Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I'm about to upgrade my PC.

I'm after a cheap P4 processor, motherboard and memory!

Any recommendations?

I've seen 2.53GHz (I think) for £160. Is this the sensible break before processors start costing lots more for little more gain?

[Edited by Andy Tang - 11/4/2002 11:32:24 AM]

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I know scan have some Xeon? p4's which support the 860 chipset, these are a little more expensive though, the 2.4's seem to be the best buy at the moment though imho.

Tony

[Edited by TonyBurns - 11/4/2002 11:50:21 AM]

DominicA

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/kl.asp?A...=10&t=1401&l=2

their postage charge is very reasonable....

they r boxed versions so come with fan....

[Edited by DominicA - 11/4/2002 12:51:59 PM]

ChrisB

I'd go with an Asus P4PE i845PE SWA motherboard. Supports the HT P4s, has audio and Gigabit LAN on-board, along with DDR 333. We've already built a few PCs with them and they are up to the usual Asus standards

The P4 3.06Ghz P4 with HT has made our trade price list this week, but only as a £TBC.

There's new Intel pricing effective from 8th November Andy, so hang fire for a few days. The 2.4Ghz 533Mhz P4 will be a nice sweet spot in the pricing looking at the figures I have.

[Edited by ChrisB - 11/4/2002 5:31:55 PM]

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

www.scan.co.uk
The cpu's dont come with the fan though, they do them seperately so if you get one then order that too
2.4ghz 533fsb at 155 inc vat btw

Tony

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Should just say to check out the special offers some good bits there

Tony

suba

all new P4 runs on FSB of 533MHz. those are the P4 CPUs to get. just get the fastest CPU you can affrod. i think there's a new intel chipset coming out for the P4, the intel 845PE which support hyper-threading and DDR333 memory.

ptholt

ebuyer can be quite cheap - http://www.ebuyer.com

failing that give me a shout andy, might have some interesting info

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Problem with getting the fastest you can afford is that for example (prices from Scan on the 'Today Only', inc VAT):

2.4 GHz *533FSB* Intel Pentium® 4 CPU £172.73

2.533 GHz *533FSB* Intel Pentium® 4 CPU £216.20

2.67 GHz *533FSB* Intel Pentium® 4 CPU £343.10

Is it worth £40-ish more for 0.133GHz more??
Is it worth nearly double the money for 0.27GHz more?

I assume the 2.4GHz on Scan for £155 (inc VAT) was 400MHz FSB, as the 533Mhz ones are stated?

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Pete, we've been exchanging mails today.. I hope you don't expect me to talk to you as well!!!!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Found this:

P4 2.53GHz, M'board & 512Mb RAM for £400

DominicA

Andy, i'd go for the 2.4 bundle if you want to go that route, save £50 and put it towards the graphics card... check out tomshardware for mobo reviews before you buy tho...

DominicA

113237 MSI 648 MAX mainboard for S478/533mhz
- SIS648, ATA/133, ATX, DDR, 8X, USB2.0 20-49 80,17 80,17
111590 Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz Boxed PC533
- Socket PGA478, 512kB "Northwood" Confirmed
05.11.2002 161,52 161,52
113548 TwinMOS PC2700 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5
- RAM 184-P (for DDR-PC333MHz) Confirmed
05.11.2002 122,88 122,88
Surcharges: 0,00
Total: 364,57

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I couldn't find the motherboard on Tom's Hardware, but I found it here

And it seems to perform very well as a games motherboard!

Just need to improve my gaming skills now!!

suba

AnandTech review on the MSI 648

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

The board seems to do fairly well! OK not the best, but for the money seems to be fine!

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Dom,

Juut realised that the spec you've put up is slightly different to one I was looking at.

Where did you get the details of that package from?

Cheers
Andy

ChrisB

I'd avoid the MSI board mentioned, as it's an SIS chipset which I've never liked (UMA video anyone?) and it doesn't support the HT P4s.

http://www.asus.com.tw/mb/socket478/p4pe/overview.htm

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Nice one Chris! I'll hold fire and see if you company can beat the prices I get!

ChrisB

Okay, let me know

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Andy,
the 155 quid for the 2.4 p4 is the 533fsb one but like i said, these dont come with the fans (10 quid extra).
(my mate got one along with the said mainboard last week, hes enjoying playing Unreal Tournament 2003 now )

Tony

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

Tony,

If you click on 'buy' next to the £155.10 processor, you get the following description:

So I guess the £155.10 processor is the 400MHz FSB one!!

suba

i tot you were gonna get the bundle from komplett?

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

After what ChrisB said about a price reduction due on the 8th of this month, I think it might be worth waiting!

super_si

Im building one in Janury
P4 2.8 or 2.6 depending not paying more then £300!
Abit IT7 Max 2
512mb Corsair 3500 DDR
9700 Pro 128MB graphics
n over clocked + water cooled

its just the motherboard choice thats open to debate

Si

DominicA

Andy, look at Chrisb's post.... i'd also go for Asus myself....if price is less of a concern than future proofing for as long as possible....

Andy Tang

iTrader: (3)

I was looking at ASUS before as they offer better overclocking facilities, if I decide to go down that road!!

ChrisB

Overclock when you have 2Ghz+ already? Hmmmm!

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I thought they had alot of problems with the 9700 ATi graphic cards at the moment??

Andy, yup your right best give them a call though, my mate got one last week, was a few quid cheaper than advertised and still the 533fsb one

Tony

super_si

9700 pro all in one aswell now! different again.
scrapped anyway im spening £1000 on another MTB