RAM comparison, TFT Monitors, Chipsets and Processors

[shadowmonkx]

Hi guys,

I'm curious as to a few things I can't seem to find straight answers on... sorry to combine so many issues in one e-mail, but I just thought it'd be easier for all involved. Bah.

1.> How much do you know about Digital Flat Panel monitors, AKA TFT
monitors (supposedly the best "type" of DFP). I might get one, but I'm unsure as to what I should look for, which brand tends to be better, etc. Ugh.

2.> Which is the "best" type of RAM currently available? There's RDRAM, DDR SDRAM, PC2400, etc. Yes, I've heard of a search engine, and no, I can't seem to find much in this area.

3.> "Hi,

I'm considering the purchase of an Intel Pentium 4, up from my current Piii
600MHz.

However, I WILL wait until the processors are a bit more, shall we say,
competitive with the Athlons!

1.> That said, can you please list, from best to worst, Pentium 4 processors, taking into account unreleased ones (e.g., Brookdale, Northwood, etc.)?

Specifically (hopefully all will apply):

--->Works with/made for the best high-end (workstation) chipset avaiable.

--->Has the best Bus and FSB speeds.

--->Works with all types of RAM (RDRAM, PCxxxx, etc.).

--->Has the lowest die process (e.g., .013 micron process)

--->Most cache (512k L2, etc.)

I'm not sure which is the "best" to come in the future, but I'm thinking along the line of "Northwood, Brookdale," etc.

This also prompts two other questions:

2.> Which chipsets are the best, in order from best to worst (Please take into account chipsets soon to be debuted such as Brookdale, Tulloch, etc.)?

3.> Do any chipsets currently, or will they in the future support Ultra160 SCSI-3 and/or Ultra320 SCSI-3? The lack of a chipset that supports either is one of the reasons why I haven't already bought a P4 -- after all, would YOU "go down" to EIDE if you had an $1,022.96 hard drive?? Sigh.

4.> How about the P4 Xeons? Are they as good as the "other" P4 processors? If so, or better, how so? I may get one as opposed to a "normal" P4 processor.

5.> This is related, believe me. Which is ACTUALLY faster, RDRAM or top-of-the-line SDRAM (DDR, PCxxxx, etc.)? This will help me determine which chipset to get... but hey, I'm a speed freak.

Thank you a LOT for your time and help!

-ShAdOWmoNkX http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif"

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Thanks!

-ShAdOWmoNkX http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by shadowmonkx (edited 09-18-2001).]

[kenja]

I'm guessing no one has replied yet because there is so much to chew on here, so I'll take a couple of the easy questions. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

The Pentium 4 has superior potential, but don't buy one now; the motherboard socket will be superceded.

I've never heard of a motherboard chipset that incorporates SCSI; that interface is provided by separate controller chips.

[ShAdOWmoNkX]

Hey Kenja,

Well, it seems to me that there *are* MOTHERBOARDS that support SCSI, maybe not the chipsets themselves.

For example, what I'm using right now: the Supermicro PIIIDM3 mainboard. Cost me $550 when I got it (and that was at a bargain, mind you). When it comes to components, you really do get what you pay for... I've bought $130 Asus boards and they've crapped out.

Anyhow, what did you mean when you said that the motherboard socket with be superceded? Can you give more detailed info? Thanks!

-ShAdOWmoNkX

[diurnal]

As kenya said , there is a lot of info.The RDram is the fastest of all the ram now, however it is very expensive, i would personally go with ddr.The petium are the fastest on the market , I just saw a 2.0 gig petium, but you will be paying major bucks, I would go with the 1.4 Athlon , personally.And SCSI devices should be compatible with all devices today.

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[kenja]

I don't know the answers to most of your questions because I concentrate on cost-effectiveness of hardware, and my most demanding application is editing photos, so...

By chipset, I meant northbridge-southbridge (or a combined, single IC like the new SIS); I'd think a board manufacturer can add whatever additional controller chips they desire.

But anyway, I don't remember where I read it, but tomorrow's P4 will not be using the 423 socket, meaning there is no "long-term" upgrade path for the P4 motherboard you buy today. Tom's Hardware on the P4 (http://www4.tomshardware.com/column/00q3/000903/bb-03.html).

I haven't even looked at the applicable motherboards, but if you're buying today, a pair of 1.2GHz Palominos would be in your league.


[This message has been edited by kenja (edited 09-20-2001).]

[iisbob]

I agree with diurnal and kenja stick with AMD on this one, as there are still a lot of problems to be worked out with the P4 systems; mostly compatibility options ( they are finally getting DDR boards for P4's now ).

I would point you towards: memory-DDR ( try to get PC2100-for a FSB of 266) cpu-Athlon, any of the t-birds graphics-go Geforce3 if you're serious about gaming, otherwise stick with a Geforce2mx400 or ATI raedon SCSI controller-if you want serious performance put it in a raid configuration, or save yourself some cahs and get a 7200rpm set of EIDE drives cd-burner for that all important file backup! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif go with either a SIS 735 or AMD mobo chipset-i haven't a chance to check out Via's newest kt266-but Via's can give you a lot of headaches http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif at least a 17" flatscreen CRT, i've yet to see anyone have a whole lot of positive things to say about LCD type flat's; but i haven't actually used one-so i could be off base on that one an optical cordless mouse!( best thing since sliced bread! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif )

maybe this'll give you a shoppping idea. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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iisbob
"640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates, 1981"
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 09-20-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

I don't know that much about the P4 CPUs but I'd say wait a whie and stick with P-III until they have been around for a while and are proven. That is, if you plan to stick with Intel.

Another thing to consider is that you won't really notice any major difference in performance until you triple your current CPU speed, which means 1.8GHz or better. See mjc's post (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000144.html) for info.

DDR woul dprobably be the best bet for RAM, and a dual CPU setup might be an option, but only if you plan to run win2000 or NT, other Windows versions have little or no dual CPU support.

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Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[ranchdog]

The XEON chip is a breed of it's own. Because of it's pin design (# of pins) it will only plug into a Mboard designed for the XEON.

Designed for the workstation/server. XEON's see a lot of dual CPU use.

Luck.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[kenja]

I have no idea how they've come up with the scores, but here is a ranking of high-end CPUs (http://www.cpuscorecard.com/top_cpus.htm).