I build computers for a living, so this isn't based on some
buddy's opinion, but on real-life, hands-on, practical experience.
I will also give you my opinion on Value for $$$$ for your PC dollars.
Expect differing opionions, or course, some guys are just outdated, and don't like AMD. (Old school & clueless)
> BIOSTAR: OK. Not recommended. I have recently seen several posts, from various tech-help pages, and have personally been involved with one tech-support project myself involving BIOSTAR; They could get NO TECH-SUPPORT from BIOSTAR. NOTHING.
**** Spent $10 - $20 more and get a Hi-quality Mainboard........ and not just a budget / average board.
(from a company that won't supply tech-support)
******** DO NOT BUY THE DURON ! For $5 more you can get an Athlon. Don't let anybody tell you different, there is virtually NO DIFFERENCE in the price for a Duron, and an Athlon. The ATHLON outperforms the Duron. For sure. So, if you want REAL performance, that will SMOKE a P-III and MOST Pentium 4's go ATHLON.
Check out the CPU prices at
NOBODY can argue about the real-life prices posted there.
Buy the ATHLON you can afford. I would say,,,,,,, for about $90 ..... buy the 1200 / 266 FSB CPU....... or a 1400 ( 266/FSB) for about $115 up...........
( THE 900 AMD ATHLON is $59 at newegg )
buy a Cooler Master fan,,,,, an $8 or $12 one)
That 1400 ATHLON buries a P4 1500. (comparable to a P4 1600) Hands down, and you can find UNBIASED documentation all over the internet, from hardware tech pages, who do solid comparisoms.
MAINBOARD: Inexpensive and fast and NEW:
Best board for the $$$$$$$ = * MicroStar MSI K7T266 PRO2 (MS-6380) VIA KT266A AMD
$104 (PLUS shipping of $5) can't beat it.
You can also get 256 MB DDR *MICRON* RAM,,,,, for $36 for
that board.
* Last: Hard drive? You say yours is 2-years old ? It's real slow compared to the new ones, and will be your bottleneck in this system, taking all other factors into consideration. You can always upgrade that later.... but you can buy a Maxtor or IBM 7200 RPM HD for around $95 - $107......... 20 GIG to 40 GIG.
XP needs room,,,,,,, and the FASTER HD really makes a difference of an OLD ATA/33.
Have fun.
Glad to be able to help talk you out of wasting your money on a P-III,,,, that is Dog Slow compared to an Athlon.