Best Price/Performance Ratio in Athlons?

[MiniThug]

Im planning on building a new system for college and would like to pick the best price to performance ratio of the Athlons available now. My reasoning for this is that around Christmas I will probably be upgrading again to the Nforce/Palamino solution. What do you guys think would be my best bet right now? Also, are any speeds still coming factory unlocked or are all the bridges cut on the newer chips? And will AMD be making any price cuts in the next week or two? THanks for your help.

 

[majewski9]

The best performance to price ratio is a 1GHZ 266fsb tbird paired with an SIS 735 board. The SIS 735 is actually the best DDR chipset right now! Get the board chaintech makes and get the 1ghz Athlon. You'll probaly spend only 150$ for both!

 

[wfbberzerker]

the 1ghz may have the best price/performance ratio, but i recommend getting a higher speed (1.33 or 1.4ghz), unless you are planning to get upgrade your processor anyways.

 

[MiniThug]

Ive already chosen the Epox 8K7A board, now I just need to pick a processor. I can pick up a 1ghz (266) for exactly half the price of a 1.4ghz (266). What do you think my chances are of getting a 1ghz (266) AXIA?

 

[frizzlefry]

AMD will continue to make price cuts, that you can count on. Next week or two you may see the price drop another $5 or so, so not much of a difference. Long term (maybe 2 month) prie drop will be alot more. Maybe we'll even the that 1ghz 266FSB for $50 come december?

I agree that the 1ghz is the best price/perf. You can get it for around $80 now. I'm still not sure how much performance gain you get with DDR, but its the same price now as PC133 so why not. As for getting a higher speed right now? I think you're better off in overclocking that CPU. Overall system performance boost.

-edit-
Chances of getting an AXIA? Call newegg and ask them if they have. I think a bunch of ppl picked that one up from newegg

 

[MallowJr]

the 1gz are dirt cheap (OEM)...go to newegg.com you can get a retail 1.2 gz 266FSB for $120. I'm purchasing that soon for my sister I think.

 

[MiniThug]

Are the 1ghz (266) chips coming locked or unlocked?

 

[wfbberzerker]

locked? unlocked? if you are talking in regards to overclocking, i think you can overclock ALL athlon processors.

 

[erikiksaz]

the 1.2 chips and up are unlocked. that 1 gig chip is not.

 

[MiniThug]

When I say locked I mean are the bridges on the chip cut to where you can not change the multiplier without reconnecting them.