reverse build

[marcaius]

Hey all,

I may have messed up but i don't think it's too big of a problem... I knew this guy who was parting out his pc and i wanted his ram and vga but not his mobo or cpu , so i got his ram (Mushkin 2 x1GB xp4000 dual kit, ddr 500) and his vga (EVGA e-GeForce 7800GT, pci-express sli compatible) , so now i need to find a mobo (and cpu) that will match up well with these two components , any suggestions??

I am figuring on an ASUS (was figuring on AMD) and it must be SLI compatible and preferably dual core (for upgradabilities sake), but if I got a AM2 chipset mobo is it retro-compatible with DDR ram or is it only DDR2?

thanks in advance,

marcaius

[Alaron]

If you want to use the RAM you bought, you would have to set up an AMD system with socket 939. AM2 uses DDR2 which it is physically different in size, so it is not compatible. However, AM2 is newer, so you might want to go that way. You can always sell the RAM on eBay for a decent amount and put that money towards DDR2-800 (which is required for AM2 systems). One final option is to still sell the RAM and go for an Intel based Core 2 Duo machine, which would be faster then anything from AMD right now.

I'd go with an Asus board as well no matter which way you choose to go. For AM2, the M2N32-SLI is a great choice, and for 939, the Asus A8N32-SLI is a great choice.

Let us know which way you want to go and we can proceed from there.

[marcaius]

ok, thanks

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So, anyone want a 2gb pair of tightly timed dual channel mushies? :P

[Jimmy0]

Try and sell the RAM on eBay or some place else - then you can use the money to go towards the parts.

[freakitchen]

Concur with that - you might find that what you have is quite in demand. Now that DDR2 is the standard, anyone looking for an upgrade option is forced to pay over the odds for new DDR, and I'm sure a few people are turning to Ebay. The stuff you have is quite specialist, too.

FK

[piXel]

Originally Posted by Alaron If you want to use the RAM you bought, you would have to set up an AMD system with socket 939. AM2 uses DDR2 which it is physically different in size, so it is not compatible. However, AM2 is newer, so you might want to go that way. You can always sell the RAM on eBay for a decent amount and put that money towards DDR2-800 (which is required for AM2 systems). One final option is to still sell the RAM and go for an Intel based Core 2 Duo machine, which would be faster then anything from AMD right now. I'd go with an Asus board as well no matter which way you choose to go. For AM2, the M2N32-SLI is a great choice, and for 939, the Asus A8N32-SLI is a great choice. Let us know which way you want to go and we can proceed from there.

Why is DDR 2 800 required i use 667

[freakitchen]

It's due to the memory controller on the AM2 socket. Although DDR2 667 will work with an AM2 system, I believe that using anything less than DDR2 800 hurts performance compared to the equivalent processor on socket 939 using DDR 400 memory.

FK

[piXel]

Originally Posted by Freakitchen It's due to the memory controller on the AM2 socket. Although DDR2 667 will work with an AM2 system, I believe that using anything less than DDR2 800 hurts performance compared to the equivalent processor on socket 939 using DDR 400 memory. FK

Isnt the difference just a couple of percent anyway?

[piXel]

After browsing some Benchmarks on toms hardware the only processor that really benefits from DDR-2 800 in the AMD range is the FX series the rest seem fine to me with 667.

[newbuilder14]

Sure, DDR2-667 will work in an AM2 build but for max stability we suggest DDR2-800 - it is not anything like Intel where you max the FSB frequencies I guess.

[piXel]

Originally Posted by newbuilder14 Sure, DDR2-667 will work in an AM2 build but for max stability we suggest DDR2-800 - it is not anything like Intel where you max the FSB frequencies I guess.

Yeah from looking at the bench marks i see why they have like a massive 64 page AM2 vs 939 , There is a slight slow down in games 4 fps but i probably dont get the slight slow down as my 3800 X2 is clocked at 2.4 ghz on a few apps like dvd burners there is a slow down with 667 but its not much and im not really bothered atall, it seems that the 5000 X2 and upwards and the FX series really benefit from the 800 though just not the lower down models like mine.

[marcaius]

Well, i think i'm gonna try and sell my mushkin dual kit, as i paid rock bottom for it I should be able to make some $$$ on the deal hopefully and put that towards some nice DDR2...

Now i guess i need to decide if i want to go Intel or AMD, I was leaning toward AMD just for affordabilities sake, but i guess what i really want is to get a rig that i can upgrade and will be able to run games for the next several years, like right now i only have 1 vga for my new rig, but i want to get SLI because when i get some more $ i'll get that other vga. And so i guess what i'm looking at now is where does the most potential lie, i suppose that's core 2 duo? I'm not a big online-competitive gamer, but i do do MMO's, and so a few fps here or there isn't a big deal to me, but i do like my rpgs to look beautiful (oblivion, vampire: the masquerade). If I can whip up a AMD rig AM2 socket that has the potential to do me for the next 3 years or more , than that's all i really want. I really don't have my finger on the pulse of future computing demand in the gaming realm so i guess that's why i'm here.

So, after taking a step backward, maybe you guys can help me out given the above.

thanks again!

[freakitchen]

An AMD build is no cheaper than an Intel build these days. In fact - with Intel's new C2D processors, you'd actually be getting better value for money with an Intel build. The processors out-perform similarly priced AMD chips at the moment. You should really consider building one of these systems over an AM2.

In my opinion, multiple video cards are overrated, particularly SLI. Two identical cards in SLI would be outperformed by a single, more powerful card - it by no means doubles your video processing power.

Give us a budget, and we can help configure you a system.

FK

[flanzig1]

May have a tough time doing a Sli setup with the 7800GT. I believe that they are no longer being made. The only ones on Newegg are recertified units.

[marcaius]

I had heard similar statements about SLI but i guess i was figuring on the benefits increasing as the technology was better taken advantage of, perhaps i was off-base. What I had originally intended was for this to be kind of a work in progress, get a solid mobo with some nice ram (which i could always get more later) and get a decent (not great) vga which i could just get another of later (with SLI) and then a lower end processor for the board which i could replace later on once i had more $$$ This may be a fubar way to go about a build but it was what i had envisioned.

That being said, i already have a couple hard drives, dvd/cd burners, psu (535W), and a generic (but huge) case plus a couple nice case fans. I had a budget of about 550 in mind for the mobo cpu ram and vga, that's considering I got this ram and vga (plus psu too actually ) for 250. Leaving 300 for my mobo and cpu. If I can sell my mushkin kit I could probably add another 200-250 to the overall budget depending on what i get for it. And also I have gotten some xmas loot recently and could maybe add another 100 from that or so. Sooo, assuming I use my 7800 GT , that's a budget of 600 give or take 50 on either side for my Mobo CPU and RAM, depending on what is gained or lost in that 50. Or I could even use my DDR RAM too and spend like 400 on my mobo and cpu if that would gain me anything...

Thanks again all, this has been very educational and extremely helpful. Cheers and happy new year.

[glc]

I actually think I'd do a 939 and use that Mushkin ram. You can get a tried and true Asus A8N-E single slot board for about 80 bucks shipped and an OEM 4400+ Toledo dual core for about $180. Add a bit more for a proper heatsink and you will have a very decent overclockable single card gamer for around $300 cash outlay.

SLI is just a marketing gimmick. You will want to go DX10 pretty soon anyway and this will be a whole new ball game, you will be tossing that 7800 anyway.

[marcaius]

So, what it's really sounding like is that I should get rid of the 7800 (while the gettin is still ...well, better than it will be later on...) and the RAM. And go with Intel , DDR2, and a better vga :P, curse you DX10 *shakes his fist*

[TimPoet]

Originally Posted by marcaius So, what it's really sounding like is that I should get rid of the 7800 (while the gettin is still ...well, better than it will be later on...) and the RAM. And go with Intel , DDR2, and a better vga :P, curse you DX10 *shakes his fist*

I don't know if you need to go that far. I'm using a 7600 gt and it handled FEAR, which demands a lot of performance, quite well.

[glc]

I'm an Intel fan, but a 4400+ X2 Toledo is no slouch. You have the right ram and video card for that. 300 bucks now will get you a darn nice machine without having to try to sell what you have.

[marcaius]

Well, i think i'm gonna go with your advice glc and keep the ram and vga , and get an A8N-E with the toledo, it fits quite nicely into my budget and i believe will give me what i am seeking. Thanks to everyone for your input and you'll probably find me next in the overclocking forum here in 3-4 business days

cheers