johneverd

Thermalright contacted me and recommended the backing plate that comes with the Thermalright AM2 Bolt-Thru Kit ($10.50 shipped at FrozenCPU). Linked: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5186/cpu..._and_HR-01.html

I bought a DFI INFINITY NF SLI-M2 AM2 motherboard to overclock a 3600+ processor. We had a Thermalright XP-120 heatsink on our old socket 754 board, so I bought the new AM2 RM (Rev.B) bracket to use the XP-120 with an AM2 board. My problem is that there is no mounting hardware with the Infinity motherboard, nor with the AM2 bracket that I just bought. Has anyone installed the XP-120 on an AM2 board? What mounting hardware do I use? Reference to AM2 RM (Rev.B) bracket: http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_pr...s.htm#acc_am2_b

Will be trying the Evercool VC-RE on an DFI AM2 NF4 board soon. Will report back whether if fits or not.

Be aware that the rebate is through Onrebate.com. They have become as dreaded as the old Tiger Direct rebates. Do a google search for "Onrebate fraud". Just beware.

Creative released the newest beta drivers for Audigy based cards yesterday. Just finished installing them on Vista 5384 32-bit and the 5.1 surround works now. Drivers are for the following cards: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy including Platinum and Platinum eX series Creative Sound Blaster Audigy® 2 including Platinum, Platinum eX, and Value series Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS including Platinum and Platinum Pro series Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Pro and Sound Blaster Audigy 4 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook PCMCIA LINK: http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/d...ype=0&details=1

Best Byte has Arctic Silver's Ceramique heat sink paste for $7.36 ($5.80 + $1.56) shipped USPS 1st Class. The free shipping code PWASFS might still work, but is likely expired. http://www.bestbyteinc.com/TIM-ARS-C22.html

Monarch is selling the OCZ PowerStream 600W Power Supply for $99 plus $5 shipping. Sutract a $40 rebate and the price is $64. PRODUCT LINK: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/m...&AFFIL=hhd&NR=1 REBATE LINK: http://www.monarchcomputer.com/rebates/100663.pdf Rebate good thru 7/31, but they may sell out before then.

Have you tried to run Memtest for 6 or more hours? Try it overnight and see if you get any errors. CD-ROM ISO image of Memtest is here: http://www.memtest86.com/#download0

Monarch.com has released new coupon codes for their Opteron processors. The codes are: AMD Opteron 146 Coupon Code: 63006-120331 $75.00 Off AMD Opteron 148 Coupon Code: 63006-120333 $45.00 Off AMD Opteron 165 Coupon Code: 63006-120339 $70.00 Off AMD Opteron 170 Coupon Code: 63006-120341 $35.00 Off AMD Opteron 175 Coupon Code: 63006-120343 $50.00 Off They are updated weekly at the link below: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=...27&page=1&pp=20 The Opteron 146 and 165 are great deals this week.

I am considering buying a Mobile Athlon 64 3400+ for use on a DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb board. The chip has no Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS). I hope to use an extra XP-120 on it, but don't want to crush the core. Browsing the internet earlier today I saw an aftermarket IHS for about $10 (from a well known motherboard manufacturer if I remember right, and a very catchy name), but I didn't add it my favorites. Strangely, I have searched my History and used Google Desktop, but to no avail. Does anyone have the link to an aftermarket IHS, or remember the name?

No, they do not allow you to choose the stepping there. It's the luck of the draw.

"....I did not reinstall windows when I installed the new board" That's the first thing that I would rule out weskurtz81. Needs Windows reinstalled anyway.

Purchased an OEM Operton 165 CCB1E 0609 FPMW from Monarch a few weeks ago. Using a Thermalright XP-120 Heatsink (max temp 46C during prime). Prime-Stable (8+ hours) at: 2.9GHz @ 1.5V (HTT is 322) 2.65GHz @1.3V (HTT is 294) Boots into Windows at 3.0Ghz and will do Sisoft Sandra benchmarks, but will not pass Dual-Prime. EDIT: BTW, below is a link to a Opteron 165 stepping list which shows which are good, and which to avoid: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=96900

I used a Zalman NB47J (with a 40mm fan bolted on) on our NF3 250Gb. The Zalman VF700-CU video card cooler just misses it.

If you weren't in Pakistan I'd suggest looking at Fry's Electronics. Every so often they have top cases for up to half off. Of the two you mentioned originally I'd say the DRAGONFIRE-BK.