CPU/Mobo Last couple of queries before I get my MSI P965 Neo

[Paparazzi]

Oh! ok! I lied, its more than a couple, but nevertheless ... please help ... will get my Mobo and all parts required this thursday!

1) Which do you guys thinks is better a 2 x 1GB ram or a 4 x 512Mb ram ... ofcourse all of these quetions are in relation to the board referred!

2) I've got this 80GB HDD IDE (... isn't that the same as what some call PATA). Would I be able to connect it to this board? I mean, I know I can share the cable of the DVD and plug it into the available IDE slot on the Mobo, but what I really want to know is if some kind of cable comes with the Mobo that will allow me to plug this IDE drive into the SATA slot. If yes, how many such conversion cables are provided? Point is that I have got a 80, a 40, 20 & 10 GB HDDrives (all ide) and would have liked to use them as I could save some now!

3) If the above is possible, can I connect the DVD writer to the SATA slot?

4) Ok, this is not related to the Mobo, but ... would you'll advise me to go for an 18x Samsung DVD writer or any other 16x writers like Benq, Lite-on or LG? The samsung costs about Rs.550/- more, but since all parts together have already gone above my budget, I'm trying to cramp things down

Thanks for any advise ... and yeah, Cheers!

 

[mehargags]

1. 4 Ram sticks are never recommended for stability issues. Its worst if u plan to overclock.

2. lol, grab ur basics abt HDD's. U can connect ur PATA 80gb to mobo using regular 40 Pin 80conductor cable but never put both HDD & CD/DVD rom on the same Cable/channel. worth mentioning, If u want good systems speed, pls retire these old HDD's & get a 200gb SATA.

3. There aren't any SATA optical drives in India yet. let me know if they area available now. Buy an LG DVD-RW anytime.

 

[IceFusion]

1. go for the 2*1gb combination

2. as mehar said.. u cant connect a PATA drive to a SATA port

3. No SATA optical drives available

4. Do not go for Samsung DVD writers, they are absolutly worthless, Lite ON has lucnhed 20x DVD writers if u are intrested to know.. however i would suggest you go for LG 16x writers..

 

[Anish]

^ Pioneer did have a SATA DVD-RW but dunno if its sold here..

Also why the MSI ? Get a P5B-E instead for a bit more.. if you wanna overclock.

 

[Paparazzi]

First of all thanks for all those quick replies ... honestly, I expected the replies only later today or maybe even tomorrow! Anyways ...

1) Thanks for the info I was thinking about getting 2 512s and thought that in about 2 months when my Co. start dumping older PCs, I'll swipe 2 of the 512s from them as well ... but since u say its better to have 1GBs, I guess I'll just try to exchange the 4 sticks when it comes to that and for now use 2 512s ... right nah?

2) :ashamed: I honestly thought there would be some kind of adapter that would allow me to stick the IDE into the sata port ... forgive my ignorance! So, I guess I'll have to try and trade the 80GB IDE as well!

3) & 4) thanks for that! Guess I'll try to get the LG or the Liteon or maybe the Benq

@Anish .. came down to the MSI as I do not think I'll overclock drastically. Planning of getting a 6400 and at the max. taking it to 2.4 (with the fan that comes with it). I just stepped into my 40 and hence not a gamer! My son is now in 7th and I guess he would play a bit, but I do not plan on getting him any ... if he gets from his friends, fine! He's got his play station and I guess thats more than enough! Kids living in foreign lands do less of physical activity and use their brains a lot less than their counter parts back home and hence, I'm trying to force him to move away from the TV. Its just my craze for PCs that makes me check out whats new and go for the newer processor!

@IceFusion ... with 2737 posts, you must be literally sleeping in here!

Thansk once again to all you folks!

 

[Lord Nemesis]

Regarding the RAM, the lesser the number of sticks, the less the probability of getting unmatched sticks. for overclocking this means a lot. So sick with 2 x 1GB sticks. besides it will be cheaper than 4 x 512 sticks.

2. lol, grab ur basics abt HDD's. U can connect ur PATA 80gb to mobo using regular 40 Pin 80conductor cable but never put both HDD & CD/DVD rom on the same Cable/channel. worth mentioning, If u want good systems speed, pls retire these old HDD's & get a 200gb SATA.

2. as mehar said.. u cant connect a PATA drive to a SATA port

Obviously you both do not seem to be aware that there is no support for PATA in P965/ICH8.

Mobo manufacturers are giving support for a single PATA IDE port on these boards through the JMicron RAID controller. So you are limited to connecting only two devices on the IDE port. One will obviously go to a optical drive, so practically only one left for PATA HDD. To add more IDE drives, there are two ways,

1. PATA/RAID expansion card.

2. PATA to SATA conversion card/cables.

both ways seem to be plagued with compatibility problems on the P965 boards. Also SATA/PATA converters do not seem to be available in India though they are available in US.

regarding the SATA optical drives they are available in US, but not in India.

 

[IceFusion]

Obviously you both do not seem to be aware that there is no support for PATA in P965/ICH8.

hmmm.. i didnt knew that..

lolz ive only got 2k post.. look at Anish's

 

[Paparazzi]

lolz ive only got 2k post.. look at Anish's

Oh! my God! ... didn't see that ... and he's just 17, joined in May of 2005. Working it backwards, thats about 560 days since he's joined at an average of 8.13 posts per day! Boy :huh: how do you'll get time to fool around with the hardware if so much time is dedicated to forums and serving dumb folks like us!

As for Pata & Sata, I guess it will be wiser to just ask the folks out here if they are willing to accept a trade in!

 

[Lord Nemesis]

As for Pata & Sata, I guess it will be wiser to just ask the folks out here if they are willing to accept a trade in!

Yeah, thats the best way out...

Oh! my God! ... didn't see that ... and he's just 17, joined in May of 2005.

lol.. Have a look Nikhil or chao's post count and you will have a heart attack.

 

[mehargags]

lol
lord_nemesis

thx for pointing out that mistake... LOL shows its been a time I ever made an intel machine :rofl:

Havent yet tried hands on a c2d but yeah ur right that intel after 915 exhibit only one single PATA channel, probably just for optical Drives.

 

[Lord Nemesis]

lol
Havent yet tried hands on a c2d but yeah ur right that intel after 915 exhibit only one single PATA channel, probably just for optical Drives.

915/945/975 supported one PATA through ICH. second PATA was usually given through a third party controller. Now with 965 chipset, the support has been completely removed from ICH8 making it mandatory for the mobo manufacturers to rely on JMicron or some other third party controller for providing atleast one PATA .