Question on plans for SS51G and SN41G2

[Paul Adams]

My main rig is currently:
SS51G (1)
P4 2GHz
1Gb PC2700 "generic" (2x512Mb)
Asus GeForce4 4200Ti 128Mb
Barracuda 120Gb 8Mb cache

And my second rig is:
SN41G2
AthlonXP 1600+
1Gb PC2100 "generic" (2x512Mb)
2xMaxtor 20Gb

(Both are Windows XP Pro.)

I'd like to set up a plan to max out these 2 Shuttles based on no overclocking, just FSB, so I'd like to know if what I plan is viable...

The top 533MHz core P4 is the 3.06GHz which would put the SS51G rig at its peak (given that it has 333MHz RAM already), and make use of the 333MHz memory rather than underclock it at 266MHz).


The SN41G2 rig could have a faster FSB CPU and faster RAM, plus a decent AGP graphics card and a single, larger, quiet HDD, so I was looking at:
AthlonXP 3000+
1Gb Geil PC3200 (2x512Mb)
Barracuda 120Gb 8Mb cache HDD (I LOVE the quietness and speed of these things!)


My main query is why the SN41G2 supports DDR400 RAM, but the top CPU is still 333MHz core?
Is there any benefit in getting PC3200 RAM, or should I just grab 2 more 512Mb sticks of PC2700? (In fact is it better to keep the speeds of the CPU and memory matched?)

Anyone had any bad experience getting Geil memory to work in an SN41G2? (Conversely how many have ordered it in and never had a problem?)

On the CPU front, I see recommendations often for the 2400+ and 2500+, but is this for their overclocking potential?
And given the overclocking on the Shuttles I have is only through the FSB, is this kind of irrelevant?


Given that the SS51G system is currently the better performer, that's why it is my "main" rig that I use for gaming, but once the SN41G2 system is souped up a little, I would want to get something like a Radeon 9800 AIW Pro in there - but that's when the prices get a bit more reasonable


I'm within driving distance of Micro Direct, so I prefer to get my kit from there where possible, so based on their prices I would be looking at these costs:

P4 3.06Ghz (533) - £198.58
AthlonXP 3000+ - £143.35
2 x 512Mb Geil 3200 - £119.86

The Barracuda in my SS51G I got from Dabs I think - they have them at £76.01 in VAT (before P&P).


My order of attack would therefore most likely be:

Swap PC2100 with PC2700 in the 2 rigs, upgrade the Athlon CPU to a 3000+ (this pairs up the correct core/FSB speeds between the CPUs and memory)

Replace the 2x20Gb HDDs with a single Barracuda favourite (reduce noise and heat, increase speed and disk space)

[Now my Athlon rig should surpass the Intel one in terms of general performance, so I could move the Ti4200 over and make it become the main one]

At some point in the future I could look to getting the P4 upgraded, and get some Geil PC3200, then put the original PC2700 back in the SS51G and the new Geil RAM in the SN41G2.

Finally, when they are reasonably priced, I could get a 9800 AIW Pro for the SN41G2 and put the Ti4200 back in the SS51G.


Comments or answers to queries most welcome

[Paul Adams]

No input?