anyone could give me a rundown of which one is better? i believe XP is the better one (with more metal on it), but since SI was build with newer techology..... anyone?

 

[dhlucke]

I have the xp-120. It's a beast. Temps are never ever a problem. I pushed my voltage up to 1.65v and the temps were still under control, although a bit much for my taste, plus I didn't get the results I wanted.

 

[pickxx]

I have the xp-120. It's a beast. Temps are never ever a problem. I pushed my voltage up to 1.65v and the temps were still under control, although a bit much for my taste, plus I didn't get the results I wanted.

you are a little complaining girl....



The SI-120 is the newer version of the XP-120
The XP-120 had problems with a lot of motherboards because it covers things and didn't fit. the SI-120 is lifted to fit any montherboard for any p4, A64, Opty anything....




As for PSU, get a 500W enermax or Fortron source....it will be a super beast for you.

 

[endyen]

I run my 3200 with a 25% OC, ona stock cooler. I'll chime in on two reasons why I like the SI better, and they are bothe the same.
The SI has aspace between the base and the fins. That means the fan is less likely to get cloged with dust, and any dust that does stick to the fins will be easy to remove.
I would bet that the XP starts out a full degree cooler than the SI, but the dust buildup will quickly change that to the SI's favor.
A two second brushing every 6 months or so is a lot better than the 15 minutes the stock hsf takes up every 4 months to clean.
(Why do I feal like an old nag now?)

 

[pickxx]

(Why do I feal like an old nag now?)

two reasons
1. you offer sensable advice about cleaning
2. you are....

 

[endyen]

Thanks sweetheart.

 

[fariss]

No. The Zalman is the lighter of the two. In fact by a wide margin. The Thermaltake weighhs in @ 690g w/o a fan. The Zalman is 530g w/ a fan.

 

[pickxx]

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!

http://www.xoxide.com/thermalright-si-120.html
400grams without
fan
I highly doubt that fan is 100 grams (i did look but couldn't find it) So at the heaviest its still lighter then the lightest Zalman.



http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=373500&affiliate=yahoo
500grams with a fan...which is one of the lighter zalmans...

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=FA...837942d2c66294b449441976070631807306726207028
900Grams 1200mm but HUGELY heavy

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=373034&affiliate=yahoo
755grams all copper and 92mm so smaller

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=FA...837942d2c66294b449441976070631807306726207028
600Grams mostly Alum with some copper 92mm so smaller


So dont be stupid...check your facts...its a thermalright not thermaltake, and its only a MAX of 500grams with a heavy fan....so i think i was right....say you're sorry and go sit in the corner.

 

[theholylancer]

lol... as you can see people here are kinda partial to the xp-120 or SI-120, they use 120mm fans instead of the smaller 92mm or 80mm fans that ZALAMAN uses so they cooler better or make less noise, and sicne throse ZALAMANS are expensive (compared to a xp-120/SI-120 with a shitty 120mm fan), comes with a fan already (no extreme 30W 220 CFM 120mms lol) and perform not as good when in quiet or in OC mode....

but IMO, if you like the ZALAMAN, go for it, it is okay if you don't compare price/perf and just on how it lookes and its past history, because if i remember correctly, ZALAMAN was one of the more older and successful brands, thermalright apperantly "screwed up" and got the xp-120, and i must say i'm glad that they "screwed up" lol