Poll: New System

[JrLuq]

I need some help. I'm putting together a new system and for the first time I'm considering an AMD processor. Seem to get more bang for your buck. My system will be for business purposes and therefore, don't need O/C tweaking etc. My OS is Win2000. I've put together dozens of Intel systems but I'm a little apprehensive about AMD. I'm leaning toward an Athlon 1.2Ghz-266 on an ASUS A7M266 with 256mb Micron DDR memory and an ATI Radion 32 video card.

I guess I'm looking for some encouragement here before spending the $$. Is anyone running a similar system out there? Is AMD popular because they are fun to play with or are they also good for business applications? I will be doing mostly research and trading over the internet along with a few games amd burning a few CD's. Is AMD as stable as Intel - can I rely on them to be stable and not give me untimely hangs, crashes etc.? What about when I install Win2000 - will it be as plug & play or will I need many patches, updates, fixes etc.? Will the system be stable "as is" - with default settings - or will I HAVE TO do some tweaking? For my purposes, would anyone suggest that I stick with say a Pentium III on a CUV266 board? Thanks for any help.

 

[RockEater]

I don't really have any useful info, but here is a bump I guess

I have never really had a problem with Athlons, I think they are very comperable to Intel chips
I guess a major factor is what chipset and motherboard you choose, that can play a major role.
Asus certainly makes solid boards. Most people here would agree that AMD offers very good performance for the price.

Who is more stable?? You'll get many opinions on that. But an Athlon system should be pretty stable with nothing more than current drivers.

 

[limsandy]

Well, I do not have any compatibility problems with my Athlon system. My recommendation is that you buy these:

1.2 GHz T-bird 266 MHz FSB
Abit KT7A (or maybe Iwill KK266 as it has onboard sound)
PC2100 256 MB Cruical memory
40/45 GB IBM/Maxtor HDD
19" flat screen monitor
ATI Radeon LE 32 MB

 

[UsandThem]

<< My system will be for business purposes and therefore >>



<< . I'm leaning toward an Athlon 1.2Ghz-266 on an ASUS A7M266 with 256mb Micron DDR memory and an ATI Radion 32 video card. >>



Well, if you just use your PC for business applications, a 1.2 Ghz-266 with a DDR motherboard would be overkill. The DDR motherboards are pricey, and would be wasted performance for business applications.

Get a KT133 or KT133A motherboard. I have the Iwill KK266 motherboard and a 850 Duron CPU. I had a 900 T-Bird, but I fried it. There is not much of a difference with these CPU's.

The Iwill board is fast, and is the most stable board I have ever owned. The price of the 1.2 Athlon is good, so although the speed will be wasted on business applications, it provides a longer future for your PC and for very good gaming.




<< I guess I'm looking for some encouragement here before spending the $$. Is anyone running a similar system out there? Is AMD popular because they are fun to play with or are they also good for business applications? I will be doing mostly research and trading over the internet along with a few games amd burning a few CD's. Is AMD as stable as Intel - can I rely on them to be stable and not give me untimely hangs, crashes etc.? What about when I install Win2000 - will it be as plug &amp; play or will I need many patches, updates, fixes etc.? Will the system be stable &quot;as is&quot; - with default settings - or will I HAVE TO do some tweaking? For my purposes, would anyone suggest that I stick with say a Pentium III on a CUV266 board? Thanks for any help. >>



The motherboard and power supply causes most of the stability problems. Some boards are more stable than others, but just read the reviews and you can find out which ones are good. The Iwill board received great reviews, and I am very happy with it.

I have installed Windows 2000, ME, and 98SE and have no problems at all. The only thing you need to install are the VIA 4-in-1 drivers for the motherboard.

There is a reason the AMD has gained such market share over the past year. They offer a better CPU at a much better price. The motherboards (most anyways) are just as stable or more stable than Intel chipset motherboards.