Abit TH7II info?

[rogue1979]

Does this board have a 1/4 pci divider and a 1/2 agp? I have seen several people get it above a 150MHz fsb, one over 160! My plan is to get the Northwood 1.6 and get 16 x 150 for 2.4GHz. From what I have read rdram at these bandwidths outperforms DDR. I don't know what brand of PC800 to get, and what kind of divider if any is needed to run rdram stable on a 150MHz fsb. Can someone enlighten me?

 

[sep]

I'm planning on doing the same. Although, I was looking at getting a 1.8 Northwood for about $225 and just clocking it to 2.2 with the original cooling. But now after just looking up prices for the 1.6 I might go that route instead. Back to your questions, yes the board has these settings. However, I don't know about the correct settings needed to get the RDRAM up this high, but I don't think you have to set anything for the ram. I'm going with Samsung Dual Channel 2x128MB from Z-Buy.

Parts...
Intel 1.6GHz Northwood CPU (Retail)...............................$165 shipped@mwave
Abit TH7II Motherboard (Retail)........................................$155 shipped@mwave
Samsung 128MB DualChannel RDRAM w/Blue Ramsinks...$89 shipped@Z-Buy

Z-Buy's website doesn't mention Dual Channel. Isn't all RDRAM Dual Channel? Anyone want to confirm Samsung is a good chip to overclock (mushkin uses it for it's RDRAM)?

 

[rogue1979]

Thanks for the response! Gonna order in the next week or two.

 

[Athlon4all]

If you are indtending to hit 533fsb, then yes as long as your RDRAM can hit PC1066 speeds, this board will provide the best performance for the P4 at 533fsb+PC1066 RDRAM speeds. 150fsb though is a lot to expect of your RDRAM (you're talking PC1200 speeds!) and really I wouldn't expect that, PC1066 though is definately doable. Just a tip, you may be tempted to lower the RDRAM Ratio to 3x in order to hit 150fsb, but I would not. When you lower the RDRAM ratio to 3x, when you're at 150fsb, the RDRAM will not run at PC1066, but rather PC900 and really, believe it or not, the 533fsb+PC1066 will outperform a 600fsb+PC900. Just a tip to you and sep

 

[sep]

Athlon4all,
Do you know if this board will/can support PC1066 or PC1200 RDRAM? Any thoughts when to expect this to hit the market?

Using the corsair (thanks for your reply to RDRAM???) 2x128MB NON-ECC how high to you think these could go, that is overclocking?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to get all the facts...Thanks again. -JC

 

[rogue1979]

Thank you for the tip, I am just learning about P4 and rdram and that was one of the questions I had.

 

[Athlon4all]

<< Do you know if this board will/can support PC1066 or PC1200 RDRAM? Any thoughts when to expect this to hit the market? >>

PC1066 it definately will as long as you have a 533fsb Northwood (coming in a few months see below), or a CPU that can run at 133fsb overclocked (like a 1.6A running at 2128MHz), and plus you will need memory that can run at PC1066 speeds, but yes this board has been overclocked to 533fsb. PC1200, I dunno. maybe maybe not. PC1200 is a bit far off so I'd consentrate on PC1066.

When will PC1066 hit the market? In a few months Intel will release 533fsb Northwood's that run at 533fsb (133MHz QDR) instead of 400MHz (100MHz QDR), and released along side these Northwood's will be 850e, 845e, and 845G (Integrated Graphics) and PC1066 RDRAM. These chipsets will officaly support 533fsb, but Abit TH7II and Asus P4T allready hit 533fsb all they need are PC1066 RDRAM (or lower the RDRAM ratio but as I have stated, I do not recommend).

<< Using the corsair (thanks for your reply to RDRAM???) 2x128MB NON-ECC how high to you think these could go, that is overclocking? >>

I dunno. I've heard them touted as the best for ocing. The only rock hard info I can give you is that over at Ace's Hardware when Johan tested a modified Asus P4T, he used retail Corsair PC800 and he did hit PC1066 speeds(see here), but nothing is certain when overclocking.

<< Sorry for all the questions, just want to get all the facts... >>

No problem. Glad to be of service Any more?

 

[sep]

Athlon4all,
I checked out Ace's article and looked up the corsiar part number "CM618DR128" and it's coming back as ECC. Newegg has the corsiar memory CM616DR128-800, but it's OEM. I'm confused

I currently have a PIII 1G and can survive a couple months without a new pc, was giving this one to my three year old...not bad for her first computer, and I was hoping to get a PC with the new extras (ata133, usb2, etc.). Getting one with a 533MHz bus sounds even better. Any specific dates on these chipsets? RDRAM.com is mentioning PC1066 & PC1200 RIMMS, but no date.

I'm glad we had this talk. I hate spending this kind of money without know what will be released the next month (not what your thinking, I know technology changes every second). If I didn't know about i850e.. or PC1066.. I would of purchases these on Saturday and would of been pxssed that I didn't wait a little longer, but now that I know it's around the corner I think I should wait it out. What do you think?

Thanks for the info, you saved me from pxssed (at myself of course)...hehe.

UPDATE....
Found some sites with the info I was looking for. Here ya go...
Roadmaps, by quarter and The Register

 

[Athlon4all]

<< I checked out Ace's article and looked up the corsiar part number "CM618DR128" and it's coming back as ECC. Newegg has the corsiar memory CM616DR128-800, but it's OEM. I'm confused >>

Just get non-ECC (and OEM is fine as well). non-ECC OEM should do just as good as what Johan used.

<< I currently have a PIII 1G and can survive a couple months without a new pc, was giving this one to my three year old...not bad for her first computer, and I was hoping to get a PC with the new extras (ata133, usb2, etc.). Getting one with a 533MHz bus sounds even better. Any specific dates on these chipsets? RDRAM.com is mentioning PC1066 & PC1200 RIMMS, but no date. >>

Well it's your choice. I would if you can wait for 533fsb because it's not like every quarter Intel or AMD increase the fsb (Athlon XP's been on 266fsb for a year now). And really, PC1066+533fsb will do quite well in games on the P4 so if possible wait. April sounds like the right time frame for when the new chipsets, Northwood B's and PC1066 are coming. Somewhere in that time frame. Don't hesitate to wait. Sure your P3 isn't the fastest on the block, but I bet that only games are being hampered by it

<< I'm glad we had this talk. I hate spending this kind of money without know what will be released the next month (not what your thinking, I know technology changes every second). If I didn't know about i850e.. or PC1066.. I would of purchases these on Saturday and would of been pxssed that I didn't wait a little longer, but now that I know it's around the corner I think I should wait it out. What do you think? >>

I would try to wait it out because I can't remember if 850e will feature AGP 8x, but you must realize that P4 Northwood's that will use the same socket, will go up to prolly 3.5GHz at least before the next fsb increase so there's plenty of room for upgradeability in the CPU part, and then if 850e features AGP 8x as well, then you'll be set for video cards as well you know?

<< Thanks for the info, you saved me from pxssed (at myself of course)...hehe. >>

Again you're welcome. Ever have any questions just PM me or IM me on AIM or MSN (see my sig) and I'll be happy to chat.

 

[subhuman]

I was kinda eyeing the 1.8A @ 2.4... unrealistic with only air cooling?

I have Samsung 256meg ECC RIMMS, wonder if it'll run 133FSB... anyone who's tried, post

 

[Athlon4all]

<< I was kinda eyeing the 1.8A @ 2.4... unrealistic with only air cooling? >>

Not at all. Should hit that quite easily with Retail HSF at default Voltage.

<< I have Samsung 256meg ECC RIMMS, wonder if it'll run 133FSB... anyone who's tried, post >>

Hmmm, maybe, maybe not. They're ok RDRAM but I dunno about weather they'll hit 133fsb. It's hit or miss. It could go either way.