hardware illiterate lady needing help

[teenymac]

Hi people, I am in the process of learning so bear with me. I am in the middle of upgrading my computer and have bought an Intel P4 3.06 533 MHZ , 512-kb L2 supporting hyper-threading. I dont play a lot of games just mainly surfing, listening to music and the odd dvd to watch. I have tried to research the best motherboard for this cpu but my brain has been overloaded. So my question being what in your valued opinion is the best motherboard for me (looking to spend about $300 or so on one. I have been looking at the Asus P4P800-E Deluxe or the P4C800 deluxe or the Albatron 865PE Pro. Any ideas guys? Also I only have 256MB memory (ddr pc2100) should I just get more of this or go for something different? Any help is greatly appreciated:)

[dustyslapper]

No hope on the intel platform sorry.

As for the ram: 256mb of 2100 will be fine for surfing/music/movies and even light gaming. However it will definitely be holding back your system quite a bit - the bigger question though is whether to care or not.

From my perspective I'd say you should upgrade it - 512mb of 3200 being the most obvious solution. Its certainly something that you don't have to do right now obviously, but you wont realise the potential of that system until you do put some faster ram in there. Faster systems are always better, especially on this site.

Pretty cheap upgrade as well, prices start from around $170 atm, which considering the cost of your CPU and mobo is pretty reasonable.

Good luck!

[Deviant]

I would definately get a RAM upgrade, and spend alot less on a motherboard.

Why do you need a $300 mobo unless you are an avid overclocker, wanting max performance and every overclocking frature you desire.

I can imagine $300 would get equavilent of a $350 mobo over here, you could take your pick but it would be a waste of money in your case.

You want dual channel though. Is it Springdale or Canterwood chipset, I can't remember. I have a look if Tiggerz dosn't join in and tell you.

[Evilgrin]

Seconded, you should really look at more ram and go a little lower on the motherboard unless its going to be a overclocking machine/gaming computer.

You want to find a motherboard say in the 200 dollar region ... just so that its not too expensive but wont also be out of date and or cause frustraions when you go to upgrade ...

Look at things like your graphics card and see what x agp it has an so on .. if it only 4x then dont splash out on a 8x agp mobo ... im sure if you have a chat with your supplier and talk over your needs they will source a good motherboard suitable to what you are doing with in your price range.

I can recommend asus personally as they seem to have good manuals , good features and are pretty stable and quick .. good for what you seem to want out of your machine

Good luck :)

[teenymac]

Ok thanks guys, I have 64MB Geforce4 MX420 V/C W/TV but cant tell with that what AGP it has. Also have Creative SB Live Digital Ent 5.1. I havent installed the new cpu yet - still in the box so cannot tell if it is canterwood or springdale chipset, still running P4 1.8 Gig. But thanks for the tips I will spend more on the memory and stick with a cheaper motherboard.:D

[Evilgrin]

Sounds like your doing pretty well :) , Id say your graphics card would be 4x AGP and there for buying motherboard with the faster AGP slots is going to be a bit of a waste ( but not the end of the world)

One thing that would really help us is if you could tell us if this pc is going to be round for a while or your more the type to be regularly upgrading every 6-9 months ?

Basically in my opinion the pare odd 120 less on the mother board with get you some more ram and given the specs id say around 180 on the motherboard will get you something pretty good ...

If your in Auckland ive got someone who could help you out very nicely for both the ram and the motherboard, pm me if you interested ...:D

[dumass]

If I was you and not over clocking I would get another stick of 256meg DDR PC2100 (if you can get one the same as what you curently have).

a 533fsb p4 is the equivelent bandwidth of 2x dual channel pc2100 DDR ram, so theres no reason for getting faster ram than PC2100 if you are not overclocking.

another 256meg stick of ram will only set you back ~$50, and will give a good preformance increase.

However, if you want to blow your load all on a shiney new motherboard you can just get the mother board and then if preformance is abit slow upgrade the ram, else if you are happy with 256meg ddr in single channel, then you wont need to upgrade and saved yourself $50 :)

[swiftynz]

Err... if you're buying a motherboard with a 4x AGP slot you're buying outdated tech. AGP 8x has replaced AGP 4x, and any price difference between a 4x and 8x mobo is purely because of the chipset it uses, not because of the AGP slot speed.

Eg intel 845/850 = 4x AGP, intel 865/875 = 8x AGP. It's already been said above that you really want an 865 (springdale) motherboard and i'd definately agree. They're quite a lot better than the 845 motherboards and an 865 motherboard will also give you more room to upgrade in the future since it'll support the 800mhz FSB P4's.

Also just to clear something up, when we refer to "chipset", we're talking about the controller chips on the motherboard, not your cpu. ;)

[teenymac]

Thanks - yes swiftynz - I did say I was only in the learning stages:D so thanks for the tip. Ok so what most of you are saying is maybe just get another stick of 256 ddr 2100, a mobo (I'm still swaying towards the Asus P4P800 and then see what it is like, if then maybe more memory.) The mobo I have running at the moment is an MSI SiS 645DX Chipset Based (645E Max-C) and I am presuming this will not support the new cpu hence the upgrade. I am actually an Aussie so thanks for the offer with your friend but I think I am a little too far away lol. Can get the P4P800 for $190, the P4P800 Deluxe for $220. Next step up is the P4C800 Deluxe ($320) or P4C800-E Deluxe ($350) which like you all say is really going to be wasted as this will be the last upgrade for a long time I should hope - that is why I am trying to get it right. So if anyone has any last minute preferences to which one then I am all ears:D

[teenymac]

PS Does it matter that the new memory has to be the same make as the one I have? As it does not say on the original receipt what make.:(

[swiftynz]

For dual channel mode you really want identical sticks of ram, or at least very similar ones. However at such a low speed I'm not sure it would matter.

For example, i'm running a stick of PQI PC3200 and a stick of Geil PC2700 in dual channel mode (two totally different sticks of ram) at 166mhz with no problems. At 133mhz it would matter even less I imagine, but you never know.

To avoid any risk and for maximum stability you should buy a new 2x256mb dual channel kit and run it at its full speed. Otherwise just buy another stick of ram from the same brand with the same speed rating, should be close enough. :p

If you don't know the brand, it should be printed on a sticker on the ram itself.

[NTBlowz]

You can just get 1X 512MB ram for now.. and upgrade to more ram later. If you bought 2 stick now you only have 1 more slot for the ram for upgrade.

[teenymac]

Thanks, well I have ended up buying the Asus P4P800 Deluxe which I managed to get for $220 so just waiting for it to get here and then one of my relies is going to install it all for me. I have found out (managed to do it all by myself:D ) that my ram is Elixir PC 2100 256MB DDR (266MHZ). So I have found a couple on ebay that I might bid on so that I have the same brand. Thanks again for your help it was really good.