Motherboard, CPU Cooler, Thermal Paste

[AndromedaAnima]

I'm looking to buy a motherboard and I have a pair of DDR2 667 1 GB of RAM (240-pin). However, I'm finding the selection of motherboards (for mATX, LGA 775 socket, DDR2 667) to be lacking. Is it worth it to upgrade the DDR2 to a higher clock speed to maybe something like DDR2 800 or 1066 ? Also, I'm looking into a CPU cooler (fan) as the one on my current motherboard is starting to die. Anyone have any recommendations (brands or a particular product) for a CPU cooler? Along with a fan, I assume I'm going to need some kind of thermal paste too. Anyone have any recommendations (brands or a particular product) for thermal paste?

(I'm asking for opinions for certain brands/products only because I've never had to deal with buying coolers and thermal paste).

[toyo]

I'm looking to buy a motherboard and I have a pair of DDR2 667 1 GB of RAM (240-pin). However, I'm finding the selection of motherboards (for mATX, LGA 775 socket, DDR2 667) to be lacking. Is it worth it to upgrade the DDR2 to a higher clock speed to maybe something like DDR2 800 or 1066 ? Also, I'm looking into a CPU cooler (fan) as the one on my current motherboard is starting to die. Anyone have any recommendations (brands or a particular product) for a CPU cooler? Along with a fan, I assume I'm going to need some kind of thermal paste too. Anyone have any recommendations (brands or a particular product) for thermal paste?

(I'm asking for opinions for certain brands/products only because I've never had to deal with buying coolers and thermal paste).

From the initial post I can recommend the Arctic Cooling MX-3 thermal paste, it's a very good product, and cheap too. I tested it and found it the best I ever used.

MB: Do a Google search for "asus lga 775 matx" and there you go. If you have good RAM, you can push it to 800 most probably, but better you sell those 1 GB sticks and get 4 GB of DDR2-1066, if you can.

CPU cooler: first, go read some guide about applying thermal compound first, it's different for 2 cores/ quad core. You overclock the CPU? You need a cooler "just to be there", so your CPU won't die? Arctic Cooling has good and cheap products like Alpine and Freezer, make sure you buy their PRO variants and latest revisions, as per Arctic Cooling site.

[LeetPirate]

Man Arctic Cooling ranted and raved about their MX-2 thermal paste as well, I bought it and it didn't work any better than the silver paste I already had. I doubt the MX-3 is that great. Don't go out of your way to get it, Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste is just as good or even better. According to Arctic Cooling, their MX3 is 2.4 degrees cooler than Arctic Silver 5, however it is a well known fact that Arctic Silver 5 improves over time and requires about 200 hours of initial use before it achieves its maximum potential. AS5 is also more widely available and cheaper, however it conducts electricity so you have to ensure you never NEVER leak any on the board or anywhere else that could result in destruction.

The best way to apply thermal paste is a single rounded blob to the centre of the chip then drop the heatsink on it. Some people say to spread a thin layer on the entire square but in truth that square may not be perfectly flat and the die is in the middle of it so better to not add additional height to the edges.

Once you buy a 3rd party cooler you usually get thermal paste with it. I guess you could save some cash if you buy an Arctic Cooling cooler as toyo suggested because they will give you a small amount of their good thermal paste, most likely MX-2. MX-2 is much better than the paste that comes with overpriced Zalman coolers. Look at the noise levels if noise is an issue for you and you want a quiet PC.

As for your motherboard, just get any board that supports ddr2 800 or 1066 and they will also support 667 without any problems. Just that nobody will want to advertise an older spec like 667 at this time because it is not a selling point. If you want a good quality board for cheap then buy ASROCK, they are made by ASUS so the quality is top. Buying new ram right now may not be best, the price of ddr2 has doubled over the past few months so I recommend waiting it out. Once the board supports 1066/800 then you can always use the 667 ram with it till newer ram gets cheaper again and you can afford to upgrade.

[Bizarre™]

@AndromedaAnima:

If you're upgrading your RAM go for Corsair, Kingston, or OCZ :thumbsup:

Even a DDR2 800 Kingston ValueRAM can OC up to 1000 :w00t:

Of course make sure your MOBO supports them.

[AndromedaAnima]

The reason why I want a new CPU cooler is because the stock cooler on my current motherboard was starting to fail on me before my motherboard became inoperable. I don't feel so confident leaving my (Core 2 Duo E4400) CPU alone. Maybe a heat sink would be fine, but I don't know...

BTW, would a small output be fine for a PSU or should I get a PSU with higher wattage (with maybe 400 watts) if I decide to buy a CPU cooler? I currently have a 250 watt PSU.

[Bizarre™]

I currently have a 250 watt PSU.

I think you better upgrade to a 500W PSU... especially if you're a gamer or doing some overclock ^_^

If you want to do the math: Link

[DKT27]

Really really thanx for the link Biz. :thumbsup:

I need about 500MW PSU for mine.

[AndromedaAnima]

Thanks for the advice guys!

[box]

CPU cooler:

I am looking for an excuse to buy and install this one. I put it in my list of things to do before I die.

http://www.corsair.com/products/h50/default.aspx

Review:

http://www.pcper.com/comments.php?nid=7252

FYI

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=784

[Bizarre™]

@box:

Just buy a 120mm fan with 220V plug... put it inside your PC :win:

[Bolt_Gundam510]

what about ballistic they are good if you want to do gameing, from what i was told they are good. but my self i use kingston ram has never let me down yet for the past 3 years now.

[Bizarre™]

i use kingston ram has never let me down yet for the past 3 years now.

Indeed :thumbsup:

[DKT27]

Hmm I was thinking about transcend but kingston is also on in my mind. :think:

[Bizarre™]

If you want performance just pick Corsair / Kingston / OCZ :win:

[DKT27]

What's more cheaper one? As my budget mark is already surpassed. Online shops tell me that I'll get a 4GB ddr3 not less than $130. :(

Edit:Correction in price.

[Bizarre™]

@DKT27:

Purchase 4GB only if you're planning on a 64-bit system, otherwise go for 2GB.

Furthermore, don't rush on buying i5 / i7. Those processors are still too young.

Who knows, Intel might release a much better processor in the near future.

[DKT27]

I really need 4GB. I saw on one of my friend's computer, all the programs together took about 1GB on windows 7.

And I plan to play some good games. So is 1 GB enough for a modern game? I don't think so. :(

I'm already into buyin i5. But Ill wait till the end of feb in hopes of price falls. Otherwise I cannot wait.

For x64. I'll make another thread when I go for downloadin 7. I'm really confused now. one of my security specialist friend tells me x64 is messed up in many ways. I also doubt that most of my favorite app that are only for x32 may not run on x64 OS. :( . But I do feel I'll install x64 as for the RAM.

[box]

I'm really confused now. one of my security specialist friend tells me x64 is messed up in many ways. I also doubt that most of my favorite app that are only for x32 may not run on x64 OS. :( . But I do feel I'll install x64 as for the RAM.

The x64 is not "messed" up. Your security friend is confused about Windows 7x64 and the label "specialist" should be dropped. A well rounded "security specialist" would understand x64 and capitalize on it. Your friend is saying that to boast his "job security" in the IT industry.

It is true that not all 32 bit software will run in 64 bit. But you would be surprised that many do.

[Bizarre™]

@DKT27:

32-bit editions of Windows (excluding server), can't utilize the full 4GB due to compatibility and licensing issues: Link

There are kernel patches floating everywhere, but I don't know what consequences it will bring if ever used.

[LeetPirate]

I use 4GB and 32bit Windows. I get to use around 3.25GB of RAM, it does not bother me in the least. I really don't care to use 64 bit OS just for that extra .75GB of RAM as it is inconsequential to the overall performance. I load games and photoshop and still I never see it cross 2GB usage with swap disabled. Therefore I expect to gain nothing from that extra .75GB since it currently never reaches the ceiling limit of what is there. Virtualization takes more, however much you reserve for it but that is about the only application that will use so much ram. PS I run games in window mode most of the time so I can swap programs easier when I alt tab, no problems whatsoever. Buy the 4GB if you want, it is better to get 2x2GB for dual channel performance anyway.

[Bizarre™]

@LeetPirate:

Programs can't use anything more than 1GB because they don't have IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE.

It can be set by using the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE linker option: Link

BTW, if you want to utilize the remaining .75 GB, I suggest a RamDisk: Link :)

[LeetPirate]

@LeetPirate:

Programs can't use anything more than 1GB because they don't have IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE.

It can be set by using the /LARGEADDRESSAWARE linker option: Link

BTW, if you want to utilize the remaining .75 GB, I suggest a RamDisk: Link :)

I believe that limit is 2GB by default, not 1GB. Nevertheless no single program should take more than 2GB, that would be poor coding IMO or a terrible memory leak. All programs are coded to work within those specs, uncapping it won't make a difference, maybe it would help some rogue programs but how often does that occur anyway. My belief here is that if all programs are built according to spec, they will never need to use more than the limit set by the OS, and therefore uncapping that limit makes no difference.

Win7 64 bit actually runs a great deal of 32 bit apps, just as box said. Actually I have not seen any 32bit application that refused to work in Win7 x64 unless the installer itself was very old and incompatible. Win7 x64 actually runs both 32 and 64 bit seamlessly, it was made that way. So far it is only Win 2008 R2 Server that was made purely 64bit. For some reason I got Firefox to install on server 2008 R2 but other 32 bit applications had problems.

[Bizarre™]

@LeetPirate:

It really is frustrating to install 32-bit applications on a 64-bit platform, unless it's a 32 / 64 - bit hybrid like 7.

BTW, memory consumption above 2GB would be beneficial for archiving, encoding, and database programs ;)

[DKT27]

@DKT27:

32-bit editions of Windows (excluding server), can't utilize the full 4GB due to compatibility and licensing issues: Link

There are kernel patches floating everywhere, but I don't know what consequences it will bring if ever used.

I know about it.

@LeetPirate: I plan to go for 2GB X 2 sticks for that dual channel thingy that i5 supports.

The games I play, has lot of scenes that once loaded in RAM, it keeps it in the RAM in order to get to that scenes again without any problems. I'm talkin about adventure games. So sometimes it goes to more than 1.3GB.

Plus I plan to use virtual machine/OS. Not simultaneously but I'm not aware on how much RAM it takes.

If x64 Win7 runs x32 programs without any problems then I may consider it. But will x32 programs lack some functionality in x64?

[Bizarre™]

@DKT27:

If you get a 64-bit system, and if the MOBO supports it, you can add RAM above 4GB :tooth: