Best 850E motherboard?

[dasman]

I'm looking to upgrade my system to a P4 (533FSB w/ 1066 RDRAM) and want to know the best 850E motherboard out there (RAID not needed, LAN and sound is). Stability is an issue, overclocking really isn't. I'm planning on loading it with 1GB of RDRAM, if the mobo is finicky about the type/brand, please include that in your recommendation.

If there is a reason I should be looking at another option other than P4 or 850E, please feel free -- I'm looking for the fastest, no compromise solution.

Thanks

 

[VSEKH]

The Asus P4T533-C mobo I had with the P4-2.8 worked great. I had installed a pair of Kingston PC1066 256MB memory chips. Worked like a champ. Currently running a SIS648 chipset mobo, Abit SR7-8X, in AGP8x mode with DDR400. Might go back with the Asus and rambus setup, since this gave the best memory and overall performance.

 

[IntelConvert]

Originally posted by: dasman
I'm looking to upgrade my system to a P4 (533FSB w/ 1066 RDRAM) and want to know the best 850E motherboard out there (RAID not needed, LAN and sound is). Stability is an issue, overclocking really isn't. I'm planning on loading it with 1GB of RDRAM, if the mobo is finicky about the type/brand, please include that in your recommendation.

If there is a reason I should be looking at another option other than P4 or 850E, please feel free -- I'm looking for the fastest, no compromise solution.

Thanks

i950E is a mature and stable chipset which still rules the Northwood roost (although the gap between it and some of the latest DDR boards is closing). The Asus P4T533-C is a fine board, but I prefer the Gigabyte GA-8IHXP (IMHO the very best i850E board for quality, features, and growth).

 

[dasman]

VSEKH -- ASUS's website makes me believe the P4T533-C is picky when it comes to memory -- is this indeed the case? I've also noted that Kingston has a part number specifically for this board -- did you stick with the recommended memory? (I've got a couple of 1066 RDIMMS that I'd like to use, but they're not on ASUS's list).

IntelConvert -- how is the Gigabyte board with memory, is it particular about the memory that gets put in it?

Thanks,

 

[ragazzo]

I'm going to go for the Epox EP-4T4A+, 2x256mb of 32bit RDRAM PC1066 and a P4 2.4B processor. My only problem with the EP-4t4A+ is that it only has 2 memory slots :/

Edit:

Never mind. Just read some thoughts about the Epox. I'm going to wait a little longer to see what users have to say about that board.

 

[IntelConvert]

Originally posted by: dasman
VSEKH IntelConvert -- how is the Gigabyte board with memory, is it particular about the memory that gets put in it?

Thanks,

FWIW, I have Kingston PC1066 (256MB) modules in my GA-8IHXP (no problemo) and from what I understand, Samsung PC1066 works just as well

 

[IntelConvert]

dasman, here's another thought~ While I stand by the GA-8IHXP as the best i850E board out there, if you don't have any use for it's RAID or USB 2.0, you could save about $25 by going with the Iwill P4R533-N. It's a very well layed-out and stable i850E board, albeit with fewer features than the Gigabyte. The Iwill has 4 RIMM slots, 5 PCI slots, 3 fan connectors, an on-board Realtek Ethernet adapter and C-Media CMI8738 audio - which are the features you said you needed. But IMHO, the Gigabyte's additional features are well worth the $25 premium!

 

[dasman]

IntelConvert,

Thanks for the info on the Iwill, but I'm kinda liking USB2.0 (a printer I'm looking at supports it). I currently run a Promise Fastrak TX4 (four channel RAID card) -- can the Gigabyte RAID be disabled?

Thanks,

 

[IntelConvert]

dasman~ Although I never had a need to do that, it shouldn't be a problem - you can configure the onboard RAID as additional IDE channels.

 

[wicktron]

Off topic: The Abit TH7-II still owns high FSB overclocking for RDRAM P4 solutions. Lacks features, but owns high FSB OC'ing.

 

[IntelConvert]

Unless you love the challenge, why would anyone (now) get an i850 board that has to be O/C'd in order to achieve roughly the same results as an i850E board achieves stock?

 

[wicktron]

For high FSB OC's... Most 850e boards top out at 156. I'm talking 160-170+ here.
If the P4T533 wasn't so plagued with problems, that would be my RD board of choice, but until a new revision of it comes out that fixes the problems, or EPoX gets their act together with the 4T4A, the TH7-II is still the prime time choice for high FSB RD OC'ing.

 

[CloudsShinji]

I have to toss another vote of support in for the GA-8IHXP. Great board with a ton of features. I've had no issues with it whatsoever running my 2.53@2.85 with 2x256 Kingston PC1066.


A note about the onboard RAID of the 8IHXP; you can use it as IDE channels, and you can even disable it completely if you prefer, for some reason, to do that.