newest quest is to upgrade the transcoding/gaming machine... so far it looks like it's best to build the system around the ram:
1. ocz crazy fast pc4000 matched pair of 512mb DDR sticks OCZ5001024ELDC-K
2. asus p4c800-e motherboard overclock like mad.
3. whatever p4 800mhz fsb is cheap at the moment, i'm waiting for prices to be driven down by the p4extreme
4. sata drive from seagate: ST3120026AS Barracuda 7200.7 SATA (the 26AS is newer than the 23AS btw) check PLUS1080AMG
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread/t-66310.html
go for the asus p4c800-e motherboard
don't run the cpu vcore over 1.65v
other sites:
http://www.anandtech.com/index.html
http://firingsquad.com
http://www.thecrucible.ca
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http://www.ocprices.com/index.php?action=reviews&rev_id=188&page=9
2.8V 200MHz CAS 2 3-3-6 PASS
2.8V 250MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 PASS
2.8V 250MHz CAS 2.5 4-4-7 PASS
2.8V 260MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 PASS
2.8V 260MHz CAS 2.5 4-4-7 PASS
2.8V 265MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 PASS
2.8V 265MHz CAS 2.5 4-4-7 PASS
2.8V 270MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 PASS
2.8V 270MHz CAS 2.5 4-4-7 FAIL
2.8V 275MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 FAIL
2.8V 275MHz CAS 2.5 4-4-7 FAIL
2.9V 200MHz CAS 3 4-4-8 FAIL
seems asus P4C800-E Deluxe is the best
http://www.ocztechnology.com/support/motherboard/48
also tom's hardware 1000mhz fsb shootout
http://www.tomshardware.com/motherboard/20030812/ddr500-11.html
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pricewatch.com stuff Re: new system info txt ram motherboards cpu
motherboard intel 875p sata firewire usb2 agp8x
gigabyte GA-8KNXP $204
asus P4C800-E Deluxe $170 dmuz
abit IC7-MAX3 $205
ram pc4000 1gb dual matched ddr
ocz OCZ5001024ELDC-K $330
ocz gold OCZ5001024ELDCGE-K $370
corsair TWINX1024-4000PT $345
cpu p4 800fsb ht
intel 2.8c ghz $211
intel 2.6c ghz $172