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Upgrade from Opty [email protected] but to what ?

ademcg

ademcg

ademcg

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Joined
29 Jul 2005
Posts
2,081
Location
Warrington
Guys,
I am in a bit of a dilema, I have been running my Opteron 144 at the 2.6 GHz setting since I over clocked it back in November 2005.
24/7 nice and reliable, gaming is error free, no glitches what so ever :D


I am now getting itchy fingers for another upgrade, but don't know what to go for.
I am heavily into my games, so this is my primary reason for any upgrade.

Obviously there is the 146, but I am already at 2.6 GHz with my 144 & 146 not guaranteed to get higher ! :confused: Not bother with this chip???

The Dual Core Opterons 165 and 170 are there too, but I would have to re install windows and start my 3 week OC routine again,...not that is an issue, I quite enjoy it :cool: , but I can't do without gaming for that long :( ,.........is there a cost effective simple chip replacement ?
Is there a such a thing ?
 
williamw11 said:
Why would you have to reinstall?? :confused:
Click to expand...

I might of got it wrong, but I have seen on the forum that Windows (if I went to Dual Core) would have to be re-installed to be properly configured to cope with addressing two cores ?

Is this correct ?

I have also seen that there is some sort of driver too, maybe this would negate the need to fully reinstall Windows ?

I would like this clarified though as it would make the decision a lot easier ! :D
 
No need whatsoever. I still havent had to install the hotfix either. However most of my gaming is now on my 146 and the 165 for video editting etc. Popped chip in and that was it. Rebooted and everything recognised.
Unless you really feel the need to upgrade I wouldnt bother until more games are dual core.
 
You won't need to re-install windows. Aslong as its SP2 the driver for the dual core processor is embedded and will install automatically and prompt for a reboot.

Tbh m8 unless you really 'need' the upgrade for video encoding etc I would stick with the 144 @2.6 coz most dual cores dont clock much higher than 2.6 and in the current crop of games you will notice little, if any, difference. Save your pennies imo.
 
You have, essentially an FX-55 already and you want an upgrade? Crazy.

Anyway, I should think a Dual-core Opteron would be your thing. Probably better to wait for AM2/Conroe before forking out though, just in case.
 
Even if it isn't SP2 it'll still work :)

It's like switching HT on and off on the P4 processors. If you installed Windows with it off (like the PCs at work) it uses the single CPU kernel. When we switched HT on it just reconfigured itself to use the SMP kernel - no issues at all (this was using XP Pro SP1a)
 
You guys can sense my irrational upgrade twitch :D

When you look at it in the cold light of day, yes I do have the equivalent of an FX 55 chip,(for £99 I might add) ;) ...but we all crave that little bit more.

As for waiting, TBH I think this is what I will do, Games will take a while to catch up with the processing power available at this point in time.

hmmm maybe I could buy 2 Gb of Ram instead ! :cool:
 
I should have done the same thing. Had a 3200+ than did 2.5 easily but then optys came about and I went for a 146 then madness prevailed and I got a 165. Dont really need them as the 3200 would still have been adequate. Still have all 3 chips. But sure I have had a bit of fun along the way. Have so far managed to avoid gfx upgrades.
 
chopchop said:
you should just overclock your 144 properly, it should do more than 2.6 :confused:
Click to expand...

How Very Dare you !! :eek:

I did do it properly, I read and followed all of the guides on here and on DFI-Street, I wanted a clock that was 12 hours prime [and anything else you can throw at it] stable and that is 2.6 GHz @ 1.55 V with an AC Freezer 64 Pro cooler.

I think I am limited by my stepping, cab2e 0540 it aint the best I see others have hit similar clock limits.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=6566426&postcount=14

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17542893

In any case, for my first PC build and OC, I am pleased with the outcome, but I am only human and tend to want more,...more I tell ya !! :p
 
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I would keep your opteron mate. Mine runs @ 2.8ghz and I wouldnt touch a DC opty for their current prices for maybe a 5% performance boost. For you its a bit more tempting but I would still keep hold of your cash.
 
/agreed. Keep it and maybe try getting some more out of it to get that thrill back again :) Mine is almost the same as yours ..CAB2E 0548EPAW and does 2.83Ghz (16hrs prime), probably more with a better mobo.
 
Yeah, when I looked at possibly getting a 146, I thought I would be playing Russian roulet, I am already at 2.6GHz (a 69% overclock) and some 146's only get to that.

I guess I was swept along on the tide of DC euphoria that seems to be sweeping the land.
Bide my time I am sure it will all change.

As for revisiting my current clock, I am at 1.55 v and don't want to put anymore through it, it isn't stable at any higher clock so I feel I have reached the max of this chip.

Perhaps my Ram could do with replacing, I couldn't get much of an OC with that (don't think I got pucker TCCD chips ) I had to go on a harsh divider for my clock.
 
Ok, you have all got me thinking now, call me paranoid but I have revisited my OC details and pulled this from the Bios:

FSB = 288 MHz (Max stable CPU FSB before Ram OC was 290MHz @ 1.55v)
LDT/FSB Freq ratio: X 3
CPU.FSB Freq Ratio = X 9

CPU Vid Start up = 1.55v
Chipset Voltage control = 1.60v
Dram Voltage = 3.0v ** High volts but stable and OCZ can go higher.

the DRAM settings:

Dram Freq: 166 (Dram / FSB: 5/06) See what I mean about a harsh divider :( .

CAS = 2
Trcd = 3
Tras = 8
Trp = 3
Trc = 7

This took me a couple of weeks to get the ram working with the CPU clock to produce a stable system, so in one sense I have "clocked it properly" :rolleyes: I just feel a little cheated by the lackluster performance of the RAM which max'd out around 245 MHz or something similar.

So, if anyone can point to something obvious I have missed then please shout, always open to tweaks ! :D

Just a thought, seeing how I have ben running since December 24/7 at this config, solid as a rock, does anyone think the CPU or ram will have bedded in and might be open to another push ??

I have heard "Burning in" can help with clocking ?? :confused:
 
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