MaximumPC's Powerleap PL-P4 review...

[Blain]

MaximumPC, Feb. 2003 issue, page 76...
I can't understand how Gordon Mah Ung can give a $300, Socket 478>423 adapter, the "KICK ASS" award.
Anyone can go to Newegg and buy a Crucial PC2100 512mb DIMM AND an Abit IT7 MAX2 for ONLY $266 Shipped!

Can someone tell me why people would be so connected to their Socket 423 MBs that they would think about spending an extra $300 to keep them running with a Northwood upgrade?

>> I'm Baffled <<

 

[Jeff H]

Blain, they're people who don't want to mess w/ a system that works, and mostly satisfies their needs. I'll give you an example. Last winter I installed a Powerleap Celeron II unit in an Abit BH6 system belonging to a brother in law. He didn't want to go through the hassle of an OS reinstall, along w/ all the apps and data. So, we did the CII thing, along w/ a cheap GF2 card and a Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB drive (ghosted it from his 8.4GB WD drive). In a matter of a couple of hours we had him back up and running, with a significant improvement over his original system.

That said, I'm w/ you. I'll spend the $$ on a new board and memory every time, rather than shoehorn in some converter/adapter thingy.

 

[RanDum72]

You can also buy this for $32.

 

[Blain]

I'm not looking for an adapter. I just couldn't figure out why the mag. would give a thumbs-up to a $300 bandaid.

 

[Dug]

I can't understand how Gordon Mah Ung can give a $300, Socket 478>423 adapter, the "KICK ASS" award.

Because it works.

 

[CZroe]

Nice link, but I bet it doesn't really support Northwoods as it claims. They (The resellers, not engineers) may have thought that all s478 CPUs are Northwoods and simply stated support for 533FSB and other Northwood-specific features. No s423 board supports 533FSB, so there's a little inconsistancy there. Sure, most 400MHz FSB systems could unofficially go to 533, but those were at least s478 to begin with. Many people on AT assumed that PL's old s478-to-s423 could handle Northwood CPUs for the same reason so I would not doubt if that's what has happened here. Even if it doesn't support Northwood, an upgrade to a 2GHz Wiliamette isn't too bad for most s423 boards (I know they are available in s423, but s478 versions are more common and cheaper).

 

[Auric]

Because MPC is advertiser driven and by nature of being a magazine is chronically out of date.

 

[3 2u8 zzm]

the powerleap adapter is only $50. its either a misprint or you read it wrong. its not $300 - even though it should be.

http://www.powerleap.com/Products/P4N.htm

i originally had a 1.3 willamette processor and thanks to powerleap im up to 2.6ghz northwood - 99% increase

check out some benchmarks:

http://duhvoodooman.com/powrleap/P4N/P4N_3.htm

if thats not worth $50 then nothing is

 

[Gibson486]

$300? They were cheaper 2 years ago (yes, that is when they came out). Anyways, $300 sounds like the rpice with a processer.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Powerleap prices include the processor.

 

[Blain]

The Powerleap adapter in the MaximumPC article didn't include any CPU. Powerleap specifically states that it doesn't include any CPU with the adapter.
But to be fair, it looks like the magazine just screwed up on the "$300" pricetag. Powerleap only has it selling for $49.95.

 

[oldfart]

From what I can tell, that $50 also includes a HS/Fan.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Blain
The Powerleap adapter in the MaximumPC article didn't include any CPU. Powerleap specifically states that it doesn't include any CPU with the adapter.
But to be fair, it looks like the magazine just screwed up on the "$300" pricetag. Powerleap only has it selling for $49.95.

$50 is far more of a kick ass price

 

[3 2u8 zzm]

for $50 you get quite a lot. an adapter, a nice shiny heatsink/fan, all the connectors, instructions, alumina compound - everything aside from the processor.

its a good deal. also considering the fact, powerleap are only a small outfit from new jersey, they manage to produce a quality item and distribute it, successfully, worldwide.

haha, i sound like a fanboy. i guess i am. they breathed some new life into my pc and im very happy.

big up POWERLEAP !!!