Anxious upgrader...still more questions...

[spwango]

Hey guys,

I apperciate the suggestions I've gotten around here, they have been greatly helpfull thus far...anyway, quick background...I currently have a PIII (Slot1) 450 on a Tekram BX mobo--128 MB ram, 24X CD, HP9100 burner, SB Live, Geforce2 MX, generic NIC, 10GB HD, 20 GB WD ATA66 HD, running Win98 and Linux. My plan is to purchase an Asus A7V133 mobo with a 1Ghz 266 FSB processor and a 256MB Crucial PC133 CAS2 memory module (tossing the old generic 128 from the old machine...)...Is this a wise upgrade?

Monarch Computer has a combo of the motherboard and CPU assembled for $408--I'm a bit weary of them due to recent comments in ResellerRatings...has anyone here had experience with them?

Also, the other thing I worry about is if Ultra ATA100 is backwords compatable with the regular old IDE interface? I run Linux, and ATA66 is even a bit iffy...so I may wish to just use IDE for a while longer. I know my 20GB WD hard drive is ATA66, but I'm unsure about the other drive--Am I going to be able to use my drives on this new mobo? How much real world performance does one use by not taking advantage of ATA66 or better?

Thanks again!

spwango

 

[Biggs]

ATA 100 is fully backwards compatible with older standards. Basically, there is a significant jump from PIO 4 to ATA33 and a minor gain from ATA33 to ATA66 and a hardly visible gain from ATA66 to ATA100.

 

[spwango]

Thanks for the reply Biggs,

So, does that mean it is just that the cables determine whether or not you are using ATA33 or above?

Thanks,

spwango

 

[Wingznut]

The drives and cables determine the speed.

 

[mastaki11a]

Ill take your 128 Ram and pay shippin + 5$ heh.

 

[spwango]

Actually, I'll be upgrading a relative's AMD 350 with the mobo, processor, and probably the RAM out of the box I have now.

Thanks,

spawngo

 

[cavingjan]

How high can your current motherboard go? If it just needs some more ram and a new processor, sticking with another P3 might be a cheaper and easier route.

 

[spwango]

Hey cavingjan

The mobo can take up to a 700Mhz Slot1 PIII--That is still around $130--the USB on it is very flakey too--I haven't really considered staying Intel as an option.

Thanks,

spwango

 

[cavingjan]

You could consider a plain 1Gig Tbird and still run it at 266. I think they are cheaper at the moment.

 

[spwango]

Thanks for the reply cavingjan,

Is overclocking the FSB on a plain 1GHz Tbird difficult? Will it require any exotic cooling? The Monarch Computer bundle I've been looking at comes with the Asus AV7-133, processor, and Taisol CEK733092 heat sink....?

Thanks

spwango

 

[JorgeElPrimero]

The taisol is very good and overclocking DOESN'T require exotic heating but if you go far with the overclock it will. Just remember the further you push it the more cooling you need. It is very easy to overclock. Also just to add some more insight to ata100 being backwards compatible it is.

 

[spwango]

Hey JorgeElPrimero, thanks for info...

If I decide to OC the FSB on a regular 1Ghz TBird, will I have to unlock the L1 bridge? Is there still a big advantage with a KT133-A mobo in this case?

Thanks,

spwango