Pentium4 future compatibility issues.....

[dbal]

I am finally making up my mind on the so huge dilemma AMD or Intel, taking P4 - Rdram as my choice (don't comment on that and plz don't argue about it in the thread-Thanx!). Due to my restricted wallet capabilities at this time I made an upgrade plan for the future, which I wanna ask if it stands true. So, I thought to buy a minimal P4 in terms of speed (1.5 or 1.6Ghz) in socket 478 of course, and in a year or so (end of 2002)-supposing I need a change- switch to the prevailing Northwood core P4s at that time. Is the whole plan technically compatible? Anything I have to notice in terms of compatibility (cpu socket-chipset-mboard) in my current upgrade? What are the overclocking limits (that don't affect stability) a P4 1,5 or 1,6 can reach to? Thanx to all!!

PS: Any link to a relevant Anandtech article would be highly appreciated.
PS2: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

[Duvie]

I think the socket 478 will run the northwoods as long as they stay in current 400mhz bus mode, and even then I think it may still work with a fix around...


I am hearing maybe the newer p4 1.5 and 1.6's are running good yields and can achieve near 400mhz overclocks...they seem to oc fsb like champs...

Good luck with the new system!!!!

 

[christoph83]

I think the Asus P4T-E is what you need. It can run all socket 478 cpu's right now including northwoods and Asus claims it has compatibility with the new 533FSB Northwoods that will be coming out.

 

[SlapAss]

 

[SlapAss]

Asus PT4-E is the way to go,I agree. It will also support the Northwood. Read Intel's website on putting a 478 socket system together. You have to install the mobo to the case first. The new heatsink and fan system makes the mobo BOW when installed. I would imagine if you put the HSF on first the mobo holes would not line up with the case, I supose? I myself am in the middle of the same debate right now-let us know how it goes. Good Luck!

 

[Texmaster]

<< I think the Asus P4T-E is what you need. It can run all socket 478 cpu's right now including northwoods and Asus claims it has compatibility with the new 533FSB Northwoods that will be coming out. >>



Completely agree. Its made for the new chips and the new 1066 Rambus Ram that will be coming out.


My experience with the P4s have been very good for overclocking.

I'm only going to mention the stable settings.

1.5@1.8

1.7@2.07

2.0@2.36

Never less than a 300mhz jump Not a bad record

 

[o1die]

I suggest you wait for the northwood 1.6 and 1.8 cpus, and see if they are in your price range. Also, I would suggest the sis 645 chipset with pc2700 ddram. Apparantly, it's faster than the intel 850 chipset. Atacom has the asus p4s333 board with raid for only $129. Somebody will review this board soon.

 

[Athlon4all]

For a plan like yours, RDRAM is by far the best choice. By now in 2002, Northwood's will have prolly hit 3GHz using a 533fsb, and this 533fsb will never be fully pushed to the max with DDR, but will be pushed to the max using PC1066 RDRAm which will be mainstream by then, so I'd for the mobo take the Asus P4T-E. Socket 478, has been tested to support 533fsb and will definately support Northwood, but I truthfully wouldn't make a plan like this because by then, AMD's HAMMER! CPU will be out and we have no idea how well it would perform, so IMO, I would get the best the money that you have now can buy and worry about upgrading later. In other words, don't base your entire purchase on a future Upgrade. Just my 2c. No I am not an AMD Zealot

 

[AGodspeed]

For a plan like yours, RDRAM is by far the best choice. By now in 2002, Northwood's will have prolly hit 3GHz.

3GHz only if Intel can fab enough P4's above 2.53GHz by then. Notice that all Intel's roadmaps indicate a max of 2.53GHz for Q3/Q4 2002, only indicating that it would go higher by the show of ">2.53GHz".

This is partly an inference based on roadmaps I?ve seen, confirmed somewhat by an ?Intel employee? I talked to about P4 yields on the .13 micron copper interconnect process (not pm or Wingz).

Supposedly, the .13 micron ramp was all roses up until 2.53GHz, at which point the P4 hit a ceiling for normal air cooling solutions (desktop environments that is). Of course, I doubt Intel will still have this same problem come Q3/Q4 assuming this is true, since Intel showcased a 3GHz P4 (although not on air cooling) last August and since they have a good chunk of time to figure out this problem.

 

[Athlon4all]

Hmmmmm, well, truthfully AGod, I just assumed that Intel was being conservatitive as far as the roadmaps, but if they are indeed having problems with the ramp, boy I dunno how Hammer's gonna do, but frankley considering that it seems that a Athlon XP clocked 600MHz (1900+) slower than a Northwood still gives it a run for it's money, I can't imagine what a 2.0GHz Hammer which is what it will prolly debut at, would do to even a 533fsb 2.53GHz Northwood. I dunno, maybe things are so sure fire with Northwood as people (like me) like to believe. Only time will tell

 

[dbal]

At first I really wanna thank everyone for spending his time on answering me-u have all been really helpful!! But I 'd like to add this- Asus' site for the P4T-E says nothing about supporting 533 FSB P4s or PC1066 RDRAM. Just support of P4 up to 2,4Ghz (the last with 400FSB probably...). And sth else: Does anyone know how can Intel claim that the P4's bandwidth reaches 3,2 GB/s from its 400FSB? I know about the PC800 RDRAM's calculations that sum up to 3,2 GB memory bandwidth and match to that of the cpu, but I 'd like to know about the thing that comes in and out of the PROCESSOR itself cuz I don't wanna take anything for granted, especially from Intel and Microsoft....