Joining the AM2 clan soon, since I will be switching from 939 to AM2
I will getting the following spec :

AM2 X2 3600+
Biostar TF550
Corsair TwinX XMS2 DDR667 2x512MB

I kinda need advice on the mobo and RAM... is it ok with my current setting? I'm using this mainly for OC and gaming (already owns ATI X1600XT) so I'm wondering the Biostar TF550 and Corsair RAM would work great together And I had gone through a website saying that DDR2 bandwidth does not really have great effects... so should I get a normal value RAM or high performance RAM? (for OC purpose )

Also, I'm going to get a new PSU as well... any suggestion? My budget for the PSU is around RM350~400 (the less the better ). FYI, my current rig already have CDRW, DVDRW and one Maxtor 120GB HDD...

ah I see...

But actually, I'm still quite confused with the RAM OC... I know that in order to push my proc speed higher I have to increase the HTT, but then how do I know which divider/timing I should use for my RAM?

ohh.. thanks for the advice

Anyway, need a quick advice (quite urgent coz I think I will go get it tonite), now I want to know whether I should get AM2 X2 or C2D, since my total budget for the upgrade of my computer now had raised to RM2k...

The stuff I intended to buy are :

AM2 X2 3600+
Biostar TF550
Mushkin DDR800 2x512MB (this three stuff will total up around RM1k+)

And now my brother agree to sponsor me another RM1k, so I'm really confused whether I should keep using AM2 or go for C2D?

I'm aiming for heavy gaming, and I already have a Sapphire ATI Radeon X1600XT, so should I ditch the X1600 and get a X1900 or 7900GT?

Add me to the clan list now...

AM2 X2 3600+ Windsor F2 | Biostar TF550 | Mushkin DDR2-800 | Stock AMD cooler

soulfly : You got a Biostar TF550 mobo before right?
A question, how do I change the clock multiplier in the BIOS? I found one option and changed it to x8, but when I look into cpuz it was still in x10...

My X2 3600+ SuperPi 1M time was 37secs only even though I OC'ed it to 2.4GHz now...

Is it normal? I think its pretty slow compare to my old Venice 3000+ (OC'ed to 2.5GHz) which get 35secs... Wasn't dual core suppose to be faster? Or RAM also play a big role? (Correct me if I'm wrong.. still quite new with the benchies )

Nevermind, I'm just trying to get the best out of my "Sempron X2"

@soulfly
wow, you got some nice results there; what is your idle and load temperature? I'm using stock cooler as well, but now my CPU (OC'ed to 2.4GHz) temp could go up to around 55~58C during maxload (afternoon time)...
I'm just thinking whether I should wait for my Scythe Infinity before pushing it higher

This post has been edited by Cyrus2k: Aug 25 2006, 10:30 AM

@8tvt
I'm stressing using the dual core version of super prime You can see both my CPU are in 100% load in the Speedfan window.

Now I wonder if I increase Vcore to 1.5V would the temp could be kept around 60C.. What is the safe temp for dual core CPU?

Thats my setting now I already OC'ed it to 2.4GHz and ran through priming for 8 hours already

Maybe I will try to push it higher, but only scare the temp would go out of control
Trying to tighten the timings for RAM now...

@Jealousy
For RAM, you could get 1GB kit for Corsair XMS or Mushkin EM for that budget...

As for cooling method, depends which type you want. You could get a pretty good air cooler for about RM200, for liquid cooling it will be much more higher.

This post has been edited by Cyrus2k: Aug 25 2006, 10:36 PM

Ya, original HSF You could refer to my earlier post for the screen shot of my cpuz and temp

You are buying value ram or performance ram? Its better to make it dual channel I'm currently using 2x512MB Mushkin DDR800 value RAM, so far so good..

As for PSU, I think its quite enough, since I remember I saw somebody in this forum using ACbel 450W and have identical setting with yours. But I guess its better for you to check how much energy your x800XT eats。。。

This post has been edited by Cyrus2k: Aug 26 2006, 02:45 AM

haha, just the same condition as mine

Anyway, if you are really tight on budget, then just get X2 3600+ since you could actually OC it to 2.4GHz or above (with better cooler). I saw an article before that manage to overclock X2 3600+ to 2.6GHz and the performance already nearly same as X2 5000+

As for the RAM, you could just get one stick, then later get another stick lor.

btw, ugpm

Just like soulfly stated; the cache does not really makes a big difference in performance; but might slower when you wanna bench with SuperPi

You could refer this link for the overlock review for X2 3600+

I think inside the manual is for illustrate purpose only; there is one option that could let you to change the multiplier

I'm using Enermax FMA 535W.. so far so good, no problem

Waiiting for my scythe before pumping more Vcore to get higher clock

hmm, haven't try 32M yet...

But, when I try to push my clock spd higher than 2.4GHz, the whole system become unstable and will restart automatically...

Is this the sign of not enough Vcore? I tried to put 1.5 Vcore and push the clock to 2.6GHz, then my comp restart automatically while I try to stress test...

3600+ @ 260 x 10= 2.6GHz, 1.5 Vcore
HTT Multi 3x

Memory:
DDR533 divider (Timing auto), 2.0Vdimm

Dunno what is limiting my cpu now... hopefully not my mobo or proc

EDIT: Well, this is my 32M results @ 2.4GHz

This post has been edited by Cyrus2k: Sep 1 2006, 01:05 AM

Well, now had installed the dual core optimizer. I had also flashed into the newset BIOS (using the windows flashing utility)

Thanks for the advice on voltage increment, now I found that my proc could run at 255x10 = 2.55GHz @ 1.425 Vcore
But there is one starnge thing I found; when I put the 1.425 Vcore in Bios, it will show as 1.440 Vcore in cpuz. Does this mean my mobo giving some extra Vcore to the proc?

At 2.55GHz, I could pass super pi 8M & 32M but unable to get pass Stress Prime after 5 minutes...

At 2.6GHz @ 1.45 Vcore, could not pass 8M (restart automatically)..

I dunno whats limiting my comp now...

1.25Vcore??

wow..

My X2 3600+ @ 2.4GHz need 1.35Vcore..

Which RAM divider you use?

well.. I only got to 2.4GHz @ 240 x 10 so far... now waiting for my new RAM to continue OC...

If you fried your chip, I don't think you can actually boot up your comp

Anyway, I got the same result as yours.. so I guess its speedfan detection problem or not compatible with our mobo..