OTish - Suggestions for new CPU?

I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around $250US or less. I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? The rest of my system... Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS C300A @ 450MHz currently 250watt PS 128meg PC100 (2x 64) V5 AGP SB Live Platinum Win ME Thanks for any advice you can offer. "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

On Wed, 14 Mar 2001 15:32:55 GMT, [email hidden] (Jeff Vincent) wrote:

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> I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've >got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, >but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a >P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got >PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at >133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around >$250US or less. > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably >upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep >hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as >fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer >apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any >preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage >regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places >like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. >Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure >enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip?

I would go with the P3 because as you have read an equal clocked Celeron doesn't perform the same. I would also go with a slot1 because you will be upgrading the mb on the next upgrade anyway and some people have had problems with stability using those adapters.

Jeff Vincent wrote:

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> > I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've > got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, > but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a > P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got > PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at > 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around > $250US or less.

I'd go with the PIII. Although I once had a C300@450, the heyday of the oc'd Celerons is gone. They don't perform anywhere near the same as a PIII at similar clock speeds nowadays. You can go Slot1 or Flip Chip, but I'd give the preference to the Slot1 in your Abit. And unless your power supply is up above your CPU socket, the slocket adapter card may not even fit into your case. Happened to me when I once put a FC C466 in, had to get another case because it wouldn't fit in. Good Luck. -- Fester

I'm trying to make the same decision as you. I have an Asus P2B-F and would like to upgrade my Celeron 466 to a 700 or so. Don't want a major upgrade until WSC arrives. Check out Sharky Machine for CPU prices. http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/weekly_cpu/2.shtml What you're looking for is available for $125! "Jeff Vincent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've > got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, > but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a > P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got > PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at > 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around > $250US or less. > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably > upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep > hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as > fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer > apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any > preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage > regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places > like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. > Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure > enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? > > The rest of my system... > Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS > C300A @ 450MHz currently > 250watt PS > 128meg PC100 (2x 64) > V5 AGP > SB Live Platinum > Win ME > > Thanks for any advice you can offer. > > "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was > nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into > a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

Watch out for incompatibility between the latest ("cCo stepping") Celerons and older motherboards. I couldn't get a Celeron 600 to POST at all in my Abit BM6. -- Tony Whitley GPLRank +8.59 "On some laps I'd get as many as fifteen corners really right, but Moss, he gets them all right on every lap" - Von Trips after the 1961 German Grand Prix. "AndrewS" <[email hidden]> wrote ... > I'm trying to make the same decision as you. I have an Asus P2B-F and would > like to upgrade my Celeron 466 to a 700 or so. Don't want a major upgrade > until WSC arrives. > > Check out Sharky Machine for CPU prices. > > http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/weekly_cpu/2.shtml > > What you're looking for is available for $125! > > > > "Jeff Vincent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've > > got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, > > but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a > > P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got > > PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at > > 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around > > $250US or less. > > > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably > > upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep > > hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as > > fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer > > apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any > > preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage > > regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places > > like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. > > Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure > > enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? > > > > The rest of my system... > > Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS > > C300A @ 450MHz currently > > 250watt PS > > 128meg PC100 (2x 64) > > V5 AGP > > SB Live Platinum > > Win ME > > > > Thanks for any advice you can offer.

I have to say I was in exactly the same postion, same motherboard etc, and I thought that I didn't want to get rid of it just get a newer CPU, but a friend of mine convinced me to get an Abit KT7A & Athlon 900mhz - it cost me �230, and has been the best upgrade I have ever done. AMD processors perform so well for the price. If you don't want to spend quite that much get an 800mhz instead or even a Duron, but this motherboard means that you have an upgrade path all the way to 1.3ghz and beyond (when money allows). Your existing memory will work fine, and you can upgrade that later too when money allows. I even used the same case & PSU (you might want to check your psu against the AMD list however). So all in all I went from a PIII 600 to an Athlon 900 for �230, and now I can upgrade the rest (memory, video card, faster cpu, etc) when I can afford it. Just my thought and experiences... Phil "Jeff Vincent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've > got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, > but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a > P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got > PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at > 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around > $250US or less. > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably > upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep > hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as > fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer > apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any > preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage > regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places > like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. > Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure > enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? > > The rest of my system... > Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS > C300A @ 450MHz currently > 250watt PS > 128meg PC100 (2x 64) > V5 AGP > SB Live Platinum > Win ME > > Thanks for any advice you can offer. > > "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was > nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into > a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

I know I'm way off topic, but I have essentially the same question. Sorry to hijack your thread Jeff, it just seemed so relevant! I'd love some advice on a *cheap* way of upgrading my system in readiness for WSC (and beyond). I've been considering a GeForce2 MX or GF2 GTS (depending on how the new GF3 affects GTS prices over the next couple of months), and would like to upgrade to a PIII cpu. Unfortunately I don't know what CPUs the BX6 can take - something in excess of 600 MHz sounds good, but maybe I'll need a new mobo for this and hence the price will rocket. Thanks in advance for any advice, please continue to help out Jeff though as it's his thread! :0) Jim _____________________________ Abit BX6 mobo PII-300 o/clocked to 450 MHz 128meg PC-100 (2x 64) Elsa Erazor III LT - TNT2 M64 32MB SoundBlaster 16 Belinea 10 30 40 Win 98 [the CPU o/c'ed so well because it's an SL2W8 - http://www.bxboards.com/sl2w8.shtml ]

try here for ~$300 take it to a 1GHz, with the 100FSB x10 Intel P3 CPU. http://www.accessmicro.com/productinfo.php3?ProductId=CPIII1000ECOSECRTL or for ~$215 get a P3-850 both are Retail chips with heatsinc, fan, three year warranty http://www.accessmicro.com/productinfo.php3?ProductId=CPIII850ECOPGARTL SLG [email hidden] (Jeff Vincent) wrote:

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> I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've >got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, >but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a >P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got >PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at >133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around >$250US or less. > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably >upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep >hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as >fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer >apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any >preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage >regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places >like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. >Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure >enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? > > The rest of my system... >Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS >C300A @ 450MHz currently >250watt PS >128meg PC100 (2x 64) >V5 AGP >SB Live Platinum >Win ME > > Thanks for any advice you can offer. > >"But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was >nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into >a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are due to too many English classes/teachers)

On Wed, 14 Mar 2001 20:55:45 -0000, "Jim L" <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I know I'm way off topic, but I have essentially the same question. Sorry to >hijack your thread Jeff, it just seemed so relevant! > >I'd love some advice on a *cheap* way of upgrading my system in readiness >for WSC (and beyond). I've been considering a GeForce2 MX or GF2 GTS >(depending on how the new GF3 affects GTS prices over the next couple of >months), and would like to upgrade to a PIII cpu. Unfortunately I don't know >what CPUs the BX6 can take - something in excess of 600 MHz sounds good, but >maybe I'll need a new mobo for this and hence the price will rocket.

Jim, For some info on the BX6 (and other Abit motherboards): http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/index.htm (general info area) http://fae.abit.com.tw/eng/faq/generic/checkcpu.htm (CPU/motherboard chart, says the BX6 officially supports "Intel Pentium III 600 (512K/100MHz FSB)" and "All PPGA Celeron") (BTW, they say the same thing about the early BH6s and no one believes them :) browse this newsgroup: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.abit for more Q&A Good luck. >Thanks in advance for any advice, please continue to help out Jeff though as >it's his thread! :0) :) "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

Throw the P3 in, just make sure you have the latest bios. Some are reporting success with the 1 gig processors, although Abit won't "officially" support it. The BH6 is a hell of a board, I am hanging on to mine as long as I can. -- Don Burnette D Burnette in N4 Some people do nothing wrong. The problem is, they do nothing. And THAT is wrong. "Jeff Vincent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've > got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, > but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. My choices are a > P3-800E/850E or overclocking a C600/633 to 900/950MHz. (I've got > PC100 memory that I want to use and the older BH6 isn't very adept at > 133MHz FSB, so we'll stick to 100MHz FSB.) I'd like to keep it around > $250US or less. > > I want to run GPL and N4 and WSC when it comes out (and probably > upgrade again then :). I know the Celeron is cheaper, but I keep > hearing vague noises that the overclocked Celerons aren't nearly as > fast as the P3's at a comparable clock speed, particularly with newer > apps like N4 (anyone got any benchmarks?). If you advise the P3, any > preference between Slot1 or FCPGA w/Slotket (maybe better voltage > regulation or use on future motherboards?)? I've looked at places > like PC Nut and Overclocker Warehouse for pre-tested OC'ed Celerons. > Do you think these are the best choice or are the C600/633's a sure > enough OC'ing bet to just buy an untested chip? > > The rest of my system... > Abit BH6 ver 1.00 - SS BIOS > C300A @ 450MHz currently > 250watt PS > 128meg PC100 (2x 64) > V5 AGP > SB Live Platinum > Win ME > > Thanks for any advice you can offer. > > "But in a way, fear is a big part of racing, because if there was > nothing to be frightened of, and no limit, any fool could get into > a motor car and racing would not exist as a sport." -- Jim Clark

"Jeff Vincent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

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> (CPU/motherboard chart, says the BX6 officially supports "Intel > Pentium III 600 (512K/100MHz FSB)" and "All PPGA Celeron") > (BTW, they say the same thing about the early BH6s and no one > believes them :) > browse this newsgroup: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.abit for more Q&A > > Good luck.

Thanks Jeff, I've moved my questions to that NG :0) Jim

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] (Jeff Vincent) wrote: > I'm wondering what you guys would recommend for a new CPU. I've >got an Abit BH6 board that I'd like to hang on to for a bit longer, >but I'm looking for a new CPU to plug into it. [...] One data point: I too have a BH6 and had a C300a/450 as you. I switched to a C566 using similar thinking to you. Lost one HD's data. Took the opportunity to switch to WinME (from 95) and got a new HD. Slowly this time, I stepped up the clocking on the CPU. Now seems stable at 850 MHz (100 MHz bus). But it doesn't seem anywhere near 2x the speed of the old one (not that I expected that). More like 1.2x. Not impressed. Looking at online tests, it appears that a Celeron like this OC'd to 850 is about equiv to a P3-700. At least on the usual benchmarked games. It's a cheap upgrade, but not without its potential pitfalls. I'd think stronlgy about just paying the extra few $ and avoid all this next time. And yes, Duron/Athlons are very appealing now.