Can someone help with my system decision?

[BudgetHT]

Hey everyone,

I used to be heavily into building PCs and following the latest releases and news, but I've been out of the loop for a while now. I want to build a new computer with a plain old Athlon Thunderbird 1.2 GHz Socket-A (not the 266 FSB or the MP version). I chose it because it will be fast enough for what I need, and the current price range is ~$90 or so.

Now, I've seen the articles on the KT133, KT133A, and AMD760 chipsets. I've read comparisons and reviews on Anandtech. I know the KT type chipsets take SDRAM and the AMD takes DDR. (right?) Can SDRAM be used in the AMD chipset and can DDR be used in the KT chipsets? I believe the FSB of the plain Athlon 1.2GHz runs at 100 MHz, so what is the benefit of PC133 Ram? The prices are pretty much the same as PC100, so I'll probably end up getting PC133.

Now my question relates to the differences between everything and what you all think would be the best choice for me. I just want something that will perform basic tasks - mostly web surfing, a little web design, very little gaming or photoshop type apps. From what I've seen, SDRAM would be plenty for what I need, but it looks like DDR prices have fallen near SDRAM prices.

I would like a MB with ATA/100 support, RAID isn't really important to me at all. Number of slots really isn't important, but 6 PCI would be nice. I read that some of the boards are coming with 4 USB connectors, so that would be nice, but not mandatory, since I'll probably end up getting a USB hub anyway.

Overclocking is not an issue at all. I'm not really into it any more, and I just want a basic system that will run stable at 1.2 GHz.

I was hoping to get the MB and processor for under $200, so I'm looking for a good board in the $90-110 range. I've had bad experiences with Abit in the past, so that's about the only boards I'm not really interested in, but want to hear any suggestions anyone has.

Could anyone please explain some of the differences in the chipsets and RAM, and suggest some good motherboards in each category? Also, what would you get with my use needs?

Thanks in advance everybody,

Jason

 

[TheGrandHooHa]

OK, I'll try to break this down and reply to what I can.



<< plain old Athlon Thunderbird 1.2 GHz Socket-A (not the 266 FSB or the MP version). I chose it because it will be fast enough for what I need >>



If it's fast enough for what you need, then fine, buy it. However, the 266's are really only a bit higher in cost (I bought mine for $105), so I'd recommend getting a 266 anyway. Also, most motherboards support 266, so you may as well take what you can get. But that's just my .02



<< Now, I've seen the articles on the KT133, KT133A, and AMD760 chipsets. I've read comparisons and reviews on Anandtech. I know the KT type chipsets take SDRAM and the AMD takes DDR. (right?) Can SDRAM be used in the AMD chipset and can DDR be used in the KT chipsets? I believe the FSB of the plain Athlon 1.2GHz runs at 100 MHz, so what is the benefit of PC133 Ram? The prices are pretty much the same as PC100, so I'll probably end up getting PC133 >>



I'm not completely sure on this... wait for someone else to reply on this matter.



<< Now my question relates to the differences between everything and what you all think would be the best choice for me. I just want something that will perform basic tasks - mostly web surfing, a little web design, very little gaming or photoshop type apps. From what I've seen, SDRAM would be plenty for what I need, but it looks like DDR prices have fallen near SDRAM prices. >>



If your motherboard will support DDR, I'd buy it anyway. Speed never hurt anyone, and with DDR prices as low as they are at the Crucial special promo, you can't really go wrong with DDR.



<< I would like a MB with ATA/100 support, RAID isn't really important to me at all. Number of slots really isn't important, but 6 PCI would be nice. I read that some of the boards are coming with 4 USB connectors, so that would be nice, but not mandatory, since I'll probably end up getting a USB hub anyway. >>



I recommend the Epox 8K7A. The Epox runs about 120, but it's well worth it. I see you want the mobo + procecssor for less than $200... this might put you a little over, but I'd still recommend it for features, stability, etc. Plus, the Epox is a DDR board, so you could use DDR memory in it.

Hope this has cleared some stuff up... you can PM me if you want to know more.

 

[jaredm77]

<< Now, I've seen the articles on the KT133, KT133A, and AMD760 chipsets. I've read comparisons and reviews on Anandtech. I know the KT type chipsets take SDRAM and the AMD takes DDR. (right?) Can SDRAM be used in the AMD chipset and can DDR be used in the KT chipsets? I believe the FSB of the plain Athlon 1.2GHz runs at 100 MHz, so what is the benefit of PC133 Ram? The prices are pretty much the same as PC100, so I'll probably end up getting PC133 >>


To answer this question, the VIA KT133 (support for 200MHZ FSB Processors), KT133A (support for 200/266MHZ FSB Processors), and the AMD760 (support for 200/266MHZ FSB Processors and DDR RAM). The only VIA chipset to support DDR RAM on an Athlon platform that is currently available is the KT266, which with some of the newer baords from AOpen and Shuttle might not be a bad cost/performance alternative. The FSB on the Original Athlon 1.2 is 100MHZ or 200MHZ DDR (12x100 multiplier), the benefit or PC133 RAM is a larger bandwith, if you run your processor at 100MHZ (200 DDR) you can run your RAM at 100 or 133, so PC100 or PC133 RAM will work but PC133 will give you more bandwith; if you run your processor at 133MHZ (266 DDR) you can only run your RAM at 133MHZ, so PC133 will be your only option. If I were you, I would go with a 266MHZ 1.2GHZ Athlon, Stick it on a DDR Motherboard, and buy PC2100 DDR Ram. All of that will give you a nice sized performance increase, and only cost you a little bit more money. Now what you could do is change the multiplier (since I've yet to see a 1.2GHZ or above Athlon that is Multiplier locked) on the original 1.2 to nine, and increase the FSB to 133, giving you 1200MHZ (9x133) and an increased FSB speed which will give you a nice performance boost also. But Still look at this...

All from Newegg.com

1.2GHZ 266MHZ Processor: 109.00
FIC AD11 760 based Motherbaord: 109.00
256MB PC2100 DDR RAM: 42.00

Total: 260.00

And you'll see a good performance increase, plus the added reassurance of expandibility in the future. The other boards will offer good support for a while, but PC133 will eventually fade faster than PC2100 will. Hope this helps!

 

[sohcrates]

<< I believe the FSB of the plain Athlon 1.2GHz runs at 100 MHz, so what is the benefit of PC133 Ram? The prices are pretty much the same as PC100, so I'll probably end up getting PC133. >>



multiplier of 9 x 133 = 1.2 ghz. your athlon will support a 133 bus, so that's why you want pc133 ram. of course, if you go with ddr, that means you'll want pc2100 ddr (in extremely simple terms, pc1600 ddr = pc100 sdram and pc2100 ddr = pc133 sdram)



<< Now my question relates to the differences between everything and what you all think would be the best choice for me. I just want something that will perform basic tasks - mostly web surfing, a little web design, very little gaming or photoshop type apps. From what I've seen, SDRAM would be plenty for what I need, but it looks like DDR prices have fallen near SDRAM prices.

I would like a MB with ATA/100 support, RAID isn't really important to me at all. Number of slots really isn't important, but 6 PCI would be nice. I read that some of the boards are coming with 4 USB connectors, so that would be nice, but not mandatory, since I'll probably end up getting a USB hub anyway. >>



i second an epox 8k7a board. it's got everything you could want, and is really the ddr board of choice right now. $120 from newegg.com