What to do What to do

[Paratus]

Cliff Notes

1) Should I get the more expensive ~$290 3.2 C and cheaper ~$210 OCZ PC 3500 2x512mb 2.5,3,3,7
or the cheaper ~$250 3.2E and more expensive ~$280 Corsair XMS PC3200 2 x 512mb 2,2,2,5 ?

2)Do I lose my CPU warranty if I use AS5 with the stock HSF?


Since its been taking me so long to buy the parts for this machine prices have dropped a bit and I want to get the most for my money. (Please note I already got a brand new P4P800 E Deluxe as a gift so I'm sticking with Intel otherwise I'd be looking hard at an A64, other parts already acquired: Coolermaster Praetorian, WD 160GB SATA, NEC Floppy, Asus 9600XT w VIVO, AtechFlash 11in1 card reader)

I know everyone says get the C version where available but with the E being so much cheaper and memory prices comming down does the faster Corsair memory make up for the slower in some apps Prescott? The other issue is I'm fairly certain my board can only use "turbo" mode with low latency memory. A couple of reviews shows that does make a difference and can actually push this board past the P4C800 E.


I'm not planning on OCing right off the bat. I would most likely not mess with the clock speed for several months or more and if I was it would be a moderate over clock ie FSB 217. Both types of memory should handle that.


Corsair XMS

OCZ Performance


My other option would be if Newegg or maybe ZipZoomFly would bother to stock the 3.4E for under $300 I'd get that and the OCZ memory in second.

Right now I'm leaning towards the E and the better memory. What do you think?

Thanks
Paratus

 

[MDE]

I'd get the cheaper memory and the Prescott. Take a look at one of the first posts in General Hardware, the lower latency on the Corsair isn't really worth it.

 

[Imyourzero]

And remember, the Prescott is faster in some apps as well...don't think of it as a "slower" CPU in all circumstances.

 

[Paratus]

I know that for AMD systems it doesn't make much of a difference, but I was under the impression that in general you want the fastest memory you can get for a P4 system.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Paratus
I know that for AMD systems it doesn't make much of a difference, but I was under the impression that in general you want the fastest memory you can get for a P4 system.

Where the 2 choices of ram are concerned you'd be paying $70 for less than 5% performance increase in most situations. If you plan to overclock@1:1 I'd just buy higher rated ram such as A-DATA 4000. This is a controversial issue since some Intel purist will tout tight timings, but there are no less than 4 major sites that have shown that tighter timings average no better than 2-3% boost in performance for most use. However, the argument that using a divider with tight timgings is as performance effective as higher latency higher clocked ram is moot now that PC-4000 can be had for substantially less than the LL 3200 stuff you are eyeing. Of course those who are able to juice more speed with tight timings overclocking are the exception to the rule. So my suggestion is the P4c with OCZ 3500 or A-DATA PC-4000.

2)Do I lose my CPU warranty if I use AS5 with the stock HSF?

Yes, you will void your warranty the moment you remove and replace the stock T.I.M. When RMAing they will require the cooler, and the pad missing will raise a red flag. Besides the cooling difference isn't that substantial between all the T.I.M's I've tried including the stock Pads, and claims of 5-10c temp drops are nonsense and the results of poor testing methodology and/or other factors that have little to do with the T.I.M. itself. Not everyone will agree with this stance either but it is the results of my personal experience so I consider that hard data.

Now, it's possible they would still replace the CPU, stock T.I.M. or not, I just wouldn't risk it. Especially since the stock cooler does fine even with moderate overclocking.

 

[Stormgiant]

Between those two, i would get instead a good 3.0C and overclock the hell out in FSB

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
<blockquote>quote:
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Paratus</b></i><BR>I know that for AMD systems it doesn't make much of a difference, but I was under the impression that in general you want the fastest memory you can get for a P4 system.<hr></blockquote><BR>Where the 2 choices of ram are concerned you'd be paying $70 for less than 5% performance increase in most situations. If you plan to overclock@1:1 I'd just buy higher rated ram such as A-DATA 4000. This is a controversial issue since some Intel purist will tout tight timings, but there are no less than 4 major sites that have shown that tighter timings average no better than 2-3% boost in performance for most use. However, the argument that using a divider with tight timgings is as performance effective as higher latency higher clocked ram is moot now that PC-4000 can be had for substantially less than the LL 3200 stuff you are eyeing. Of course those who are able to juice more speed with tight timings overclocking are the exception to the rule. So my suggestion is the P4c with OCZ 3500 or A-DATA PC-4000. <BR><BR> <BR><blockquote>quote:
<hr>2)Do I lose my CPU warranty if I use AS5 with the stock HSF?<hr></blockquote> Yes, you will void your warranty the moment you remove and replace the stock T.I.M. When RMAing they will require the cooler, and the pad missing will raise a red flag. Besides the cooling difference isn't that substantial between all the T.I.M's I've tried including the stock Pads, and claims of 5-10c temp drops are nonsense and the results of poor testing methodology and/or other factors that have little to do with the T.I.M. itself. Not everyone will agree with this stance either but it is the results of my personal experience so I consider that hard data. <BR><BR>Now, it's possible they would still replace the CPU, stock T.I.M. or not, I just wouldn't risk it. Especially since the stock cooler does fine even with moderate overclocking.

Well you bring up an interesting point according to the AT article here that this ram is rated to PC 4000 in fact it'll do 222 upto DDR 450. My thinking was to make up the Northwood Prescott speed difference with the better ram.

 

[carlosd]

Get an Athlon 64. The memory controller of the A64 is 85-90% in efficiency. The chipsets of P4 are 70-75% eficciency. Do the math.

 

[jose]

I'd do everything possible to sell/exchange/return the p4 mobo &amp; get a a64 system.. I'm not a amd fanboy, I have 4 - p4-3.0c systems runing Linux/win2k ..

My next system will be a NForce4 w/ dual pci-e slots (SLI).

Regards,
Jose

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: jose
I'd do everything possible to sell/exchange/return the p4 mobo &amp; get a a64 system.. I'm not a amd fanboy, I have 4 - p4-3.0c systems runing Linux/win2k ..

My next system will be a NForce4 w/ dual pci-e slots (SLI).

Regards,
Jose

I know what you mean, (check out my recommended "Intel System" thread) but I'm going to stick with the Intel system. I'm not heavy into gaming and plan to try my hand a some video encoding so the P4 should be fine. Lets face it for standard Office, Surfing, and E-mailing stuff either a P4C/E or A64 will be blazingly fast (especially coming from a PIII 500 with 100mhz FSB) . And even in games a 3.2Gig machine is going to be more than adequate for my vid card. I can probably spend ~ 500 or so the 3.2 and 1GB of ram looks about right.

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: Stormgiant
Between those two, i would get instead a good 3.0C and overclock the hell out in FSB <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

LOL 3.9GHZ!

I see what you mean.

Do you have the E version?

Unfortunatly I'm going to keep my warranty for a while, so no overclocking for a while. I'll have to get my performance tweaks with the memory, hyperpath/PAT, etc.

 

[Stormgiant]

No, it's a 3.0C SL6WK ( 30 cap ).

You can overclock the system without loosing warranty. Just do some 10% over default and you will be fine.

 

[TStep]

The following is an excerpt from a FS/FT thread found here.
--------------------

2 x 512 Wintec PC2700 (Infineon chips) that have been tested on an Abit IC7-G to do up to DDR466 at 2-2-2-6 and DDR566 at 2.5-3-3-7 at default voltage (that's 1:1 up to 283FSB!); YMMV, but expect similar results; $215 shipped
--------------------

That is the most wild PC2700 I've ever seen with some really nice timings that fit your budget on the low side.

 

[Stormgiant]

I find that very hard to believe.... it's possible, but very hard...

PC2700 to do 283 on default voltage ?!?!?!? if it was with high voltage...

 

[Paratus]

Originally posted by: Stormgiant
No, it's a 3.0C SL6WK ( 30 cap ).

You can overclock the system without loosing warranty. Just do some 10% over default and you will be fine.

Actually I was refering to the Mobo P4P800-E

 

[Stormgiant]

No, Deluxe model only.

 

[Paratus]

Those are some impressive OC numbers on everything!

Are you running the ram 1:1? at 3.51v!

Ever thought about picking up a 9600XT jut OC it. I've seen some folks hitting over 650 core and 800 mem.

I decided to get the 3.2E and some corsair XMS 2-2-2-5 with the samsung chips. should be here next week

 

[Stormgiant]

They are Bh-5 chips, best in the world.

I put them for sale on FS/FT.

Good luck on the 3.2E and then let us know the outcome.

 

[Navid]

Aren't you concerend about the heat of Prescott (E)?

 

[jefbak]

Yeah I just upgraded from 3.0c to 3.2c and I can overclock the new processor much eaiser than I could the old one. It was $280 but well worth it. Still even with my water cooler, it still climbs to 65c when rendering in my video editing app. My 3.2ee on another system use to get as high as 77c before I installed water cooling on it and I was not even overcloking it... just using a zalman fan at the time.

 

[Stormgiant]

Originally posted by: jefbak
Yeah I just upgraded from 3.0c to 3.2c and I can overclock the new processor much eaiser than I could the old one. It was $280 but well worth it. Still even with my water cooler, it still climbs to 65c when rendering in my video editing app. My 3.2ee on another system use to get as high as 77c before I installed water cooling on it and I was not even overcloking it... just using a zalman fan at the time.

I'm sorry, buy those are way hot, hot temps...
You sure cases are well ventilated, or you live in a hot area ?
Cause 65/77ºC is way up...

 

[jefbak]

Yeah I'm a little worried about the 44c idle and 65c under load on the silentstream system. I am running a 3.2c at 3.44 with 1.575v I believe. It is hot in the bay area today so it may be under a little extra stress. The 3.2ee system now runs at 50c and stays there even when rendering with the zalman resorator solution. I'm looking for cool and quiet so it is a challenge. I also have 6 drives in my case which run pretty warm as well.

 

[Stormgiant]

Just saw your sig, but youre running that on water ?!?

WOW... something may not be right, cause i run my system 24/7 and never passes 39º...
normally 37/38º

 

[jefbak]

I'm thinking some arctic silver might be on my shopping list tomorrow... Thanks for the info. Do you know when the p4s start stepping down the performance for high temps? I hoping at 65c I'm still getting full throttle on the cpu at least.