Help with new PC spec [Archive] - The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Wez

15-11-07, 18:12

Hey All,

Is this OK as its not as quick as I thought it would be :-

* ASUS P5K motherboard
* Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333FSB
* 2 x 1GB DDR2-667 PC2-5400 CL5
* Xpertvision 8500GT Sonic edition 256MB PCIE
* WD2500KS 250GB 7200RPM SATAII/300 16MB
* Samsung SH-S203B 20X DVD1RW/RAM / DL Serial ATA

Thanks

:cool:

Wez

15-11-07, 18:18

Actually looking a that my memory prob isnt the best choice as I could run DDR2 6400 CL3.

Would this memory be better :-

OCZ 2GB Kit(2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory NVIDIA SLI Ready CL4 Unbuffered 2.1V

Scotster

15-11-07, 18:26

Don't really get your question. Do you already have this PC? Just wondering as i assumed you had because of your "not as fast" comment but then wasn't sure after your memory comment.

Depends what your after mate. What are you going to be using the PC for and what is it not as fast as you thought it would be at?

Scott =op

Wez

15-11-07, 18:29

Yeah already have it but I thought it would be a little quicker, I am thinking about changing the memory to maybe help it out.

Scotster

15-11-07, 18:32

Quicker at doing what? What is it not as "quick" as you thought at?

Scott =op

colsoop

15-11-07, 18:57

If its gaming then its your g card letting the side down im afraid :(

DamanC

15-11-07, 19:13

Not bad wez, for the money I would romp the memory upto PC6400 and and get a better gfx card if you are gaming. Highly recomend the new 8800GT or the new GTX/GTS are out in a few weeks.

Sheefa

15-11-07, 19:19

I bought the X1950 card the other day for around 100 sheets. Cracking card, but I don't play the latest games in all their glory with settings ramped up to the max. What do you actually USE your pc for Wez?

Wez

15-11-07, 19:28

World in conflict was not that impressive to be honest, crappy frame rates. I also use the PC for messing with photos and videos.

I just read up on the motherboard and it will take 1066 memory so looking into that now.

Sheefa

15-11-07, 19:33

Would be nice to get some of that new Flash RAM they have out, or are shortly releasing. Would cost an arm and a leg though!

Wez

15-11-07, 19:39

In the process of ordering 4GB of Corsair DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Dominator Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5.

Not sure what to do about graphics card though.

Wez

15-11-07, 19:59

I have ordered the memory and will see how I get on with that.

Wez

15-11-07, 20:17

Just did a benchmark in World of Conflict, this is with the AI NOS overclocking set to 110%.

Res: 1280x1024
GFX: HIGH
Min framerate: 4
Avg framerate: 8
Max framerate: 18

:(

Scotster

15-11-07, 20:28

With gaming you could have all the memory under the sun and it won't make a difference.

You should have spent more money on the processor and the GFX card.

When the core2duo first came out i built the system i have upstairs:

Core2Duo 6600 Clocked to 3.2ghz
Gigabyte Mainboard. (can't remember model, top spec at time though)
2GB G.Skill 6400 Ram CL4
256mb Radeon X850 XT (expensive at the time, around £300)

The above system runs games very well and i did a full benchmark test when i put the gfx card in with great results. I've got 3 300gb HDD and 1 500gb HDD in it now though so i don't know what effect that would have on gaming.

I don't play games though so i don't know why i wasted my money on it all lol. Its lightning fast at encoding DVD's though.

Scott =op

Angarak

15-11-07, 20:32

I just read up on the motherboard and it will take 1066 memory so looking into that now.

The Asus P5K series motherboards have a stability problem running DDR2 8500 (1066) memory at its full speed.

You may find that if you let BIOS auto-manage the memory it will be set to run at DDR2 6400 (800) speed. Manually configuring the memory may result in the computer not booting up or crashing often once in windows.

I speak from experience - I have an Asus P5KC with Crucial 8500 (1066) memory - I have to run it as 6400 (800) for a stable platform.

Wez

15-11-07, 20:44

The Asus P5K series motherboards have a stability problem running DDR2 8500 (1066) memory at its full speed.

I read this was fixed with a BIOS update :(

Angarak

15-11-07, 23:00

I read this was fixed with a BIOS update :(

First I've heard - maybe it is on the P5K motherboard, but not the case on the P5Kc :( ...though I am hoping a BIOS fix will sort it in the future.

Edit:
Just checked out the Asus forums, it would appear there is a new bios (rev 0804) but the update info would suggest its just additional CPU support.

But, for your info, here is the thread on 8500 support for P5K family mobo's: http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&id=20070910190845281&board_id=1&model=P5KC&page=1&count=17

Thorin

16-11-07, 08:40

Try the latest NVidia Beta drivers, see if they improve performance.

Wez

16-11-07, 11:17

But, for your info, here is the thread on 8500 support for P5K family mobo's: http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&id=20070910190845281&board_id=1&model=P5KC&page=1&count=17

Why do they say only use the black slots, whats the difference between the black and yellow, I have ordered a set of 1GB 8500 mem sticks :(

Wez

16-11-07, 11:19

Try the latest NVidia Beta drivers, see if they improve performance.

Already got them loaded as I never use the supplied drivers :thumbs:

I havent tried Vista yet as I dont like it :innocent:

Angarak

16-11-07, 19:12

Why do they say only use the black slots, whats the difference between the black and yellow, I have ordered a set of 1GB 8500 mem sticks :(

I'm not that familiar with the other P5K family motherboards, but on the P5KC motherboard, which Im assuming the persons comments refer to, there are 6 slots (4 DDR2, 2 DDR3). The DDR2 slots are split into a pair of yellow and black slots. According to the manual, you should put 8500 memory into the yellow slots (these are slots A1 and B1 which you would normally use when running paired memory modules).

Wez

16-11-07, 20:39

I have done some overclocking and the machine has woken up a bit.

FSB: 1560Mhz
CPU: 2.73Ghz
MEM: 780Mhz
CPU: 1.4v
MEM: 1.85v

I have also ramped up the gfx card as standard they are 600/600, after reading up and some testing I have settled for 760/770.

Things are not crashing yet.

Another benchmark in World of Conflict :-

Res: 1280x1024
GFX: HIGH
Min framerate: 6
Avg framerate: 12
Max framerate: 26

Still not great but a little better, I deff need a new gfx card and hopefully the faster memory will help too.

Scotster

16-11-07, 21:06

Processor is being wayyyyyy overstretched if you have to run the FSB at that speed. Mine isn't even at 800 and its running 3.2.

Scott =op

Wez

16-11-07, 21:53

FSB is 1333 standard so not pushing it that hard.

390 x 7 = 2730MHz

Reading up some people crank this up to 500 with water cooling but 400 is apparently the max on stock cooling, I settled for 390 :D

Wez

17-11-07, 11:36

The Asus P5K series motherboards have a stability problem running DDR2 8500 (1066) memory at its full speed.

New memory arrived this morning. With my FSB at 400MHz my memory runs happily at 1000MHz with 2.2v :eyebrows:

Deff need a better gfx card though :(

colsoop

17-11-07, 11:38

New memory arrived this morning. With my FSB at 400MHz my memory runs happily at 1000MHz with 2.2v :eyebrows:

Deff need a better gfx card though :(

The 8800 gt is looking like a good performer.

Wez

17-11-07, 11:39

The 8800 gt is looking like a good performer.

Yep, I have been looking at some reviews and its highly recommended, havent seen any in stock anywhere yet though.