P4 Questions on RDRAM, Power Supply, and Case

[Mr.Diggler]

RDRAM Questions:

What sort of performance hit would it be to use PC600 instead of PC800? Would it even matter? I don't know how the RAM speed relates to the 400MHz fsb, but I think if overclocked to like 460MHz, then that is pushing a PC800 stick 60MHz out of spec (I read that in a review.) So what would it be pushing a PC600 out of spec to? The obvious answer of 160MHz out of spec seems wrong to me...

ECC vs non-ECC? I know with regular SDRAM, unless you're running a server or something, you go with non-ECC as ECC either tends to slow down performance slightly or just isn't worth any extra dough. Same go with RDRAM?

Brand recommendations? Samsung, Crucial, Kingston?


POWER SUPPLY Question:

What would you recommend? The Enermax, the Antec, the Sparkle? I'm partial to the Antec PP403X, but does anyone have any experience with it? I was advised to make sure it had the 4-pin power cable for the P4, does that make sense?


CASE Question:

Zipperhead brought up a point about supposedly needing to use a P4 case because the power and reset wires are different. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I really want to stick with my Addtronics 7896 and not go buy a new case.

Thanks.

 

[AndyHui]

Go with the ASUS P4T motherboard. That allows you to keep your case, as it comes with a special motherboard tray.

Go with PC800 non-ECC RDRAM. A retail P4 processor comes bundled with 128MB of non-ECC PC800 RDRAM. Do not go with PC600 RDRAM...the performance truly is substandard.....it's like pairing a 133MHz FSB processor with PC66 SDRAM....not a good thing to do. ECC is not needed in a normal system.

Make sure that your power supply is a 400W+ ATX 2.03 compliant.

 

[ChipNOW]

I'd go with the P4T, the Enermax and PC800 (don't get 600, whatever you do) Samsung. Samsung have made RDRAM the longest, and have the most experience when it comes to Rambus.

 

[Mr.Diggler]

Thanks for the info, guys!

Okay, definitely going with PC800 non-ECC on the RIMM front. I'm glad to get that settled.

The Asus P4T is a lock too, getting them for about $245 shipped...wish I could find cheaper, but that's life.

Still unsure on the power supply...I wanted to get the Antec PP403X, but apparently although it is 2.03 ATX, it is not P4 ready with the extra four pin cable. I've never used anything but Antec and am hesitant to try something else.

In the other thread it was mentioned that the Antec 303s will run it just fine, but that is only 300W. Should we be definitely running a 400W PS with the P4?

To everyone who is running a P4 now, what are you using for a PS?

Thanks

 

[AndyHui]

There are very few here who run Pentium 4s for various reasons....none of us have pointed them out simply because the performance of the P4 on today's software is well documented, and here on the forums is general knowledge.

I can only name one person with a P4 here and that is fkloster. If you want some information on experiences, you should ask him.

 

[Mr.Diggler]

Figures it would be fkloster...I bought my current rig from him.

 

[PCFreak]

Hehe he's not the only one with a p4. I also have one

Regarding your current case you can still use your case if you buy the ASUS P4T, because the P4T comes with this bracket thingy that lets it correctly mount in any ATX case


Second get PC800 RDRAM not PC600 as others have explained the reasons b4 me


3rd make sure all your RIMM's are the same size!!! That means don't go out and buy
a 128MB Chip and 2 64's you can't use them both together!!! All the memory configs in each slot have to be the same in order for the system to work.


Last but not least the ps I myself have an Enermax EG451-VE power supply. It's very quiet and it's not giving me any probs. I also have another Antec pp403X in my other box.