[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Jack_Crusher ]
If you really want to make things faster, get more memory. 256+ megs.
Windows versions are typically better served by (lots of...) memory than by CPU speed (although they insist on maintaining a freakin' huge swapfile even when there's enough available RAM to load the OS into memory completely). 96 MB is really pushing it, especially for 'ME or XP. With prices being at an all-time low, I'd quadruple that amount first.
A 1 Ghz Celeron processor does exist, but I'd avoid that type of CPU like the plague. They are what you might call 'braindead'; severely crippled. The Celeron is intended as a low-end, low-budget alternative to the regular P2 / -3.
If you really want to beef up your PC so that it'll last you another year or two, I'd recommend that you buy a new motherboard (faster bus, plus better upgradability) as well. A midrange P3 or Athlon will suit you just fine... and XP will be much happier too.
Quick question. PC100 memory works fie if you've got a FSB running at 66mhz, right? It just means that it can cope with faster speeds, not that it has to run at faster speeds. So, can PC133 memory work on a FSB of 100mhz? And can you mix PC133 with PC100?
I've got a PIII 450, TNT II, 128mb, and other standard stuff. The next upgrade I was going to do was get a GeForce II MX, but now I'm going to wait for that NVidia NForce motherboard, and get that and an Athalon (probably about 1 gig). That'll give me a fairly decent computer that'll last at least a year, for around �300. I think.
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PC100 memory works fine if you've got a FSB running at 66mhz, right?
Yes.
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So, can PC133 memory work on a FSB of 100mhz?
Again yes.
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And can you mix PC133 with PC100?
That is a different matter. You can mix DIMM types, as long as the FSB isn't faster than the slowest DIMM of the bunch. Otherwise, you'd end up rating your (say) PC100 chips 33% above their intended maximum. Only very few DIMMs (generally produced by quality brands, such as Kingston) can be safely 'overclocked' to such a degree. Most others will simply fry (and if you're unlucky, take the motherboard with them).
If you want your graphics accelerated, get a dedicated graphics accelerator card like the ATI Radeon or the GeForce 2. No CPU upgrade can ever match the performance boost one of those boards give your PC, period.
Cheers. I always knew that, but for some reason, I'm sure I read somewhere that you can't put PC133 RAM into the standard SDRAM slots you get on old 100mhz FSB pcs of about a couple of years ago.
Oh well. I was going to wait until I got my new motherbaord anyway, since a 1gig Athalon would probably appreciate DDR SDRAM.
(Actually, that's another knock against the P4. Looking in a mag from last month, 128mb of SDRAM was �13, 128mb of DDR SDRAM was �14, 128mb of Rambus memory was about 70 quid).
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(...)I'm sure I read somewhere that you can't put PC133 RAM into the standard SDRAM slots you get on old 100mhz FSB pcs of about a couple of years ago.
Certain older motherboards (or rather the single-side memory slots on them) can't cope with recent PC133 DIMMs, as almost all are double-sided. But the days of SDR-DRAM are over anyway... DDR modules (which, however, are not backward-compatible) are faster and don't cost much more.
Rambus RIMMs are still so expensive because they will only work with a P4 (which was plagued by a variety of problems during and after its release), and because they require a completely new production process. The memory architecture significantly differs from standard DIMMS - meaning special assembly lines have to be built for it.
[ October 28, 2001: Message edited by: Mojo Jojo ]
And don't get me wrong, Intel was the first to break the 2.0GHz mark, but the chip runs with a benchmark of 1.4 GHz from what I hear.
AMD Forever. Down with Intel. 
2) Rambus has the patent for RDRAM. Not only that, RDRAM has to be installed to the exact specifications in order to run properly. More P4 boards are set to run with DDR SDRAM rather than RDRAM.
3) P4s come in two types, socket 478 and Socket 423. The former is the initial production model, the ones with a lot of problems. The latter is the newer model, supposed to address the problems with the 478s (but require a heatsink the size of Delaware).
As for the AMD vs. Intel debate, here are some facts:
AMD processors:
-Are cheaper than equally rated Intel equivalents.
-Are often faster per clockcycle than Intel counterparts.
-Produce a lot of heat.
-Have a slightly brittle core that requires gentle handling.
-Can be somewhat unstable.
-Have generous overclocking limits.
Extensive cooling is essential, a single fan won't cut it in most cases.
Intel CPU's (not counting Celerons):
-Have a steeper pricetag attached to them.
-Are generally very reliable.
-Don't require a cooler the size of a turboprop engine.
-Have a long operational life.
-Can take more abuse.
I'm hoping this won't turn into a "AMD r0x0rsz!!!! In73l sux0rsz u n00b!!!!" style argument. Both brands have their (dis-)advantages.
[ October 29, 2001: Message edited by: Mojo Jojo ]
As for the issue of Stability, it all depends on the Board that the processor is on. Once stability has been achieved, reliability is sure to follow.
Secondly, AMD's processors are almost perfect, they don't always require a second generation of that CPU like Intel does.
Thirdly, if some of you have noticed about the large bracket that is present on most P4 motherboards, I have been told that is actually the placeholder for the Heatsink and Fan. And that bracket is one big Mother.... erm..... do-er....
As far as the OS goes, in my experience I'm swayed into staying with Win98 SE as far as running a stand alone home PC goes. ME sucks, Win2000 is unecessary, XP - no thanks.
Since other people are asking, I'll throw a question in too. It is this;
I have a P2 which I have recently added 256MB of RAM to taking it up to 320MB. Now the CPU is 233Mhz and the motherboard can only go as high as 333Mhz (yes it's an old one). Now I've seen a CPU upgrade kit where I can get my CPU to go beyond the max of 333Mhz. The guys at PC World say that it should be OK, but I'm not convinced. What do you people say?
Oh and if it will work, will there be a problem if I then add a 32MB or 64MB graphics card to the system or will it overtax the motherboard?
(Can you tell I'm a computer technical novice? )
Re #1: Your motherboard is old. Archaic even, by today's standards. It has limited capabilities, a slow FSB (the faster the bus, the faster all other components will work), little room for expansion, an outdated BIOS... you get the idea. There is simply no point in trying to keep your PC up to date by purchasing an upgrade kit - they're overpriced, the performance gain is negligible, and system stability takes a dive.
One important rule about PC upgrading is that replacing only a single part is not very effective. Inserting a new CPU (your current MB won't take to a faster - that is, anything beyond a P2 333 Mhz - processor by the way) that's twice as powerful as the old one will not make your entire computer twice as speedy.
Re #2: You won't be able to use such a high-end graphics card, since all models (exceptions being certain PCI versions of the VooDoo5 and GeForce2 MX) are based on AGP-slot architecture - and your MB doesn't have such a slot. Here's why I don't recommend purchasing a PCI variant of either board:
-3DFX (the company that produced the Voodoo accelerators) is dead. No soft- or hardware support, no driver updates, no warranty. In other words, Bad Idea.
-The VD5, while powerful, is a little over a year old now. It has been technologically surpassed by the GeForce3 chipset, which is beginning to come down to affordable levels.
-The PCI bus is slow (though neither the VD5 or the GF2 MX will be able to tax its limit) compared to AGP. The latter has been optimised for much higher data-transfer speeds... many modern accelerators take advantage of this.
So, in short, if you want to extend your PC's lifespan, you're looking at the following pricetags:
1). A new MB - roughly $200
2). A new CPU - roughly $250 (midrange speed, ~ 900 Mhz)
3). A new GC - roughly $450 (GF2 Ultra/GF3)
And no, I couldn't tell you were a novice. 
[ November 02, 2001: Message edited by: Mojo Jojo ]
Also, if you want a slightly cheaper option, then do what I'm going to do. By the nForce motherboard. It had an integrated GPU - which is normally bad - but in this case it's a GeForce 2 MX, a perfectly respectable GPU. And you still get an AGP slot.
Total cost of this option:
nForce motherboard = around �150 ($190), probably.
CPU 1.1 gig Thunderbird Athlon = around �90 ($130)
128mb DDR SDRAM memory = around �20 ($30)
I got these prices from Special Reserve (apart from the nForce, which is an estimate). You could probably find them cheaper in the US. All the other components you could take from your existing computer, and upgrade as necessary. But just from those 3 things, you'd end up with a much better than average if not cutting edge computer. If you wanted cutting edge, you could spend another �50 on the CPU, and buy yourself a GeForce 3 (or you could fit the GeForce 3 at a later date).
Either way, it's a pretty huge upgrade for less than $400.
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Where do you buy from?
Typo-Bay
Damn you.
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Originally posted by Mojo Jojo:
That's two questions, actually
D'OH! You noticed.
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Re #2: You won't be able to use such a high-end graphics card, since all models (exceptions being certain PCI versions of the VooDoo5 and GeForce2 MX) are based on AGP-slot architecture - and your MB doesn't have such a slot. Here's why I don't recommend purchasing a PCI variant of either board:
Erm . . . well my current GC is an AGP, so I'm guessing that my MB can support one.
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So, in short, if you want to extend your PC's lifespan, you're looking at the following pricetags:1). A new MB - roughly $200
2). A new CPU - roughly $250 (midrange speed, ~ 900 Mhz)
3). A new GC - roughly $450 (GF2 Ultra/GF3)
Yeah I already looked into that sort of upgrade scheme - problem is that everything is AT not ATX and that would mean a new case (�45), new powerpack (�40 or �50). Add that to the following;
AMB K7 Thunderbird 1400Mhz CPU @ �130
AMB K7 Thunderbird MB @ �130
Creative GeForce 2 MX200 32MB GC @ �80
then it will cost me �385 - �395.
. . .
Hey! That's cheap! Wow! I checked only a few months ago and it would have cost me nearly �700! Mmm, maybe I'll look into it.
I wonder what it would cost for the same to make it a P4 (now that the shop I'm looking at doesn't do P3's anymore!) . . . (adds it up) . . . �525 . . . maybe . . .
But then I might wait until I finish University, get a job and then buy a brand spankin' new system. Question now is: can I wait that long?
Answer: Well I've waited this long.
Thanks for the info thought, might still end up upgrading
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And no, I couldn't tell you were a novice.
Phew!
And if it has, that means you can put off the price of a new one for a while.
A P4 system will be more expensive, at least at the moment, since you'd have to use more expensive RDRAM memory. And it really wouldn't be better than a similar Athlon system (and certainly not worth the higher price).
And you can only see AT stuff? Where are you looking? Dabs.com and specialreserve.net have loads of ATX stuff.
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Originally posted by PsyLiam:
You have a motherboard that can only go up to 333MHZ, and yet it has an AGP graphics card? That's unusual. What one?
Erm . . . (hastily scrambles for motherboard manual) . . . doesn't say - but I just noticed that "This Mainboard package contains the following items: #5. ATX Form Card (optional) - if I have it, what does that mean?
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And if it has, that means you can put off the price of a new one for a while.
Meaning that I won't need to buy a new motherboard?
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And you can only see AT stuff? Where are you looking? Dabs.com and specialreserve.net have loads of ATX stuff.
Looking at? Special Reserve (and a website - www.computers4u.ltd.uk), but there's a prob with their quote request page 
. Might try Dabs.com . . .
As for Celerons, they're a formidable piece of machinery. I've used several of them over the years and they work. Don't expect them to perform like a p4 or a AMD, but for a budget processor they're good.
That's got nothing to do with an AGP graphic card. It just shares a letter.
AT and ATX are the designs of motherboards. AT being bigger I believe, and ATX being newer. Almost all current motherboards are ATX form. You need a case that's also the same form, but again, almost all current ones are.
An ATX form card...I have no idea. Perhaps it, er, nope. Unless it was just saying the motherbaord layout in a confusing way.
An AGP graphics card is a, well, graphics card. If you've got one in your current computer, then you can take it out and use it with anew motherboard no problem. can't quite remember what colour AGP slots are though, if you're looking. ISA's are black and almost completely useless, PCI's are white and useful. I think AGP's are brown. You'll only have one of them.
Is your VGA out (the socket with the lead attached to your monitor) up the top of the case with the mouse, keyboard, kettle plug sockets and others, or is it down the bottom, at the area with the blanking plates? If it's the former, you've likely got an integrated graphics card, and you'd need to buy a new one. If it's the later, you could take it out and use it with a new motherboard, and upgrade at a later point if necessary.
Oh well, its served my purposes for the last 3 years, I'll just save some money and either upgrade or buy a new speed lovin' machine (otherwise known as a P4! Or maybe a P5 by the time I make up my mind).