I am building a machine for lightweight gaming from some parts from previous computers and some new purchases and I am wondering what would you recommend for cooling an overclocked 2000+ XP?

I had good experience with the Vantec Aeroflow but I am open to suggestions.

The machine will probably be:
AMD 200+ XP
ABIT NF7-S
512MB PC2700 RAM
ASUS TI4200 128MB AGPx8
350W Generic PSU

Quote: Originally Posted by PurpleDiamond I am building a machine for lightweight gaming from some parts from previous computers and some new purchases and I am wondering what would you recommend for cooling an overclocked 2000+ XP? I had good experience with the Vantec Aeroflow but I am open to suggestions. The machine will probably be: AMD 200+ XP ABIT NF7-S 512MB PC2700 RAM ASUS TI4200 128MB AGPx8 350W Generic PSU

If you dont mind modding you can dremel a piece off the Zalman 7000 series HSF and it will fit. I know a coupla people on PR have done that. BTW get a better psu. That and your ram will really limit you. My NF7 S has hit over DDR 500 speeds.

Making my zalman fit was a breaze, if you have a dremel great, if not, use a metal file, not much is in the way of the capasitors. I havn't had much experiance with many other coolers than that, but its a darn good one.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cpt.Planet If you dont mind modding you can dremel a piece off the Zalman 7000 series HSF and it will fit. I know a coupla people on PR have done that. BTW get a better psu. That and your ram will really limit you. My NF7 S has hit over DDR 500 speeds.

How much modding is required? I have no problem applying a dremel to the HSF

I do not think that the RAM is going to limit me - the 2000+ has a 266 FSB and I am going to use 333 memory, so it should be enough for some overclocking.

I am trying to keep the cost down so I am using parts that I already have. Besides, the PSU is somewhat modded and has served me well in the past.

Quote: Originally Posted by PurpleDiamond How much modding is required? I have no problem applying a dremel to the HSF I do not think that the RAM is going to limit me - the 2000+ has a 266 FSB and I am going to use 333 memory, so it should be enough for some overclocking. I am trying to keep the cost down so I am using parts that I already have. Besides, the PSU is somewhat modded and has served me well in the past.

Just taking a corner of a few fins so it will clear..no biggie.

An alternative would be the Si97 from Thermarlright, it does rather well.
Here is alist of the top XP coolers, though some are no longer available.

http://overclockers.com/articles373/socketA.asp

As far as your memory goes, running the highest FSB at a given CPU speed will improve performance.
There is a sizable gain in benchmark testing when running 2.5GHZ at 250x10 instead of 200x12.5 from my own testing. You don't have to upgrade, but it opens up the possibility of higher performance.

Super Pi (1MB test) is a good fast way of seeing how much, check out the results thread in the Benchmark section here to see how you compare. Stock 1.8GHZ (133x13)settings take about 55seconds on my rig, OC'd and tweeked to the max (260x10) it drops to around 38seconds.

http://superpi.radeonx.com/

Your PC2700 should reach PC3200 speeds by relaxing the Memory timings and increasing voltage to around 2.8v

Quote: Originally Posted by $SOLID$ Necro An alternative would be the Si97 from Thermarlright, it does rather well. Here is alist of the top XP coolers, though some are no longer available. http://overclockers.com/articles373/socketA.asp

I'll look into the SI-97, thanks.

BTW that list has not been updated in a while, the P4 is more current.

On a side note, they have not posted a heatsink review (except fot the vapochill micro) in quite some time.

I heartily second the SI-97 -- it's probably got the best performance-to-weight ratio of any Socket A heatsink out there.

Far as I know, that list is still up-to-date, though it does include some no-longer-made models (which is a good thing; helps to know how your current heatsink stacks up).

This is my result of grinding down the mounting brackets and the screw tabs on the zalman hsf:




it does still hit the capacitor/resistor thingy even though i grinded it down as much as i could without hitting the threaded holes.