To AMD or not to AMD?

[meirl]

hELLO.
I've got a theoretical question at this moment and hope u guys will help me get a practical answer...
My rig now adays consist of:

MBO-ABIT IS7-E
CPU-INTEL4 1.8 NORTHWOOD 512K L2
MEM-OCZ 2X256 DDR 400
VGA-ATI RADEON 9500PRO 128MB (BIOS FLASHED TO 9700PRO)
HD-MAXTOR 40 G+20 G (I will move on to 120 SATA WD soon)

I've got a good deal and took it on a new mob and cpu:
ABIT NF7-S V2.0 + AMD ATHLON XP 2500+ 512K L2 BARTON

My question is: if i will remove the IS7 and the INTEL and put insted the new NF7 and the AMD
use all the other components that I have and install Windows XP from scratch, will my life be much more happier?

Today my rig works well without any crashes and i keep the system in good shape.
I'm just an ordinary user, not much of a gamer and not into heavy OC.

So shell I'll make the switch?

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Brian48]

Do it. FYI, the 2500xp is a superb overclocker.

 

[Regs]

nm

 

[Baked]

You will be happy with the AMD Barton 2500+. Just change the FSB to 200 in the BIOS. Make sure you don't install the IDE driver in the nForce driver package.

 

[meirl]

Hey, thanks guys for fast replies.
Baked: you said "Make sure you don't install the IDE driver in the nForce driver package.

What do you mean? i didn't get with my mob any driver cd so i've downloaded from abit anything available for this board.
so what should i do and why is this importent?

Thanks man.

 

[formulav8]

I used and still use the nForce IDE driver and it works perfectly. No problems.

I remember hearing some minor problems with the older IDE drivers, but the newer ones should be just fine.


Jason

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: meirl
Hey, thanks guys for fast replies.
Baked: you said "Make sure you don't install the IDE driver in the nForce driver package.

What do you mean? i didn't get with my mob any driver cd so i've downloaded from abit anything available for this board.
so what should i do and why is this importent?

Thanks man.

He's referring to the nVidia unified system drivers available at their website.
you do not need to use anything from the CD if you do not wish to (unless you do not have internet acess after a format, and don't have the executable on hand)

 

[Budman]

What's wrong with keeping your board & just adding a 3ghz P4 in there?

 

[RussianSensation]

I would have just upgraded to a faster CPU like Budman suggested. P4 is faster than XP in pretty much everything.

 

[SunSamurai]

http://www.digit-life.com/arti...28-athlonxp-26-mx.html

Not everything. I would get a new motherboard and buy something that will not only last, but give you a considerable stock boost over any P4 within a hundred bucks, ike that AMD64 3000+

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

Originally posted by: aeternitas
http://www.digit-life.com/arti...28-athlonxp-26-mx.html

Not everything. I would get a new motherboard and buy something that will not only last, but give you a considerable stock boost over any P4 within a hundred bucks, ike that AMD64 3000+

 

[villageidiot111]

Well, considering you already have the 2500 I would use it, there will be a noticeable improvement.

 

[meirl]

Thanks everyone for their opinions. as expected they are in favor of either ways.
and as "villageidiot111" said: if u have it so give it a try...
maybe i will buy a faster P4 too and have 2 good rigs. one to try LINUX on

Thanks all

 

[nortexoid]

u can try linux on one rig anyway with multiple partitions. omg my wasted your money!!!!!!!!

 

[stevty2889]

FYI I know you said you aren't in to heavy overclocking, but the 1.8ghz northwood is one of the best overclockers, and since you already have PC3200 DDR and a good mobo, you could get a very nice overclock out of that. I can almost gurantee you can up your FSB to 133mhz, and still have low temps even with the stock cooler, and be running at 2.4ghz..probably be able to go higher. That would make a nice second rig to have at the very least.