Is 533 enough?

[TFM]

Here is my current setup (please, no flames on the setup - i KNOW it's not adequate and i'm building it a little bit at a time, which is why i'm posting here looking for some advice)

Celeron 1.7
512 MB Mushkin PC2100
Shuttle AV41P Mobo
BB Radeon 9800 Pro 128 MB
40 GB WD? HD
Generic 400W PSU
Generic Case

Here's my question - I'm looking to piece together a nice rig at as low a cost as possible. As one can see with the mb link, the mb will only handle a 533 fsb cpu and PC2700 max for ram. Would i be able to get a great system from this mb by putting in a 3.06 P4 CPU and 1 GB PC2700 RAM (obviously CPU first)? Or would i best be served getting a new mb that can handle either P4 800 fsb or Athlon CPUs which can also handle PC 3200+ RAM (which would make it to where upgrading will be further in the future with having to get the money for the new mb on top of better stuff for the new mb)?

Once again, please don't flame my system, i've posted before and was told what a retard i am for having a 9800 pro in such a crappy system... which i KNOW it's crappy with the celeron, you don't have to tell me that. Please help me decide what to do about purchasing a CPU

Thanks for your help!

 

[TFM]

Hmm ... is this posted in the wrong place?

 

[LTC8K6]

Is your board HT compatible? You get HT with the 3.06.

You'll have to figure the cost of a 3.06Ghz P4 and decide if it's worth it.

It will be an incredible boost over your celeron, that's for sure. So would any Northwood P4.

If you intend to keep the system for a while, I'd get the 3.06 and new ram.

If not, I'd just get the cheapest 400Mhz fsb Northwood you can find and drop it in there until you do a complete upgrade.

 

[Vette73]

Heck get a cheap 2-2.8Ghz 533Mhz FSB and rock that out. The 3.06Ghz P4's cost to much IMO. But check out eBay and you can get teh 533Mhz FSB P4's pretty decent right now.

 

[EXman]

I run a OCed 2.4b on a single channel board and my crap still flies hell the 1066 board be out in a few months then they will get cheaper...

533 buss is still pretty darn fast

 

[nimo]

Considering that you can get P4c 2.8 plus MB for less than 3.06 on ebay right now
I?d seriously consider changing to C.

 

[Soulkeeper]

yeah don't bother with the celeron
atleast get some pc3200 with good timings and a 2.4 p4c with HT
the HT will help

 

[MichaelZ]

I don't think that motherboard of yours supports HT. if not, it's not a huge loss but it would make upgrading to 3.06 a tad sour since you can't make use of the HT feature. However, a new CPU would increase your system speed significantly.

Maybe you should actually email shuttle and find out what that motherboard can support. I recall a few years back I wanted to upgrade my P4 1.5 on a Gigabyte 8SR533. Emailed gigabyte and they actually sent me a reply telling me a 2.6Ghz B (533) is the best my motherboard will support.

Getting yourself a new motherboard would be very worthwhile here. You should definatly consider it.

 

[TFM]

Hey - thanks for all of the advice guys. The reason i have this particular m/b is because when my old computer crashed, i didn't have the cash for anything and my brother in law went out and graciously bought a m/b for me - not exactly the best on the market, but i was glad to have anything.

It looks like, from reading your comments, that to have the best bang for the buck, i could get around a 2.6c-2.8c with a P4P800 m/b for cheaper than a 3.06 CPU and have a better overall system doing it. So i think i'll look into that route.

Thanks again!

 

[RussianSensation]

3.06 P4 HT costs $210 with shipping. So it is definately cheaper than a 2.4-2.8C + P4P800 motherboard. Of course you'll have less overclocking headroom on your mobo and it might not support HT. But if you can find a deal on a processor and a mobo i'd definately change it. The problem is that you also need to buy new ram. This sounds too much like a whole computer overhaul. In that case you might go for the best bang for the buck. So maybe getting a 2500+ xp Mobile and NF7 would be a cheaper and just as fast alternative in that case. Otherwise I'd go A64 route if you are gonna spend big bucks on a decked out p4 C system.