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First time Builder: P4 or K7?

L

LazyCanuck

Junior Member
Forgive my ignorance, as I'm sure P4 vs K7 issue has been debated often here. I'm planning to build a new gaming rig, and after doing a bit of research ( probably a few hours worth 😉 )? I'm stuck between two CPU/motherboard combinations:

a) AMD Athlon (T-Bird) 1.2 GHz ( Retail Box ) + Asus A7V133 ( or equivalent KT133a mobo; ie. MSI K7T-R )

or

b) Intel Pentium 4 1.3GHz ( Retail Box w/ 128MB RAM ) + Asus P4T ( not the P4T-M )


The rest of the components would be the same for either system: Enlight mid tower, Enermax 350W power supply, etc. The only exception would be the extra ram bundled with the P4.

The P4 systems costs about $200 canuck bucks more the K7 ( actually, more like $130, since the the P4 comes with the two 64 MB ram sticks ). Also, the P4 mobo costs $100 more than the K7's? perhaps I should switch to a cheaper P4 mobo?

Some of you are probably wondering why I didn't go for an Athlon @ 1.333 GHz? well, that's 'cause it costs ~$50 cdn than the 1.2 GHz. I'd resort to buying parts online... but I'm still trying to get the hang of email if you catch my drift.


I was all for building an Athlon system? but all these horror stories about fried Tb's and yellow ooze scares me quite a bit? so, that's when I thought of the P4 system? but then, everyone ( well most ) consider the P4 to be 'ass'. Ah? the choices? the choices. Which would you recommend? For gaming... ease of installation... stability... whatnot.





On a final note: the store, where I plan to purchase the parts, will put everything together for no extra charge? but where's the fun in that eh? I never actually built a PC before, as stated in the thread's title, but I have done practically everything to a PC that doesn't involve removing or installing a Mobo ( or CPU )? so I guess, that would make me, what, a novice? 😀


Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
The 1.2GHz Athlon can take down the P4-1.3GHz in almost everything. Im not even sure if that 64MB of RDRAM can make up the price difference because SDRAMs are SO cheap, you should get like 512MB of them. You made a good choice on that power supply, just make sure you get quality RAM. If you use high quality components, and proper installation, you're not going to get your CPU fried, and you'll have a very stable system even in hot summer days. Oh yea, I also think you should get the Iwill KK266-R for motherboard, it's better than the A7V133.
 
Why not DDR ram? That's the best price/performance system you can get right now...

I say:
Epox 8K7A (can be found HERE in canada)or MSI K7Master.
256 or 512MB of Crucial PC2100 DDR ram (click HERE for a little rebate)

Accompanied by a 266mhz FSB T-Bird of your choice...🙂
 
If money isn't a factor.......it's really all about choice! I have both and there are good things about both!😉🙂 AMD's are some fast SOB's..........as is the 1.7 PIV I have........It's a coin toss between the two if you're just looking at numbers!🙂 If though, you want the most for your $$$$........AMD is a clear winner here!🙂
 

Depends when you want to be doing this thing.

If you have a choice between a P4 1.3 and an Athlon 1.2 I would say that (at the moment anyway) the Athlon would win it for you. However, if you want to go with P4 - consider the following - WAIT.

Socket-478 conversion is soon to come upon us - and with that, the "Northwood" varitan of the P4 - that is 0.13 micron variant - should be hopefully coming in at 2 GHz. It should be cooler, cheaper & hopefully include a few other improvements.

However, if you want to go "now" as it were, I would go for the Athlon.
 
He obviously wants to get one now, so if I was you I would get the 1.2ghz t-bird, and go with the epox 8k7a and some DDR Ram from Crucial. You seem to need ram because you are thinking about getting the P4 with Rdram. Consider at least 256mb of DDR memory, or 512 because it's so cheap. Goodluck, you should be fine, and use a flat head screwdriver when installing the heatsink/fan thats what I did, because the clip is so damn tight.
 
i'd go DDR as well...it's pretty cheap....

pickup an FIC AD11 mobo and 256MB pc2100 for just as much as that kt133a system u're considering....
 
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