Bye AMD :(

[batmeat]

I'm building my next computer within 2 weeks. I'm going to be getting a Abit IC7 and a P4 2.8Ghz 800fsb chip. I haven't built an intel system for over 6 years now, and am wondering about cooling. I'm going to O/C the chip of course. I need something that is quite that will drive the temps way down. Water cooling looks nice and I thought about the swiftech 8500 kit, but I've never water cooled before. What do you all recommend my cooling setup be for this chip, either air or water? Here's what my next cow is going to be.

Abit IC7
P4 2.8Ghz 800 fsb
Samsung PC3700 (DDR 466) (2 sticks of 512)
Radeon 9800 Pro (already have)
WD Raptor SATA 36 Gig 10,000 rpm hard drive.


Oh, this is a gaming machine, which is why AMD won't be used.

[Undeadlord]

Water cooling to me seems like a good route, its been around awhile now and I personally have never heard of one busting and drenching a system.

However I am curious about your statement about AMD and games? Intel doesn't run games any better than AMD's do? I have a AMD 1600+ and in LAN game sessions I can beat the pants off many of my P3 and P4 buddies, in speed and smoothness.


Undeadlord

[Telexen]

Air should cool it just fine but if you want to go with water cooling that's fun too. I built my own water cooling kit, as it's MUCH cheaper and performs better than buying a prebuilt (like Swiftec, Koolance, or Innovatek)

Though I second, gaming is just as good if not better on AMD systems, that is an OLD myth.

[nukes]

If you go for a high end HS (like the SLK900) and get a Papst fan, you would probably get good cooling as well. I've no experience with watercooling whatsoever, as I don't have that much money, however it would be fun.
I'll be the third to say, why ditch AMD? Its fine if you just want a change, but the AMD chips will easily run side by side with intel on most games, the determining factor is nearly always a graphics card. On my XP1700@1.63, and a Radeon 32mb SDR, I can run most games ok. A freind who has a TBird 1.2 and a GF3 Ti400 64mb DDR beats the pants off my system for games. The CPU normally doesn't make that much of a difference, as in most games now, any CPU>1.5ghz will run about as well as any other. The Graphics card is much more often than not the weak link.
But you won't have that problem either seeing as you're running a 9800 Pro

[thekingofpain]

Use the retail cooler first as they work pretty good, mine was OK enough for a 600 mhz OC--- replaced for a better/quieter Vantech Aeroflo...

[batmeat]

Wow I guess the whole increased FSB thing for games and bandwidth doesn't hold true anymore? I'll look inot Nforce 3 then. I still may go with Intel though. Heat issues are a big thing for me regardless of watercooling. Anybody else got some recommendations? I appreciate the help.

[Xtreeme]

max temp for 2500+ and aeroflow for me is 41c at 80f ambient or so. Not hot at all. And to clear up misconceptions. The watts= heat. P4's at 2.4gig and up run just as hot-sometimes hotter. My buddies 2.4b is avg. 50C at max load with stock Intel HSF and P4Pe mobo.

Fact- games use raw fpu mainly, there maybe one or two with sse/sse2 enhancements if your lucky. So that mean right away Intel is at a disadvantage with games. XP is x2 the raw fpu of Intel in any bench Ive ever run. So who is more about games? Games are raw # crunching just like SETI and such which AMD does have the upper hand at. I would rather game on a 2400+ then a 2.4gig P4 just due to the raw fpu factor. AMD also has very strong ALU. They ARE the only two gaming factors for the cpu. RAW fpu=#1 importance. ALU more for apps and buisness software but some is used in games of course. But as others said -2400+ or P4 2.4 both are hindered by the graphics card-as its the true bottleneck today. I just dont see the point in paying x2 the $ and not seeing any dif in games and useage.

[Telexen]

You'll spend a LOT of money going with the nforce3/opterons...they're still VERY new (not even really done)

[Xtreeme]

When did opterons and overpriced top end stuff get into this conversation?????

[win2kuser]

Get yourself a decent Nforce 2 mobo, stick in a 2.5 barton and run it at 11x200 fsb and you get a XP3200+ which will compare with the 2.8 P4 in benchmarks but will play better in games. In addition, it will cost you half what the P4 will.

The 2.5's run slightly cooler than some, so no need for fancy water cooling, a decent hsf will do - Saving even more money

You'll spend a LOT of money going with the nforce3/opterons...they're still VERY new (not even really done)

I agree that the Nforce 3 and opterons are waaaaay overpriced atm - You will get ripped off big time.