Most VALUEable P4

GhandiInstinct

Senior member
Mar 1, 2004
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Basically, Price/Mhz is what I'm asking. Maybe you know a good formula? But I'm buying a new 865 chipset system(because the new 925/915 would be a waste of money) I plan to game and video edit mainly. Which do you guys think is the best deal? Thanks..
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
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You already have the formula.

2.8 by a long shot.

Then overclocked, since they are all the same chip dispite what Intel has you believing, it gets real ugly for the others.
 

yourdeardaniel

Golden Member
Mar 20, 2004
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i had a 2.4 @ 3.0, and a 2.8 @ 3.29 (o/c to 3.4 crash in windows instantly)
2.4 seems to overclock pretty good, i think average about 3.0
2.8 might be good, i just didn't get a good chip cuz it only did 3.29 and not really stable.
3.0 i've read seem to get good results, 3.4 or 3.5 average
got a new 2.8C w/ 30 caps haven't even put it in, hope i get 3.8 :D
 

GhandiInstinct

Senior member
Mar 1, 2004
573
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Thanks for the input. But I'm not into OC'ing unless my machine is outdated. Athlon64 systems are too expensive for me.
 

akira34

Golden Member
Jun 26, 2004
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Athlon64 3200+ processor: $282 on newegg (retail box)
MSI Mobo (K8TNEOFIS2R) highly rated: $115 on newegg (again, retail box)

Everything else would be the same for the intel rig. Get good DDR400 memory (no need to go faster) and you'll be golden. I've built systems with the above combination and they SCREAM!!! I have a friend that built one before I did and he gets benchmarks that are drool worthy (if you look at that stuff)... That's with stock speeds too, no OC involved at all.

When microsoft [finally] releases the official 64-bit optimized version of xp pro it will kick ass all over again. You can get the RC version of the 64-bit OS, but it's not final yet, so use at your own risk.

The system I just recently put together (see sig) kicks ass all over the place. I'm not overclock it at all, and it's still blazing fast.

So, before you dismiss the Athlon 64 processor, take another look... As noted by a magazine article recently, the Athlon64 easily meets or beats intel processors that are rated at over 1GHz faster...
 

GhandiInstinct

Senior member
Mar 1, 2004
573
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Interesting, the A64 3200 is clocked at 2ghz...how does it beat the 3.2? And...does it have dual-channel capabilities and can it multi-task well? I know gaming it beats everything.


We're talking about the 1mb cache version right?

EDIT: Hmm, maybe I should go for the 939 socket for dual channel? The FXs are the ones that rule in gaming. HMM!
 

imported_goku

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2004
7,613
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Originally posted by: yourdeardaniel
i had a 2.4 @ 3.0, and a 2.8 @ 3.29 (o/c to 3.4 crash in windows instantly)
2.4 seems to overclock pretty good, i think average about 3.0
2.8 might be good, i just didn't get a good chip cuz it only did 3.29 and not really stable.
3.0 i've read seem to get good results, 3.4 or 3.5 average
got a new 2.8C w/ 30 caps haven't even put it in, hope i get 3.8 :D
Wait did you give the 2.8 sufficent voltage? Like actually 1.65 Volts, because if you did then how come it had a hard time overclocking.
 

orion7144

Diamond Member
Oct 8, 2002
4,425
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0
Originally posted by: akira34
Athlon64 3200+ processor: $282 on newegg (retail box)
MSI Mobo (K8TNEOFIS2R) highly rated: $115 on newegg (again, retail box)

Everything else would be the same for the intel rig. Get good DDR400 memory (no need to go faster) and you'll be golden. I've built systems with the above combination and they SCREAM!!! I have a friend that built one before I did and he gets benchmarks that are drool worthy (if you look at that stuff)... That's with stock speeds too, no OC involved at all.

When microsoft [finally] releases the official 64-bit optimized version of xp pro it will kick ass all over again. You can get the RC version of the 64-bit OS, but it's not final yet, so use at your own risk.

The system I just recently put together (see sig) kicks ass all over the place. I'm not overclock it at all, and it's still blazing fast.

So, before you dismiss the Athlon 64 processor, take another look... As noted by a magazine article recently, the Athlon64 easily meets or beats intel processors that are rated at over 1GHz faster...

P4 2.8C ~$180 (Newegg)
Abit IS7 MB 865 chipset ~$85

Hands down is the way to go. OC to 3.4-3.6 and it kills the AMD 64 3200 and cost ~$100 less. My AMD 64 chip was just sold in the FS/FT forum since it was not worth it to me.
 

yourdeardaniel

Golden Member
Mar 20, 2004
1,905
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Originally posted by: goku2100

Wait did you give the 2.8 sufficent voltage? Like actually 1.65 Volts, because if you did then how come it had a hard time overclocking.

on my old 2.8C i gave it 1.75 i think (1.7 actual in cpu-z), it could go 3.3 and not really stable, gave me IE/program errors. 3.29 was kind of stable at 1.65v. i like to stick to 1.7/1.65v or below just to be on safe side, dont want to kill it (but i did because of another cause, not high voltage)
 

Canterwood

Golden Member
May 25, 2003
1,138
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@ Blain.

Only the fact that its on a 533fsb and has a high multiplier.

The guy is getting an i865 board, so a 800fsb chip is the only sensible way to go.

The C class chips have lower multipliers, all have Hyped-up threading and they are generally good overclockers.

A 3.0C 800fsb chip is cheaper than a 3.06 533fsb chip these days too.



Edit: Forgot to quote who is was posting too, lol.
 

Vee

Senior member
Jun 18, 2004
689
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0
Definitly the 2.8 C (800fsb HT Northwood). It's a beaut at a nice price. 865 is also the right choice IMO (dual channel).
There is nowhere, in any benchmark, the same difference in speed as in clockrate for the other P4 cpus. And I've seen as little difference as 1% in some. It's a good cpu for both of your needs, video and gaming.

However, Some warning here. That only applies to current games. My feelings are that we are going to see a rapid shift of emphasis towards 64-bit gaming, once WindowsXP64 is released.
64-bit will offer a performance advantage, but anyone who thinks 64-bit is just a matter of performance is making a huge mistake!
Modding toolsets are first to go. The Unreal developers declared almost a year ago that there will be no future 32-bit toolsets released. Full versions of the games will follow. It's likely that there will continue to be 32-bit editions, but they are going to be increasingly crippled, as 32-bit addressing can't cope with the increased complexity and size. The question here is if you will manage another upgrade, when it's time.

If gaming is important to you, don't plan to hang on to that P4 for something like 3 years or more. If you upgrade like every 12 - 18 months, I think you'll do OK. This is another very good reason to be conservative and not spend a lot of money on some soon-to-be-useless 3.2, 3.4 or 3.6 GHz 32-bit cpu (not to mention the EE LOL).
 

Keysplayr

Elite Member
Jan 16, 2003
21,211
50
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Of course, nobody mentions that you would do fine if you left it at stock speeds as well. That's if your uncomfortable o/c 'ing.
 

im2good4u

Member
Mar 11, 2004
93
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0
Originally posted by: yourdeardaniel
i had a 2.4 @ 3.0, and a 2.8 @ 3.29 (o/c to 3.4 crash in windows instantly)
2.4 seems to overclock pretty good, i think average about 3.0
2.8 might be good, i just didn't get a good chip cuz it only did 3.29 and not really stable.
3.0 i've read seem to get good results, 3.4 or 3.5 average
got a new 2.8C w/ 30 caps haven't even put it in, hope i get 3.8 :D

i think i just got a good chip, its OC @ 3.22 @ stock voltages w/ no errors on prime95 and memtest. i can OC it to 3.5 with 1.575v i think or 1.6 and still have no problems. im just affraid of overheating problems thats why i can't let it fly with a stock HSF
 

Stormgiant

Senior member
Oct 25, 1999
829
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If you plan to overclock a little bit or none, then the 3.0c will give you a good bang for the money.
If you plan to overclock more than a little bit, then the 2.8C M0 are good performers.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: orion7144
Originally posted by: akira34
Athlon64 3200+ processor: $282 on newegg (retail box)
MSI Mobo (K8TNEOFIS2R) highly rated: $115 on newegg (again, retail box)

Everything else would be the same for the intel rig. Get good DDR400 memory (no need to go faster) and you'll be golden. I've built systems with the above combination and they SCREAM!!! I have a friend that built one before I did and he gets benchmarks that are drool worthy (if you look at that stuff)... That's with stock speeds too, no OC involved at all.

When microsoft [finally] releases the official 64-bit optimized version of xp pro it will kick ass all over again. You can get the RC version of the 64-bit OS, but it's not final yet, so use at your own risk.

The system I just recently put together (see sig) kicks ass all over the place. I'm not overclock it at all, and it's still blazing fast.

So, before you dismiss the Athlon 64 processor, take another look... As noted by a magazine article recently, the Athlon64 easily meets or beats intel processors that are rated at over 1GHz faster...

P4 2.8C ~$180 (Newegg)
Abit IS7 MB 865 chipset ~$85

Hands down is the way to go. OC to 3.4-3.6 and it kills the AMD 64 3200 and cost ~$100 less. My AMD 64 chip was just sold in the FS/FT forum since it was not worth it to me.

"Kills" it in what? Not gaming that's for sure tests I've seen a 3.4EE is needed to come close to a measley 2.0 clawhammer A64.

But agree with your choice only cause he has intel on his mind and that's what the threads about. Best bang for the buck northwood screamer period.

However it's hardy a fair comparison since you can OC a64's too. The GC stepped to 2.5 26 on air. Then I'd like to see the "kills" of your choice in any application. But A64 is a poor value plain and simple. $100 more for processor and buggy not so friendy OC boards which cost more than rock solid IC7. Finally we all know, If he really wants "value" he should be looking at a XP mobile chip with a AN35N/NF7-S for less cost than the Intel chip by itself, proabably the best value of all time considering you can OC these 2.6 on air;)

Indiscerable performance differences between any of these choices... except for price.
 

Jojo1971

Platinum Member
Apr 18, 2002
2,200
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0
IMHO, the best way to go is get a a proven OCer/ USED 2.4c for around $120-$130 in the FS/FT.if youre lucky enough, you should hit at least 3.2 ghz with the 2.4c ; 3.5ghz with a 2.8 (about $150 used) , and 3.6 with a 3.0c (about $190 used)...it's your choice (depending on your budget)..

for a budget mobo, IS7, AI7, or a used IC7 will be good choices..stay away from P4P800 coz i think it still has issues with artifacting when overclocked.

*performancewise, a 2.4c @ 3.3 should be as fast as a 2.8c @ 3.5...
 

Leadman584

Junior Member
Jun 20, 2004
1
0
0
I do tons of Divx encodes (Grizzled old Journeyman in they're forums), and wanted a quick P4 rig for my encoding. Got it. With a 30 cap 3.0C I've had it over 3.6 in the first week of running. With this rig my only concern is getting a battery back up, surge protector to handle it. I forgot to put the Antec True Power 550 in my sig, but you see the need for juice.

I've read rumors of 30 cappers all the way down to 2.4. Get one. Whatever the speed. Running below 50C "encoding" (full load), on mine@3.45.

Though still testing, and tweaking, I've already seen VDubMod do Divx encode over 70fps. Nowhere close to the limit yet. Can't wait to see max performance of this rig.