AMD Athlon CPU And Hardware Recommendations?

[JonathanF]

I ordered the EPOX 8RDA+ Motherboard from PCRapids (Tuffshop)last Monday, and I am still waiting for it.

I would have preferred NewEgg or Multiwave, but neither had the EPOX 8RDA+ Motherboard in stock.

Should I get the following?

AMD Athlon XP 2200+ or the Athlon XP 2700+ (333 FSB).

Kingston PC 2700 CAS 2.5 DDR RAM or
Corsair PC 3500 CAS 2 XMS Extreme Memory or
Kingston Hyper-X PC 3500 CAS 2 DDR RAM.

I know that the CAS 2 Memory is faster then the CAS 2.5, but the faster Athlon CPU Chip and the Faster Memory is almost twice as expensive.

I have always liked Kingston Memory, and I heard that there have been some Hardware Compatibility Problems with the Corsair high speed Memory and the ASUS A7N8X Motherboards.

I am willing to pay extra for the faster Athlon CPU Chip and I like the 333 MHZ FSB.

Jonathan

 

[PlatinumGold]

here's a deal you might want to take advantage of. XP 2600 for sale on AT.

 

[AnAndAustin]

A lot depends upon the precise pricing but the XP1900+ to XP2200+ are hardly going to o/c at all if that is important to you. I'd suggest the XP2000+ as it tends to perf VERY close to the XP2200+ but should be a fair bit cheaper. If you want a bit more there's no need to get the true 333FSB CPUs as any of the new 9 layer 0.13mu Tbred-B cores (XP2400+ and up) are good o/c'ers and should reach XP2800+ speeds. I'd suggest either the best bang for buck XP (prob XP2000+) or else spring for the XP2400+ which should o/c VERY well and quite easily hit 333FSB although there are obviously no guarantees even at stock speeds the XP2400+ rocks. Plus don't forget compared to earlier XP's it's even faster than the name suggests (and more easily unlocked too).

As for the RAM I'd say any branded RAM is more than fine and there's no real need to go above PC3200 if there's even much point going above PC2700. As for the faster CAS rating it makes only a small diff and is best to allow more generous o/c'ing beyond its rating.

If gamings important do rem to avoid skimping on the gfx card, I'd rec nothing less than the Rad9500PRO from the look of your other component choices.

 

[Awakened2002]

I'd go with the 2700+ and Corsair if money isn't a problem...

 

[AnAndAustin]

Without checking I don't know how global prices compare but in the UK the P4's of an equivilent speed are the same price and I'd go for one of them all things being equal. They are considered the brand name after all, and so will sell on better when the time comes, they run cooler and o/c better etc etc. A few more months should see the Tbred-B CPUs drop in price but at the mo they're simply too pricey, in the UK anyway.

 

[mastay]

I agree with AnAndAustin. Once above the 2200+ mark, you are better off getting a PIV. I would personally get one of the lower speed throughbreds at newegg. They seem to easily overclock to the 2200+ mark (you should be able to get FSB at 333) and they are around $70. The higher end XP procs are too hot and too expensive in general. As for memory, look for something at DDR333 with CAS2. Seeing as how very few can get their FSB to the 200mhz mark, and most settle for 166mhz, anything above PC2700 brings very marginal improvement.