Best P4 board right now?

[XJ.]

Thinking of switching over to Intel - don't know if I'll do it, but here's a poll anyway ;)

[Chuck232]

Hehe...:p

I voted IC7, a nice not too expensive Canterwood that overclocks well (what you'd be getting this setup for right?) and performs well.

Just you'd need to get a NIC though.

[ThugsRook]

another vote for Ic7....

[XJ.]

Yeah, I'm an overclocking junkie and I have nics/sound cards etc (even though my nf2 boards have the best sound and nics I've used).

PS There's one vote for other just so I can watch the poll more easily :o

[JoeBar]

My vote for P4C800. However i'm refering to either P4C800 non deluxe or P4C800-E. ;)

[XJ.]

Hmm, which of these boards are built to the right VRM spec to handle prescott????

[JoeBar]

Originally posted by XJ.
Hmm, which of these boards are built to the right VRM spec to handle prescott????

Asus 865/875 mobos can. Don't know about abit though.

[XJ.]

Thanks Joe! Anyone have the skinny on Abit??

[pointreyes]

Other (Please comment):

'comment' :p

[Skully]

Voted for IC7 but the P4P800D is a close second in my book! :)

[Flamer]

I voted for the p4p800, I have had the deluxe running for a few days and i really like it. I still need to do some more tweaking but so far this boards seems very stable and fast with a nortwood b. And the onboard sound and lan seem to work well, and the via raid chip has givin me no problems.

[Flamer]

XJ,

I would like to welcome you to the darkside :)

[oldfart]

IC7. PAT works even when overclocked and using a ratio. Very few (any other?) boards can do that.

Prescott support is a BIG question that no one knows the answer to right now.

[XJ.]

Originally posted by pointreyes
Other (Please comment):

'comment' :p

:na:

[XJ.]

Originally posted by samcolt
XJ,

I would like to welcome you to the darkside :)

Hey, I ain't dead yet :p

[eva2000]

best board for what ?

pure overclocking ? P4C800/IC7
work everyday stable use ? PX865PE PRO2/P4C800 both are rock stable
for a server needing more ide hdd device support ? 8KNXP more features and ide device support!

[jhites]

Originally posted by JoeBar
Asus 865/875 mobos can. Don't know about abit though.
The only board that Asus site shows with support for the Prescott is the P4P8X and P4P800-VM. Are the others undocumented?

Edit: Asus just updated their website for the prescott support. Yesterday there was only the two boards when I did a search for prescott and just now there are:
P4C800
P4C800 Deluxe
P4C800-E Deluxe
P4P800
P4P800 Deluxe
P4P800-VM
P4P8X
P4S800

[Jim]

Originally posted by oldfart
IC7. PAT works even when overclocked and using a ratio. Very few (any other?) boards can do that.

Prescott support is a BIG question that no one knows the answer to right now.


P4C800-E does. :)

**** INTEL/AMD/VIA memory config info, c't/Andreas Stiller V2.7 June 03 ****
Kernel Driver: WinNT DIRECTNT.SYS V01.09
Pentium 4,(0F29-09)ca 3698 MHz (sleep) 3389 MHz (load)
Bus Speed: max=200MHz, ratio=12 => 282 MHz
Hostdevice: (2578) Canterwood i875 MCH, Vendor: (8086) Intel, Rev:0002h
----------------------------------------------------------------
Intel Canterwood i875 MCH Rev:02: Bus:0, Device-Nr:0, Function:0
System Frequency : FSB800/200 MHz
Memory Frequency : DDR320/160 MHz (5:4)
IOQ Depth : 12 deep
Top of usable Memory : 1024.0 MByte
Extended SMRAM (Tseg) : disabled
Overflowdevice : disabled and unlocked, ID= 257Eh, Rev: 2
Memory Delays Base Address : FECF0000 not prefetchable
CPU Parking : disabled
Memory : row0: 512 MByte/16 KB Pages
: row1: 512 MByte/16 KB Pages
DRAM-Channels : Dual Channel Linear, DDR
ECC & Refresh : Non-ECC, Refresh=64 µs
PAT-mode : (1) fully enabled
Active to Precharge Delay : 6 clocks .. 70 µs
Tcl - Trcd -Trp : 2-3-3 T (DRAM Clocks)

Memory Read Bandwidth : ca. 6215.4 MBytes/s, Cacheline size= 128
>> go on with CR

[pointreyes]

Originally posted by eva2000
best board for what ?

for a server needing more ide hdd device support ? 8KNXP more features and ide device support!

Yup! :)

[XJ.]

Originally posted by eva2000
best board for what ?

pure overclocking ? P4C800/IC7
work everyday stable use ? PX865PE PRO2/P4C800 both are rock stable
for a server needing more ide hdd device support ? 8KNXP more features and ide device support!

I like boards that overclock well, but are stable too (otherwise, what's the use :eek: ).

Thanks!

[XJ.]

The IC7 looks like a good board, too bad there's no info on support for s478 prescotts :confused:

[Chuck232]

If you thought that the ASUS 865/75 boards could use Prescott, scratch it off the list cause it cannot.

http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=364&perpage=15&pagenumber=2

[eva2000]

Originally posted by XJ.
I like boards that overclock well, but are stable too (otherwise, what's the use :eek: ).

Thanks! then P4C800 fits the description

[JoeBar]

Originally posted by jhites
The only board that Asus site shows with support for the Prescott is the P4P8X and P4P800-VM. Are the others undocumented?

Edit: Asus just updated their website for the prescott support. Yesterday there was only the two boards when I did a search for prescott and just now there are:
P4C800
P4C800 Deluxe
P4C800-E Deluxe
P4P800
P4P800 Deluxe
P4P800-VM
P4P8X
P4S800

Seems that prescott support turns out to be a thriller movie... :p

[shimmishim]

yay! i'm on the darkside now

i voted for the ic7 cuz that's what i just bought :)

[XJ.]

Thanks for all the info guys. I think I'm going to stick with my AMD setup for now. All though the new C step P4s are very impressive, as are the new chipsets - it's all a bit confusing regarding Prescott at the moment.

Still - keep voting and commenting - this may be of help to others*!

Thanks :)

*Or even me, if I suddenly pull a 180 ;)

[XJ.]

OK, I might still be switching to Intel. After having my current setup giving me frequent random lockups with two diff vid cards (thought it was the vid card at first) - I figure this setup is seriously messed up and I am RMAing the board and cpu.

So - thanks for the input!

[LastRide]

Of the boards you have listed I would go with the IC7 or the IC7-G if you need raid and Lan.The non G doesn't have onboard Lan:scratch:,so yu need to have a nic card .The other would be the P4C800-E which is a consideral amount of money more.

[jhites]

And which ones will support the new Prescott, if any. ;)

[XJ.]

Originally posted by jhites
And which ones will support the new Prescott, if any. ;)

This has been an onging debate, since it is uncertain if any of the current chipsets support Prescott due to last minute changes made by Intel :scratch:

Bummer, eh?

[LastRide]

There will be better boards out by then anyways.You buy a mobo that supports Prescott who know what kind of bugs it has.I would rather wait when the Prescott boards come out in full force and make a decision then.

[jhites]

Originally posted by XJ.
This has been an onging debate, since it is uncertain if any of the current chipsets support Prescott due to last minute changes made by Intel :scratch:

Bummer, eh? LOL - And the boards listed now by Asus depends on which site you check and what day it is. :na:

[JoeBar]

Originally posted by jhites
LOL - And the boards listed now by Asus depends on which site you check and what day it is. :na:

:lol:

[XJ.]

So, why does the IC7 get so many votes and the IS7 get non? Anandtech appeared to be pretty impressed with the IS7, is there really some big difference???

TIA!
XJ

[jhites]

Originally posted by XJ.
So, why does the IC7 get so many votes and the IS7 get non? Anandtech appeared to be pretty impressed with the IS7, is there really some big difference???

TIA!
XJ
Simply, Canterwood vs Springdale.
Overclock is more stable at higher fsb.
You might also want to read the AT sticky thread on IS7.

[Skully]

Stable IC7 @ 275 @ 4:5 on PC3200 DDR400. Not a bad mobo in my book! :D

[XJ.]

Thanks jhites and skully!

[jhites]

Check my last post in this thread (http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php3?s=&postid=6412#post6412) on the IS7 and there is some other information on the link.

[XJ.]

Yeah, so far it seems that the IC7 is a good board, except maybe for the layout (I like the P4P800's layout better).

I am a bit concerned about Prom's comments about Abit pushing speed over stability in their latests bioses. I've seen the same thing with the NF7-S v2.0.

Any comments about this issue?
TIA!
XJ

[ThugsRook]

ummmm if i can get the same speed on a lesser OC using less vcore?
that sounds good to me :-)

all the real power is in the board/mem anyway ~ not the cpu OC

[XJ.]

I've heard some reviews complain about the IC7's NB Fan being too noisy - is that fixed now?

[Chuck232]

I believe ABIT did make a new revision with a new NB fan, but I don't know if they're shipping. I haven't heard anyone say they had the new fan...

[XJ.]

I've heard that they are shipping, but I don't know if that means to customers or just to resellers.

[XJ.]

Anyway, I'm on the verge of pushing the button for an Abit IC7 and a P4 2.4C over on www.googlegear.com. I'll place the order tonight if I don't loose my nerve (only since my luck with systems lately has been -> :smash: ) Oh, btw, I have 2x256MB HyperX PC3500. I know it will do PC3500 on AMD, so maybe it'll go high on Intel systems.

[XJ.]

Eh, already second guessing myself. I hadn't been looking at the P4P800D. Some nice extra featues for $10 :) Hmm......

[LastRide]

I would get the IC7 but its your decision.PAT don't work on the P4P800D other than 1:1 and you hear rumours of them disabling it on the P4P800.The new IC7 Max3 should be out shortly also.

[Chuck232]

Well my P4P800D still has working MAM..

IMO, if I had the choice now, I'd probably spring for the IC7.

[jhites]

IMHO - Stay with Canterwood
HyperX3500 works great on my P4C systems. Needs 2.8-2.85 vdimm for tight timings though.

[XJ.]

Thanks guys for the input!

LastRide -> what is the IC7 Max3?!!

[Chuck232]

The IC7-G but with some better cooling/overclocking abilities. It includes the new NB cooler and also has active mosfet cooling.

[XJ.]

Very nice, found a pic via Google - Thanks! Since it's built off of the IC7-G it'll be big $$s :eek:

At excaliberpc.com I can get an IC7 with the new NB Cooler - don't know if it's quite the monster that's on Max3, but it's similar.

[Phoenixofwater]

What makes the IC7 better then the IS7?
I know they have diff chipset, whats the diff with Canterwood chipset and the Springdale chipset?
I'm just asking because the IS7 mostly will be my next mobo

[XJ.]

Basically, from what I've read here and elsewhere, the Canterwoods are generally more stable at higher FSBs - so if you like to overclock alot, the canterwoods are better.

[Phoenixofwater]

Originally posted by XJ.
Basically, from what I've read here and elsewhere, the Canterwoods are generally more stable at higher FSBs - so if you like to overclock alot, the canterwoods are better.

:D lol
I don't think I have to woried about hight FSB, yet :)

[MHG]

I bought the Asus P4C800-E Deluxe, it's full featured and will not potentially lose PAT through a Bios update like the Asus P4P800 Deluxe.. Also the Asus P4C800 Non Deluxe looks like a good buy.

[LastRide]

On Canterwoods PAT is enabled on all ratios.On sprigdale its only on 1:1.PAT on springdales isn't true PAT from what I believe.My score's were higher with the IC7 compared to the P4P800 with the same settings.My score were also higher on the IC7 at 280FSB than at 285FSB on the P4P800.

[Ardy]

Sounds like Abits done it right.:yummy:

[Chuck232]

Or ABIT's boards the IC7 compared to the P4P800 which isn't really supposed to have "PAT".