Questions about SATA II and DDR2

[dfgasner]

Here's the scoop I've decided that it would be pointless right now to buy an AGP video card because it would be throwing money away because the next time I wan't to upgrade I don't want to replace my motherboard and then buy another new video card. Why not just upgrade my motherboard now that way I can just buy 1 video card within the next 2 years.

So I began to think of all the things that I could use from my current computer to help build a new one, so I could keep the cost down. I don't have a big budget I really don't want to spend more then 500 dollars but I'm willing to go to 600 if need be. I don't want top of the line stuff except the motherboard. I would like one that has SLI and supports all Pentium D's (except that dang 820).

So I've been looking at motherboards with the nForce4 chipset (mainly this one):
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247012
Cheap yet upgradable.

And I was thinking about this processor:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80826
I'm not to keen on the Dual Core Intels because the nForce4 Chipset isn't fully compatible with the 820 and I can't afford the 830.

Then I was thinking that I would just stick in a 1G kit of Cheap good old ram:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85016-33
I know it's nothing special but I have used value select ram for the past 5 years and it seems to work greate for me.

Right there is $360.

Then i was just going to get a "New" x800xt off Ebay.
Don't try and tell me that I shouldn't do that, that I should go right to the 7800gt so then in the future all I'd have to do is add another one for an upgrade. Well besides the motherboard I have never bought top of the line because I can't afford it, I buy a video card that will last "Me" the next 2 years. Then I will buy a 7800gtx when it costs $200.

Anyway my dilehma is that I would love this with a vide card that is like $550 but unfourtunatly I was hoping to use my old Baracudda 80GB SATA in the new box because right now that is plenty for me.

But my question is I don't think I can stick it in a SATA II slot but I was wondering if that might be possible.

Thanks A lot
Davey

[hockey man]

Couple of things. First off, people here- myself incliede- are Newegg fans. They offerer great prices and service. That mobo is $2 cheaper here. Were did you find the info that the 820 was not compatible with this MOBO? ASUS's site is too crowded right now, so
I can't search their site for that info. Any Coraisr, Crucial, or Kingston RAM will be fine. Look at a 6800gt. You can go SLI with those. Not as great as a 7800, but comparable with a x800xt. SATA I and SATA II are both backwards compatible. A SATA I MOBO can utilize a SATA II hd at a slower transfer rate. A SATA II mobo, can use a SATA I hd at the slower rate.

[dfgasner]

Ok that is awesome That is exactly what I wanted to know is that I can use my SATA I hd in On this motherboard.

And it's one Asus's supports site: The 820 will run fine but it will only act as a single core.

I think that this is not the brand but the nForce4 north bridge. I may be mistaken but I think that it's the same way on MSI's nForce 4 board.

Question about selling my pc I've got now. I want to sell it even though it isn't imprisive to someone less "brand new" game oriented. Here is what I've come up with:
P4 2.6Ghz 800FSB HT Northwood - $ 80
Asus P4P800 - $ 80
GF4 MX420 64MB (worth nothing) - $ 10
(2 x 256) Corsair Value Select Dual Channel - $ 40
PSU (other box not P4 compatible) - $ 30
TOTAL - $240

I realize there is no hard drive but whoever gets it can go to sams and pick up an IDE 80Gb for $40.

If you have any other suggestions they would be apprieciated.
I am also going to get one of the low end PSU's of Saph's list for my new box.

Thanks

Davey

[hockey man]

dfgasner, the mods and Ixl frown upon selling stuff through the forums. It appears that you are just looking for price recommendations, though. If so, I suggest you go on ebay or look in your local newspaper to find out what the fair market value is.

And yes, definitly look at a new PSU. Your new system will need a lot more than your old one.

[dfgasner]

Oh totally sorry I'm not selling my computer. I think that I already have a buyer I was just wondering what ppl thought about a "fair" price. No I just don't want to rip anyone off. Yea I've looked on ebay and those are about the prices I just wanted any more suggestions.

Thanks again hockey man for all your very quick help with my SATA question.

Davey

[saphalline]

There's one thing I'm not understanding here. Are you saying that you don't want to buy another vid card in the future for SLI? You just want one vid card? If so, then what's the point of going with SLI?

[dfgasner]

No what i'm saying is that right now I have an AGP motherboard, and instead of buying an AGP card now and then in a couple years when I would have gone to pci-e I would have to buy another video card again. and by that time the AGP one would be worthless.

Thanks
Davey

How does the hardware look saph?

[saphalline]

If you won't be using SLI, then I suggest saving the money and buying a non-SLI mobo. That would solve your dual-core compatibility problem, and it would be cheaper.

Just because SLI mobo's are the most expensive doesn't mean they're the best for everything! ;)

[dfgasner]

idk if I wasn't going to buy a nForce4 chipset mobo, then I would probably go with a 955x and so far as I've seen they are the most expensive. Yes I've thought of that too. How far back can I go in the Intel chipsets where all the processors are compatible so it is still upgradable.

Thanks
Davey

[saphalline]

The two latest Intel chipsets are the i955X and the i945P. Both of these support DDR2-667 (some of them up to DDR2-1000), 64-bit/HT/dual-core CPU's, 800/1066 FSB, PCIe x16 vid cards, SATA 2.0, up to 10 USB 2.0 ports, etc. The latest and the greatest! :D

[dfgasner]

I know which I would love but the nForce4 Chipset motherboards are cheaper. But I think I might have come across a compromise and would like some input.

You guys probably already know but I just found out that VIA makes a chipset, the VT-880 Ultra that allows for both an AGP slot and a PCI-e slot on the same mobo.

Asus has one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131566

Unfortunalty according to Asus's CPU mobo guide it supports all the Socket T P4's and all the Celeron D's but not any of the "real" dual-core processors.

I still think that it might be a good comprimise. I don't think I'll need dual core too soon. But for a while I won't be buying any "new" games but I will just keep looking on ebay till a nice cheaper one comes up. Then I just add the PCI-e card next to my agp and presto. I think that I can sacrifice the Dual core for now. Plus It uses DDR "1" so I wouldn't have to buy any new ram. I could just buy a $70 laptop and a $170 processor and just wait till a nice PCI-e goes off ebay.

But all good things have bad. The PCI-e slot isn't "16x" it's only 4x and that's where I want your opinion. Is it really worth it to have a PCI-e slot that isn't 16x. How much performance drop am I going to see?

Thanks
Davey

[hockey man]

Umm, I don't think a PCI x16 card will fit into a 4x slot. . .I could be rong thoug, check with Saph.

[dfgasner]

No that's the confusing part it's a PCI x16 slot but it only acts and trasfers like a x4 slot. So IDK

Thanks
Davey

[hockey man]

Mmmm, I don't know. . . You'll have to wait for our Saph or someone else to answer that, sorry I can't help ya. . .

[saphalline]

I wouldn't recommend it. You can certainly buy it if you want and save some money by not going with the latest and greatest. It's just that in terms of performance, I wouldn't recommend it. What's the point of PCIe if it's 1/4 of what you're supposed to get? That won't scale well with future vid cards.

[dfgasner]

K thx for the advice

I actually think i found a buyer for my old box so my new one with the nForce4 Asus should shouldn't run me anymore then $400 with the video

Thanks a lot guys
Davey

[saphalline]

No problem. Let us know how the new system works out!

[rond36]

Unfortunalty according to Asus's CPU mobo guide it supports all the Socket T P4's and all the Celeron D's but not any of the "real" dual-core processors.
???????

I don't think the list on Asus' site is up to date. The motherboard specs say that it supports the Pentium D processors, all of them are "real" duel core processors

It supports Intel Socket T (LGA 775) CPUs
Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron CPU
Front Side Bus 1066 / 800 / 533 MHz Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology ready

Intel Pentium D 820 Smithfield 800MHz FSB 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor 2.8GHz

Intel Pentium D 830 Smithfield 800MHz FSB 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor 3.0GHz

Intel Pentium D 840 Smithfield 800MHz FSB 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor 3.2GHz

Intel Pentium D 840 Extreme Edition Smithfield 800MHz FSB 2 x 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T W/ Hyper-Threading Processor 3.2GHz

[dfgasner]

k thanks a lot for that but i don't think that i'll be getting that mobo because of the x16 pci-e slot that runs at x4.
LOL

Thanks alot though rond36

Davey

Will do saph but it might be a couple weeks or maybe a month. :)

[saphalline]

Yeah, I can't imagine any modern LGA775 mobo not supporting the PD's. That would be suicide! :eek: Although that page on Asus' website is a little confusing...

I guess you just have to assume a few things these days. :D

[hockey man]

I guess you just have to assume a few things these days. :D

That is why we ask you! You know all these things- or at least know the art of google to find the answer :p .