Celeron 2.0Ghz or AthlonXP PR2100+

[old.LittleDwarf]

Well which would you want powering your system?

As I said previously I'm currently upgrading my pc from a tired old P4 450 to something a tad quicker.
My initial idea was to wait until Doom III came out to upgrade the m/b cpu memory & graphics card - mainly as I see it as a good benchmark for what I'll need to run games for a while.

Anyway I've been adding bits and pieces over the last few weeks.
New case - CD Writer - Harddrive. So I decided as I had a new HD I would change from Win98 to Win2000, the only problem is it now takes my computer about 3 days to boot up (ok slight exaggeration).
So I'm toying with the idea of spending under £200 to give my pc a boost for 6-8months or so until I upgrade properly and these 2 processors are both around the right price range at £70ish - then I'll need to hunt for a m/b for about the same and 256mb or ram.

So which would you go for? Or should I just go into hibernation for 6 months or so?

 

[Will]

The Athlon XP...far better performance than the Celeron.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Correct

Just been looking at a few benchmarks. Just need to try and find a cheap m/b that will take the Athlon now.

 

[Will]

Top motherboard here looks pretty good, and wouldn't need replaced when you finish your upgrade.

 

[Testin da Cable]

bah, when are the bitches going to release 400A?

 

[Will]

They aren't. There wasn't any 333A either.

But the mobo I meant was the Abit nForce2.

 

[Testin da Cable]

but...but...

 

[Will]

Face it, the reason for the A chipsets was that the non-A version always used to suck badly. Nowadays they seem to test their products a bit better. We will see them no more.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Nice m/b but is it very likely that in 8 months or so time it going to support whatever is out by then?

 

[Testin da Cable]

you can't think that way, for if you do you'll never buy anything.
buying pootabits is the single worst thing you can do if you're into futureplanning. kit today is old a week after it's released. a mate of mine always said that is you pull a harddrive off the shelf and drop it, there will be three new models and a 50pound pricedrop before it hits the ground.
kit you buy now will be "old" in the computerparts world in 6 months time...but it will still work just fine

 

[Will]

I think it will. It supports Serial ATA, AGP x8, errr, whatever PCXXXX that 400MHz memory is (in a very funky dual-channel configuration), and is the fastest chipset on the market at the moment for an AMD CPU (we won't get into AMD vs. Intel). And it doesn't break the bank.

In 8 months, it won't be cutting edge, but it'll still be up there.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

I guess you both speak the truth

I would only save £30 or so if I bought a lesser m/b and with the small chance that it may save me having to spend another £100 in 8 months time I guess it's worth the risk - though I'd still have to buy another m/b in 8months either way because...

1: This motherboard works with the latest cpu in 8 months time - great I buy new cpu - but now I need another m/b to run the XP 2100+ on

2: New m/b doesn't work with latest cpu - I need a new m/b.

Damn my heads starting to hurt now

Ok I'll just buy the one you suggested Will

 

[~YuckFou~]

Originally posted by Testin da Cable
you can't think that way, for if you do you'll never buy anything.

True, I work on the "when I can double performance" rule. Otherwise if it works why spend the dough for 10/20% increase?
I bought a shiny ABit mobo/GF3Ti500/XP1700 about 18 months ago, best available, now they are old, and yet I can play any game I want, so far.
When I can get double performance I'll throw money at it again.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Originally posted by ~YuckFou~


True, I work on the "when I can double performance" rule. Otherwise if it works why spend the dough for 10/20% increase?
I bought a shiny ABit mobo/GF3Ti500/XP1700 about 18 months ago, best available, now they are old, and yet I can play any game I want, so far.
When I can get double performance I'll throw money at it again.

Good rule - I'm uprgrading from a P4 450 so I guess I'll be getting a x3 performance increase I would hope

Edited for the slight mis-calculation

 

[Testin da Cable]

seems smart. I've been trying to cut down on poota upgrades myself. the last thing I bought was a 80gig harddrive and I'm not allowed to get any other kit for a looong time hehehe

 

[GDW]

Originally posted by old.LittleDwarf


Good rule - I'm uprgrading from a P4 450 so I guess I'll be getting a x3 performance increase I would hope

Edited for the slight mis-calculation

Surely you mean a Pentium 2 or 3 450?

 

[Will]

Yeah, I've done the same thing. I'm only allowed to buy things that aren't real components. So I am allowed to buy myself a new monitor, a digicam (maybe), and...err, thats about it. No now mobo/processor/gfx card. Honest.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Originally posted by Grandadwrinkle


Surely you mean a Pentium 2 or 3 450?

I think it's a P4 the very first one they brought out.

 

[Will]

Nah, its a PIII or a PII.

And I'd consider buying a new HDD too.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Originally posted by Will.
Nah, its a PIII or a PII.

And I'd consider buying a new HDD too.

Can you buy HDD for your brain - I don't have a Homer Simpson's mouse mat quoting 'Everytime I learn something new it pushes some old stuff out of my brain', for nothing.

 

[Will]

Hehe, I meant I'd consider buying myself a new HDD. I have no idea about how much storage space you have. Though on re-reading it, see now how little sense what I typed made.

And my brain doesn't need new stuff to push out the old stuff. It does that all by itself.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

Originally posted by Will.
Yeah, I've done the same thing. I'm only allowed to buy things that aren't real components. So I am allowed to buy myself a new monitor, a digicam (maybe), and...err, thats about it. No now mobo/processor/gfx card. Honest.

Hehe, I meant I'd consider buying myself a new HDD. I have no idea about how much storage space you have. Though on re-reading it, see now how little sense what I typed made.

And my brain doesn't need new stuff to push out the old stuff. It does that all by itself.

I point you to the 'I'm only allowed to buy things that aren't real components.' part of your previous post

And yes ok my cpu is a P3 I just found the invoice for it £159 it cost me for that cpu 3 1/2 years ago. Mad innit

 

[Will]

A HDD isn't a real component. Honest.

Thats a lot of money for a processor. I don't think I've ever gone over £80 for one.

Thats the advantage of being late to the PC game.

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

You just keep telling yourself that

I guess it was quite alot - lasted for a few years though so I guess I got my moneys worth.
I knew it was time to upgrade though when things like Splinter Cell are almost double my spec for the mininum spec to play it on.

 

[Will]

Not to be sniffed at I guess.

My old Duron 800 is still struggling on as my flatmates PC after...18 months, 2 years...running Black and White fine, though the fact his monitor limits him to 640x480 and it has a 32MB gx card may help him chug along.

 

[Testin da Cable]

my mum is using my old p200 atm. I bought that chip for ~275squid iirc. still, it was like getting a toungebath by vestal virgins compared to the 120Mhz 486/AMD I had before it

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

I just realised the AMD doesn't come with a heatsink so I'm looking at some and omfg I didn't realise the damn things almost cost as much as the processors themselves - ouch

 

[Testin da Cable]

get a zalman

 

[old.LittleDwarf]

That thing looks mad - it says on OC it's only for up to 1900+ though.

 

[Testin da Cable]

there are different kinds of zalman coolers though