PCA Forums

Ok, well I'm currently in the process of putting together a mini-PC, similar to those that Shuttle puts out (It's not shuttle however). The box I'm putting together has a P4 motherboard with the following specs "CPU: Socket478B Intel Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading Ready) FSB: 400/533MHz Quad-pumped (Intel NetBurst Architecture) Memory: 184-pin DIMM x2, support DDR200/266/333". Ok so here are my questions,

1.) Where can I get a P4 OEM chip? When you buy the system it comes with a special heatsink/fan due to the small size of the case, but I'm having a really hard time finding anyone that sells P4(533) chips OEM. I've checked the usual newegg, compgeeks ang googlegear with no luck. Anyone know a good place to get one? I'm looking for something between 2-2.8Ghz.

1.B.) If I am forced to by a retail chip it will probably mean that I'll be forced to remove the heatsink/fan unit from the chip. This is something I've never had to do before, anyone know a good site to goto for instructions?

2.) Finally, what kind of ram does it need? I went to one website that said DDR333 was PC2700... but another said PC3500... whats the deal? Its been a number of years since I've put a system together and I've lost track of the new RAM names. I miss the old day when RAM was named after the bus speed that it went with, PC100, PC133.... ahh... :-)

Thanks for the help guys. (God I feel old now ;-))

Just checked tcwo.com, they only have retail also.

I've heard the retail p4 heatsink/fan is very good, even for overclocking. But if you must remove it, it is easy. At least it looks simple, I haven't had one yet. Maybe some who have will help you there.


I hear ya about the names with ram, processors etc.. I wish they'd go by the actualy speed and bus too.


DDR 333 is pc2700, ddr400 is pc3200 and pc3500 is ddr433.

New Egg usually has P4 OEM CPUs, but the price difference between Retail and OEM is so small, I'd go ahead and get the retail for the 3 year warranty. I just bought a P4 2.4C (800 FSB) from New Egg for around $165.00.

When you buy a Retail P4, the heatsink/fan are not installed on the CPU so you don't have a problem.

Yeah, I agree that RAM labeling has gotten a bit tricky. Just get some PC2700 RAM (DDR 333) and you'll be fine.

MAC

Hey U sure the retail 800fsb 2.4 p4 retails are 165? I just checked now and its $175

Just checked my order list from New Egg and I made an error. I paid $176.00 for my P4 2.4C (retail).

Sorry,

MAC