What CPU would be most value for the money? - Tech Support Forums

SokkaDiSokk · May 30th, 2002, 05:06 AM

Currently I have an Intel 500 MHz Pentium III. And am thinking about changing it, since I have a wife that loves using money even more than I do, we don't have THAT much money, so I was thinking about maybe 1 GHz. Someone told me that maybe I should rather go for a 750 and oc it to 1 GHz. Can someone please tell me what would be the best to go for.. both CPU and motherboard....

KenKun · May 30th, 2002, 05:20 AM

I used to have P!!! 1GHz on an ASUS MoBo that uses Intel 815E chipset .. (i think the MoBo name was CUSL2)

The system was extremely stable and fast enough for me ... P!!! 1GHz should make a nice improvement over the one you have now ...

Pentium III 1.13GHz Processor CPU FCPGA, Flip Chip, 256K Cache , 133MHz FSB, TUALATIN Retail Box from Newegg will cost you $125 +shipping ... so you have to put around $200 for the CPU + MoBo setup ..

Regards

RamonGTP · May 30th, 2002, 05:21 AM

If you want a 1gig processor, I say get a 1gig processor... Price difference should be pretty neglagable between those two speeds (750 vs 1gig) and its also not gauranteed that you'll be able to OC a 750mhz processor that high anyway. If we're talking about AMD processors... A 1gig would be considerable faster then a 750... I believe the 1gig processors operate at 133mhz FSB, while the 750's are at 100. I'm not positive on that, but someone i'm sure will correct me if i'm wrong.

-Ramon

Sweeper · May 30th, 2002, 06:27 AM

Go for the 1GHz setup. You'll be much happier. Then you can overclock it ...

Quote:

Originaly posted by RamonGTP~ its also not gauranteed that you'll be able to OC a 750mhz processor that high anyway.

Agreed.
Also, KenKun is right on the money with the price~

EndobioticChaos · May 30th, 2002, 09:30 AM

The most value for your money? Well, you didn't say it has to be socket 370... so I'll say a Duron 1.0 GHz is the best value for your money. Newegg sells them for $40 right now, while the P3 1.0GHz is $144 and the Celeron 1.0GHz is $66. And I think most people would agree the Duron will whup up on either the P3 or the Celeron.

SokkaDiSokk · May 30th, 2002, 09:47 AM

Well, sounds good, I can get a Duron 1 GHz for 50$ here in Europe, so that's good enough. What motherboard would you guys recomend? (We're still thinking of something not to expensive)

EndobioticChaos · May 30th, 2002, 10:10 AM

Well, I'd say that depends partly on what you want.. do you want an ultra-stable mobo, one that gives you all kinds of overclocking features, a very inexpensive one, or somewhere in between? One that I use that seems to be a pretty good compromise between all of those extremes is the Epox 8KHA+. I've never had any real stability issues with it, it gives you enough options to overclock just about whatever you want, and at $88 it's not all that expensive either. But if features don't matter to you, I'd say try the ECS K7S5A. It sells at Newegg for just $54, and so far all the people at TechIMO who've used it have liked it, and it seems to be plenty stable. On the other hand, if you want to be able to overclock to the max, you'll probably want the ABIT KX7-333 at $97. And the last extreme - stability: I'd say MSI boards are probably the most stable on the market right now... they don't offer much for overclockers, but what they do, they do very well. So there's just a few of the many many options out there.... have fun!

Richard Cranium · May 30th, 2002, 10:42 AM

Another vote for the Duron 1.0g

This is the first of the line with the SSE instruction set, an Intel innovation AFAIK. Anyway the 1.0 Duron hauls bootie

)

The Retail unit comes with a cheapo fan which is adequate for this processor, this also gives you a 3 year warranty on the CPU.

I've gotten several Duron's @ 1.0ghz out in the public's hands, smooth power and very fast, even when using just 128 mb of RAM on a inexpensive Biostar mobo.

Biostar is my favorite low end mobo, on-board Video and sound, some do come with AGP slots so if you plan to get a Video card in the future make sure your mobo comes with one.

I've used the M7VKG, M7VKS and M7VKQ units, all are super easy to set up and very stable.
http://www.biostar-usa.com/products/socketA/saindex.htm

With pricing like we have at present on units like this, I can build a complete unit with CD-Burner for about $375 or so, granted your location will differ somewhat however there is little reason to spend extra for higher mhz units unless the program warrants the expenditure.

hope this helps
DrVette

Richard Cranium · May 30th, 2002, 10:48 AM

The Biostar M7VKG comes with on-board video and a AGP slot for future Video expansion.
Specs->>
http://www.biostar-usa.com/products/...7vkg_specs.htm

Large Pic->>
http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage....138-010-05.JPG

Here in the States this unit is $59.00

KenKun · May 30th, 2002, 11:09 AM

Oh dear lord ..

If AMD is an option, then go for it and you will love it ...
I thought you're Intel guy only, from the way you asked ...

AMD Duron would be a great choice considering cost/performance combol ... cheap and really fast ...

Duron + ECS K7S5A MoBo would give great you value ..you can use the SDRAM that you have now

..and upgrade to DDR later if you like ...

Regards