PIII or AMD?

[BCYL]

Hi guys,

If you read my other posts, my motherboard may be dead... since my PC is a PII, I think I would replace the motherboard and CPU together...

I am thinking either an AMD Thunderbird 1Ghz, or a PIII 750MHz... both are around the same price...

What do you guys think? which CPU overall is better?

 

[rhinox99]

Let me be the first of many people that'll probably tell you to get the AMD Thunderbird 1ghz.
Why bother getting a slower cpu at the same cost?

 

[BCYL]

I was just wondering if there's some special features in the PIII that lets it keep up with the AMD... I am not that familiar with CPUs, so I am really not sure...

 

[LXi]

If there were any special features its probably the SSE, but its far less than enough to give P3 the performance edge.

 

[mmnatas]

T-bird. like rhinox99 said, why pay more for a slower processor?

 

[pillage2001]

This thread is gonna start a war. Before things happen, get the AMD. Don't you want the speed that your money can buy?

 

[lagvoid]

save money and go with AMD!

 

[AndrewR]

If money is the determinant, then go with AMD. Your other option at the same price is to buy a PIII and overclock it to around the AMD's speed. PIII-700s (cC0 stepping) apparently overclock EXTREMELY well and will regularly hit 933MHz without any monstrous cooling. I have a cB0 stepping 700 running at 933, and I can probably hit 1GHz with a little voltage bump though I'm happy with what I have.

However, overclocking can be a pain (and there are few guarantees that don't come with high price tags) so I'd stick with AMD. Chipsets and motherboards have reached a point where the other considerations are moot.

 

[Sugadaddy]

Get the T-Bird, it's just as fast as a P3 at the same clock speed, so that 1 ghz is definitely gonna be faster. As for the overclocking argument, it's pointless since you can overclock the T-bird as well...

 

[Fisher999]

Ditto on the purchasing the 1GHz AMD T-Bird, just remember to get a GOOD VIA KT-133 chipset-based MOBO like the MSI K7TPro2 or Pro 2 "A", Asus A7V or AOpen AK-73Pro. Go with an "a" board if you want some expansion options down the road with the forthecoming AMD CPU's that will ride a 133MHz FSB (effective 266) versus the current T-Birds at 100MHz FSB (effective 200).

I won't comment on AMD's 760 chipset (which supports DDR SDRAM) or ALi's MAGiK 1 which will allow mobo makers to offer boards that support SDR SDRAM and/or DDR SDRAM. Maximum PC magazine, in the Feb 2001 issue, has a nice article on the I-WILL KA266-R (with Ali's MAGiK 1). Be aware that the early revison (revision B) of the I-WILL KA266-R does NOT support ATI's RADEON videocards although Iwill says the NEXT revision will...hmmmmm

 

[AMB]

I was always an Intel person.

Now, after buying a 900MHz AMD, my views have changed...

 

[Fisher999]

BCYL: I need to clarify my post! The "a" revision I was speaking of is the "a" revision of Via's KT-133 chipset. Some motherboard manufacturers unintentionally "fool" the prospective buyer. The MSI K7TPro2"a" does NOT have the "a" version of VIA's KT-133 chipset, at least not FULLY. The MSI K7t "turbo" is their board that DOES have the FULL "a" version of VIA's KT-133 chipset. The MSI K7tPro2"a" DOES have the new Southbridge chip of the VIA KT-133a chipset (the VC82C686B) but NOT the new Northbridge chip of the VIA KT-133A chipset (the VT8363A).

Just want to clarify things.

 

[gittyup]

Go with the AMD 1Ghz / MSI K7T Pro2A. In fact, I bought my Duron/MSI combo from monarch computer.

You can get a AMD Athlon T-Bird 1000 MHz Combo - AMD Athlon T-Bird 1000 MHz, MSI K7T Pro2-A Athlon 200 MHz Motherboard, Tai-sol (CEK733092) heatsink and ballbearing fan for about $330 tested and shipped.

My 2 cents

 

[Robor]

I'm in the minority here but I'd get a cC0 stepping P3-700 and overclock it to 933-1Ghz. I've got an ASUS CUSL2 & P3700@1Ghz combo and it's rock solid. It might cost a little more but at least you don't have to worry about the AGP issues. Don't think there are any? Check out theRage3D (ATI) forum and read about the people who are having problems. Most of them are related to the VIA 4in1 issues.

Rob

 

[Mem]

I will make this simple go with AMD.

 

[BigLance]

After arguing this with some members here for a while this is the conclusion I have come too:

AMD is Cheaper than Intel for the Same Speed.... That is Good for AMD
AMD is harder to setup and deal with (a few issues) than Intel... THat is Good for Intel
AMD and Intel are of about the same stability (In my experiances, AMD has Not been as stable, many have similiar findings and many have the opposite experiances)... That is good for both AMD and Intel.

Overall, AMD is a better deal for your buck- the Issues are usually not life threatening, and you get a fast machine. We all have our preferances but that is what most people here will agree with.

 

[TravisBickle]

god - or mod - please lock this damn thread

 

[MadRat]

Guys, guys, guys... If he is using a PII on a BX motherboard then we need to suggest he look into the newer Celeron 600's. Of course I wouldn't condone the c600 without running it at >900mHz. We just need to make sure we suggest this option!

 

[Leo V]

Whatever you do, Stay away from MSI motherboards.

You have been warned.

 

[Noriaki]

<< since my PC is a PII, I think I would replace the motherboard and CPU together... >>

That's not neccessarily needed...if you have a BX board you could use a P3 in it...



<< If you read my other posts, my motherboard may be dead... >>

howerver that's a different story...


The TBird and P3 are pretty much even in clock/clock performance, so the 1Ghz TBird will be faster.

I'd try to go with the Asus A7V133 or the MSi K7T Turbo (or the ABit KT7A if you happen to be a masochist....) that will allow for the 133Mhz FSB Athlons later...then you have some upgrade path. The P3 is pretty much stopped now I think Intel will push the P4...the 1.5Ghz Athlons will fit in the same KT133A boards as the 1Ghz ones do.

I can't comment on Via's compatibility issues though...I haven't had a Via chipset yet...well mine is half and half I guess...but most of the issues come from the North bridge, and mine is AMD. Hey the 751 ain't fancy, but it gets the job done and it hasn't given me any issues.

 

[Mem]

<< Whatever you do, Stay away from MSI motherboards. >>



Leo V,not all MSI boards are bad,my own MSI K7T Pro as been great, infact rock stable,while it may not have the overclocking features of the Pro2/2a ,it`s still a great board.

Btw I`ve been reading your post on the the MSI K7T Pro2A.

 

[Leo V]

Mem, maybe they work fine if you're lucky, or if you're Anand. If you're willing to take your chances, go ahead and buy an MSI. Jukka did exactly that; now he's in the same boat with me. It's only my duty to warn others about the worst motherboard experience I've ever had.

 

[AndrewR]

Contrarily, I have both an MSI 6309 (running PIII-700@933) and an MSI K7TPro (running Duron 700), and both have performed admirably. The K7TPro, in particular, has been absolutely flawless and is one of the most stable and easy to install boards I have ever used (under Win2000). I can heartily recommend MSI.

The only board I have ever had die on me was an Abit BP6 -- fan header death precluded total shutdown. Also, their $25 RMA replacement charge makes it difficult to prod your retailer into replacing it under warranty. Most retailers I have talked to or read about have also stated an abnormally high RMA rate with Abit boards.

 

[Leo V]

Just remember one thing: if you're not so lucky, you'll be left out in the cold, without even a feeble excuse for tech support to turn to. MSI has no support emails, and doesn't return answering machine messages they ask you to leave using a long distance number. Would you trust such a company with your money, if you knew this beforehand? God, if only somebody on these boards had told me!

 

[Leo V]

Look at it this way, Red Dawn. If somebody else had spread the word about this before me, then:
1) I'd happily stay away from MSI and get a working board from Asus
2) The poor saps with problematic MSI's would be the Devil's advocates, not me.

I would very much prefer this scenario over what's really happening, believe me. That's why I'm warning others, even though it's too late for me.