help with my selections and a question on ddr

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Atomix

Member
May 21, 2003
25
0
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I need some advice on memory... and just some general advice on my selections....

I have read some about DDR Memory and having to have certain configurations with a Pentium to actually take advantage of it. Can someone explain this to me and point me in the right direction to purchase some memory.

There are so many different types...



here is my selections thus far



MB-AOPEN-022 AOPEN AX4SPE MAX RETAIL
$137.00
CPUINTE-2.6-533 INTEL PENTIUM 4 2.66GHz 533FSB RETAIL
$179.00
VC-POWERC-044 POWERCOLOR RADEON 9600PRO 256MB RETAIL
$144.00
HD-SEGA-001 SEAGATE 80GB/7200 SERIAL ATA HARD DRIVE 8MB OEM
$80.00
PS-STONE-002 STRIDER SST-400 400WATT SILENT POWER SUPPLY RETAIL
$50.00
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
1. Where are you buying? I'm seeing $133 for that mobo (AKA: why not buy at Newegg?)
2. Why get that CPU for that price? Unless you're in Canada (and then the price is too low), there's no reason not to get a 2.8C retail for $172. Get the P4C...
3. Video sound alright
4. The HD cost is about right for a SATA, but why? If you want less cable in the way, that's fine. Otherwise, get a 120GB PATA for just a little more.
5. Never heard of that brand PSU, but the price is right for an average 400w PSU.

On RAM (simplified for a n00b):
The Pentium 4 has 20 (and the new "E" ones 31) pipeline stages. Because of this takes longer than an Athlon XP (10 stages) or Athlon64 (12) to make decisions. However, it makes up for this by being able to push more data in and out (aided by the higher clock speed, among other things), so it dearly loves bandwidth. If all of its pipeline stages can be filled (think of it like a cafeteria line), it performs well; if they can't, it doesn't. Having to wait on RAM for large amounts of data hurts the P4 immensely.
If you get two similar sticks of DDR SDRAM for a 865 or 875 motherboard (which that AOpen is), you can run it in dual-channel mode. By doing this, you double the bandwidth available, as it reads and writes half to one channel and half to the other (there are two memory buses). Athlon XPs can only take advantage of 1 channel, and while Athlon64s can take advantage of two, the actual differences, in most cases, are minimal. The P4, on the pther hand, especially with games, performs much better with more bandwidth available.

You might be recommended some high-end RAM, but in reality, the differences are minimal. if you have the money, some Kingston HyperX or Corsair XMS will be helpful, but if you're penny-pinching, some Kreton should do as well for you, assuming you won't be doing any major overclocking.
 
A

Atomix

Member
May 21, 2003
25
0
0
Well those are all quotes from

gameve.com
the reason i decided to go with them is because almost all of it is free shipping..,
 
AyashiKaibutsu

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
4
81
I've heard some bad stuff about gameve (mainly shipping large quanities of doa parts). Shipping on the parts for an entire system at new egg for me is going to be about 17 dollars. For whats probably over 30 pounds of stuff, that's not bad. Also from what I've read, newegg service is great.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
I've now broken the $5000 mark on Newegg. Use Newegg. Very cheap, great service. They very much earned their reseller rating.
GameVE is really getting it right now shipping returned BFG video cards.
 
A

Atomix

Member
May 21, 2003
25
0
0
Well im very glad I posted here.. thanks for the replies....
Im gonna go with newegg.... Now I just need to decide on a case...
=)
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
1
81
That case looks very nice IMO, just remember to get a good quality power supply (like Antec, Enermax, Fortron, Sparkle, or Allied).
SATA isn't much faster unless you're going to get a Western Digital Raptor.
Also, why are you getting a 533 FSB CPU? A retail 2.8C (800MHz FSB) is $187 at Newegg, and would be a much better choice.

EDIT: I'd ditch the 256MB 9600 Pro for possibly this card for $146, because the 256MB version has slower memory.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
If $400 is pushing it for a monitor, get a nice 17" 19" CRT, a Samsung, Viewsonic, or NEC, then penny-pinch for a good LCD later. $400 won't get a gaming LCD.
NEC/Mitsubishi LCD1760NXBK-1, at $495+$15 is the cheapest I'd go for for a gaming LCD.
 
A

Atomix

Member
May 21, 2003
25
0
0
If im going to pay 172.00 for the 2.8 p4
shouldnt I just go for the Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - OEM
for 185.00

it has 1MB Cache...

 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Originally posted by: Atomix
If im going to pay 172.00 for the 2.8 p4
shouldnt I just go for the Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - OEM
for 185.00

it has 1MB Cache...
Click to expand...

Check a review on the main page.
Short answer: no.
The 1MB cache on the Prescott is one of many features that allow it to almost keep up with the Northwood.
The Northwood has pretty well hit its cieling at 3.4GHz (most on-air overclocks don't get much farther than 3.6), and the Prescott is what will reach 5GHz or so. For now, the Prescott is just so-so.
 
Cerb

Cerb

Elite Member
Aug 26, 2000
17,484
33
86
Originally posted by: Zinn2b
AS is the norm Cerb nailed it a gain nice post Cerb
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's cause I've used one a few times, and I want one (and the current price is very good); but if I bought it, I couldn't go for my next semester :).
 
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