P4 3.06Ghz-533FSB in a Dual DDR motherboard

[archy121]

Can i use a P4 3.06Ghz 533FSB Northwood in a i875 chipset motherboard & still benifit from Dual DDR functionality Or is the Dual DDR setup only suitable for 800FSB Prescott chips ?

Reason I ask is i have just got a new motherboard(Abit ic7max3) & im wondering how to utilise it best in terms of cost & performance.

Im definately looking to get new paired 1G memory (PC3200/PC4000) as i presently have generic PC2700. My current 3.06 CPU is serving me well & im able to overclock the present motherboard to 3.4G - memory being the limiter. I would like to push it to 3.6Ghz with the new memory in the new motherboard in Dual DDR setup.

Will the current processor be satisfactory or should i move one notch up to a P4 3.2Ghz 800FSB Northwood CPU (3.4G Northwood too expensive) ? Will the performance increase be worth the cost of new processor - considering i will be overclocking either chip to 3.6Ghz ??

Im trying to keep costs low so that i can save for the next major upgade which i will do probably next year to a dual core PCIe motherboard. But at the same time i would like to get the maximum out of my present configuration.

Please offer some advice..

 

[caboob]

Yes, dual channel memory architecture will benefit your P4B CPU and will respond nicely to the extra memory bandwith. You wont notice the difference if you upgrade to a P4C. Sure, the memory bandwith is higher on the P4C but a higher clocking P4B is pretty much equivalent.

 

[TStep]

Yes, Dual channel at 1:1 matches the bandwith of the P4 regardless of fsb, it's just that running at 200 will be slightly faster than running at 133 as the bandwith is raised, but I doubt the performance difference would warrant an upgrade of the cpu.

From a value standpoint: right now the P4 3.06 HT is selling at ridiculously high prices on Ebay in the $210-250 range. Comparatively, a P4 3.2 / 800 can be had for about $50 less. Selling it for that reason would be something to consider.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: TStep
Yes, Dual channel at 1:1 matches the bandwith of the P4 regardless of fsb, it's just that running at 200 will be slightly faster than running at 133 as the bandwith is raised, but I doubt the performance difference would warrant an upgrade of the cpu.

From a value standpoint: right now the P4 3.06 HT is selling at ridiculously high prices on Ebay in the $210-250 range. Comparatively, a P4 3.2 / 800 can be had for about $50 less. Selling it for that reason would be something to consider.

Very interesting. I have a P4 3.06HT and would like to have a 800fsb cpu but my 3.06 runs extremely cool both normally and overclocked and I'm not sure it's worth the hassle for the $50 I could get for switch.

And to the original poster, I think that perhaps the faster dual channel RAM will help you reach your goal. I run my 3.06 at 3.45 and the PC3200 RAM only runs at 600fsb speed(150x4) Dual channel is no problem and you will want it with either cpu.

Hitting 3.6 should be very easy with PC3200 RAM if your 3.06 cpu is up to it. :thumbsup:

 

[BadThad]

The 3.06 on a 800 fsb mobo is a match made in heaven IMO. It will allow you to wring every bit of performance out of that CPU. Check out my 3.06 Rig. I have it running at 3622MHz, but not currently in dual channel (just one module). However, with the ram multiplier I am running a single 512 module at 394MHz (DDR). My advice, buy an 800 fsb mobo and some PC3200, you'll be happy with that setup!

 

[stevty2889]

Yeah, 3.06 chip will be happy on an 875 chipset board. I have mine on a gigabyte 8IK1100, once I get the rest of the parts to put it back together, I'm gonna use my thermalright XP-120 with it and see how high I can take it. Already have the mobo, cpu, gig of ram, and xp-120, just gotta get a hard drive, case, dvd-rom and a 6600GT for it.