• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

What is the best motherboard to pair with a Prescott?

Either the ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe or the Abit IC7-Max3. Those are the top of the line Canterwood boards. My third choice would be the Epox 4PCA3+ (also a Canterwood board).
 
If you want a no frills board, get the ABIT AI7. Fully loaded, get the IC7-MAX3.

I have both these boards and they rock. Voltages are rock steady and both boards use a 4-phase design that would help with Prescott.
 
i've just ordered an ABIT IC7-MAX3 and Prescott 2.8e which should be here tomorrow. really looking forward to getting my mits on those. i'll post back with how i get on overclocking. In a fortnight i'll be getting new hard drive/drives some memory and a new PSU. what would be best? i was thinking 2X256mb OCZ Gold PC4000, 2x36gb Raptors on Raid 0 and a Tagan 480w PSU. After thats all set up then make a move from air to a powerful watercooling rig.
 
I tried the IC7-Max3 with a Prescott but it didn't work. I really liked the idea of the OATES system due to the Prescotts power requirements. Two others on the Abit forum reported the same problem. One, RMAed his board and the new one works fine.
 
P4C800 probably.. but they aren't cheap... I priced them out today, a P4C800 is about $100 more than a P4P800 SE... (canadian funds)

but damn!
 
well i got my MAX3 and prescott today and have only a few hours ago finished installing everything. the prescott works fine on it, i'm amazed i can run everything seeing as i'm using cheap PC2100. the cpu is set to normal (200x14) does this mean my ram is also running at 200fsb? that'd be a 77mhz overclock which would be remarkable for cheap ddr right? or am i wrong?
 
i got the max3 and a 2.8e too
the first 2.8e i got was defective tho so i had to return it, but the new one has been working fine for me for awhile now.

i just noticed that they now have a bios version 16
i havn't tryed it yet but i know my bios 15 has prescott support (14 was the first to support it officially i believe)

i wonder if bios 16 addresses any of the vdimm crazieness
also gat has never worked for my on this board with my 2x512 mushkin pc3500 lvl2
 
how did you update your bios on your max 3? on my old gigabyte all i did was just use @bios and it would download everything and do it automatically. there was something called flashmenu i think on my drivers disk but when i clicked on one click live update it said my version of flashmenu was too old!?

don't really want to go down the route of using a floppy drive to update the bios.
 
Everyone keeps telling me "don't get Prescott!". Does it really run that hot?

Also, does the AI7 have optical SPDIF or RCA SPDIF? I can't tell from the pictures.
 
go for the Abit MAX 3. Its the enthusiasts dream come true.....really. make sure you get a windowed case for it too as it looks awesome.

My Prescott idle's at around 50c. thats with the stock intel cooler with Arctic Silver 5. From what i can tell the prescott really shows its colours when its overlocked past about 3.5ghz where it truly begins to fly. i have seen reviews of people being able to overclock the prescott with a quality air cooler up to 3.9ghz on IC7-MAX3 stable. I'm guessing with a Good watercooling kit it'd be possible to overclock these things past 4ghz.
 
How well does the Abit IC7-MAX3 accomodate coolers, like the Zalman copper "flower" heatsink?

I'll be grabbing a 3.0 Prescott to overclock -forget these cry babies about the heat ... haha, they're just following the herd like usual- and would like to use the Zalman cooler, matched with the IC7-MAX3 if it will indeed fit. I figure the OTES system and 4 phase power supply will be a great help when it comes to overclocking the Prescott.
 
i've only had chance to use the stock cooler so far. it does take a few more minutes to fit and remove heatsinks on this board as you may well have to take off the OTES block, but this only takes about 30 seconds to do.

if i were you i wouldn't go with the flower cooler, i'd go for the newer 7000cu zalman or the coolermaster hyper6 has also had very good reviews. i was wondering about air cooling for a long time but i think this weekend i will take the plunge into water cooling. have you had a look at the zalman reserator 1 water cooler?

i agree about the prescotts they are very fast and with the right cooling you should be able to get some awesome results. the OTES seems to work very well, i put some arctic silver onto the aluminium heatsinks to help a little more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top