want to build AthelonTbird 1Ghz system!

[snag]

Could someone please advice the relevant compatible components?

Which motherboard; chipset?
what kind of RAM (SD/DDR!!!)?
What is the difference between SlotA/slot 370 processors?
What are the different types of the same processor (Tbirg 1Ghz; some with astrix some without)?

I will highly appreciate any help on this.

[sleddog]

> Which motherboard; chipset?

Asus A7V or Abit KT7, you can't go wrong. These boards use the VIA chipset.

> what kind of RAM (SD/DDR!!!)?

Well, the price of SDRAM DIMM's has been falling significantly lately so it's a good time to grab some. But that's the value-conscience me!

> What is the difference between SlotA/slot 370 processors?

AMD vs Intel processors. If you're going for an AMD Athlon system you want to be looking at socket A motherboards.

What are the different types of the same processor (Tbirg 1Ghz; some with astrix some without)?

Dunno, I'm a Duron kinda guy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Random thoughts: get a good CPU cooler (http://www.2cooltek.com - this guy is great). Make sure you get at least a 300W power supply, AMD certified. Get a case that has a place for an 80mm fan top-rear, just below the power supply.

[Reid]

A good place to compare CPU performance is CPU Scorecard (http://www.cpuscorecard.com/). One handy feature is a bargraph of CPU scores. Click CPU Comparator, then All CPU Scores, for example, to see a graph of all CPUs. You can see how slight the performance difference is between some CPUs, but sometimes with a considerable difference in price.

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reido@my-deja.com

Friends don't let friends load Windows ME

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 01-12-2001).]

[sleddog]

I'm probably gonaa get slammed for posting this,but I couldn't resist http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif
http://www.sleddog.f2s.com/temp/1061.gif

[sea69]

sled... dont know why u would be 'slammed"..??

hehe.. I found that info interesting, (and much better than the idiocy I posted and couldnt correct) on another page of this forum...... apologies extended. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/redface.gif

and while I agree w/ ur advice to this post, my question generated from ur response. Is the T-Bird or the Duron supposed to be the 'better'??

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-12-2001).]

[sleddog]

The Athlon is supposed to be -- and is -- the faster chip. My processor is a Duron 600 overclocked at the time of the screenshot to 1060MHz. I've since settled (for reasons we won't go into here) for a more sedate 980MHz.

Overclocking discussions are discouraged on this board, for good reasons. My system is an experimental system which no-one, including me, depends on for regular use or especially work. I've invested probably 3 weeks in getting this far, not so much for the result but for the learning experience. I don't encourage anyone to overclock. Period.

[Paleo Pete]

Interesting info sleddog. I don't see any real reason to "slam" you, it does offer a means of comparison of the different CPU's, I just hope this topic doesn't take off on a tangent like the one sea referred to. That was the only reason I said anything there. Posting some appropriate comparisons should be no problem, but we were all seemingly paying more attention to the machine comparisons than the person's original question. (I was basically guilty too, but I posted mine for a good laugh...but that's no excuse...)

I find it interesting that this one shows better results than the 1.5GHz when 450MHz slower...but that's very dependent on other things as well, memory, BIOS settings, etc. That's the one thing that most people don't realize about benchmarks, even with identical machines the benchmark scores can vary and should be viewed with a grain of salt.

I'm not that familiar with the recent developments in CPU's, but from what I've seen so far the Athlon is suppposed to be a better CPU than the Duron. Myself, I've always been an Intel guy, and have only recently started to look into the AMD's because of the number of them we have to deal with here on the forums. A look at the benchmarks posted show a minimal difference between the Intel and the AMD of comparible speeds. I seriously doubt if you'd notice it.

Back to the original question...The motherboards and chipsets already posted in the first response seem to have good reputations, I agree with the memory recommendation too. Asus and Abit both have long standing reputations as good boards, and the VIA chipset is usually said to be the bewst bet for the AMD. I would be leary of DDR RAM until it's been around for a while, and is proven. Go for 128MB, that should be plenty for most home users' purposes, except intense gaming. The markings (*) on the CPU's I have no idea about.

I agree as you know that overclocking is not something to recommend to the inexperienced, but at the same time I do know that it sometimes does work. I plan to try one too when I can get my hands on a board and hard drive, for the sake of experience and experimentation.

A note to the readers: Don't try this at home folks, we're professionals. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Sleddog is correct that overclocking is not recommended, mostly because the majority of the people who ask questions here do not have the computer knowledge and experience necessary to jump into something of that nature. Discussing it is not discouraged, for the most part, just recommending it. He has also noted that this system is NOT one that is depended on for day to day use, and therefore reliability. It is a test system. Very good point, by the way...

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[snag]

Ok guys, much appreciate your suggestions. Something still bothers me about the processors. Let me repeat and elaborate my last question:
AMD seems to have newer 1Ghz processors which are recommended (by AMD) to be used with the newer AMD chipset available only on 2 boards by Microstar and Gigabyte.
What is this fuss about? I read some technical jargon on the AMD site about the use of these NEW processors with the NEW AMD chipset and DDR ram and am more confused than ever.

[sea69]

yes specifically AMD does have the new 1 gig ( and above) T-Bird cpu's..and specifically the newer ones using the DDR memory ( as opposed to SDRAM) is supported only by those 2 mobo's. Is this what u were asking.. cause I got confused ..lol http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

...at least those r the boards the want u to use..

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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."



[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-16-2001).]