P4 chipset questions and mem suggestions?

[moosey]

First off,
For gaming and o/c and regular use, would it be best to go with DDR or RDRAM.
Next,
I want a P4 mobo with an Intel chipset. I really don't want integrated video or sound (if it has to be that way then I guess its ok). What are the current chipsets and how do they compare?
If there is a link give me that too.
Thanks

 

[o1die]

I would go with the abit is7 with the Intel 865pe chipset and 2 sticks of pc3500. There's a recent article on this website recommending specific memory for 865-875 boards, or check abit's website.

 

[Slogun]

RDRAM has no real present or future.

The current top P4 boards use the 875 (Canterwood) or the slightly less robust 865 (Spingdale) chipsets.
All the major mobo makers have their versions of these boards.
The July issue of Computer Power User magazine did a review on these boards.
The ASUS 875 board came out on top followed closely by the Abit board.

These boards have a feature called dual ram, or some such. It means that the DDR RAM is optimized in some way by using two sticks of RAM in a dual mode.

You can check my main rig in my profile to see what i went with when I rebuilt my system last month.

 

[stevennoland]

ignore this.

 

[stevennoland]

moosey, if you want a recommendation for an Intel 875P chipset mobo, go with the Abit IC7-MAX3. The onbard cooling is way trick! If money is an issue, then go with an 865 chipset mobo. Use two sticks of dual-channel memory (Corsair PC4000 if you have the jimmy, else PC3200 will do). The big advantage for using the 875p chipset mobo, is onboard giglan and PAT (Performance Accelerator Technology). You can find an in-depth review at tom's hardware guide (tomshardware.com).

 

[Slogun]

BTW, it should really be a non-issue as to whether a mobo has on-board video or sound if you don't need them. You can always disable them.
Look for a mobo on the basis of the features you do need vs price.

 

[FullRoast]

You've probably seen it, but here to the Anandtech 865/875 motherboard review. You didn't mention budget, but there is a review of the Abit IC7-Max3 that makes it sound like the board to beat for overclocking. It has lots of bells and whistles you might not want, though.

As far as memory goes, there is really no point in getting a board with RDRAM. If I remember right, Dual channel DDR is just
as fast or faster than RDRAM at the same clock rate. There are lots more options with DDR, PC3200, PC3700, PC4000 and faster.