MSI 645 Ultra

[Capricorn]

I want to build a Pentium 4, 1.7ghz system, using the MSI 645 Ultra motherboard. I am told that this Pentium 4, which is 478 pin, doesn't support DDR memory, but the board uses DDR memory. Am I right in thinking that the board chip,SIS645, makes the Pentium compatable with the DDR memory?

[Sowulo]

[quote]Originally posted by Capricorn:
<strong>I want to build a Pentium 4, 1.7ghz system, using the MSI 645 Ultra motherboard. I am told that this Pentium 4, which is 478 pin, doesn't support DDR memory, but the board uses DDR memory. Am I right in thinking that the board chip,SIS645, makes the Pentium compatable with the DDR memory?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes. The CPU does not determine what RAM a board can use. The chipset--in this case SIS645 is what determines which RAM to use. I have built a few systems with this MB and it seems to be a reasonable low-cost solution.

[PitaBred]

[quote]Originally posted by Sowulo:
<strong>

Yes. The CPU does not determine what RAM a board can use. The chipset--in this case SIS645 is what determines which RAM to use. I have built a few systems with this MB and it seems to be a reasonable low-cost solution.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No offense, and I don't want to start an argument, but isn't that about like cutting your nose off to spite your face? I suppose I don't see why anyone would want to pay more for the processor and not the RAM, if they're looking into a budget system... especially considering that it's not a complete Intel system, therefore not subject to the same stability claims of their proponents. Not that I'm a detractor or anything...

[Sowulo]

[quote]Originally posted by PitaBred:
<strong>

No offense, and I don't want to start an argument, but isn't that about like cutting your nose off to spite your face? I suppose I don't see why anyone would want to pay more for the processor and not the RAM, if they're looking into a budget system... especially considering that it's not a complete Intel system, therefore not subject to the same stability claims of their proponents. Not that I'm a detractor or anything...</strong><hr></blockquote>


The RAM isn't much cheaper than RDRAM--just a few dollars, but the SIS Chipset on the Motherboard rather than Intel or VIA makes the motherboard significantly cheaper $30-$40. And many people will only buy Intel CPU's--thus this combo is about the best for a budget Intel system without totally giving up on performance.

[Capricorn]

Thanks for the info. I just couldn't get help regarding the Pentium 4 and DDR memory. I even rang Intel in the UK, and was told that only the 845 chipset, that is coming with the latest P4 2.2ghz, supported DDR. I had read reports about the MSI Board using DDR, and Pentium processors from 1.2ghz upto the 2.2ghz, and that is what confused me. Now I realise that it is the Motherboard chip, and not the Processor chip, that determines the choice of memory. Incidently the MSI 65645 Ultra received very good reports in one of the UK computer magaines, and they were using a 1.5ghz P4 Processor. That was when my confustion started. Am I to take it that most people would prefer to use the Athlon Processors now rather than the present Pentium 4?

[Sowulo]

[quote]Originally posted by Capricorn:
<strong>Thanks for the info. I just couldn't get help regarding the Pentium 4 and DDR memory. I even rang Intel in the UK, and was told that only the 845 chipset, that is coming with the latest P4 2.2ghz, supported DDR. I had read reports about the MSI Board using DDR, and Pentium processors from 1.2ghz upto the 2.2ghz, and that is what confused me. Now I realise that it is the Motherboard chip, and not the Processor chip, that determines the choice of memory. Incidently the MSI 65645 Ultra received very good reports in one of the UK computer magaines, and they were using a 1.5ghz P4 Processor. That was when my confustion started. Am I to take it that most people would prefer to use the Athlon Processors now rather than the present Pentium 4? </strong><hr></blockquote>

While many people are now choosing AMD over Intel, Intel still has by far the larger market share. The gap however, has been closing....