Need help finding the best MB/CPU with DDR2 DIMM and AGP support
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Posted by Adam Corolla on December 29, 2006, 12:41 pm
Please log in for more thread options I have a system that has three GB of 184-pin DDR 400 DIMM (three 1-GB modules) and a really good AGP video card. Unfortunately, the CPU is a bit lame (it's an early Athlon 64) and the motherboard doesn't support DDR2 for over 1 GB. I am looking to pick up the highest-performing used (or new, if they still make them) motherboard and CPU with support for 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200). Is there a benchmarking site where I can select to view tests only on board/CPU combos which match this criteria? | |||||||||||||
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Posted by kony on December 29, 2006, 3:58 pm
Please log in for more thread options How good? >Unfortunately, the CPU is a bit
>lame (it's an early Athlon 64) Then get the fastest CPU your board supports, since the most significant upgrade will require replacing everything. >and the motherboard doesn't support DDR2 for
>over 1 GB. "for over 1GB", what? Oh you might mean you have one of those odd hybrid boards? In that case, does it support a more modern CPU? Athon 64 has on-die memory controller, there is not much performance difference between boards, 'tis merely a matter of what CPU the board supports (keeping in mind the limitations of reusing the memory and AGP video card). >
>I am looking to pick up the highest-performing used (or new, if they still >make them) motherboard and CPU with support for 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 >(PC 3200). Skt. 939, pick the CPU based on the budget. Most don't have AGP slots though, some have XGP was is a significant performance bottleneck for a "good" video card (ie - in gaming, in 2D use you may never notice the difference). >
>Is there a benchmarking site where I can select to view tests only on >board/CPU combos which match this criteria? There's no relevant benchmark, just focus on the CPU you want and go from there... but with the limitation that a supportive chipset has to support AGP and DDR(1). In other words, best advice is to either upgrade the present CPU or sell all the parts and start over. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Adam Corolla on December 29, 2006, 5:58 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:41:20 -0600, "Adam Corolla"
> >>Hi all,
>> >>I have a system that has three GB of 184-pin DDR 400 DIMM (three 1-GB >>modules) and a really good AGP video card. >
> How good? Nvidia 7800GS or 7600 GS, I forget which. >
>>Unfortunately, the CPU is a bit
>>lame (it's an early Athlon 64) >
> Then get the fastest CPU your board supports, since the most > significant upgrade will require replacing everything. Yeah. I was hoping I could get a motherboard that supported a newer-gen CPU and still had AGP and 186-pin DIMM support. After spending a few hours looking at mtherboard specs, I now realize this is a pipe dream. >>and the motherboard doesn't support DDR2 for
>>over 1 GB. >
> "for over 1GB", what? For over 1 GB total RAM. With 1 GB RAM, the motherboard runs the RAM at DDR 400, but if I add a second stick of RAM the board will lock on RAM count unless I limit the RAM speed to DDR 200. I have the latest BIOS and have checked with the board manufacturer--that's just how it is. >
> Skt. 939, pick the CPU based on the budget. Most don't have > AGP slots though, some have XGP was is a significant > performance bottleneck for a "good" video card (ie - in > gaming, in 2D use you may never notice the difference). Yep, that's what I found--Socket 939 is the sweet spot in my price range, but the few Socket 939 boards that support AGP and 184-pin DIMMs that were made have poor AMD 64 X2 support, like maxing out at 2400 MHz. > In other words, best advice is to either upgrade the present
> CPU or sell all the parts and start over. Agreed--however, I've found that as a rule it takes doubling the processor speed (if everything else remains the same) to even *notice* any difference in the performance of a given system--not worth it. I'll wait until I'm ready to upgrade the whole system. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by kony on December 29, 2006, 7:33 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:58:03 -0600, "Adam Corolla"
>> Skt. 939, pick the CPU based on the budget. Most don't have
>> AGP slots though, some have XGP was is a significant >> performance bottleneck for a "good" video card (ie - in >> gaming, in 2D use you may never notice the difference). >
>Yep, that's what I found--Socket 939 is the sweet spot in my price range, >but the few Socket 939 boards that support AGP and 184-pin DIMMs that were >made have poor AMD 64 X2 support, like maxing out at 2400 MHz. That 2400MHz max may not be so significant, it could be only what they'd tested or what the bios can correctly identify. If you found a board you like, you might seek some web based forums, searching or inquiring about support for newer dual core CPUs... however, even a single core might not be a bad upgrade (depending on what you have at present), at least to get a little bit more of the value out of your present video card before moving on to PCI Express. For example, Newegg.com just dropped the price on San Diego 4000+ (last week?), they're reported to clock to 3GHz or beyond. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103528 Single core is going to be the best value for gaming anyway, though on the other hand if you were thinking about selling your video card it'll have a lot more value now rather than later (after full line of DX10 parts are out). >> In other words, best advice is to either upgrade the present
>> CPU or sell all the parts and start over. >
>Agreed--however, I've found that as a rule it takes doubling the processor >speed (if everything else remains the same) to even *notice* any difference >in the performance of a given system--not worth it. I'll wait until I'm >ready to upgrade the whole system. > You must have a really slow Athlon 64 if you felt there was any chance of doubling it... as dual core won't be that much of a benefit for most uses except in a select few software titles rather than gaming. | |||||||||||||
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>
>I have a system that has three GB of 184-pin DDR 400 DIMM (three 1-GB
>modules) and a really good AGP video card.