Best Intel CPU/Motherboard Combo

[568overclocked]

I'm trying to rebuild a 2 year old computer. I don't know much about Intel CPU/Motherboard combos as I've been using AMD for awhile. But I'm switching to Intel since I hear from the majority that it's better for video encoding and multimedia production. I'm using a Canopus DVStorm Card and majority of the users also recommmend staying with Intel for full compatibility with the capture card. Can someone point me to in the right direction. What chipset should I be looking for on the motherboard? What Core for the CPU? I was looking at using Abit, Asus, or MSI for the motherboard manufacturer. But open to suggestions

Last Intel system I built was a dual P3 1000mhz so I really could use the advice

 

[Appledrop]

my favourite:

MSI GNB MAX 2-L (E7205 granite bay chip)
A P4 northwood (highest 533 fsb one u can afford)
2x crucial pc2100 ram !

niiiiiiiice!

 

[568overclocked]

based on a quick search, i came up with these motherboards...

ABIT "IC7-G MAXII ADVANCE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 131.62 at newegg

ASUS "P4C800 DELUXE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 160 at newegg
ASUS "P4C800-E DELUXE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 174 at newegg

What's the difference between these 2 asus boards

MSI "875P NEO-FISR" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 152.13 at page computer

i'm trying to keep between 300-400 for the cpu/motherboard combo as i have to purchase 1gb of memory since i'm still using pc133 ram. the total cost for the cpu/mobo/ram combo is suppose to be between $500-600...of course if i could keep the cost low, the happier my director will be but at the same time, i don't want to skimp out on quality

 

[Appledrop]

welll, whatever you decide, make sure to use dual channel memory

 

[piasabird]

They suggested a Intel 875 chipset which I think is a waste of money.

ABIT "IC7-G MAXII ADVANCE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 131.62 at newegg

ASUS "P4C800 DELUXE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 160 at newegg

ASUS "P4C800-E DELUXE" i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL for 174 at newegg

This chipset is barely faster if at all, than the Intel 865 Chipset which is an excellent chipset.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...13-131-484&depa=0

$91.00 Asus P4P800-S

This leaves you free to spend up to $200 on a processor:

<br>[url]http://www.newegg.com/app/Vie...19-116-161&amp;depa=0
[/url]
$189.00 P4 2.8C Gig Processor.

Note you will probably have to purchase a P4 ready Processor of at least 300 watts.

 

[stevty2889]

I would recomend the Asus P4P800( or any varient of it) or Gigabyte 8IK1100. I'm currently using both of them. A 2.8c or 3.0c northwood would be good paired with either of those boards. Abit also makes good P4 boards, I've had bad luck with MSI.

 

[ronnn]

I have a p4p800, with a 2.4c at 3.0. Well over a year and solid as a rock. :thumbsup:

 

[568overclocked]

can someone explain northwood and prescott cores...i see the prescotts have more cache so should i assume it's better...i don't plan on overclocking at least not right now...i may in the future but right now, this is going to be my main computer system for work..i'm contemplating between 3.0ghz and 3.2ghz cpu

newegg pricing
3.0E - $209
3.0C - $221
3.2E - $237
3.2C - $289

 

[stevty2889]

prescott has more cache, but it's cache has a higher latency. Clock for clock a northwood is faster than a Prescott, so you would need a 3.6ghz prescott before the prescott would have any advantage. Plus prescotts run warmer than northwoods and consume more power. A 3.0ghz should be fine, I don't think the 3.2 would be worth the price differance. The 3.0c(northwood) is a little more than the 3.0E(prescott), but I would still go with the northwood over the prescott. I believe the reason the northwood is more expensive is because Intel is trying to phase them out.

 

[UK Frost]

I have only seen the Prescotts beat the Northwoods in a couple of benchmarks.They do indeed have more Cache but also run hotter and use more power.
I would buy the best Northwood you can and save money.

Last year i put a 3ghz P4c on an MSI 865PE Neo 2 Board with dual channel ram and it's superb.

At that time getting the 875 board was a big no no and it was outperformed by the 865 Neo.With DOT and PAT enabled mine can run as high as 3.3ghz without having to do a thing.

Toms Hardware site had a big round up last year that you can probably still find with a quick search.Not sure about any newer boards as i have been out of it since then.Good Luck.

EDIT: As Azzy64 says try for a dual channel ram set up as the Intels like the additional bandwidth.

 

[caz67]

ABIT IC7 MAX3, with P4 3.4EE ..expensive but worth it..

 

[568overclocked]

Originally posted by: caz67
ABIT IC7 MAX3, with P4 3.4EE ..expensive but worth it..

A bit out of my reach...right now i'm leaning towards the abit ic7 w/ 3.0c cpu but still open for more input

as for memory, i'm looking at the corsair value 3200 1gb but again open for suggestion

 

[UK Frost]

Yeah that will do nicely.Just make sure you get it in 2x512 format so you can run it in dual channel.

 

[568overclocked]

Originally posted by: caz67
ABIT IC7 MAX3, with P4 3.4EE ..expensive but worth it..

where do find the abit ic7 max3...i can only seem to find the max2 at newegg. is this a typo or is there really a max3

i'm still debating whether to go to abit or asus....need more stability than overclocking

 

[UK Frost]

There is definetly a MAX3....But if your not overclocking then maybe its not worth the extra cost.

You may find this article useful.

http://www20.tomshardware.com/...rd/20030707/index.html

Good luck....

 

[UsandThem]

Get a 865PE Gigabyte motherboard like the GA-8IPE1000 pro g for $92.00.

Great board and great performance. If you are not wanting to overclock, why go with Abit?

Save the $40.00.

 

[zainali]

if ur looking for best price then i think frys had the 3.0e with some mobo for 180 last week. they should have it again in a week (probably labor day sale) or two.

 

[568overclocked]

well after giving my proposal to my director and letting him make the final decision, i ended up getting the abit ic7-g and p4 3.0c. in my proposal, i gave the pros and cons of each board. he preferred a board with lan, audio, firewire, sata and plethora of usb inputs builtin just so that there will be less pci cards and less chance of something conflicting with our capture card. the abit had it all and cheaper than the asus board. since that board was chosen, i decided to get the ocz performance series ddr pc3500 for 205 at newegg just in case i have the urge to overclock. i'll probably have to buy a cpu cooler some point in time. any recommendations?

should i have gotten the p4 3.2e instead....or was choosing the 3.0c a better performer. thanks for all the help

 

[UK Frost]

The CPU coolers for the p4 are actually very good.Using your OCZ3500 you will probably be able to overclock that chip to 3.4 quite easily on the stock cooler if the fancy takes you.
I think you have made the right decision as far as the chip goes and you will not be disapointed with it.The Pressie has longer pipes and a higher latency with double the cache to try and compensate for it which in turn increases its power consumption and temperatures.
The abit board you have chosen is a very good one.Stick your new Ram in dual channel and your p4c and you will have a very quick system.

Good luck....

 

[568overclocked]

thanks for the reply....i had to do some major research in such a short time span....i haven't built a computer or purchase a laptop in quite awhile...and in like 1.5 days, i had to decide on a laptop, cpu/mobo/ram combo, external dvd recorder, external hd, and other little things and find the best pricing for it....it was a task but thanks to the advice of many, i was able to narrow down the field

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: 568overclocked
I'm trying to rebuild a 2 year old computer. I don't know much about Intel CPU/Motherboard combos as I've been using AMD for awhile. But I'm switching to Intel since I hear from the majority that it's better for video encoding and multimedia production. I'm using a Canopus DVStorm Card and majority of the users also recommmend staying with Intel for full compatibility with the capture card. Can someone point me to in the right direction. What chipset should I be looking for on the motherboard? What Core for the CPU? I was looking at using Abit, Asus, or MSI for the motherboard manufacturer. But open to suggestions

Last Intel system I built was a dual P3 1000mhz so I really could use the advice

__________

Simple... 3.4 Prescott (2mb cache) EE on an Abit AA-8 DuraMAX with Corsair XMS2 x 2 @ 2GB

A 2 year old box is almost not worth "rebuilding". You should start with a fresh slate and build from the ground up...
IF you are really serious about what you claim this system will be used for. IF you just want another middle of the road box, go with less memory and a slower CPU.
IF you are really serious about what you claim this system will be used for...
Think dual Xeon's with 2GB of memory. That's a lot of IF's.