New Motherboard and RAM - Well, not a big surprise
When it comes to a new CPU, and especially when it comes to a complete architectural overhaul in the CPU's core, a new chipset and physical interface is expected.

The first wave of Pentium 4 processors, which include all the ones that are available now and the 1.9GHz and 2.0GHz versions to be released in the future, all use (and will use) a Socket 423 physical interface that looks similar to the Socket 370, but are not physical and electronically compatible. Intel is, however, planning to transition to a new socket later on this year to make room for a newer Pentium 4 built around a newer core, designed much like how the Coppermine was to the Pentium III. Thus, the Socket 423 that is being used by current Pentium 4 processors most likely will have its days numbered.

As for the motherboard's chipset, the only one available for the Pentium 4 at this moment is the i850. While I will be covering the details of this chipset later on in another review, I will mention that this chipset is very much identical to the older i840 that was used with high-end Pentium III setups. Being so, it means that, in order to setup a Pentium 4 system, the new DDR memory that you just bought for your Athlon or Pentium III and your older PC133 memory will not work with the Pentium 4 and, instead, you'll have to pay considerably more money for RDRAM. Not only that, because of the i840 and i850's memory controller design, you'll also going to have to purchase your RDRAM in pairs, much like back in the days of 72-pin SIMM's.

Due to the extremely low prices of SDRAM lately, the price of RDRAM is still about 3-5 times more than the former. Don't be afraid though, since this is a relative comparison; the price of RDRAM now is cheaper than ever before.

Still, I would, personally, like to be able to use my older PC133 SDRAM or some of the newer DDR memory. That's why, in a few months, we're going to be seeing two new chipsets that support both of these types of memory. Despite possible legal problems with Intel and its licensing of the Pentium 4 quad-pumped bus, VIA's P4X266 is slewed for release sometime in Q3 and will be the first chipset to support DDR memory with the Pentium 4. Intel, itself, is also planning to release their i845 SDR chipset, which will bring PC133 SDRAM support for their newest processor as well. An i845 DDR version is also expected to be released later on that will support, you guessed it, DDR memory.

As one can see, the Pentium 4's platform is just starting to get interesting.

On to: Required Hardware -cont.