What is the best chipset for P4?

[muchmark]

I read that if you are going to get a P4 mobo the only one to get is one with a i850 chipset, any thoughts.

[BigBlue66]

While the i850 performs very well in benchmarks, it requires the use of RDRAM (Rambus) technology, which is expensive. If cost is no option, you might consider the Asus P4T with the i850 chipset and RDRAM.

If cost is an issue, look at boards that support the i845D chipset. It works with DDR SDRAM, which is cheaper.

Hop on over to www.tomshardware.com and look up his review of 9 motherboards for the P4.

[Tor]

The Intel 850 chipset is the best one for the P4. The Rambus memory is more expensive but it will help bring out the full potential of the P4. You can use SD/DDR Ram with the 845 chipset, but it won't have nearly the performance.

http://www4.tomshardware.com/column/02q1/020215/index.html

T

[BigBlue66]

Yes, I agree with that. Guess I was trying to consider the wallet in the equation. :)

Actually, my main grunt machine at work is an HP with the Asus P4T motherboard, the i850 chipset, a P4 1.7GHz and 256 RDRAM (which I want to double when the price comes down) and I am very pleased with it.

[Tor]

IMO you get what you pay for. The P4 and Rambus are more expensive, but they are good, high quality, advanced technology devices. Granted they may be a little advanced for todays market and software, but the time will come around. RDRam is only bout $40 more expensive, for a 256MB stick, than PC133 on priceline, which isn't that bad. But for those of us still using PC133 and DDR I think www.crucial.com is the best place to get it.

T

[SPEEDO]

I just built a P4T-E with a 1.9 P4

768 meg rdram

And the rest of the goodies!

Lots of joy, You'll like it!

SPEEDO

[BigBlue66]

The power supply fan shouldn't need a fan header off the motherboard to work. It's all hooked up internally, I would think.

The other two fan headers you have, other than the CPU fan header, are probably for additional case fans. Read the manual.

Also, don't forget to plug in the required additional 12volt connector from the power supply on that P4T board.

[BigBlue66]

Ok, I just looked up the manual for that board. My computer with the same board in it is sitting on the floor and I'm at work now, so I really don't want to take the time to tear into it.

I would say that if there is no power supply power lead with a three-pin fan connector on it, then use the Main (Power Supply Fan) Fan header for the exhaust fan.

The PCI fan is for the Chassis fan, so plug the intake fan in the front of the case into this header.