CPU Upgrade

[cotswoldcs]

I have an Asus P4C800E-Deluxe with a 3.0Ghz Northwood P4. The mobo is socket 478 and the only upgrade path without replacing the motherboard is to the P4 Extreme Edition. I've been looking regularly at prices and I haven't seen the P4 3.2Ghz S478 Extreme Edition CPU budge much. In fact looking at Scan's prices today....

S478
3.2GHz EXTREME Intel Pentium® 4 S478 CPU "Gallatin" (800FSB) 2M Cache *Retail* £339.00 £398.33

S775
670 Intel Pentium® 4 LGA 775 CPU (3.80 Ghz 800FSB) HT 2MB Cache with Intel® EM64T *Retail* £342.25 £402.14


Why is the S478 P4EE CPU still so expensive???? I know that it has 2Mb Cache but then so does the S755 P4 670!!! I'd be better off replacing the motherboard and going for a S775 CPU wouldn't I???? Do you think if I hold out I will be able to pick up a S478 3.2Ghz EE CPU for a reasonable price or will it always be unfeasibly expensive?????

[mike_w]

If you want to upgrade from what you have now, then either an Athlon 64 or LGA 775 is probably the best route. Any particular reason you're going for Intel? I've always thought AMD have provided the better value for money, especially now.

[StoneNewt]

Fewer and fewer people are buying S478 chips? I've not kept too much of an eye on P4s but I get the impression as LGA775 price dropped the S478 prices didn't so the S478 chips end up insanely expensive. And right now I wouldn't get an Intel chip but AMD, but hey that's just me. Anyway what is your current rig?

[YorkieBen]

have you tried to overclock the cpu?

[Johnnyboy]

Agreed - overclock it. Should be good for 3.3Ghz with stock ram and cooling. That what I'm running in my Shuttle.

That CPU is plenty fast for all current games.

[J]

[cotswoldcs]

You guys are right, I think overclocking is the way to go. I'm just a little nervous as it's my main machine and stability is key. However, the motherboard is a premium product and I have 512Mb (2 x 256Mb) Corsair TwinX DDR 3700 (466Mhz) installed.

The motherboard is housed in an Antec Sonata case w TruePower 380w PSU. This should be sufficient power to OC the computer (???). Other items are SB Audigy 2, Asus 52X CD-RW, Sony DL DVD-RW, WD 120GB PATA, XFX 6600GT 128Mb.

If I were to OC the computer I think I would want to add an extra 1Gb RAM and replace the stock intel HSF with a Zalman Resterator 1Plus. Despite having just the intel stock cooler, this was a quiet computer before I upgraded to the 6600GT. Now the fan noise irritates me and I've been toying with the idea of the Zalman Resterator. I know that I won't be able to OC as much than if I went for a waterchill or other water cooling kit but silence is key for me (I work alone in a very quiet room).

A few questions:

Can I still get hold of PC3700 TwinX memory. Scan don't seem to stock it anymore?
If not will I still be able to overclock with PC3200 TwinX?
What sort of overclock could I expect with the Resterator, bearing in mind that silence and stability are my main concerns?

Thanks for all your help.