Question about the Asus P4P800 and P42.8E

[sammak]

I am going to build a PC with Asus P4P800 and Intel P4 2.8GE.

I heard that I need to upgrade the BIOS first before installing the CPU. Does anyone know that is true or not?

And other components are as follows:
- Samsung DDR256MB x2
- Maxtor 160GB SATA
- FX5200 128MB/128bit

Is the config. ok ?

[QuickSilver]

If it was me, I would try to go with a "C" processor.

[lil Jimmie]

Get the C cause the E runs too hot and will NOT have any performance gain over the 2.8C

[sammak]

Thanks for your advice.

But for 2.8GE using ASUS P4P800, do i need to upgrade the BIOS first ? Or I can install the CPU once I purchase the motherboard ?

Is this motherboard good for this CPU?

[lil Jimmie]

You will need bios version 1015 or 1016 to use the Prescott cpu.

I'm replacing my 2.8E with a 2.8C tomorrow because it runs way too hot (65'C @ full load with aftermarket HSF) and unless you are going with some major cooling and overclocking it is not worth it.

Just to give you some comparison a 2.6C in the same case with the same configuration of case fans and heatsink the 2.6C @ 3.2 under full load will run around 45'C.

[sammak]

Thanks, Jimmie.

Are u using the motherboard P4P800? How do u comment it?

[lil Jimmie]

I have a P4P800 DLX with a 2.6C and a P4P800 with a 1.7 celeron (soon to be upgraded to a full P4), both are great boards and I highly recommend them as will most members on this site.

[lil Jimmie]

Just an update, I replaced the 2.8E with a 2.8C and as expected the temps dropped from 65'C with the Prescott running a Vantec Aeroflow VP4-7040 and 4 case fans to 50'C with the 2.8C using the retail HSF and only 2 case fans in the same case. NOTE--> this is a full load temp running Folding @ Home with 2 instances for over an hour.


With the Bios flashed to ver. 1016 on the P4P800, I now have the 2.8E running on it. So it will definitly support the Prescott but I would still suggest the 2.8C Northwood over any of the Prescott chips until the new socket hit the streets.


Yes, Glc... I can hear again. :)

[glc]

I'd be curious to see comparative benchmarks, LJ.

[lil Jimmie]

uhh... that would mean I'd have to reinstall the Prescott then run benches which I haven't done cause I know the 2.8C was better at stock speeds. I will wait a day or 2 before I crank up the 2.8C, but the Prescott did hit 3360Mhz with the auto OC and ran stable even if it was at 65'C.

Would u take PCmark 2003 scores from a P4P800 with the 2.8E/ 512Mb PC3200 and compare them to a P4C800-E DLX with 2.8C/ 1 gig PC3200 at stock speeds?

[kram 2.0]

I don't know if Prescott really was a breakthrough technology, with what Intel did with it. Supposedly, it has small micron sizes (more processes), but it also did extend the pipeline architecture considerably. Now, knowing little of CPUs to start out with (but now not, with the help of PCMech forums :D ), I would imagine that this new "technology" would be a must have with this low price and all. But be cautious.


Here are some info on the Prescott chips: http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040201/prescott-1.html/ and benchmarks.

Also, back on the question, Asus claims it "fully supports" the new Prescott technology. Just make sure, like lil Jimmie said, that you get a new BIOS for Prescott (power supplying, and all).


Hope that helps,
kram

[glc]

I don't know how comparable that bench would be - I have a suspicion that the difference between the 865PE and the 875P might be more than the processor difference.

[lil Jimmie]

I'm sorry G, I didn't think about running benchmarks on both cpus, and it will be a while before I remove the stock HSF and try to do some comparisons. I did go back into my Folding@Home log files and compared the time it took to complete steps in work unit on the same protein and the 2.8C is finishing the steps 56 seconds faster than the 2.8E that is enough to convince me as to which one is faster.