Wait for GB or get an i850e?

[Johnnychangs]

Just curious about opinions. I have the money to spend. Gigabyte 8IHXP with 2x 256MB Dual Channel PC1066 Samsung or Kingston memory.

I'm iffy on the processor. Thinking of 2.53 P4 533. Would a 2.53 400 be better? Or a 2.4b or 2.26?

I've already got an Alpha PAL8942 with a nice fan on my current system.

I'm just leary about the GB hype and personally I don't think we'll see any real good GB boards until early 2003.

Any other i850E based mobos I may wanna consider?

Thanks in advance for comments.

 

[Johnnychangs]

** Bump**

 

[wicktron]

I think you should go for the 8IHXP now, the computer world is all a waiting game, you'll never get anything if you're always waiting. And plus, there are lots of nice Rambus modules out there that hit PC1066-PC1200 speeds easily. Granite Bay will only match these speeds, which you can have now with the 8IHXP and some good modules, such as the 32ns Samsung PC1066 sticks. The only thing GB has over a Rambus solution now is the possibility of high FSB overclocking with DDR. Reports from some users on the Hard|Forum suggest that GB boards might not even hit until early next year, according to from what I recall, EPoX and Intel reps. I wouldn't really take my word for that, just something to provoke thought. So what I say is get the 8IHXP now, the GB guys will only be matching and slightly exceeding your performance.

 

[DOOPYLOOPY]

I'd agree with the guy above. If some of the major manufacturers are skipping GB in favour of the more impressive SpringDale then I wouln't bother waiting, I'd upgrade now.

 

[techietam]

Would a 2.53 400 be better?

There is now such thing. It's impossible to get 2.53 out of 400MHz
It's Either 2.4 or 2.6

BTW, I am typing this running 2.53 on 8IHXP

Edit. I've been running it for about a week now. Nice and fast!
But now I want to jump on 2.8 for some reason.. Can never get enough
If you want, it can be yours for $300

 

[Johnnychangs]

Thanks for comments

Techietam - Sorry I meant a P4 2.53-533 or a 2.5-400. And there is such a thing, look HERE

The 2.53 is meant to be run at 133FSB, where the 2.5 default is 100FSB. Since I850e boards are limited for overclocking FSB, would the 2.5 be a faster due to processor overclocking?

Also, does the 8IHXP have a fixed PCI/AGP bus? I heard it didn't, which can also limit overclocking over 140FSB or so.

I've been looking at the Epox 4T4A+ too. Its got a lot of features, plus firewire, which would be great for my Ipod.

I read that the EPox is a good board, but it doesn't like Samsung Ram. It supports RIMM4200 32-bit PC1066 Ram....recommends Kingston. Would I need to get two sticks? I looked up some info on 32-bit rambus, which says they can be installed individually. I thought you needed two sticks.

 

[techietam]

Sorry, I see it now, although can't find it on pricewatch.
I know that 2.6 is the highest 400MHz CPU.

But you are right about overclocking abilities. It's easier to o/c
processor with higher multiplier, like 2.5 or 2.6
Unfortunately, 8IXHP doesn't have PCI/AGP lock that's why the
highest I could do was 140 Although it could be my CPU limit...

32bit memory can be installed individually and seems to be cheaper.
But it sucks if a mobo doesn't like Samsung RDRAM, since it is the
best RDRAM available right now.

2.26 is the best 533FSB overclocker but 8IHXP won't do a good job for
it. You better go with DDR, if you decide to get it.

Techie

 

[Johnnychangs]

There's a great post about the 4T4A+ HERE.

The board looks great has a bunch of features I want (also a PCI/AGP lock), but am waiting to hear back from Epox support about the memory issues.

LOL Techietam, I've already got a DDR mobo (see my sig).

 

[Fionavar]

The GB solution, however, has some newer features the 850 does not - AGP 8x, Serial ATA to mention only two. Plus the price should be less with RAM than the 850 solution. Just some other things to consider.

 

[DeviousTrap]

All I got to say is that I love my 8IHXP, currently it one of the fastests boards avaliable for the P4. Also I was able to overclock my P4 2.26b to 2550MHz. Thats 150 FSB and it works just fine.

 

[RideFree]

Johnny,
The 2.4 may be the current O.C. king...I'm not sure - so check here.

 

[Johnnychangs]

LOL
I just heard back from Epox UK support about the 4T4A+. I aksed them a number of questions...to use Kingston or Samsung memory, if it had an AGP/PCI lock (which I found out it does), to use ECC or non-ECC, and about 5 other questions.

They replied to me with:

"Dear Sir, We would recommend the non-ECC modules."

Thats it! One of my questions was answered. I would have liked it if they just said "We don't know" for the other questions. No answer is a bad answer.

Anyway, the reason I used UK support was due to the Epox USA website being down for a good part of last weekend. I sent the same questions to USA support..I'll probably get an answer like this:

"Dear Sir, We would recommend Pentium 4 processors in our i850e motherboard."

Duh, lol. I'm just kidding...I hope they'll give me a better answer.

 

[TechMasterChen]

Unless someones lighting a fire under you why not wait and see what companies offer GB boards? Check the benchmarks out and such, should be able to find this out this week or next week.

 

[Toymaker]

I've heard that the latest revision of the Asus P4T-533 (32 bit Rambus) motherboard is pretty reliable. The earlier boards were really questionable although some people were fortunate to get good boards. You may want to research that board as well. I suggest that you wait for the DC DDR reviews, Granite Bay, and possibly SiS 655 and VIA P4X600 too. Then make your decision. If you must buy now then I'd pesonally go with a 32 bit Rambus board since they work with one module (plus a dummy C-RIMM in the other slot). 32 bit Rambus promises much higher performance increases down the road as well. Since these boards generally don't overclock much past 150 MHZ FSB, the P4 2.5 400 with it's higher multiplier would be a better choice.

 

[oldfart]

GB reviews are supposed to be on 11/18. Thats only a few days away. Wait till then before you decide.

 

[dajo]

Wait for GB and SiS 655 reviews.