Gamer's Choice: Mobo & 800FSB Processors?

[Darren Harris]

I have some SCSI hard drives and controllers and want to build a
system(or two).

I've decided that it might as well be a game machine, and I would like
to know if there is a site that has a search function that allows one
to input wanted features for a motherboard to present a selection. I
knew one site, but can't remember the link, and the one for Intel only
presents motherboards that have Intel chipsets:
http://indigo.intel.com/mbsg/Default.aspx, and I just wanted to be
sure I wasn't missing anything good.

Big question: How advantageous is it to get a motherboard that
supports a Pentium 4 processor with a 800MHz FSB? I ask because it
looks like 64 bit hardware will become the most sought after hardware
within a couple of years. At that time would the top FSB for
processors go up?(ie: 1600FSB).

I'm not thinking in terms of a motherboard with over-clocking
possibilities. The intent is to get a "low-end" Pentium 4 chip for my
mobo for starters, and then wait until 64 bit takes over and the
prices for the 3.2Ghz Extreme Edition to plummet. From there my
next system will definitely be 64 bit friendly.

The only no-brainers for me at the moment are:
Dual Channel DDR
AGP Pro
ATX form factor
(Most of the other needed features are now standard on the new mobos).

Lastly, I'd consider some "Gamer's Choice" recommendations for two or
three mobos that are popular right now.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Jim A]

Darren
I hope you get some good websites recommended to you, as I am also looking
to build a good gaming computer. If I find something I will post it here,
as I hope you will also update us as you make progress on your computer.

Jim

 

[Darren Harris]

Darren
I hope you get some good websites recommended to you, as I am also looking
to build a good gaming computer. If I find something I will post it here,
as I hope you will also update us as you make progress on your computer.

So far I've received very little info.

Now I'm wondering if a mobo compatible with an AMD 64bit processor be
a little more future-proof(as far as games) than an intel mobo that
supports one of the 800FSB Pentium 4 processors.(I was looking hard at
the Asus KV8).

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[stacey]

I have some SCSI hard drives and controllers and want to build a
system(or two).

I've decided that it might as well be a game machine, and I would like
to know if there is a site that has a search function that allows one
to input wanted features for a motherboard to present a selection. I
knew one site, but can't remember the link, and the one for Intel only
presents motherboards that have Intel chipsets:
http://indigo.intel.com/mbsg/Default.aspx, and I just wanted to be
sure I wasn't missing anything good.

Big question: How advantageous is it to get a motherboard that
supports a Pentium 4 processor with a 800MHz FSB? I ask because it
looks like 64 bit hardware will become the most sought after hardware
within a couple of years. At that time would the top FSB for
processors go up?(ie: 1600FSB).

I'm not thinking in terms of a motherboard with over-clocking
possibilities. The intent is to get a "low-end" Pentium 4 chip for my
mobo for starters, and then wait until 64 bit takes over and the
prices for the 3.2Ghz Extreme Edition to plummet. From there my
next system will definitely be 64 bit friendly.

The only no-brainers for me at the moment are:
Dual Channel DDR
AGP Pro
ATX form factor
(Most of the other needed features are now standard on the new mobos).

Asus P4P800

 

[Ancra]

So far I've received very little info.

Now I'm wondering if a mobo compatible with an AMD 64bit processor be
a little more future-proof(as far as games) than an intel mobo that
supports one of the 800FSB Pentium 4 processors.(I was looking hard at
the Asus KV8).

Of course it is?! Today, it's less mature than 32-bit systems, but
even so, almost every game benchmark I've seen, shows an advantage for
AMD64 even with 32-bit games on 32-bit OS. And the new 'Newcastle' is
only about $200, and outperfoms everything P4, on 32-bit everything
except video encoding.

The Asus KV8 seems good, but I'm waiting for the nForce3-250 chipset.


ancra

 

[Darren Harris]

Of course it is?! Today, it's less mature than 32-bit systems, but
even so, almost every game benchmark I've seen, shows an advantage for
AMD64 even with 32-bit games on 32-bit OS. And the new 'Newcastle' is
only about $200, and outperfoms everything P4, on 32-bit everything
except video encoding.

The Asus KV8 seems good, but I'm waiting for the nForce3-250 chipset.

The big question is if AMD will screw the gamers who drive the high
end market, by making the second generation 64bit processors
incompatible with the fist generation 64 bit hardware. I'm concerned
about this because first generation hardware seems to fade rather
quickly as a new technology establishes itself in the marketplace.

And since incompatability greatly increases the cashflow into the
manufacturer's pockets, it seems that the pointmen(gamers) will be the
first to be hit.

But I guess that if I'm going to buy now, going with AMD's 64 bits is
still better than sticking with the Pentium 4.

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[somebody]

(e-mail address removed) (Ancra) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

The big question is if AMD will screw the gamers who drive the high
end market, by making the second generation 64bit processors
incompatible with the fist generation 64 bit hardware. I'm concerned
about this because first generation hardware seems to fade rather
quickly as a new technology establishes itself in the marketplace.

But I guess that if I'm going to buy now, going with AMD's 64 bits is
still better than sticking with the Pentium 4.

- Ah, well, you're thinking about the socket 940?

There is not much of 'first' and 'second' generation cpus.
As I understand it, AMD intends to keep all three sockets, 754, 939
and 940.

754: budget and value desktop CPUs (AthlonXP, Athlon64)
939: 128-bit bus highend desktop CPUs (Athlon64? and possibly FX)
940: Opterons and FX, and possibly future FX

The fastest desktop cpu AMD is able to make, will be called FX. And it
seems as if AMD will keep its options open on what sockets it will be
made for.

Why would they? Memory situation of the moment? Well, I don't know,
speed with much memory perhaps?
The fastest PC in existence, (by quite a margin too, actually) is the
'Elite PC Titan FX', and this is built on an expensive Opteron dual
cpu board, despite that it can only use one FX. So there may be people
interested in highend (940) mobos. Maybe the same people that are
interested in the FX. The FX is a special product.

And since incompatability greatly increases the cashflow into the
manufacturer's pockets, it seems that the pointmen(gamers) will be the
first to be hit.

Well, I think that is both wrong and unfair. It is in AMD's interest
to be as static as possible. They try.

And frankly, - when were you last able to upgrade your PC without
changing mobo as well? New technologies, like new types of RAM, new
IDE interfaces, still makes it necessary to upgrade mobo as well. It's
old news.

Ancra

 

[Darren Harris]

And since incompatability greatly increases the cashflow into the

Well, I think that is both wrong and unfair. It is in AMD's interest
to be as static as possible. They try.

I may not be a computer expert, but I've watched the market long
enough over the years to know that incompatability is a conscious
gameplan on the part of the manufacturers. That goes for software as
well as hardware. Making upgrades necessary is how they squeeze more
money out of the consumers. The other part of the equation involves
not releasing technological "improvements" that are too far along,
because more money can be made in the long run by incrimental advances
in the marketplace. This is the way a maufacturer that makes a
particular piece of PC hardware stays competitive, and for a long
time. The "processor wars"(leapfrogging) are a perfect example. This
is big business capitalism the American way. (Now, you may think that
this is going out on a limb, but I wouldn't be surprised if there was
a "gentleman's agreement" between AMD and Intel).

A family member of mine retired from AMD not long ago. Perhaps I can
get her to post her opinion on this.

And frankly, - when were you last able to upgrade your PC without
changing mobo as well? New technologies, like new types of RAM, new
IDE interfaces, still makes it necessary to upgrade mobo as well. It's
old news.

I agree.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.