Preparing to build first Intel based system. Need motherboard advice...

[ddeder]

First of all, I have no choice but to use an Intel processor in this computer. The person I am building it for specifically requested the Intel Pentium 4 processor.

Does Intel have a list of approved motherboards? If so, I could not find it on their website. How about approved power supplies? I would like to use the Enlight 7237 with a 300W or 340W PSU. Will either of these work fine?

I intend to use the 1.8GHz Pentium 4 processor.

I assume that it would be safe to use any of the Intel motherboards that support this processor. It appears that they now have motherboards that support SDRAM, RDRAM and DDRDRAM. Is it worth the extra money to get an RDRAM board or will DDR suffice? If I get an SDRAM or RDRAM board, will a DDR video card still work fine (and on the flip side, will an SDRAM video card work fine with a DDR or RDRAM board)? Is there such a thing as an RDRAM video card?

Any recommendations for a board that has on-board audio and an AGP slot (no on-board video)? Any boards that I should stay away from?

And the stupidest question of all...

Do Pentium 4 processors require a heatsink/fan similar to the AMD processors?

Thanks for any input...

 

[Zukatah]

Get the Retail boxed CPU, it comes with a good HS/F. For the Motherboard, get DDR or RDRAM depending on your budget and any type of memory will work fine with your video card. For the motherboard, the Asus P4S533 has good integrated audio (much better than my SB 512PCI) and it can be a pretty good overclocker. It also comes with integrated LAN if you want DSL/Cable or just a LAN.

 

[Jeff H]

ddeder, there are a host of boards, w/ a variety of chipsets, from Intel (845D, 845E, 845G, 850), SiS (645, 645DX), and Via (though not licensed by Intel) that will support the P4. Make sure whatever you do you get a Northwoods P4, w/ the .13 process and 512k L2. Boards from Asus, MSI, Abit, EPoX are good choices.

Either of those Enlight p.s.' will work fine for a P4. Avoid an SDRAM board like the plague. The decision is really DDR or RDRAM. Where RDRAM is headed isn't totally clear right now. There's no issue re re DDR or RDRAM on the system memory and DDR on a video card. Re onboard audio the CMedia solutions are superior sound-wise to the AC97 solutions.

Unless you're going to overclock the P4 strenuously the HSF packaged w/ the retail P4 is adequate. My only concern re the retail HSF is the inevitable bending of the board. Both Intel and the board mfgr.'s say this is normal. I didn't like it so I went w/ the Arkua 8568 HSF from Newegg.com. It was the easiest HSF install I've done. There are literally none of the issues w/ P4 as there are w/ AthlonXP, re HSF installation. The only issue is the P4 does requires a HSF.

 

[ddeder]

So is there any one chipset that most people consider to be superior to the others? I do not intend to overclock. Just want a nice stable system. I'm looking at the processors at newegg. Although they do not put Northwood or .13 in the description, can I assume I am getting this processor if it has 512MB of L2 cache? The one I am looking at is $156...

 

[Ionizer86]

All 512k L2 cache chips are .13 micron. That's correct.

Vid card and mobo ram aren't related. You can put any vid card in any mobo provided the mobo has the right slot for it (usually AGP 2.0 supporting AGP 4x).

THe 300W PSU in the Enlight 7237 supports my friend's XP1600+ just fine.

 

[Duvie]

<<<Just want a nice stable system. >>>

that's funny cause I have that at 1.6@2.66ghz...modest temps and be running it solid all week and not a hiccup...

You can oc a p4 and have stability, just got to know what you are doing....

 

[Jeff H]

ddeder, you could do worse <g> than the Asus P4S533 board, 512MB Samsung PC2700 (Samsung on Samsung), and the P4-1.8A. At Newegg.com this would come to $417, before shipping. I have the EPoX 4SDA+ board (SiS645 chipset) and the 1.6A and it's been rock steady since install four weeks ago. I can only imagine what the 645DX chipset w/ the Samsung PC2700 and 1.8A will do. IMO the only thing missing on the P4S533 is a RAID controller. But, for approx. $30-35 you could put an add-in card to give you additional IDE channels.

Soyo has a 645DX board, w/ the High Point RAID 133 controller, but as w/ most Soyo boards these days they're feature laden, w/ a price tag to match ($160 @ Newegg).

 

[eaadams]

If you want stability your best bet is an intel mobo

 

[Amused]

Here is what has worked flawlessly for me two times (I built one for myself in Jan, and just built one for a family member today):

Asus P4T-E
2.0A (IMO, the sweet spot in price right now)
Antec 400W Power supply (In mine)/Antec 330W "True power" power supply (In the one I built today).
Samsung RDRAM

One thing to note, the new "True Power" power supply that comes in the Performance Plus series Antec cases is incredible. The current is clean, steady, and right on the money (12v is 12v, 5v is 5v, etc...). I thought Antec's last generation PSes were nice, but this one is sweet. And it's really quiet, too.

Another thing Antec has done with their new "True Power" PSes is add two "Fan Only" power connectors (can be split) that vary fan speed according to the heat inside the case. Another very nice feature that keeps things quiet. Also, the main mobo power connector is wraped for a neat, clean look. Needless to say, I was impressed with the quality of it.

Anywho, I cannot recomend the above setup enough. It has been 100% trouble free and steady as a rock and over clocked quite nicely... although, it's at stock speed now because I just couldn't tell the difference in anything but benchmarks --it's that fast. That's why I chose the exact same setup for my GF's Aunt and Uncle.

 

[Conflict]

Originally posted by: eaadams
If you want stability your best bet is an intel mobo

Yep same here, I got a 1.6A with the Intel 845BG with onboard LAN, my OCing days are over since I broke two boards doing it so I went back to intel so I don't even have the opprotunity to OC heh, anyways Intel boards=teh win for stability