Hey people!
You talk every time about overclocking, but I can´t find any casemod forum on Computing.net...
May I need to look better at it to find (may I ´m blind just now), but I think may be a good new discussion topic to start in computing.net!

Here my question:
I want to buy a new processor (need a cheap one - I´m in Brazil, I´m very poor man compared to the mean of you, and want to buy a Sempron 3000+. It will be hard to buy this one instead, but it is near my actual cost limits).
I want to know if S 3000+ will get hotter then my actual Thunderbird 1200Mhz 100MhzFSB, specially whem overclocked. I´m using an Asus A7V8x (without the -x) that I still updated to bios 1015.003 to support the 3000+.

Will this processor run stable on this motherboard? Anyone knows?

Will this motherboard be capable of overclocking this Sempron, since the 400Mhz FSB support of the MOBO is limited (supports 333Mhz fsb and 400Mhz memory, but I don´t know if it will get to 400FSB overclocked).

If I overclock it, What can I do to get better temps in my CPU?

I still made some mods in my case...
I´m using a CoolerMaster Aero 7+ heatsink.
I cut-off all the fan holes on my case to get better air-flow by removing the bad small hole arrays that came in the case fan locations... I also make a open bay in the top-most 5.25 bay in order to get better exaustion, and make holes in the botton of my PSU cover to better air circulation (but it get air from the front too).

I need cheap and efficient home made mods to use in my case to get better temps for overclock. May I get a new PSU with 120mm fan and active pfc from sventeam or sunflower in future, but I need to reduce moise too.

I know my requirements are too high, but any suggestions are welcome.

1st of all, the Sempron should run cooler...the Athlon Tbird runs very warm, but you should already know that.

2nd, the Sempron is basically just an relabeled Athlon XP. The 3000+ is an excellent choice because it has a Barton core...too bad you have a VIA based motherboard rather than a more overclock friendly nForce2 based board.

3rd, you're gonna have to get better RAM if you wanna overclock...PC2100 (DDR266) isn't gonna cut it. Don't bother with PC2700 (DDR333), go straight to PC3200 (DDR400).

4th, always keep you CPU & RAM in sync. Don't run the CPU at 166MHz (333FSB) & RAM at 200MHz (DDR400)...either run both at 166MHz or both at 200MHz. I not 100% sure, but I don't think your BIOS allows you to lock the PCI/AGP bus at 33/66MHz. If not, the max setting between 166MHz & 200MHz would be about 188MHz...anything higher than that will push the PCI bus too high & you'll risk problems with your PCI cards & IDE devices

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz
768MB PC3200
Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit
Gamer Edition
WinME/WinXP Pro

You´re right, Jam!
I will not keep my DDR266 whem try to overclock... I´m planning to sell it whem I have all the money, but I just tested the 266Mhz stability with 333Mhz setting on this board to be sure I will work with them overclocked until I get new modules. PS: (my brother has a PC1600 runing at 333Mhz stable on one of his computers, but I think it is too much luck to get this far)
But about the DDR400, this mobo has several limitations on using it... I don´t know if it will work with more than one 512Mb module, and here in Brazil, the 1024Mb modules are very expensive compared to two 512 ones...
The Asus manual says this motherboard will boot with only one DDR400 module. With two, it will not boot-up. (was not reported 1024 DDR400 working with this MOBO too, in the list of compatible PC3200 modules. There is no limitations for PC2700).
Strange this thing... I fell that there are no significant diferences between a PC2700 and a PC3200 module except by their operation clocks. If there is no differences, isn´t the same thing if I use two 333Mhz modules running at 400Mhz or using two 400Mhz ddr modules? Or there are any diferences that will permit to me to use two O/C 333 memories in the place of two 400Mhz?
I need to know if my only alternative is to buy the expensive 1024Mb DDR400 module to overclock the Sempron on this mobo.
And I will need this amount of memory since I will run Geoprocessing with ruge databases and image editing software.
Thanks Jam!
If you can help me nay further... :)

But how about the casemod? ;)

Hmmm cheap case mods? First off is to sort all of your cables so they are as thin as possible. Easily done with cable sleeving kits. This should improve airflow a lot. Which brings me to my next point.

Fans, the bigger the better 120mm fans are great because they are high airflow and lo-noise, although your case might not support it. But hey thats what they invented cutting tools for!

In the interests of noise limiting i would suggest getting a 5 1/4" fan master as this will help to reduce noise on cooler days or when you are not running so many things.

If you are really stuck for cooling ideas and dont care how your PC looks then just take the sides off for a bit lol.

Hope this helps.

Matt

www.bbcomputing.co.uk

matt@bbcomputing.co.uk

Airflow...airflow...airflow.

Many cases are built with a little "vacuum cleaner" slot at the bottom front for intake air. Moreover, most of this little slot is often blocked by front usb/audio/etc cabling. That means you don't get any cool air in the lower front area of the case. The often provided side panel fans will let some cool air in but at the wrong location.

That said, my case mod is a cd size hole in the front panel with a 120mm fan behind it to provide cool air to everything inside. The very restrictive "grilles" at various fan mounting locations were clipped out to allow air in and out of the case.

Point is, whatever case you choose, make the determination is based on airflow; not cosmetics. Anyone can make a case pretty but it isn't as easy to make one cool properly.

I agree with jam, good choice with the Sempron. I also agree that you should replace the memory as soon as money allows.

"I´m very poor man compared to the mean of you,..."

Not compared to me... :)

Skip

I made a hole in the botton of my front panel, just before a 80mm fan. I´m also using rounded cables for my floppy and my two IDE channels. These cables were stored in the mobo side of the case, where there is space between the case cover and the 3.5" hdd bays. This way, there is no obstruction in the airflow from front-botton to the mobo. I´m still using a 80mm fan exausting in the rear panel just under the PSU and near the processor (without metal obstruction). I use too a CoolerMaster Aero 7 that I run generaly at 3000rpm of the 4000rpm it can reach, to avoid excessive noise. My case fans are 80mm Zalman OPT1 (these designed for low noise GPU cooling with heat-pipe mounting - the fan itself isn´t too expensive) I´m running the two OPT1 at low noise mode.
The alternatives I see, considering the help of Skip Cox and tau titan are:
Speed-up the case fans to get more airflow, but it get noise same time!
open the side panel to get cold... But this probably will increase noise and ruin the look of my case.
What you guys think about make a CD sized hole in the top of my case and use only a filter grill (without fans). Do you think it can realy helps? I´m trying to avoid noise...
Or may be better to look for a new silent PSU with 120mm fan in the botton? I think my PSU has poor airflow and I have no space to simple make a new PSU cover with the desired fan connected.
These air tubes in side panel near CPU realy helps?

Oh! and I have EVA (carpeting) on my side pannels to reduce noise. It can cause serious heat problems whem I overclock the Sempron 3000+?

The room temperature is now at 23C and mobo sensor at 30C and CPU sensor at 61C. Today is a near cold day, since temperatures here easyly raises to 30C to 32C. May the solution I still have jusb be enought or may I invest in something more? I´m worried because my old motheboard, a PCCHIPS m817 have the PCB color darkned closer to the voltage regulation circuit. It is a overheating signal. I think I must refrigerate better the upper-rear corner of my case, but what may be the best cheap way?
Thanks by the effort until now!

All of us have too much to learn, but with some luck we can even help someone.

new psu is good idea... carpeting will probably cause heat issues no matter what you have in there. And like i said 120mm fans hardly make a sound. Even the £1.20 one i got from ebuyer. The cheapest way to cool your case is fans... for better cooling you must be prepared to shell out for something like water cooling...

Matt

www.bbcomputing.co.uk

matt@bbcomputing.co.uk

I agree...and as far as a blowhole in the top of the case, an 80mm fan running on +5vdc will exaust any hot air that resides near the top of the case. Only a little airflow is required for a top blowhole.

The 80mm fans you have now should be fine at their current speeds.

I'd recommend using the stock cooler that comes with the Sempron including the thermal pad to begin. That will insure a three year warranty on the processor and I believe it'll be at least as good as the Aero7.

Like jam said, your Athlon is known to run pretty hot and 61°C is not out of line for that processor. I can't say if current cpu temperatures would be lowered by replacing the Aero7 with something else.

The new psu is likely a good idea.

You can remove the side panel to see if temps go down any but I recommend leaving it in place. We want the air to enter at the bottom front, wash over everything inside and exit in the area of the psu.

Sounds like you know the basics and also have a pretty good idea of where you're going and how to get there. I also assume you have the necessary tools to cut a hole in the top...that's the hardest part. A low dollar 80mm fan and fan grille of your choice will complete the installation.

I'm sure we can dig up a bunch of links if you need further help.

Skip

Thanks you all!
It surely helps a lot!
But SkipCox touched the point... I know some of the basics, but need to know what will be the best first solution to try starting from what I still have.
I think tau titan is right whem said that carpeting can cause problems... I still don´t know if using carpetting was really usefull on reducing noise after I open a hole in the front of my case. I will try to remove it at first and see if it makes differences.
About the PSU, I really don´t know what can be more effective, the top hole on the case or the PSU change, but I feel that a better PSU can help in the overclock too, sure?
My actual PSU is good at power: +12V = 12.34; -12V = -12.69; 3.3v = 3.28; vcore = 1.84 (this one I don´t understand since the mobo is set to 1.75 according to auto set-up, and AMD website, for the 1200 thunderbird and it is impossible to lower this even on my old motherboard) These are the actual numbers according to Hardware Sensors Monitor.
Do you think make a hole (the cheaper but difficult solution) can be better to try first, and my PSU is ok, or it is better to wait and buy a PSU considering I will have it for future upgrades?
I want your opinion...
Now, I think everything I want to know was replied, except by the real possibility of this overclocking on my A7V8X.
Thanks guys, very very very thanks!
Be happy!