P4 3.2 Extreme Edition - Worth it?/Mobo Choice?

[Froid]

I want to build an extreme PC and I am considering the P4 3.2 Extreme Edition Intel processer. For about 1/2 the cost, I could get a P4 3.4 processor. Is the Extreme Edition worth the extra money?

I would like to know what others have experienced or your opinions on the following:

1) To buy the Extreme Edition or not, that is the question.

2) Best Motherboard? I am currently considering the ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe. I know the first cut of the board was not successful, but my understanding is that this version of the mobo is top notch. I am also looking at the Chaintech 9CJS Zenieth. Maximum PC rated this board very high and they are usually very selective on what they recommend. The board has tons of extras and is now priced at the same range as the ASUS board. Any thoughts?

3) I would like to also incorporate at least 1 GB of Corsair XMS Extreme DDR500/PC4000PRO memory.
Is there any real advantage to installing 2GB of dual channel memory? I want this machine to be extreme, but no one wants to just throw money away.

Thank-you in advance for your opinions!

 

[smahoney]

1: For the price of the 3.2EE you could get a less expensive CPU and highend watercooling setup that would give you a much faster machine. To take advantage of PC4000 memory you need to be running at 250MHz FSB so a 3.2 would be running at 4.0GHz which is difficult to accomplish without phase change cooling such as prometia or vapochill.

2: Motherboard - Asus P4C800-E Deluxe or Abit IC7 Max 3. Abit is my personal preference.

3: See comment from above on FSB speed. For what you are talking about I would go with a prometia and a regular 3.2C or 3.2E and run at 250MHz FSB - but its your money . PC4000 is a complete waste for a 3.2 or 3.4 unless you can run 250FSB. 2GB is only worth it if your apps need it - no game available that will use more than a gig today - even Unreal 2004 with all caching on.

Suggestion
P4 3.2E - could also go with a 'C' but the E seems to have higher potential, just watch your motherboard capacitor temps.
Prometia Mach II - get with the Lian-Li case option - looks great
IC7-Max3 - can't go wrong with the Asus either
1GB Corsair PC4000
ATI 9800 XT - can't forget a good video card to go with this setup - change if you want to wait another two months.

a 4.0GHz PC with 1:1 memory ratio - very nice.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: Froid
I want to build an extreme PC and I am considering the P4 3.2 Extreme Edition Intel processer. For about 1/2 the cost, I could get a P4 3.4 processor. Is the Extreme Edition worth the extra money?

I would like to know what others have experienced or your opinions on the following:

1) To buy the Extreme Edition or not, that is the question.

2) Best Motherboard? I am currently considering the ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe. I know the first cut of the board was not successful, but my understanding is that this version of the mobo is top notch. I am also looking at the Chaintech 9CJS Zenieth. Maximum PC rated this board very high and they are usually very selective on what they recommend. The board has tons of extras and is now priced at the same range as the ASUS board. Any thoughts?

3) I would like to also incorporate at least 1 GB of Corsair XMS Extreme DDR500/PC4000PRO memory.
Is there any real advantage to installing 2GB of dual channel memory? I want this machine to be extreme, but no one wants to just throw money away.

Thank-you in advance for your opinions!

For an extreme pc, the p4 3.2EE should be a nice choice!

Match it up with the asus p4c800-e or even the abit ic7-max3 and you'll have an awesome system!

however, i'd recommend getting some kingston/corsair/mushkin bh-5's and running some nice tight timings at the higher fsb's than those looser timings at higher speeds.... i doubt you'll run higher than 240 mhz with that 3.2 (16 x 240 = 3.84 ghz) assuming nice air cooling...

 

[Shimmishim]

Don't get an 'E' processor right now....

lots of them seem to be dying even with low voltages... and heat seems to be a HUGE issue...

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
Don't get an 'E' processor right now....

lots of them seem to be dying even with low voltages... and heat seems to be a HUGE issue...

Those are people that seem to think 1.6v is safe for a .09 cpu

I wouldnt go over 1.5v.

 

[Jeff7181]

I find it difficult to recommend an Extreme Edition to anybody. Twice the cost, and no where near twice the performance. But I guess if you have the money and can't think of a better use for it, why not? Hell... why not go for a dual Opteron 248 setup if you have money to throw away

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
Don't get an 'E' processor right now....

lots of them seem to be dying even with low voltages... and heat seems to be a HUGE issue...

That seems to happen with every major core change... happened with the Northwoods at first, happened with the Palomino's at first... I think it's basically just because people are use to 1.6 volts for a Northwood being safe, so that gets stuck in their head that 1.6 is safe.

I think maybe a good way to decide what voltage is safe is to use a 10% rule... NEVER increase the voltage more than 10% if you want the processor to last a long time.

 

[Froid]

Thanks for your opinions.

At this point, I am leaning towards an Intel P4 3.4C 800 Mhz processor, 1 GB of Corsair MXS Extreme PC-3200PRO Low Latency DDR Ram, 2 Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drives, an ATI Radeon 9800XT 256MB AGP Video Card, a Thermaltake Xaser V Damier Case with Thermaltake Silent Purepower 560W power supply, and Win XP Home.

The more I read, the more I am convinced that the P4 Extreme Edition processors are overpriced when compared to the C or E P4 processors. I have built over 20 different systems (some AMD & some Intel) and have always had good luck with ASUS motherboards. I am still pondering the ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe vs. Chaintech 9CJS Zenith motherboards. ASUS, well ASUS is ASUS.... and Chaintech has more features for the same price.

Thanks again!

 

[zodder]

Great choices there. I think you're going to like it.

 

[charloscarlies]

Defintely great choices. You could also save a little money by not getting the Corsair Pro and just getting the XMS LL instead. It's basically the exact same ram without the leds on top. They run the same timings and from my experience don't overclock any better. You also might want to wait on the video card because some pretty neat stuff should be coming out soon. If you have to buy now I would suggest a "regular" 9800 Pro...the price/performance of the XT just doesn't justify spending so much money.

I would personally go with the ASUS...but that's just me. I've not had one single bad board from them. Now go build your system and start enjoying it!

Edit: That power supply looks like a bit overkill...but if you have the money it doesn't hurt. A quality 350-400 watter should be more than enough.

 

[Jeff7181]

Normally I'd agree with charloscarlies' power supply recommendation... but recently I reached the limit of my Antec SL350... and the new video cards are going to suck even more power than current ones do, so you might wanna go for a TruePower 430 or somthing along those lines. Hey... if you've got money to spend... maybe even consider a PC Power and Cooling power supply with a nice long warranty, and 1% spec for the fluctuation on the voltage rails. They cost over $100 for 400 watt power supply, but you get what you pay for.

 

[charloscarlies]

Normally I'd agree with charloscarlies' power supply recommendation... but recently I reached the limit of my Antec SL350... and the new video cards are going to suck even more power than current ones do, so you might wanna go for a TruePower 430 or somthing along those lines. Hey... if you've got money to spend... maybe even consider a PC Power and Cooling power supply with a nice long warranty, and 1% spec for the fluctuation on the voltage rails. They cost over $100 for 400 watt power supply, but you get what you pay for.

I see what you're saying especially considering his budget. Might as well go overkill...won't hurt a thing and will only leave room for future upgrades.

 

[hytek369]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I find it difficult to recommend an Extreme Edition to anybody. Twice the cost, and no where near twice the performance. But I guess if you have the money and can't think of a better use for it, why not? Hell... why not go for a dual Opteron 248 setup if you have money to throw away

that's right, go dual opterons like me

 

[formulav8]

If you are going to spend that much money on the P4EE. Spend a couple hundred less and go with the Athlon FX 53. Will be faster at a lower price.

Jason

 

[caz67]

I have a 3.2EE.

I am using Abit IC7 Max3, this board is awesome. The Asus board, IMO, is the best board along with my Abit, for the current P4's.

If you have the cash, buy it, you wont be disappointed. Im NOT.!!

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies

Normally I'd agree with charloscarlies' power supply recommendation... but recently I reached the limit of my Antec SL350... and the new video cards are going to suck even more power than current ones do, so you might wanna go for a TruePower 430 or somthing along those lines. Hey... if you've got money to spend... maybe even consider a PC Power and Cooling power supply with a nice long warranty, and 1% spec for the fluctuation on the voltage rails. They cost over $100 for 400 watt power supply, but you get what you pay for.

I see what you're saying especially considering his budget. Might as well go overkill...won't hurt a thing and will only leave room for future upgrades.

Right... and if he gets a Prescott he's going to need a beefy PSU =)

 

[Froid]

Thanks for the info!

What power supply do you recommend that meets the high standards that you described?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Froid
Thanks for the info!

What power supply do you recommend that meets the high standards that you described?

A TruePower 430 would probably be fine... or like I said, a PC Power and Cooling power supply would definately work... they're the highest quality power supplies I know of.