A new build....

[andydrew39219]

yes....im back for now... anyways i got a buddy thats going to build a system and we were both wondering if these two items were compatible

Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130082

Processor http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819116004

and if you have any suggestions for better things throw them out we are also getting a 8600GT 256Mb GDDR3. hes not a real big gamer considering he has dial up and i have nothing (because i just moved, but hes getting high speed sometime)

[werty316]

Both are compatible but I would opt for a better CPU.

The E2160 is a good budget chip.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036

The E2140 is also another choice that is within the price of that Pentium 4 631.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116037

[Nocutius]

What Werty said. Get E2xx series processor. I would personally absolutely avoid p4.
If the budget is a problem, AMD could be an option too. An x2 4200 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103741) could be had for the same money as E2140, and it's better when not overclocking, see here (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=931&model2=884&chart=425). I you two plan to overclock, then e2140 wins hands down.

[Frag Maniac]

Worry more about RAM/MB compatibility, CPUs are easy to determine MB compatibility with.

[timberwolf120]

Worry more about RAM/MB compatibility, CPUs are easy to determine MB compatibility with.

Uhh... is this one really that hard? Just make sure what type of RAM your mobo uses: DDR, DDR2, or DDR3. Am I missing/forgetting something here?

[Bio-Hazard]

Uhh... is this one really that hard? Just make sure what type of RAM your mobo uses: DDR, DDR2, or DDR3. Am I missing/forgetting something here?
Yes, you're missing something, there certain types (makers) of memory that won't work with certain MoBo's. That's why board makers post a list of what types of ram work with which board.

There's about a 100 page thread over at the [H] about this board and there are several versions of ram that just plain won't work on it, and that's the same with every board out there.

As for buying the board, it's a great inexpensive board, it performs great and OC's fairly welll as well. It makes for a great inxpensive build and it's super stable and worry free..........:icon_tiphat:

Same board I'm using that has the to OC spot in a few OC data bases for the installed CPU.

For the price of the CPU the OP listed, I'd jump on one of the E2160's instead, much better performance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036

[Frag Maniac]

Like Bio said, go to the MB manufacturer's site and look for the RAM modules they've tested to be compatible. This is one good reason to wait at least a few months after a new MB is released, more testing has been done, more safe choices. The other reason of course being avoiding the first batch run glitches, even ASUS will tell you that.

[timberwolf120]

Didn't know it was that big of a problem. I wonder why...?

I just looked at the Asus RAM compatability list and it is so small.... Only 2 Corsair DDR2 800 modules are approved and I don't see OCZ anywhere. Aren't those the 2 biggest RAM companies?

[Bio-Hazard]

Asus seems to be lacking on most of their compatability list as of late, so you pretty much are taking a chance if what you buy will work or not. Just make sure you buy from a well known company that will take the stuff back if it doesn't work.

I know that there are several type within the same brand that won't work on my board and from some of the forums I've read alot of the non listed ram does work with certain versions while other versions don't. It's almost a full time job keeping up with which ram will work with what.

Board makers (most of them) even have a disclaimed printed on their site somewhere about the use of non-test memory.

[Frag Maniac]

If it's a fairly new MB you're talking about I would call or email ASUS direct and ask them if any RAM testing has been approved since their last website update on your board.