$250 for a new mobo and CPU combo...what to get?

beer

Lifer
Jun 27, 2000
11,169
1
0
My old Slot A Thunderbird with K7 Pro died yesterday. I'm fairly sure it was the processor that died, although it may be the mobo - and the mobo is under warrenty whereas the processor is not. So if the processor is dead than I need ot pick up a new mobo and CPU since finding Slot A tbird these days is impossible.

I already have 256 MB PC133 Infineon RAM so I don't want to replace that. So I would be going with 266 FSB, but PC133 RAM mobos.

I'm aware of the K7T Pro 2A. What would be my best bet for this limited budget?
 

Pikachu

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,178
0
0
What mobo did that K7 Pro replace? Was it a BX? Maybe there's some more life left in it. Maybe you should have stuck with it in the first place! ;)
 

robertf97

Member
Apr 9, 2001
68
0
0
Get either an Epox 8KTA3 or IWILL KK266 and a 1GHz 266FSB Athlon. I have the Epox setup and it is extremely stable, user friendly, and easy to overclock (I'm running 150MHz FSB). I read the IWILL has all of this plus better on-board sound.
 

Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,986
1
0
I'd recommend an Iwill KK266(-R). It is dirt cheap now, stable, and very o/c friendly. It also offers on-board audio, which is a plus, particularly since many sound cards can't handle extreme FSB speeds.

For CPU, I'd have to say a Duron. You can take your chances with a 600/650 but the 750 is a steal right now for about $35, and most of these hit 1GHz with a little extra voltage and good cooling.

You could put it together (MB+CPU) for around $150-$160.
 

kmmatney

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2000
4,363
1
81
From Mwave.com (cut and pasted from the shopping cart):

ATHLON 266MHz (OEM) BUNDLES
(EPOX 8KTA3-Specs; AMD T-BIRD 1000(266MHZ); HSF; NO TESTING) $250.00

I believe that all 1.0 GHz Athlons that use the 266 Bus are newer AXIA/AVIA stepping models - these overclock through the roof.