Best and cheapest upgrade for a 266-P2?

[Passions]

I built my cousin this computer a couple of years ago and he says its too slow now. So I was thinking for upgrading for him. Its a P2-266, Abit BX mobo, 32 mb ram. Looking to get him a

P3-500e = $150
128 mb = $100
sloket = $15

should be under $300. thats kinda too much for him though, what about celery instead? I dont know, someone help me out. whats best for da buck? Thanx.

 

[pm]

Perhaps get 64MB instead and add that to the existing 32MB to bring it up to a pretty decent 96MB. That chops $50 from the bill.

 

[Scifione]

Ditto! Buy a 64MB stick to add to the 32MB stick to get a respectable 96MB.

Celeron 500/PPGA or the 533/PPGA. If you get the 533Mhz make sure it is not the newer FCPGA that might give you trouble on older BX boards. Celerons may need bios upgrade on some boards to support the insanely high multipliers.
OR I think the P3-500e is also available in a slot 1 so you could loss the sloket.
There is some old P3's floating around if you find them for less.
One straightedge to save a few buck is to get an OEM chip and Fan instead of the Boxed set.

 

[Scifione]

Oh ya! You could look for a used P3 form someone locally or post on the Buy/Trade Forum here on Anandtech. It might be good place to start a hunt for a used chip if you think that might fit the bill.

 

[Passions]

okay i think i will get a celeron for him, the reason i wanted to get him 128 ram was because p3's run at 100mhz, and his ram is 66mhz, but since celeron run at 66mhz, it should be okay? COOL!

 

[PowerJoe]

1. Update the BIOS before installing the new processor

2. If it's a Celeron2 (533A or >=566), make sure your board supports the correct voltage.

-PJ