RAM for intel?

[ArBiTaL 24]

Right:
first off i have to decide whether to buy AMD or Intel for my new system. Up until now, i have always been pro-AMD. Dunno why, i think a friend converted my back when the K5 was state-of-the-arts :D
However, in light of recent advancements of speed in the Intel quater, i am seriously considering an Intel based system.
How i have had all my questions answered for AMD, i'll ask them all again for intel.:p.

Please see "Choices, choices, choices in the Intel CPU's forum.

And also, the relating ram- Which is the best ram for an Intel system? what speed? DDR or rambus? (also, what is rambus, how is it differant, what is so special about it and specs)
Thanx, JS.

p.s. CPU: http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/editpost.php?s=&action=editpost&postid=1016058

Mobo: http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=120301

[Zeus]

Ive never used or done any in depth reading on the AMD cpus, I supposed you could say im slightly Intel biased. :)

The P4 at the moment seems to be the underperformer between the two. You see computer adds comparing a P4 2.4 ghz and a 2.0ghz AMD and a little graph giving the AMD about 20-30% extra in performance. These little diagrams cant lie, or at least in England adverts cant lie, so it must be true.

The thing is, the P4 hasnt had all its power unleashed yet.

As it stands, if you want a good P4 based system you are best off using the Intel 850 chipset which supports RD RAM. DDR doesnt really meet the bandwidth the P4 needs. The price of RD RAM is not really worth it (it my opinion) The reason the P4 seems to underperform compared to the AMD is, I feel, alot to do with RAM.

I read somewhere though that next year Intel are planning on ditching the 850 chipset and creating one in replacement which uses DDR ram. Whether they are gonna keep the 850 name I dont know but they are gonna ditch rd ram for he P4. From the same source, it is said that DDR ram with maximum support from Intel chipsets could produce a staggerig 6.4gb/s of bandwidth with the PC3200 and 4.2gb/s with the PC2100 type ram. This makes DDR ram the only choice you should make in my opinion. I know bandwidth is only 1 factor of 'good' ram but its safe to say DDR is the best anyway. It just hasnt got a chipset which lets it play its hardest!


Basically what im saying is, next year when a better DDR chipset comes out, the P4 will perform much better than it is now.

So with that in mind, its just down to what the best cpu is. Like I said im slightly biased to the Intel stuff. With this extra bandwidth which is gonna be available to the P4 I would say the P4 will perform better. Im not sure how much RAM bandwidth the AMD cpus need but I do know that DDR (as it stands now) has enough to cover the demand so even if Intel create a chipset for the AMD allowing a potential 6.2gb/s of bandwidth its whether it will make the cpu work any better tha it is doing now.

So... I personally would buy a cheap mobo with a P4 and the PC3200 ddr and next when the new Intel chipset comes out go and buy your decent mobo then. That way you end up with the best performing RAM, probaly the best performing CPU at the cost of a cheap motherboard. If you go out and buy a decent motherboard now supporting PC1066 or PC4200 it will cost more, and ext year if you wanted to get an up to spec system you would have to replace everything bar the CPU. Lke I said if you get a cheap DDR board all you will have to do is buy a mobo and it will be a perfectily configured system at the cost of say £80. One stick of RD ram costs more than that!

This is all persuming the P4 with 6.4gb/s of RAM bandwidth will perform better than the AMD now (which hs more than enough bandwidth now with DDR)





Ive just re-read your post and you want to know the specs of rams.
Pentium 4a needs 3.2gbs/ and Pentium 4b needs 4.2gb/s
Now.... DDR PC2100= 266mhz= 2.1 gb/s
DDR PC2700=333mhz= 2.7gb/s
DDR PC3200=400mhz= 3.2gb/s

so ddr PC3200 just meets the P4a demand
but
RD PC800 = ???mhz = 3.2gb/s
RD PC1066=1066mhz= 4.2gb/s (only uses 16bit technology, so two sticks at a time need installing)
RD PC4200 = 1066mhz=4.2gb/s (uses 32bit technology, so 1 can be installed at a time)

The bandwidth puts a decider on how well your cpu operates. Not enough bandwidth means an under performing cpu.


Next year though with new Intel chipset
DDR PC2100= 266mhz= 4.2gb/s
DDR PC3200= 400mhz=6.4gb/s

Having 6.4gbs of bandwidth would b a great help. Consider this. If P4a maxed at around 2.0ghz and the P4 is still climbing at 2.5ghz having 6.4gb/s of bandwidth may lead to P4c. This must exceed 3.0ghz if the P4b doesnt. Plus DDR can overclock better so its wins every vote.
Dont get RD !!!!!
As for the CPU, you will have to decide whether the AMD can beat the P4 when the P4 ispeforming at its best. I dont think it can but like I said I dont look into AMD much. I hope this helps you :)

[A380]

Good explenation Zeus. But if you always wait for something to come out next year, you can wait forever. I bought my p4 this year with RDRAM. If things happen as you say, then fine. My next board will be totally diferent anyway. Just mentioning Serial ATA.

So best performence now will be achieved with RDRAM, so i'd go with RDRAM. Is it worth to buy a new mobo next year for a bit more performance?
A380

[micamica1217]

hi,

intel P4 chips realy like bandwith, and perform faster with it.

I play games mostly, yet also do some photo editing.

just to give you an idea....you need to run a DDR system at 180fsb to equal the speed of pc800 rdram.

yes pc800 rdram can OC too.

there is also pc1066...think more money.

samsung is what you whant to buy.

you will need two sticks for it to work....so if you want 256mb of ram then get two sticks of 128mb of rdram.

since most sticks of pc800 samsung can OC to 1066 speeds, this is what I would get.

kingston has some problems with some mobo's so I would stay away from them.

Oh, I forgot to mention that it is cheaper to buy RDRAM then corsair xms 3200cas2.

I know that you have a lot of questions.....

read, ask questions, and feal free to PM me,
I have built many AMD rigs also so I can speak your language.

btw...dont let peeps tell you it is easyer to OC with DDR.
they just dont know what they are talking about.
there are many peeps that are OCing at high FSB useing RDRAM.


mica