Pentium M Platform - Update: Got One Running!

[WobbleWobble]

I'm looking at building a Pentium M based desktop system since I have a Dothan 1.5GHz 400MHz FSB chip sitting around. Pentium M boards are very expensive, at $200+ CAD. However, the Asus socket adapter isn't cheap as well as it costs about $70 CAD. I would also have to buy a new or used P4 board to match it since I don't have one kicking around.

Performance wise, which one would be better? How about price wise? And what would you do?

My goal is for some overclocking while maintaining a fairly silent machine. I really want the Shuttle that supports P-M but it's pricey and I can't find it in Canada.

Edit: my findings are in my 3rd post of this thread.

 

[dexvx]

Asus P4P800 / P4C800 series will offer better performance than the 855/915 boards because it uses DDR memory (which is lower latency than DDR2 and those boards have the best DDR performance). The adapter makes no difference in performance.

However, one thing to note is that if you can get your hands on an Asus P4GPL-X or P4GD1, it would be the best solution. They are Socket 478 boards based on the 915 set and have PCI-Express, so you can hook up the best graphics card. The only problem is that they are not sold in N.America, and you'd have to buy them from Asia/Europe (my parents went on a trip to China and picked one up for me at $70 USD).

For more information, head here. Massive threads on Dothan overclocking with the CT-479.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Reading a few reviews it does look like the CT-479 is the better solution. I'm thinking I can rig a Zalman CNPS-7000 on it since I can get those not to use the retention mechanism and bold it down manually (but carefully!) I want the emphasis on silence 😉

 

[WobbleWobble]

I got myself a Asus P4P800-VM, CT-479 Adapter and a Pentium M 1.5GHz. I put this all into an Antec Aria and I now have one SFF system that's fast and quiet.

Why did I go with a P-M instead of an A64? I had a P-M (Dothan) chip kicking around and wanted to see what this sucker could do. I'll give it a shot at overclocking either by pin-modding my 400MHz FSB chip to 533MHz FSB (1.5GHz -> 2.0GHz) and maybe by using a Clockgen. If I can get it up to the 2.5+GHz it can be a very worthy Athlon FX competitor. I doubt I can as the HSF is not standard and I don't any room for a bigger HSF in my Aria.

I was lucky the mobo came with the right BIOS revision so I didn't have to hunt down a P4 to boot and flash with before I could use my P-M. The BIOS' overclocking options don't seem to work, so overclocking via BIOS is out of the picture. Simply switching the jumpers on the CT-479 from 400MHz to 533MHz won't overclock the chip without it having being pin-modded.