Getting a new Motherbaord+CPU+RAM

[fleft]

I currently have:
P3 600 MHZ
20 Gig HD
192 SDRAM
GeForce 4 TI
Windows 98
Broadband

I decided it is time for me to upgrade my CPU. I was aiming for at least a P4 2GHz, along with a motherboard that supported RDRAM.
Can anyone sugegst a good P4 CPU/RDRAM Mobo combination?
I saw this - http://www.runtimecc.com/pricewatch/store.rcc?view_category=248 - a motherboard that comes with 512 of Rimm 4200. Is this a good deal? I was also hoping to put this processor - http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?sid=ks2677808m7b221&id=195 - inside. What do you guys think of that?

 

[Crashman]

RIMM4200 has slightly less latency than PC1066, which uses the same chips. But the best board out there right now is the Gigabyte GA-8IHXP, and it uses PC1066. One of the things that makes it better is that it uses the ICH4 southbridge with it's included USB 2.0, instead of an additional controller. Another special feature is it's VRIMM adjustment for memory overclocking stability.

You want 2.0GHz or more? Your best value is in overclocking. The 1.8A will hit 2.4B speeds fairly easily, at a normall 133MHz FSB, which intel calls "533". The next standard step up is the 2.0A at 2666MHz, but you only get about 50% odds of making it work with standard cooling and reasonable voltages.

The best possible performance will come from operating your PC1066 at PC1200 speed. Kingston modules use chips rated at 32ns, which is the refresh rate needed for PC1200 memory.

To get PC1200 speed, you need your FSB at 150MHz. This usually works with the 1.6A at 2.4GHz, and occasionally works with the 1.8A at 2700MHz.

So your best performance at 2400MHz would come from the 1.6A, due to the higher bus speed. But your easiest overclock to 2400MHz comes with the 1.8A, due to the lower bus speed. 2700MHz with the 1.8A is always worth a shot, because if you fail you can always go back to 2400MHz or somewhere in the middle.

If you don't want to overclock, I suggest going for the 2.53, because it's only around $60 more than the 2.0A, or $35 more than the 2.26, the 2.26 and 2.53 offering the "533" bus at standard speed for improved performance over "400" bus processors such as the 2.0A.

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