Going to computer show this weekend

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-18 01:33pm

To pick up a barebones Pentium IV 1~ ghz systyem to replace the
Pentium II 450 thta's on it's last legs in the other room.

Now, any manufacturers of motherboards I should fucking avoid
like the plague?

I know that if it has "SiS" in it, fucking AVOID IT, goddamned cheap built
in bullshit!

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2003-12-18 01:41pm

ASUS Mobos are ok, but avoid any and all Award and Phoenix BIOSes. Get an AMI.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 01:46pm

I wouldn't buy anything at one of those shows myself. Pricewatch is cheaper typically and at least you know you are dealing with reputable sellers that aren't selling remarked CPU's (just check the Resellers Ratings).

If you are still dead set on this, I would make sure you get a board with the 865 chipset (dual channel DDR) and avoid the 845/850 like the plague. Also, make sure you get a socket-478 board and a Northwood core CPU (130 nanometers). If you get RAM from them, make sure it is real PC3200, even if you get a 533MHz bus P4 (for upgrade purposes later).

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-18 06:31pm

The Kernel wrote:I wouldn't buy anything at one of those shows myself.

Buyer is truly beware at those shows

Nevermind the games
marked "FOR SALE IN ASIA ONLY", a good rule of thumb is, if the price
is too good to be true, take a good look at the components

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-12-18 06:36pm

I know they don't have a killer rep, but I've always used Intel boards when I assemble PCs for business purposes, because they may not be the most bleeding-edge fast boards but they're as reliable as death and taxes.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 06:38pm

Darth Wong wrote:I know they don't have a killer rep, but I've always used Intel boards when I assemble PCs for business purposes, because they may not be the most bleeding-edge fast boards but they're as reliable as death and taxes.

As long as you don't overclock, I agree that Intel boards are great for stability. The problem is, they are also some of the most conterfieted boards at shows like these. Beware.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-18 06:44pm

The Kernel wrote: As long as you don't overclock, I agree that Intel boards are great for stability. The problem is, they are also some of the most conterfieted boards at shows like these. Beware.

I'm not looking for the latest 3 GhZ screamer, I just want something in the
1.4~ and under Ghz PIV range to replace this shitbox PII...I don't think
I need to worry about counterfeiting, it doesn't make as much profit to
sell shit low.

And the farther from California you are, the less you have to worry about
as it's not worth it to ship SHIT across the country (Thanks Yosebear)

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 06:46pm

MKSheppard wrote: I'm not looking for the latest 3 GhZ screamer, I just want something in the
1.4~ and under Ghz PIV range to replace this shitbox PII...I don't think
I need to worry about counterfeiting, it doesn't make as much profit to
sell shit low.

Honestly Shep, the best thing you can do is to buy a 1.8A P4 Northwood. They are cheap and can be EASILY overclocked to 2.4GHz+, even at stock voltages. I have one that I got running at 3GHz with air cooling. These chips are absoltuely fantastic.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-18 08:33pm

The Kernel wrote: Honestly Shep, the best thing you can do is to buy a 1.8A P4 Northwood. They are cheap and can be EASILY overclocked to 2.4GHz+, even at stock voltages. I have one that I got running at 3GHz with air cooling. These chips are absoltuely fantastic.

I said I don't want a fast chip, this is to replace the
secondary computer so that we can actually play modern
games on it, considering that my primary gaming rig is 1.4 GHZ,
I'm not too worried about speed, and I don't like overclocking./

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 09:00pm

MKSheppard wrote: I said I don't want a fast chip, this is to replace the
secondary computer so that we can actually play modern
games on it, considering that my primary gaming rig is 1.4 GHZ,
I'm not too worried about speed, and I don't like overclocking./

Then might I suggest an Athlon XP chip? For rock-bottom price, they are superior.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-12-18 10:23pm

You can't get a P4 near 1GHz, they don't exist (and it'd be quite pointless to make a P4 running at such low clockrates).

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-12-18 10:26pm

phongn wrote:You can't get a P4 near 1GHz, they don't exist (and it'd be quite pointless to make a P4 running at such low clockrates).

I meant around the 1.4 Ghz of this current comp.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 10:32pm

MKSheppard wrote:
phongn wrote:You can't get a P4 near 1GHz, they don't exist (and it'd be quite pointless to make a P4 running at such low clockrates).
I meant around the 1.4 Ghz of this current comp.

The 1.4GHz are all Willamette cores, avoid them like the plague that they are.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-12-18 10:45pm

Our home server runs on a Willamette P4/1.7

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 10:53pm

phongn wrote:Our home server runs on a Willamette P4/1.7

Ouch, I'm sorry. That tiny 256KB cache doesn't work particularly well for a server.

Incidently, I just got done helping my dad put together our family file/web/email server and its running 2x Opteron 244's with 2GB's of memory and 4x 72GB Western Digital Raptor drives. This thing really screams and I'm sure it is like ten times more then we need for this purpose. Still, it is way cool

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-12-18 11:09pm

The Kernel wrote:
phongn wrote:Our home server runs on a Willamette P4/1.7
Ouch, I'm sorry. That tiny 256KB cache doesn't work particularly well for a server.

It just does file serving and ActiveDirectory so it's fine, but my brother also uses it as his primary Photoshop/Flash/Illustrator machine. 1GB of RAM is nice, PC133 RAM is not. It appears to be slowly dying, too - it keeps going into some sort of partial suspend mode where it can't be woken up. And power management is explicitly disabled.

I replaced the cheap PSU with an Antec TruePower, which reduced the occurance to about 1/day from 1/hour, but I'm still not sure what's wrong.

Incidently, I just got done helping my dad put together our family file/web/email server and its running 2x Opteron 244's with 2GB's of memory and 4x 72GB Western Digital Raptor drives. This thing really screams and I'm sure it is like ten times more then we need for this purpose. Still, it is way cool

What's your RAID card? 3ware, I hope? And the new 72GB Raptors?

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2003-12-18 11:14pm

phongn wrote: It just does file serving and ActiveDirectory so it's fine, but my brother also uses it as his primary Photoshop/Flash/Illustrator machine. 1GB of RAM is nice, PC133 RAM is not. It appears to be slowly dying, too - it keeps going into some sort of partial suspend mode where it can't be woken up. And power management is explicitly disabled.

I replaced the cheap PSU with an Antec TruePower, which reduced the occurance to about 1/day from 1/hour, but I'm still not sure what's wrong.

Hmm...sounds like a weird issue. Not sure what's wrong, but I assume you have disabled all the power saving features in Windows?

What's your RAID card? 3ware, I hope? And the new 72GB Raptors?

Yeah, using the 3Ware 64-bit PCI card in a RAID 10 mode.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-12-18 11:16pm

I dont know what the shows are like on the East Coast, they have a show in Oakland every 2-3 weeks. Most of the dealers have store fronts, but come to the shows to do a lot of cash business. So, if anything goes wrong, you just go to the store itself. Besides it is an excuse to get out of the house and hit Oaktown Chinatown for some food.

The last show was terrible, nobody showed, up. A sign of the bad economy I suppose. Anyway, Im sure you get the cash discount too. I second the notion to avoid Phoneix and other crappy BIOS'. Can't go wrong with AWARD.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-12-19 02:39am

The Kernel wrote:Hmm...sounds like a weird issue. Not sure what's wrong, but I assume you have disabled all the power saving features in Windows?

Yep. W2K3 was rock-solid before this happened, too. Best Windows OS I've ever had the pleasure of using.

Yeah, using the 3Ware 64-bit PCI card in a RAID 10 mode.

I hate you.

For home use, I'd probably grab some of those new ~200GB Hitachi ATA drives in RAID 10 on a 3ware card if I could afford it. Space is good.

Vertigo1 · Post by **Vertigo1** » 2003-12-19 05:14pm

TrailerParkJawa wrote:I second the notion to avoid Phoneix and other crappy BIOS'. Can't go wrong with AWARD.

Psst, Pheonix owns AWARD.