Okay... newbie needs help.

[Black Hawk]

I'm building a new computer, and I've decided to go Intel. (If you've seen my post called "before I buy...", i've switched.) Anyhow, I have a few questions:

1) Which would be the best intel chip to buy for a first time OC'er?
2) Should I get 2700 or 2100 DDR ram? (Using a ASUS P4 333 board

Note: I'm using a Koolance Water Cooled Mid-tower, if that helps you choose the chip.)

Thanks!

[JaY_III]

for a 1st time OC'r an AMD system would be simplier to Overclock becasue you can change multiplier and FSB.
With Intel you can only change the FSB...
But since you plan on Intel....

the faster RAM is always better... that is if you have the $$ for it.

Regarding the CPU. Make sure its a Northwood, you DO NOT want to get stuck with a Willy (P4 celeron anyone?)
.13micron and 512 L2 cahce... easier to overclock... and more speed per MHz

What CPU to buy??? Well Get BOX'd over the OEM CPU's
BOX'd CPU's almost always OC better and have a better warenty (not that you wont be voiding yours or anything)

The Speed of the CPU... Is $$$ and issue?
And the LSN (low speed Northwoods) have mixed results on how well they overclock.... So it may be a gamble to get anything lower than 2.0 GHz.... you may get a gem, or a lemon. LSN's are rummored to be binned CPU's, the ones that CAN NOT do 2.0GHz or more stable.

Now we also have to think of this.
A 2.6GHz P4 is just about the same speed as a 3.0Ghz P4
DDR just cant keep up with the high speed P4's...

http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/02q1/020128/index.html

SO is thier a point of getting anything faster than the 2.0 P4 (assuming you hit 133FSB, 2.66Ghz) will be just as fast as the 2.2 when OC'd @ 133FSB...
Also a 2.0GHz CPU will give you a better chance to get past 133 FSB.... and FSB is everything (well almost everything).

We know you shouldn't have cooling problems, water is very nice.... So that is not a problem you will have to deal with.


My $.02

[Black Hawk]

I just finished reading that article before I went to see your reply. Money COULD be a problem, but I doubt it (I know just what to say to ensure my parents will allow it). Anyhow, since I am really a newbie when it comes to memory, I'm gonna do some more research on it. It looked like the 2600 was better because it was using... I think it's Rambus (RDRAM)? Am I right there or no? Because the rambus is about half price, so i'd be happy to swap that out on my list o' parts. :D BTW, thanks for all the adivce, I REALLY appreciate it.

[JaY_III]

One word of warning with RAMBUS, it doesn't like running far out of spec, or overclocked like DRAM (SDRAM and DDR)...
But i also do belive you can now buy Rambuss PC1064 RDRAM...

[Black Hawk]

I guess I'll stick with DDR, then. The system is around 1400 w/o peripherals. So I Guess I should post my list to see if you like?

[takiwa]

for a 1st time OC'r an AMD system would be simplier to Overclock becasue you can change multiplier and FSB.

Why does that seem to be the general consensus on this forum? I would much rather tell a newbie how to change some jumpers on a mobo, or change a setting in the BIOS, than to try to explain how to pencil or nail-polish a trace on the chip to unlock it. For a "newbie", both manufacturers offer a locked chip, for all intent and purposes...

[Vinny]

isnt the fastest rd pc800?

[Black Hawk]

Honestly, Overclockability doesn't matter, because if I overclock less and beat out a chip that overclocks more, than I would have the better chip, correct?

Also, I'm gonna post this new list in my other post, "before I buy...." in General Hardware, in case you want to see it.

[Yodums]

So you have the Asus P4 333 right now?

Its 333 chipset so its very recommended you get PC2700 ram.

100fsb=PC1600
133fsb=PC2100
150fsb(Notsure)=PC2400
166fsb=PC2700

Yodums

[InputOut]

No, RDRAM comes in:

800 Mhz @ 1 channel
800 Mhz @ 2 channel
1066 Mhz @ 1 channel
1066 Mhz @ 2 channel

The bottom most has HUGE data thruput (usually for servers or high performance gaming rigs). The PlayStation2 uses 32mb of 800/2ch and gets 3.2GBps thru put.

RDRAM is great if you like good, fast memory. But the bigger the module, the heftier the price, 256ECC 800@2ch is ~ USD$120 .
You can see that DDR is good for the price, and Dual channel DDR is coming soon, so make sure you won't be obsolete when it comes time to upgrade...

I/O

[micamica1217]

hi,

well it's time to fill in some myths.

I've had an rdram system with a 1.6a and two sticks of pc800 samsung...512mb total.

this rdram and the th7II mobo was the simplest to OC then any AMD or intel rig I've ever built.

intel cpus are also far easyer then AMD to OC....maybe with the new nforce2 and the newer chips things are different.

so why did I go DDR if my rdram was so great?

simple.....at this time, DDR memory can come close to if not match the bandwith of rdram when OCed.

what??? you say.....you say that at tom's he said DDR can't touch rdram at this time.

well I as well as many others will beg to differ.

at 150fsb and a 3/4 ratio, I now have the same bandwith of pc800 rdram running at stock.......

at 163fsb and using DDR, I have the same bandwith as my old rdram system running at 154fsb.....
infact, maybe alot better.
why alot better?
well in real word benchmarks, I get alot better results with DDR and the same cpu. (Q3A, UT2K3, comanchie4 demo)

in pcmark2k2 I cream my rdram system with DDR memory(in mem scores)...
using the same cpu, video card, and the same amount of memory.

if you deside to use pc1066 rdram, be well awere that you will more then likely have to run at 3x speeds after 150fsb or so.
you are now running like you have an OCed pc800 rdram.

at this time intel is no longer investing there time in new chipsets for rdram.

going DDR is the best way to go right now.
something with the 845pe chipset will give you the best options for a great system.

if you can get a 1.8a C1 stepping cpu.....go for it.
otherwise, the 2.4b or faster cpus are the choice for you.

the key to going for DDR is a cpu that can run at 150fsb or better and fast memory......say xms3200 corsair.

what mobo???
the p4pe from asus or the it7max2 ver.2 are the best choices for now.

a good PSU also helps.

good luck

mica

[jazztrumpet216]

Jeez... this thing just keeps comin' in handy...

http://home.wi.rr.com/genealogywis/jazztrumpet216/batman_threadres.jpg

PLEASE do not bump threads this old. I thought this was a real problem someone was having until I looked at the date and realized it was a year old.