Author Topic: Intel setup? (Read 341 times)

RGJ · « **on:** July 24, 2002, 06:28:34 PM »

What is the best way to start with a brand new Intel setup M/B model/manufacture(ie, Asus, Abit, MSI), chipset(ie 845E, 845G, 850), memory(RDRAM, DDR) etc?

RGJ
63rd 56th Fighter Group "Zemke's Wolfpack"
Cave Tonitrum

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2002, 08:24:11 PM »

wow somones gonna build a p4 system. you win a lottery?

Innominate · « **Reply #2 on:** July 24, 2002, 08:27:44 PM »

If you're building an intel system, spare no expense for it, and you'll come out ahead. If you're worried about price, AMD is probably a better way to go.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2002, 11:53:52 PM »

basicaly if you spend twice as much you will be a tiny bit faster. anywhere below the max fastest system out there and amd is the way to go. unless you have some reason for wanting a p4.

just built a couple amd systems ( my first amds) and they are great. im getting 268 lookin up and average 60 ot 80 fps at 1200x1600 with a amd xp 1600+ and radeon 7200 ddr 64 whole sytem with nice aluminum 3 fan case came in below 800 bucks with all top flight stuff one notch down from the newest ( asus boards radeon vid ( got vid in and out cheap ) ddr 266 memory soudblaster cards mitsumi drives 400 wat duel fan power supply and coolermaster heatsink fan

if your interested ill give you all the details if its truly p4 you want ya got me no one i know will build one. all the store bought ones i have seen are basicly problems waiting to happen.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2002, 12:15:27 AM »

Go with RAMBUS and the 850 chipset if cost isn't your primary concern. This will run you about $50-$150 more than SDRAM options depending on how much memory you want to add. It will run about $30-$100 more than low end DDR options.

I'd stop by http://www.anandtech.com and scout for info on motherboard choices there. I've built two 2GHz systems with different MSI 850i chipset motherboards and have not had any problems with them. Both systems are extremely stable.

AKDejaVu

bloom25 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2002, 01:41:48 AM »

If you decide to go with a P4, you're wasting your time unless you get a board that supports the 533 MHz FSB P4s. This is for both upgradability and performance reasons. It's only the 2.4B and 2.53B P4s that can outperform the 2100+ and 2200+ Athlons and have the possibility of future upgrades. 845E and 845G chipsets from Intel would be my pick using PC2700 DDR ram. The 850 chipset version with a 533 MHz FSB using Rambus PC1066 RAM will perform slightly better though, however PC1066 Rambus is hard to get and very expensive.

The MSI 845G Max is a good board IMO for a good price (uses the 845G chipset obviously). This board should be around $125.

If you go P4 you have two real options:

A. Find yourself a 1.8A or 1.6A Northwood and using a 533 MHz FSB board, overclock to at least 2.1 GHz or so. This is a very popular option, and in this way you can go Intel and get a similar price to performance ratio that an AMD system would do for you, AND have an upgrade path beyond the 2.4A GHz P4s.

B. Spend the cash and get a 2.26B GHz P4, which on an 845G board at stock speeds is about roughly equivilant to an AMD XP 1900+ - 2000+ system configured roughly the same. (This would be my pick if you aren't into overclocking, although you should be able to overclock the 2.26B CPUs slightly with fast RAM installed.)

WHATEVER YOU DO the 533 MHz FSB is key. If you get a 400 MHz FSB board you can't go above 2.4GHz and the price to performance ratio is not very good at all. A good 845G or 845E board ought to be good at least to the 3.06 GHz P4s (November release most likely) and probably slightly beyond.