WTB: Granite Bay or 845pe? and type of memory

[LehighBri]

I am building a new computer and will probably get either a 2.66 or 2.8ghz P4. Which motherboard should I get... the new Granite Bay E7205 or the 845pe? I will not be overclocking, but would like AGP 8X and Serial ATA on my motherboard.

Also, what type of memory would you suggest for the mobo you suggest? Would it be worth it to get DDR3500 or should I get DDR3200 or 2700? And I leaning towards Corsair or Mushkin.

Thanks and any help would be great!

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

If you not planning on overclocking then i would go with this

Mobo: Granite Bay
CPU: 2.8ghz
RAM: 2 sticks DDR266 (DDR2100.. i think)

If you want to overclock

Mobo: Granite Bay
CPU: 2.26ghz
RAM: 2 sticks DDR3200

 

[dmhinz]

I would definately reccomend the Granite Bay so long as you keep in mind the following two points:

1) they are much more expensive than 845 boards - most GB's go for almost $250
2) they are difficult to get right now, few if any places actually have stock

I was able to land an MSI GNB on Ebay for $249 and will have it today.

As for the memory, defianately get PC3200 or PC3500. Why buy yesterdays technology (PC2100) when you can get today's for nearly the same price? Although GB boards don't officially support +PC3200 RAM they will work with it.

-D

 

[LehighBri]

I really would like to spend under $200 for the mobo. Any word on SIS 648, or should I "downgrade" and go for the 845pe. I really want AGP 8x though , and this is why the E7205 is so tempting.

 

[touchmyichi]

I'd say just go for a 100 dollar PE board and save that extra 130-150 dollars for later this year for a springdale.

 

[LehighBri]

What is a springdale? Any good sites with articles about it? Thanks and I think I'm gonna get the PE.

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: LehighBri
I really would like to spend under $200 for the mobo. Any word on SIS 648, or should I "downgrade" and go for the 845pe. I really want AGP 8x though , and this is why the E7205 is so tempting.

If you want to save some money then this may help

Albatron PX845PEV Pro (its about $85 at newegg) <--- I would pick this one
or
Albatron PX845PE PRO II (about $135 at newegg...this would come with Serial ATA)
or
ABIT IT7 MAX2 ver.2.0 ($170 at newegg and come with Serial ATA)

P4 2.8Ghz(if you want to overclock P4 2.26Ghz)

1 stick DDR3200

AGP 8x really not 2 times faster then agp 4x right now.....and will only add maybe 3 to 5 FPS in games(if that)
The intel chipset are much better then the SIS and VIA chipset
Serial ATA is really not use right now...use Serial ATA with and IDE HD will not make it faster...

 

[LehighBri]

Thanks... that really helped. Sorry for another question. I probably will hold off on getting the Serial ATA hd. What drive do you think is the fastest ide to get? I'm leaning towards the Western Digital Speical Edition. Thanks again

 

[PhoenixOfWater]

Originally posted by: LehighBri
Thanks... that really helped. Sorry for another question. I probably will hold off on getting the Serial ATA hd. What drive do you think is the fastest ide to get? I'm leaning towards the Western Digital Speical Edition. Thanks again

for IDE the Western Digital Speical Edition! I have a 120GB SE it fast!!!

 

[dmhinz]

Western Digital SE's are w/out a doubt the fastest. I used to use 10K ultra SCSI - my dual 120 SE's in a RAID 0 array perform nearly as well at about 1/2 the cost!

-D