Good link, thanks. Guess that's just 533FSB with this processor then, unless I can get a mobo that will do 800 also, and later upgrade... (it'd be nice to future-proof as much as I can)
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Upgrade recommendations/advice please...
I'm well out of date in my knowledge of hardware, so please bear with me
I have a machine of limited upgradability (no AGP or PCI-Express), with the following hardware:
Intel Pentium 4 Model 515 (currently using 533FSB)
- does anyone know if this processor will take a 800FSB (without overclocking it)?
- does anyone know what socket it uses (I think LGA775, but could I be wrong)?
2x 512MB DDR (400 unbuffered) SDRAM PC2300
- would a mainboard with DDR2 take this memory?
I'm after a mainboard (motherboard?) that will take the above, with reasonable upgradability and on a (fairly) tight budget. The mainboard should have integrated sound and (wired) lan, and either AGP or PCI-Express (more info on PCI Express cost/benefits/availability
Also recommendations on manufacturer of mainboard (between ASUS, GigaByte, A-Bit, etc), and why would be useful too.
And lastly, a recommendation of a decent midi tower would be appreciated (ideally tool-less, with power supply and good cooling)
Thanks in advance...
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Answers
There's no problem installing a 533 FSB processory into a 800 FSB mobo, it'll just run at the lower speed.
You can't put DDR ram into a DDR2 slot, as they have different numbers of pins, ddr is 184 pin and ddr2 is 240 pin, the voltages are also different.
So.. assuming you want to keep your ddr ram, you could look at a Giga-Byte GA-8IPE775-G motherboard for an AGP slot or a GA-8I915P-G if you want PCI-Express, there are also PRO versions of both of these boards that will also give you a firewire port. See the specs here: http://www.giga-byte.com/M
I've got an Antec case, very happy with it. http://www.antec.com/Store
> There's no problem installing a 533 FSB processory into a 800 FSB mobo, it'll just run at the lower speed.
That's something that has confused me, because sometimes 533/800 FSB is specified, and sometimes just 800.
The GigaByte looks like a good mobo...
http://www.europc.co.uk/Ho
Just to clarify: the above link say "Supported RAM Speed - PC2700, PC3200" - would my PC2300 work here (like the processor; slower)?
Is there a particular reason that you recommend GigaByte (above all others)? There are three key things that concern me about getting a mobo, which are: reliability, upgradability and bios recoverability.
I've got a 2100 motherboard with 3200 ram in it - seems to run just fine.
The giga-byte support through their web site is pretty good. I've upgraded the Bios on quite a few different motherboards, some have been fairly hard, but when it's a giga-byte - I can get the drivers, bios and manuals etc. I've become familiar with the boards I suggested, eventhough Abit and ASUS are both well respected. I've supplied quite a few PC's with G-B mobo's and haven't had a problem with them. There's bound to be another expert that'll have an armful of reasons to buy an Abit over a G-B, but that's my story.
Thanks, I think you've covered all my key issues (the Antec cases do look good too) - although I'm still ambivalent about whether the memory will be supported okay.
If you don't mind, I'll leave the question open for a day or so to see if there are any alternative recommendations, etc from anyone else before awarding points...
Some motherboards will only run at one FSB, so be careful that whatever you're getting will handle 533FSB. Most 800FSB motherboards will handle a 533FSB cpu, but don't expect a 533FSB cpu to run at 800FSB - that would be a case of severe overclocking. There's also no such thing as PC2300 - there's PC2100, PC2700, and PC3200, so you must be dyslexic and actually have PC2100 or PC3200. If you run PC2100 at 800FSB, you will be overclocking the RAM also, and you should not expect it to work.
How rude - I'm not ta all dylexic ;-)
It's PC3200 (all these bl@@dy numbers confuse me), so the RAM should work after all.
I checked the GigaByte mobo smiffy13 recommended - it did list 533 as being supported, but the P4 515 model as being untested on it. From what I gather it should be fine though...
Do you have a particular preference for a mainboard manufacturer, other other recommendation, Callandor?
All the newer motherboards are moving to PCI-Express as the slot of choice for video, and they are useful for RAID cards as well, if you want to go that route. My preference is for Abit, Asus, or MSI, because they are the choice of overclockers and provide the most features while remaining stable under extreme circumstances.
Abit AG8 http://www2.abit.com.tw/pa
Case: http://www.thermaltake.com
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by: smiffy13Posted on 2005-05-31 at 03:34:23ID: 14111914
Here's the answer to the first question: http://www.intel.com/produ