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P4 cpu choice help

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orion446

Member
I am new to Intel having used AMD since building my own systems, So it is safe to say that I need some input on my choice of CPU. I purchased a OEM P4 2.4ghz 512k 800fsb for $119 and today I found a retail 2.4ghz 1mb cache 533mhz prescott core for $134. In the bios it tells me that the multiplier is locked on the OEM P4, will it be locked on the retail P4 that I mentioned? Is the retail one with 1mb of cache really a prescott core?
Is hyperthreading that important?
 
The multiplier will be locked on any p4, you need to up the bus speed to overclock. This is why it is good to get a mb that has an agp clock lock and multiple ram fsb dividers. As to hyperthreading, most people will probably say that you need it. I personally have a p4 2.4a prescott 533mhz no hyperthreading that runs at 3ghz on stock air and it hauls ass. So my opinion is that you don't always need hyperthreading, but I am sure most will disagree with me.

Bac0nyo
 
The prescott has a 1mb cache, so double the other, there is no difference between oem and retail, just with oem you get no retail box and less warranty. The proc would be the same....as to which is better between the 2.4 northwood and the 2.4a prescott....I dunno, prescott has more cache and no hypetthreading, northwood has 1/2 cache but faster bus and hyperthreading....hard to make that call.....like I said, all I can tell you is I have a 2.4a prescott and it overclocks nice on stock air and runs fast as hell.....I would see if anyone else would like to comment on this.

Bac0nyo
 
Originally posted by: orion446I purchased a OEM P4 2.4ghz 512k 800fsb for $119 and today I found a retail 2.4ghz 1mb cache 533mhz prescott core for $134.
Click to expand...
You got a killer deal for your 2.4C chip. The price you listed for the 2.4A chip isn't that great. If you live by a Fry's you can pick one up with a disposable motherboard for $109. Newegg has them for around $124 with free shipping. On the right motherboard the 2.4C will clock around as high as the 2.4A, with the benefits of a higher bus/RAM speed and hyperthreading. The 2.4A is okay if you have a board that doesn't like uber-high FSB, you found it for less or you are wanting to get to a higher terminal GHz (I think it has on average a few more MHz in it than the 2.4C, but that's just my impression and I have no hard evidence to back it up).

BTW, I've owned a 2.4C, 2.6C and three 2.4A chips. Out of that list I currently only have one 2.4A, coincidentally in the machine I'm typing this message on.
 
My board is an MSI 865PE NEO2 and I am using 512mb of OCZ Premeir DC memory, It's funny that you mention Fry's because thats where I got the CPU/MB combo at. It"s about 28 miles from my house and they are building a new one about 7 miles from my house, The wife is going to be pissed.
 
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