Where will my bottleneck be?

[anksmashpunk]

Ill be getting a winchester athlon 64 3000+ and overclocking it. Where would my bottleneck be so i can change it.

Winchester Athlon 64 3000+ with stock heatsink
DFI Lanparts UT NF4 Ultra-D
512mbx2 of Corsair Value Ram PC3200 CL: 2.5
Thermaltake TT420 AD 420 Watt PSU

I'm hoping for 2.4-2.5 GHz. I want to keep my vcore at stock or at max raise it just a bit because i'll be using this computer for the next few years and I need it to last.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Thermaltake doesn't make great PSU's, so it won't provide the most stable power, which would give you the highest overclocks.

Nothing else should really limit you there, as long as you remember to run the memory with a divider.

 

[MDE]

What video card?

 

[fbrdphreak]

The video card won't bottleneck system OCing, which is what I think he is referring to.
Other than the PSU as previously mentioned, your RAM might limit that. You could probly hit 2.4-2.5 w/that RAM, but some Corsair XMS or OCZ or Ballistix is the way to go if you have the $$$

 

[gobucks]

it depends on your memory dividers. If you have lots of options, for dividers, then using DDR400 like that will be just fine. However, my board, for example, only had a few - a 5/6, then the next one down was a 2/3. This sucks, cause if you want to overclock to somewhere in the 2.2-2.6GHz range, you have to either run a 2/3 divider and lose memory bandwidth or a 5/6 and overclock your memory, which is not very easy to do with that RAM (mine couldn't get past DDR418). If your dividers suck, then grab some Crucial Ballistix or something, and you'll be able to run 1:1 and ensure that doesn't limit your overclock. That board will definitely do well, though - testing shows it can hit a FSB of 318 using 1T timings. And the processor should be fine, I got mine to 2.475GHz at stock vcore and a stock cooler.

 

[Zebo]

i like buffalo b-line myself.. ran 2-3-2@200 wih 2.8 volts. never tried corsiar.

 

[anksmashpunk]

So i guess ill change my PSU

i dont want to spend too much... currently the thermal take will cost like $38
Im willing to spend $65 or so for a good one. What would you guys suggest?

Heres 2 that i found from enermax... would they would be good? I heard enermax has some pretty good PSUs.

Enermax EG465P-VE FMA ATX +12V Ver.1.2 460W Power Supply w/ Fan Speed Adjustable
or
Enermax EG465P-VE 431 Watt ATX Power Supply

My rig will probably take about 320-330 watts based on the power supply wattage calculator and with overclock im thinking anything in the 400s will be mmore than enough. What do you guys say?

 

[CheesePoofs]

The wattage rating is not especially important, the amps on the 12v rail is what really matters. Look for a PS with at the very minimum 20 amps on the 12v rail, 24 or more is much better.

 

[anksmashpunk]

Enermax EG465P-VE FMA ATX +12V Ver.1.2 460W Power Supply w/ Fan Speed Adjustable

This website says the specifications of that PSu and it says 33A underneath +12V. does that mean it has 33 amps?? that would be more than enough right?

 

[CheesePoofs]

Yes, that means its got 33 amps on the 12v rail. However, that power supply is, i believe, only 20 pin. According to the people who have them, this can cause some instability with that board and severly limit your overclocks.

 

[mrwizer]

Keep in mind that some of the newer 3000+ have not been hitting the higher o/c's like the older weeks (I can boot higher, but not stable). Mine included in this. I am at 2.2GHz. Maybe the 3200+ does not have as much of an issue with the higher mutiplier?

I have the same memory in my MSI K8N Neo2, and I am happy. I am able to get to about 215 on the memory, have not tried to much higher.

 

[anksmashpunk]

Ive looked for soem PSUs with a higher amp and its hard to find them for under $75

I found Antec P4 ATX12V 450 Watt Power Supply With 2 Fans selling at places other than newegg for $60-70

It has 20 amps on the +12v rail. would that be good?

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
Yes, that means its got 33 amps on the 12v rail. However, that power supply is, i believe, only 20 pin. According to the people who have them, this can cause some instability with that board and severly limit your overclocks.

A standard 20 pin limits the overclock?!?

If you are comparing that to a 24pin for PCI-Express boards, it only powers the slot, doesnt affect anything else.

 

[anksmashpunk]

hmm.. if 20 pin doesnt make a difference then that enermax from above with 33 amps sounds pretty good.

and also where is everybody hearing that newer a64 3000+s arent OCing as high as older weeks?

 

[Green Man]

Originally posted by: anksmashpunk

and also where is everybody hearing that newer a64 3000+s arent OCing as high as older weeks?

I think it is a rumor by people who are sad they lost the OC lottery. OC isn't guaranteed you know. Some newer cores do fine, I am running my week 51 at 46% OC...9*292 = 2628 on 1.522v with an Epox 9NDA3J with a thermaltake A1838 cooler.
It will do 2700 on 1.546v prime95 stable, but load temps are almost 50C (how many prescott owners are wishing for 50C load temps?).