Which MOBO should I buy in order to o/c P4 1.6@2.4 ???

[ANY2]

After realizing that the the "new" updated core of AthlonXP is nothing but a slight improvment, I have now decided to go with an Intel P4 rig.

My questions are:

*Last time I read the 845D chipset was the best for O/C that 1.6 "NorthWood" to ~2400-~2500 and even more.
1) Is it still my best option to go with?

*I saw that new chipsets are already out like the 845E and 845G.
2) In what way do these chipsets differ from the 845D?
3) Do they support the new 533MHz-B Bus?
4) In that case, which is better: the 845G or the 845E?

*Is the 1.6A model still my best bet for overclocking to above 2.5GHz speeds, or Is there a new model with high O/C capabilities? (1.8A?)

I would like a motherboard from a company such as Asus/Abit/Epox/MSI.
*Do any of you have any recommendations concerning such MOBOs?
I would appriciate if you give an exact model and a GOOD place to buy it (and a few more parts) from in chicago/new-york/florida.

I thank you for any input!!!

 

[ANY2]

Bump!

 

[Adul]

you are more likely to hit 2.1 Ghz then 2.4

845e supports 133 fsb
845g supports 133 fsb with integrated graphics

Many people are happ with the sis chipset for the p4.

 

[oldfart]

845D/E use the same northbridge, 845G uses a new one with integrated graphics

845D will run 533+ FSB as good or better than any other chipset. The 533 FSB support is unofficail, but works very well
Some 845D boards support 3:4 mem ratio @ any FSB, some dont. Some have PCI/AGP lock, some dont. You have to pick the right board

845E is pretty much the same as 845D. 533+ FSB is supported officially
Same story with the 3:4 mem ratio. Some have it, some dont. The 845E SB has improvements such as USB 2.0. Many 845E boards seem to have better BIOS options as compared to the 845D boards

845G will also do 533 FSB officially. Overclockability does not seem quite as good as 845D/E, but it still may be too early to say for sure.
845G has 3:4 and 4:5 mem ratio support @ any FSB on pretty much every board.

So, it depends on what your overclocking plans are and if you need the features of the E/G boards.

 

[Wingznut]

"845G will also do 533 FSB officially. Overclockability does not seem quite as good as 845D/E, but it still may be too early to say for sure.
845G has 3:4 and 4:5 mem ratio support @ any FSB on pretty much every board."

The P4B533-V is probably the premiere board right now.

On that note, stay FAR, FAR away from the Asus P4B533-VM. While it's an excellent board in of itself, it's NOT what you want for overclocking. I picked up one over the weekend, figuring the only differences would be the obvious mATX size. Not hardly.

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: Wingznut PEZ
"845G will also do 533 FSB officially. Overclockability does not seem quite as good as 845D/E, but it still may be too early to say for sure.
845G has 3:4 and 4:5 mem ratio support @ any FSB on pretty much every board."

The P4B533-V is probably the premiere board right now.

On that note, stay FAR, FAR away from the Asus P4B533-VM. While it's an excellent board in of itself, it's NOT what you want for overclocking. I picked up one over the weekend, figuring the only differences would be the obvious mATX size. Not hardly.

oops.

 

[fkloster]

Hmmm, wingz...micro-ATX no go for OC'ing?

 

[oldfart]

The P4B533-V is probably the premiere board right now.

It is the ONLY ASUS 845D/E/G board that has good mem ratio support. The P4B266, P4B533E, P4B533-VM all have poor mem ratio features. I would not even consider any of them when building a system. There are much better choices available.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: fkloster
Hmmm, wingz...micro-ATX no go for OC'ing?

Being mATX has nothing to do with the fact that it's very unfriendly to us enthusiasts. It's the fact that it uses a completely different castrated BIOS, with none of the most desirable adjustments.

Originally posted by: oldfart
The P4B266, P4B533E, P4B533-VM all have poor mem ratio features. I would not even consider any of them when building a system. There are much better choices available.

For someone who wants to run DDR333 with a cpu on a 133FSB... What are my options? What WOULD you suggest?

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: Wingznut PEZ

Originally posted by: fkloster
Hmmm, wingz...micro-ATX no go for OC'ing?

Being mATX has nothing to do with the fact that it's very unfriendly to us enthusiasts. It's the fact that it uses a completely different castrated BIOS, with none of the most desirable adjustments.

That sucks. I do know this....my Asus P4T-E / 1.8 @ 2.4 combo has been such a stable work horse, it gives me goose bumps just thinkin' 'bout it

 

[oldfart]

For someone who wants to run DDR333 with a cpu on a 133FSB... What are my options? What WOULD you suggest?

For 845D:
Epox 4BDA, 4BDA2+
Abit BD7

For 845E:
Epox 4BEA, 4BEAR
Abit BD7II

For 845G:
ASUS P4B533-V
Epox 4G4A+
Abit BG7

Note: The 845D/E boards have a 3:4 mem ratio. 133 FSB 3:4 ratio is actually DDR355.

 

[Wingznut]

So... On all of those boards listed, you can adjust the memory up when the FSB is at 133mhz? (Without using the jumper trick?)

 

[oldfart]

Yes, all of those boards support ratios via BIOS settings.

 

[Athlon4all]

For someone who wants to run DDR333 with a cpu on a 133FSB... What are my options? What WOULD you suggest?

IMO, the top 3 boards for DDR333 w/o ocing are Abit BG7, EPoX 4G4A+ and Asus P4B533-V. Now they aren't the only boards that can do DDR333@533fsb, MSi's very cheap 845G MAX-L can do DDR333 at 533fsb (can't do DDR333 at 400fsb tho). But I'd say those 3 are the top ones. For a cheaper but not as overclockable board, the 845G MAX-L fits the bill. I am not certain how the DDR333 steeting is invoked since I do not have the money to try the latest stuff (the most recent product I've used is a ATi Radeon 7500 and a Duron 1GHz Good luck Wingz

 

[Dug]

So... On all of those boards listed, you can adjust the memory up when the FSB is at 133mhz? (Without using the jumper trick?)

I would like to know to. I want to trade up my p4b266-c for something with integraded sound and lan and the higher mem ratio.

 

[Wingznut]

Ummm... yeaahh (he says, in his best Office Space Manager voice)... I won't be getting an MSI board for overclocking, any time soon.

 

[oldfart]

Not a big MSI fan here. Never had much luck with them. They seem to give you a board with all the bells and whistles at a good price, but lackluster performance, overclockability and stability.

 

[Wingznut]

If I were building a straightforward, average use PC, I probably wouldn't hesitate to use MSI. But when you start stressing the system or pushing the limits... I'll go with Asus or Epox (or even Abit) any day.

 

[kLezViruS]

I currently have the Sis645. Actually the Asus P4S333.

I'm gonna upgrade when dual channel DDR for the pentium 4 arrives. =)