Intel 875P vs 865 chipset

[Link19]

I am planning to build a Pentium 4 system with 3.0 GHz 800 MHz FSB CPU. I know both of these chipsets support that CPU. Which one would you go with? I know the 875P has PAT which gives you an increase in performance, but how much of a performance improvement?

I read that the 875P supports ECC DDR SDRAM. Would non-ECC DDR SDRAM DIMMs work well in dual channel configuration on a motherboard with this chipset?

What motherboard brand would be best with the 875P or 865 chipset?

 

[FishTankX]

ECC is worthelss.

Some motherboard companies have successfully implemented PAT technology on their motherbaords. This is a no brainer.

 

[AndyHui]

A number of motherboard makers have found a way to enable PAT on the 865 chipset.

There are no problems running non-ECC RAM on an i875 board. As for the usefulness of ECC, please read the AnandTech FAQ: What is ECC RAM? It should help you come to a conclusion about whether or not you need it.

 

[dullard]

ECC costs very little, doesn't affect performance (this will be disputed but no one here has ever shown actual benchmark proof that disputes this), and can save you from a few crashes. However those crashes are rare, and it is your choice to save a few bucks at the risk of a crash or two per year.

PAT is just a way of taking the best performing chipsets and charging more for them. You get a couple percent speed boost on some programs. Not enough to notice in my opinion, so get PAT if it costs about the same, but don't get it if they charge an arm and a leg for it.

 

[Dallascisco]

ecc ram is for servers, not home use.


the difference between the 865 and 875 boards is about 40 bucks. Yes, the 875 is faster but in real life what you actually "see" isn't worth the extra 40 bucks to me. That's persoanlly though.

 

[Link19]

Like some more suggestions from other members.

 

[jjyiz28]

Originally posted by: Link19
Like some more suggestions from other members.

what more you need?? thats it. read the anandtech faq andy mentioned. you don't have mission critical data so i don't belive you need ecc memory. just a word of note, the more memory and higher density memory you have, more likely you will have soft errors.

as for the motherboard brand, check out the MB topic on this forum.

non ecc memory works well with 875. if you have one stick non ecc, and rest is ecc, you will run all ur memroy at non ecc. ecc is all or none.

 

[Xponential]

I went for an 875P mobo (specifically, the Abit IC7-G) over a 865PE mobo.

 

[Hardtarget]

Originally posted by: Xponential
I went for an 875P mobo (specifically, the Abit IC7-G) over a 865PE mobo.

well then you made a mistake. i would say the 865pe for sure. anand has a good article on the 865s check it out.

 

[UNCjigga]

Well up until the latest AT article on memory issues, I thought th3 875P had fewer issues with DDR 400 memory. But when AT studied this using the latest BIOSes, they seem to be equal in their "pickyness" regarding DDR 400...