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.

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.

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?

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capabilities, a slow FSB (the faster the bus, the faster all other components will work), little room for expansion, an outdated BIOS...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).

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Where do you buy from?

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Originally posted by Mojo Jojo:
That's two questions, actually

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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:

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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)

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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.

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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).

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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?

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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.

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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.

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