Motherboard Upgrade

[Santaclauseee]

Hey guys, i'm wanting to buy this motherboard ( http://www.cocc.co.uk/itemcode=P4V800DX&sTitle=components&prodesc=ASUS~P4V800D-X~478.html ) an Asus p4v800d for my socket 478 p4 thats been sitting idol. Is it any good? lol. which is better on it for graphics, the 8x AGP or the 4x PCI-E? And it has dual channel RAM but can I just use them as singular RAM slots?
Kind Regards
Benji

[congo]

You can use the ram in single channel mode.

Not sure what problems you'll encounter on the PCIe slot, that's a very odd mainboard with a x16 PCIe slot that works x4 only.

You need to google up some reviews on it or go to Asus forums supporting that board for more info.

You are basically about to build a rig around an outdated socket type, I would advise against this, particularly where this path leads to using hybrid components such as the one you specify, unless of course you get some better information that proves me wrong.

Sometimes it's better to cut your losses and sell the old CPU for whatever you can get for it. As an example, I just flogged off my AMD 64 XP3500+ venice cored CPU because I didn't think it prudent to build another Socket 939 machine now that socket AM2 is on the shelves.

[Fozzer]

....I just flogged off my AMD 64 XP3500+ Venice cored CPU because I didn't think it prudent to build another Socket 939 machine now that socket AM2 is on the shelves.

That's interesting, Congo......!

So you would not recommend anyone upgrading to an AMD Socket 939 Motherboard, regardless of cost...?
(I'm still on Socket A).... ...!

Cheers Mate... ...!

Carry on spell checking... ...!
LOL...!

Paul....Specs below...

(NO! ....Not the contents of my trousers!!!)... ...!
LOL...!

[congo]

Cost isn't only measured in dollars, it can be measured in frustration, incompatibility and time trying to sort problems with waning support.

My suggestion isn't a hard and fast rule, there is a case for building a PC from older parts, where there is a specific use for that PC.

In this case however, a PC is to be assembled based on the unknown and rare mainboard in an attempt to make a new compatible PC from older technology, I just thought it wise to put my 2 cents worth in urging caution.

I'm not saying don't upgrade to socket 939 either, that was my choice for my situation, as I already use a decent 939 system, I don't need to go there again. I had the choice of building a new system based on my surplus socket 939 cpu, or selling the CPU while it was still worth something.

I still recommend socket A systems in certain situations as well, it can be a very cheap alternative, particularly where some compatible parts are already owned. Some Socket A gear is very good, and the NF2 platform was well proven.

[Santaclauseee]

but the main point is, i don't have money! lol i'm a 16 year old secondary school student and this was a cheap motherboard. I do have a socket a - duron (i can hear the screams of disgust already) but its too slow, my pentium 4 has been left in my room and it was a very good processor till my sister blew up the motherboard :-P and it still works so it seems a shave to let it go to waste. as for the new tech. comment, well id rather take a chance with the new tech and have something that could take a bit of future-proofing and get a bit of frustration from setting it up.
Thank you for you help and comments
Kind Regards.
Ben