I'm going to try something new and put together an AMD setup... I've had nothing but Intel in the past and two of my computers currently have C2D's in them...
Anyway, I'm going to start witn an Antec 3480 and put in a AMD Phenom x3 8450 CPU. My initial intent is to run a Ninja Mini, however, do you think I should step up to a full sized Ninja, or will the mini take care of the heat well (passive or active)??? This is going to be a work use computer and it needs to be quiet, yet cool.
On a side note, since this is my first AMD build and I'm not sure how to choose the RAM for it. I read somewhere that you divide the clock speed by half of the multiplier, then multiply by 2 ....(2100 / 5.25) x 2 = 800 Mhz. I'm not sure how true that is, but it does equal 800 Mhz. Anyway, what would be the optimal RAM speed for this processor?
THANKS!
First AMD build... coupla questions
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thejamppa
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In order to get 800 Mhz ram to work as 800 Mhz in AMD I don't quite remember but I remember something that 2,1 Ghz CPU's should downclock to 2,0 Ghz to get 800 Mhz Ram work...
But 800 Mhz ram is good. You do not notice difference between 800 Mhz stock or slightly under clocked Ram by CPU etc. I've used 667 Mhz with 2,1 Ghz CPU when I had x2 4000+ 2,1 Ghz. But current 800 and 667 memories are same priced so 800 is definately better buy.
8950 is rated 89-95 W's so I'd put a 92mm Silent fan on Minja. Something Like Nexus etc... Minja with 92mm fan should be more than enough 89-95W TriCore.
But 800 Mhz ram is good. You do not notice difference between 800 Mhz stock or slightly under clocked Ram by CPU etc. I've used 667 Mhz with 2,1 Ghz CPU when I had x2 4000+ 2,1 Ghz. But current 800 and 667 memories are same priced so 800 is definately better buy.
8950 is rated 89-95 W's so I'd put a 92mm Silent fan on Minja. Something Like Nexus etc... Minja with 92mm fan should be more than enough 89-95W TriCore.
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RedAE102
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Minja + 92mm fan should be plenty to cool a Phenom X3. I haven't looked very in-depth, but I remember seeing that the AM2+ processors (Phenoms) have ratio memory dividers, (i.e., 8:5) instead of simple integers like all K8s, allowing for full memory speed at a much wider range of CPU speeds. A google search for Phenom memory divider just confirmed this.
Re: First AMD build... coupla questions
"Divide by half the multiplier and multiply by 2" is just an obfuscated way of saying "divide by the multiplier and multiply by 4". Regardless, it should indeed give you a value which there is no point in surpassing. However:yamahaSHO wrote:On a side note, since this is my first AMD build and I'm not sure how to choose the RAM for it. I read somewhere that you divide the clock speed by half of the multiplier, then multiply by 2 ....(2100 / 5.25) x 2 = 800 Mhz. I'm not sure how true that is, but it does equal 800 Mhz. Anyway, what would be the optimal RAM speed for this processor?
1) I agree with thejamppa - there will probably not be a significant performance difference between 800MHz and 667MHz, but the 800MHz is very cheap nowadays so you may as well get it.
2) You can still gain some (probably unnoticeable) benefit for going above 800MHz.
3) However, at this range more important are your timings. For best performance for your price, you should go for a RAM frequency of 800MHz or less and decrease your timings as much as possible (if you can get a deal on a 800MHz CL4, it will be more than enough).