Processor Help

[UVAJim]

Hey everyone,

I am looking into building a SFF pc using a socket 478 processor with FSB up to 800 MHz. (Pentium 4) (Sorry if this is the wrong terminology, I don't know much about processors.) Anyways, I have heard good things about the "Prescott" and also about 800 MHz FSB. What can you all tell me about what I should be looking for in my processor? I'm trying to keep the processor cost around or under $200, so please take that into consideration. How important is FSB? How good is this "Prescott" thing? Also, might I want to trade off some processor speed for more RAM? I am working on a budget, so I figure there will be those types of tradeoffs somewhere.

I need help! What should I do?

Thanks
Jim

btw this is the barebone I am looking at:

http://global.shuttle.com/Product/barebone/brb_OverView.asp?B_id=29

 

[Markfw]

To quote Anandtech's article " The Pentium 4 "Prescott" is, despite its innovative architecture, a failure. " I would never put that hot cpu in a SFF PC.

 

[UVAJim]

So what should I put in it?

 

[LTC8K6]

I wouldn't pay much attention to that strange Anandtech article since Prescott is clearly a success.

You likely won't have any trouble with a Socket 478 Prescott, but a Northwood with the 800mhz bus is a better choice as it does run cooler and you are putting it in a small case. A 2.4C should run nicely and it has hyperthreading and the 800mhz bus.

Most of the trouble being reported with hot Prescotts centers around the latest couple of LGA775 chips and throttling.

 

[UVAJim]

Is the 2.4C enough clock speed? Is it better to have a lower clock speed to keep heat down?

 

[LTC8K6]

Unless you are into bleeding edge gaming, the 2.4C should be fine.

I picked it because it is the cheapest P4 Northwood with hyperthreading and the 800mhz bus.

The 2.6C and the 2.8C are about the same considering temperatures if you want more speed. They are rated only a couple watts higher than the 2.4C, and they have the same bus and HT.

All three should be fine in a SFF case.

 

[o1die]

With a good 865pe motherboard, such as the abit is7, you can overclock the 2.4c to 2.8-3.0.

 

[ND40oz]

I have the shuttle SB75S with a 3.0E "Prescott" processor in it. The combo cost me less then 450 and it runs fine and cool for a prescott. I've been also able to overclock it to 3.4 gigs but really see the point, windows boots quicker, but nothing noticable once running. Loudest part of the system is the FX 5900 XT, which if I had to do all over again, I would have splurged and just bought the Gigabyte passively cooled 6800. Then the thing would be pretty close to silent.

EDIT: Forgot to add, with a shuttle, buy the OEM processor since you won't need the fan, heatsink or thermal pad. Every shuttle comes with their heatpipe "ICE" cooler that you will use as your heatsink.