Badly needs help with big decision

Chipie · Rated PG Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

Hi,
I'm new to this so please be patient Wink

I'm currently looking at getting more memory for my system but i'm unsure about what i should do. Maybe some of you can help ? I have a gigabyte GA-8IHXP motherboard with a 2,26 478 socket P4 CPU(533mhz fsb) and 512 mb od RDRAM pc-800 40ns n0n-ecc memory. Two 80gb udma HD and a 128mb ATI Radeon 8500Le AGP video Card.

Maybe i should be looking at another mobo instead of more RDRAM ?
Is there a mobo that i could still use most of my components for now (except of the RDRAM of course) and that would permit uprading to PCI express (SLI if possible) later and the use of the fastest DDR available (which is it anyway ?) ? Has you can see, i'm not up to date with the latest technologies.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks

BeerCheeze · Posted: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 18:56:58 Post Subject:

There is only one motherboard I found that uses socket 478 & PCI-E and not a chance on the SLI (sorry). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157075

They are not considered high end boards at all, but I do know some people that use ASRock and say they are good stable boards (no experience with them myself). This board is what I call a transition board. It is one in which you will use to make the step up, but do so gradually while knowing you are going to replace the board (and CPU and Probably RAM) later.

You can get the board, and some DDR and use all of your existing hardware now. Then now or later get a PCI-E video card. Then later you would have to throw away (sell, use as a 2nd system, etc..) the board, CPU and possibly the RAM as you upgrade them.

Personally... I would hold off until you can afford to buy basically a whole new system. However I would do the above board and DDR before I spend any $$$ on adding more memory to your current board. It's way to expensive and is very end of life. Heck you might be able to sell your current 512MB for enough to buy 1GB of DDR.

LaTech · Posted: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 07:27:17 Post Subject:

The problem with the question that you've asked is that RDRAM, for all but a few, died a long time ago. Finding a board that supports your chip, old RAM, but that also has new technology is going to be all but impossible. I say this to say that ordering more RDRAM isn't going to be a cost effective solution to your question, then again...neither is buying a new mobo.

Personally, I would do like EC suggested: save up your money until you can completely wipe out those three things. Heck, NewEgg from time to time has combo sales (mobo and CPU) that are REALLY resonably priced. Try them and/or ClubIt.

Upgrading your motherboard, at this point, would be a waste of money. Your bang-for-the-buck ratio is going to be REALLY low...when that happens, I usually look at other options (saving, etc).

Just my opinion.

Kilamon · Rated XXX Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 811

here's a link to some combo deals.
http://www.pricewatch.com/prc.aspx?i=349&a=6232