Anyone Switch From A PIII@A Gig To A T-Bird???

[resinboy]

I have been kicking around the idea of trying out a T-Bird system,( especially for the upgradability factor)but was wondering if the $$$ and performance would be worth it???
Also, Abit or Asus???(Jonny Guru, I know your answer )))Mostly playing UT and Q3, and using Photoshop.

 

[cdrakejr]

Most of the reviews show little real advantage of one over the other in terms of performance.
In terms of upgradability then it's the Tbird, PIII future looks unpromising. Intel just announced won't release 1.13GHz again for another 6 months. AMD on track to release 1.2GHz this month and reach 1.5GHz in January.
Cost wise there's no question, TBird 1GHz @$375 vs PIII 1GHz @$700.

Abit and ASUS are the top boards, with Abit seeming to have a slight lead in most reviews. Couldn't go wrong with either one though.

 

[Outlaw]

I have to admit I am an AMD convert due to price and performance.
Although they run hotter we still cool them and overclock them just as well or better.
Less condensation issues with AMD and if you do not mind the standard threashold of 18-25c temps even when supercooling then its a go all around for AMD.

What kept many Gamers and Overclockers away in the early days were the issues surrounding the use of High end video cards and AMD products or lack of support and versatility in motherboards with AMD products.

 

[resinboy]

these increadible processor speeds are amazing, but do you think we really have the software and applications to take advantage of them yet???

 

[Techwhore]

the answer is more times than not NO. We hardly ever use our processor to the full extent of it's capability for the sheer fact that it's limited by other devices. In games you're limited to your video card's GPU and RAMDAC, is windows you're limited to your RAM size/speed and hard disk speed. Even installing programs limits you to your cdrom speed. There are a few things though that use it... seti, rc5, anyone else name a few? Don't get me wrong, there is a difference between let's say a 500 mhz machine and 1000 mhz machine in windows performance, although not much. The cpu will pick up for other lagging parts, like video cards in games and such. But who cares, it's all about having the speed... duron 600 @ 1000!!

 

[sandorski]

I think that if you could get full price selling that PIII, it would make a lot of sense to switch. Performance would be about the same, but you'd have a few hundred bucks in your pocket to upgrade or take your lady out to a fancy restaurant!

 

[resinboy]

DDDDDDDDebit cccard......mmmmuuust resssssist- orderrrrrr partssssssss--open boxessssssss- smell of fresh electronicssssssss,,,,,,,,,droolllllllllll..........bastards!!!!!!!!Infidels!!!!!!!!!you have convinced me to go on an AMD cpu hunt!!!!!!!!! Now the BIG question!!!
Where is the tweakin' hot spot for t-birds? 750 mhz???( Coppermines was 700).
Sandorski:screw the old lady, she's got my house, my dog and my neighbors- she can get her OWN friggin dinner

 

[Toysrme]

sure you can stress even the new 1's alot. try running UT in software mode(i know some1 with a duron 600 at 900 and dosn't have a vid card).

 

[redpriest_]

You can get a 1200 MHz Tbird at www.tcwo.com for just a hair under $500. You *can't* go wrong.

 

[Fish54]

Toys, I'm pretty sure that if you want any kind of display, you need a video card. I guess that you could do network stuff, but whats the point of gaming like that? Just my 2 cents.
Resin, I say go for it! Make yourself a few bucks and get the baddest mother f*cking computer on the block
-Fish

 

[resinboy]

well, I started out by picking up an Abit KT7( yeah, I know, RMA hell, and the roll of the dice).
Next, I went to a small local mom and pop computer store( because I am a small business owner, and I support the same) and looked through their stock. They had a 700 Duron with lots of dust on the box. Picked it up cheap, and was quite happy with the fact that it is UNLOCKED!!! Yeah baby- also, I ordered an 800T-bird. Won't have that till the middle of the week- figure it'll give me time to get my system up and running(tomorrow). Need a computer for the office anyway, so I'll probably put the Duron there when I switch.
If I can get the Athlon set-up running fast and smooth, I may have a killer PIII700E for sale

 

[64bitloopy]

i just like the amd. iused to like intel, but yield is bad, product is bad, and the future ain't so brite.

 

[jonnyGURU]

I've got a P!!! 1GHz in an Intel i820 board w/ RDRAM sitting next to a 1GHz T-Bird in an MSI K7TPro with SDRAM at work.

Both with Voodoo 5s.

I play Q3A, UT and some other games on the all the time on either of them. Can't tell the difference. Just as Techwhore said, we never use our PCs to their full potential. The games on this 1 GHz rig look just as good as the same video card in a Duron PC.

Despite this, when benchmarks are run on the Intel, they almost always score higher than the T-Bird.

Go figure. Benchmarks rule our world. We are fools.