Need help picking a CPU and a Motherboard

[ICUdoUCM]

I will mostly be using this new system for gaming and browsing the web. Don't know a lot about computers, but am interested in learning more. Currently have a PII 350 with Windows ME. Right now I just want to get the CPU, Motherboard, and the memory and use my old parts till I can upgrade them, hopefully new harddrive, videocard and a CD/RW in the next couple of months.

Not sure if I should go with the Intel P4 or AMD XP, looking at around 1.8 for speed or up to $200 for the chip. Want a stable Motherboard, but also something I can overclock(not sure what that even does or how to do it, but does sound like something I would like to learn how to do--seeing as how it is talked about so much ) There is a good review on Motherboards I found over at Toms hardware site -----http://www6.tomshardware.com/mainboard/02q2/020509/index.html-----, but I do realize reviewers have biases so you can't buy just off of a review. Want to pay $150-$200 for the motherboard. Then there is the memory, I realize there are diff speeds and the Motherboard dictates what speed you can use ( I believe this is how it works) Does quality of the memory stick matter? Had a friend say buy generic memory, it either works or it doesn't, if it works great, if it doesn't return it. Is it really that simple?

In closing, I do not need the lastest greatest computer parts, but I do like to buy nice stuff. I don't need a P4 2.4 if an AMD 1.9 will do. Thx in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[InsaneMorphius]

Suggest the following IMHO:

XP1900+
MSI KT3 ARU motherboard
512MB of DDR PC2700 (Crucial, Samsung or Micron)

Nice stable system for not all that much cash

 

[cmdrdredd]

or get the KX7R Abit DDR333 with RAID 6 PCi slots 4DDR Memory slots that support PC1600/PC2100/PC2700 ATA133 and great overclocking. it also comes in a no RAID flavor. Samsung memory is cheap and very very fast...$114 from pricewatch for PC2700 512MB and you can overclock it nice too. the AthlonXp 1900+ is great for the price it is going for now.

 

[Pabster]

Intel Pentium 4 Northwood 1.6A
ASUS P4B266-C / ASUS P4S533

Easily pushed to 2.13GHz+. Solid as a rock. Faster, Quieter than an XP solution. What more can you ask for?

 

[Jeff H]

ICUdoUCM, here's another option - Intel P4-1.6A and EPoX (either 4SDA+ if you want to go SiS645 chipset, or 4BDA2+ for Intel 845D). Either board will provide you overclocking potential to get that 1.6GHz cup over 2GHz. Via Newegg.com you can pick up the P4 1.6A for $129, the EPoX 4SDA+ for $88, and the 4BDA2+ for $120. FYI the 4BDA2+ board allows you to lock your PCI bus as you ramp up the processor. Re memory, quality does matter as you push it. A 256MB DDR PC2100 Crucial/Micron stick runs $55 at Newegg. PC2700 will buy you nothing on current i845D boards, as they only support PC2100. The SiS645 boards will support PC2700, but at a maximum two double sided memory sticks. With PC2100 you can run three sticks on most boards, but you're probably limiting your overclocking ability memory wise, w/ three sticks (IMO).

FWIW I just put together a new box, w/ the EPoX 4SDA+, P4-1.6A, two Crucial 256MB DDR PC2100, a Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB (argueably the quietest ATA100 7200RPM drive series out there), Leadtek GeForce 3 Ti200 128MB DDR video card, and all the other good stuff, such as DVD, CD-RW, slightly modded Enlight 7237, Enermax 430w p.s., etc. For the mobo, processor and memory (256MB DDR PC2100) you could get by for $272. I haven't experimented much w/ overclocking the processor, as this box is used by the whole family, and they don't tolerate much instability. I have however ramped up the Crucial PC2100 to PC2700, w/ no voltage mod, and it hasn't skipped a beat. This box has bee rock solid since setup.

ICUdoUCM, I see you're a new member, welcome. You've joined the premier forum for hardware and software answers from good people. Keep bouncing your questions here and you'll get some good answers and direction. If you go ahead and build a system, six months from now you'll wonder how you learned so much, and at the same time realize how much you don't know. That's the challenge! Good luck w/ your project.

 

[theif]

4BDA2+ board allows you to lock your PCI bus as you ramp up the processor.

Sorry, I am also a hardware newbie thinking of putting together a system. Exactly what does this mean? I am considering your set up as I would like something with the flexibility to overclock. But how important are the differences between the A2+ board and A2?

thanks

 

[cmdrdredd]

I prefer AMD for the cost effectiveness of it...AthlonXp 1900+ can be had for around $115 and a KT333 mobo from Epox is $97

 

[christoph83]

I prefer AMD for the cost effectiveness of it...AthlonXp 1900+ can be had for around $115 and a KT333 mobo from Epox is $97

Cost really isnt really as much of an issue anymore.....


Via Newegg.com you can pick up the P4 1.6A for $129, the EPoX 4SDA+ for $88

 

[Pabster]

cmdrdredd wrote:

"I prefer AMD for the cost effectiveness of it...AthlonXp 1900+ can be had for around $115 and a KT333 mobo from Epox is $97"

Let's see. NewEgg has the P4 1.6A Retail for $129 and the 4SDA+ for $88. You do the math.

 

[oldfart]

P4 1.6A retail ~ $130
EPOX 4DBA (~ $100) or 4BDA2+ (~ $120). The 2+ has RAID.
Samsung PC2700 ~ $135 for 512 Meg

I've built 2 of these. They both are running 2.4 GHz, DDR400.

 

[Jeff H]

I'm w/ Pabster, if $5 makes the difference between an AthlonXP or a P4 system, or makes the difference between building or not building a system, maybe there's a bit of introspection due. Yes, similar performing AthlonXP's are less $$, but there are some very cost effective P4 boards out now, and AFAIK the AthlonXP system will require a better, higher wattage p.s. (translate - more $$ than the P4), and usually a more expensive HSF solution to keep the heat down.

I did the math, and now w/ the variety of chipsets supporting the P4, and the cost effectiveness of the 1.6A, it's really a tossup.

thief, I'm not the last word on PCI and overclocking, but the simple explanation is that as you ramp up your processor (such as a 100MHz FSB (front side bus) P4) beyond it's stock speed you also take the rest of your peripherals w/ it. For example, on a system such as the 100MHz FSB P4, your PCI bus is clocked at 33MHz. Your AGP (video card slot) is clocked at 66MHz. Now, if you take your processor to 133MHz, your PCI could go as high as 44MHz(depending on the BIOS options), at which point some devices (hard drives, NIC's, sounds cards) will balk. Likewise your 66MHz AGP slot is now at 89MHz, which again is trouble for some vid cards.

Some motherboards currently provide the ability to lock the PCI bus and AGP bus at 33MHz and 66MHz respectively. The EPoX 4BDA and 4BDA2+ have this feature. The 4BDA2+ board has the features of the 4BDA along w/ a High Point 372 RAID controller, as well as an active Northbridge HSF. The EPoX SiS645 boards do not have this PCI locking feature. There's also a current generation Abit board that has this PCI locking feature.