Decided to build my first Intel system since my celeron 300 days. Advice needed.

[FluxCap]

Like the title says, I have had an AMD system ever since my celeron 300 needed upgrading. I want to give my system to my niece and nephew for an Xmas present and I am wanting to go back to Intel. I currently have:

XP 1700+ (stock, was at 2ghz)
Abit NF7-S
512mb Kingston Hyper-X PC2700
SLK800A with YS-Tech Adjustable
80gig Maxtor (8mb)
Radeon 9800 Pro
Lite-On CDRW

I will be taking the burner, hard drive, and the video card and replacing them with a 9000 Pro,52x CD, 40gig WD for their system.

For my Intel system, I am looking towards the following:

Asus line of mobos, probably the P4C800/Deluxe
2.6c 800
512 Corsair XMS PC 3200

That coupled with the Radeon 9800 Pro, Maxtor, and the Lite-On should be all I need. My questions are:

Is this a good choice for a P4?
If I decided to save money, what would I need to get for the mobo or the ram instead of what I have listed?
I probably won't overclock this system but if I do eventually should I get a better heatsink?

 

[batmanuel]

If you aren't going to be overclocking the Intel brand mobos are super stable (which counts for a lot - especially if you've spent some time squashing various NF2 gremlins like I have on my A7N8X-DX). You also don't have to worry about Intel taking the Chinese new year off and their website going down just as you find you really need a BIOS upgrade (*cough* Asus *cough*).

Personally, I'd stick with the Hyper-X brand. Kingston Memory Store has some good deals on their dual channel kits. Right now you can get a 512MB Kit PC3200 2-3-2-6-1 for $107, and 1Gb kit with the same timings for $207. If you want to tighten up the timings to 2-2-2-6-1, it'll be $148 for the 512 Kit (2X256MB, of course) and $293 for 1GB, which is getting into Corsair price range - so it really depends how tight you want the timings to be.

 

[Vette73]

Look at the Abit IS7 board. Great bang for your buck, seems to be the Fav around here also.

If you don't overclcok look at some of the boards using the 655fx and the new VIA chipset.

 

[FluxCap]

Which IS7 version would be good?

 

[Vette73]

JUST IS7 without anything on the end. Gos for $98 at newegg.com

Decent sound, SATA ports, firewire, and is a proven board a a lot of peopel love it.


Now if you want a better sound card and also a much better north bridge heatsink, then look at the.....

ABIT AI7 goes for $124 at newegg.com and is like the IS7 just better

 

[FluxCap]

Assuming at this point I was going to choose between the P4C800-E Deluxe or the P4P800-Deluxe, what are the main differences in these boards in regards to features and future upgrades?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Is this a good choice for a P4? yes, its a fine choice
If I decided to save money, what would I need to get for the mobo or the ram instead of what I have listed? IS7/buffalo pc3200
I probably won't overclock this system but if I do eventually should I get a better heatsink? no, wait til you want to OC then see whats available then

 

[FluxCap]

Thanks

 

[FluxCap]

Well, I finally ordered today.

I got:

Asus P4P800D
3.0C 800 processor
1 gig Corsair XMS PC3200

I hope I am happy with this decision and that it lasts me a while. Will a processor upgrade be possible in a couple of years from now? Or did I choose a motherboard that my be limited in future upgrades?