Upgrading CPU/Mobo on a budget

[Bigfoot1]

Hi,

I'm looking for a cheap CPU/mobo upgrade (under 250 USD, but I have some good prices here in Montreal) My current rig is a PII-300, 512 SDRAM, Oxygen GVX1 setup; I'm considering a Duron and MSI K7T Turbo-R. Whaddya think? I know the Duron can reach around a gig with a good fan. What can I expect in terms of performance difference between a Duron and T-Bird at the same clock speed?

Thanks!

 

[NelsonMuntz]

The Duron is a inherently a little slower at the same clock as a T-bird because of its cache limitations, but for many applications it is not a huge deal.

 

[Killrose]

Go with a T-bird and a motherboard you can overclock with. For your price range you could go with one of the new 266 FSB T-birds, but if you want to use your old ram (which I'll assume is PC100) then you'll have to go with the 200 FSB model.

 

[DocZaius]

Hi Bigfoot1,

For your upgrade I would suggest the Epox 8KTA3 ($100) with a Duron 800 ($40). That way you can keep your old RAM.

Hope that helps.

 

[acexg1]

For $250 USD, you could get a 1 ghz tbird and a good mobo, like an Iwill KK266.

 

[Bigfoot1]

Thanks! (jeez, now there's a fast-moving forum...)

DocZaius, that Epox looks like a nice mobo, I'll consider it...maybe with a Duron 750 (saw it at 27$!). Benchmark performance is not an issue for me, but I run intensive CAD/3D and 2D graphics applications and my CPU currently is a big bottleneck for the Oxygen...I'll think it over a bit.

My RAM is 133, BTW (it runs slower on my 300), I suppose that means I could use it with a 266 mobo, right?

 

[dave127]

go for a duron, and the epox mobo using sdr is pretty good and cheap too...that should easily keep u under your budget, and u might just be able to squeeze in a 1 gig athlon instead!!!

 

[Duvie]

The durons at this range are better little ocers...I think 750 is reasonable you may make it to 1gig...

I agree get the duron and epox board and get about 512mb of some good pc133 ram and you should be good to go. I had a 750 tbird and just bumped up to 1100tbird and cadd is not running noticeably faster in most things. I have a large 3d file I like to render (like 45mb dwg file) and the 1100 does complete it faster but it wasn't like the 750 took that long anyways....

keep the upgrade to a minimum here wait a year os so and see where the prices of the dual athlon 4's go and get one of those...That is currently my upgrade path hopefully at end of year...dual 1.4mp's, not on the expensive tyan mobo though...

 

[erub]

i wouldn't go w/ DDR, espically w/ a Duron. The performance increase you will see will be almost negligible, and you will have to get rid of your SDRAM.

 

[Copperpipe]

I've been looking into upgrading, also. Someone elsewhere recommended a relatively cheap mobo: ECS K7ZMA (version 3 for the KT133A chipset) which got a good review in Tomshardware and elsewhere. It is not good for overclocking due to its lack of features, but it is fast and very stable, and can be purchased for about $65 US.

 

[Duvie]

Well since he already mentioned he knows this thing will do 1gig with good cooling makes me think this is a feature he really wants...plus the epox is a very stable board...

he is trying to basically get 1000mhz (100 dollar value) for 29 bucks and a few more bucks for a decent fan. That is bang for the buck, while not spending a fortune that may be better spent in another 6-12 months with new offerings...

 

[Bigfoot1]

That's right

BTW, what do you guys think of the DFI AK-75EC? It got pretty good reviews, has the KT133A with good OCing (but through jumpers) and sells for 85$ at Monarch Computer. The Epox looks nice but I haven't been able to find any place that ships internationally, and local stores don't carry it.

 

[Duvie]

What is pretty good reviews? I have heard nothing about this board...may be area you may not wish to go with pretty good but excellent if you plan on 1 ocing as high as you want to go and 2 being stabile as you do it...

can you find the msi turbo board cause that one will do...

 

[DocZaius]

Bigfoot1,

I agree with Duvie, I have heard nothing about the DFI AK-75EC. Stick to good brands, if you cant fine the EPoX board look for Iwill KK266, another good board.

Hope that helps.

 

[de8212]

I just bought my dad the Iwill kk266, 850 Duron, and a h/s/fan for about $19x.00. He's not into overclocking and all that but it runs pretty darn good at stock speed. Good quality for low $$ and the board will supposedly accept the 1.5GHz tbird.
de

 

[Athlon4all]

I'd go Asus A7V133 or IWill KK266 ($115 or something like that was the lowest on pricewatch) and I would go with a T-Bird 1GHz 266fsb($91 on pricewatch), with a good fan ($30 I'd reserve for). You could get a Duron and oc it to 1GHz but the way I look at it, if you got 1GHz now and then oc'ed it to say 1.2GHz, that would be more benifical in the long run, and also the 266fsb really makes a difference when paired up with PC2100 DDR or PC133. The Duron Vs. T-Bird comparision is, small. T-bird 200fsb,would perform better in Office apps because of the extra Cache.

 

[huanaku]

I really like that EPOX board. Mine is an Asus A7V, but I recently built 2 Epox base duron systems and they are extremely stable. You can't beat the price on them either!

 

[Jiggz]

I bought an Abit KT7E ($90.00) + Duron 850 ($47.00) and was very happy with its performance and OCing. Reach 1Ghz real easy and FSB can be bumped up to 155Mhz.

 

[LXi]

Simple.

K7T Turbo Limited Edition($128), 1.2GHz Tbird-C($105)

 

[Bigfoot1]

Well...

Finally I was lucky enough to find a 900 T-Bird/Biostar M7VKB combo for 90$. I know it's not a good OCing board, but still I guess that was a one-time occasion.

Thanks again.

 

[jmorr649]

I am also in the process of upgrading but I am taking it from a 350 AMD Compaq. Yuk huh? Well I have replaced the hard drive with a nice Maxtor 20 Gig, 7200rpm. I am trying to get to about 750-800 with case, mobo, fairly cheap. Any siggestions would be great. I am leaning in the Duron, T-Bird direction.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

I would recommend the iwill kk266 and the 1.2ghz t-bird. I am wondering though is the MSI K7T Turbo Limited Edition a better mobo or something?

 

[Budman]

LXi,

He said he wanted to overclock,and i am afraid until MSI fixes their multiplier problems the MSI board is not a good Overclocker.

 

[hans007]

go to a fry's pick up the iwill kk266 and athlon 1.2 ghz 266 bus boxed for $220. My friends o/c to 1.4 ghz without changing voltage on the stock fan with just the thermal pad