VIA C3?

[GnatGoSplat]

I currently have a 24/7 server PC running Microsoft Windows .NET Server and Exchange Server 2003.
It works great with a Celeron 300A running at 450MHz, but now I have some extra DDR memory I want to use.

I would like to keep power consumption as low as possible since this machine is up 24/7.
Is the VIA C3 800MHz or 866MHz going to be noticably faster than a Celeron @450, and will it consume less power?

Should I just get an AthlonXP instead and underclock it?

 

[Soulkeeper]

isn't the 300a a slot1 processor ??

i'm not sure if the C3 is sold in such cartrides
unless you get a slot1 to socket 370 converter

the performance difference would be noticeable
but prob not worth the price unless you can get it for like 30 bucks


the athlon xp 1700+ unvervolts/underclocks well and runs cool but the problem there is it is socketA, you'd need a new motherboard and prob psu too


i would consider the C3 866 to perform like a 500 celeron at best
there's a review floating around somewhere that had a 466 celeron beating a C3 of like 800mhz

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Yeah, the 300A is slot 1, but I was planning to change the mobo to one that can take DDR because I have a spare DDR DIMM and would like to make use of it.

I've seen VIA Pro 266 chipset Socket 370 mobos that can take DDR, they go fairly cheap. I think Via C3's ARE < $30, I see some 900MHz versions on Pricewatch for $26.05.
Overall, it would be cheap enough that I could recover the cost by selling my old hardware.