Advice needed: Setting up cheap system

[helius]

What the system is used for: It'll be in my cubicle, used most of the time as a simple dumb terminal for me to remote-log-onto workstations. Occasionally I'll be using it to surf the net, play a few mp3 files, and view a few real audio files - all the stuff you do when your boss ain't watching.

I have this old system: P166 (with MMX), 64M RAM (4*16M EDO non-parity I think), 4M (pci) ATI all-in-wonder video card, a soundblaster card, 3Com ISA ethernet card, keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.

Anyhow, what I think I want to upgrade is the cpu/motherboard. I know next to nothing as far as the new cpus/motherboards and compatibility of RAM (with respect to motherboard and each other) is concerned... although I don't think the newer motherboards will support the EDO RAM I have.

At any rate, gotapex.com has basically turned me into a cheapass and I'm looking to spend below $300 for this upgrade. Any suggestions/pointers are appreciated.

[coleslaw]

Get yourself an AMD Duron 700 Mhz processor ($57 at http://www.jcshopper.com ), a Socket-A motherboard (the Epox EP-8KTA+ is a great one, but there are others that are cheaper and equally sufficient for your needs. - $110 retail), and 128 MB of 168-pin PC-133 SDRAM - $60 ( http://www.accessmicro.com/productin...076&PID=457732 )

[helius]

Originally posted by coleslaw
Get yourself an AMD Duron 700 Mhz processor ($57 at http://www.jcshopper.com ), a Socket-A motherboard (the Epox EP-8KTA+ is a great one, but there are others that are cheaper and equally sufficient for your needs. - $110 retail), and 128 MB of 168-pin PC-133 SDRAM - $60 ( http://www.accessmicro.com/productin...076&PID=457732 )

What other brands/makes of motherboards (without those integrated LAN/modem/sound/video) are more... reliable? I've heard of people having troubles with AMD chips/motherboards, or are they just full of crap?

[coleslaw]

If you want the most bang for the buck, go with AMD. If you don't feel that way, I would go for an Intel Celeron.

[Scojo]

I've been using AMD CPUs for the last three years without any problems. Well, if you don't count that compute and shower at the same time incident...

Scott

[helius]

Originally posted by Scojo
I've been using AMD CPUs for the last three years without any problems. Well, if you don't count that compute and shower at the same time incident...

Scott

Ah, good to hear that. Err... the part about AMD chips, not the computer/shower thing.

Anywho, can anyone offer any advice on motherboard selection for Durons/thunderbirds? Maybe a good website dedicated to these things? Thanks.

[sbp]

The two best AMD socket motherboards are Asus's A7V
http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Moth...a7v/index.html

and Abit's KT7
http://www.abit.com.tw/english/produ...boards/kt7.htm

Using Athlon compatible memory and power supplies eliminate the vast majority of problems people have with AMD chips.

http://www1.amd.com/athlon/power

[helius]

Originally posted by sbp
The two best AMD socket motherboards are Asus's A7V
http://www.asus.com.tw/Products/Moth...a7v/index.html

and Abit's KT7
http://www.abit.com.tw/english/produ...boards/kt7.htm

Using Athlon compatible memory and power supplies eliminate the vast majority of problems people have with AMD chips.

http://www1.amd.com/athlon/power

Thank you kindly. Just one last question... Athlon compatible memory? Are there such things?

[sbp]

Its memory certified to work with Athlons or memory you know that works with Athlons.

http://www.mushkin.com/cgi-bin/Mushk...roducts/990433

[helius]

Good god, you're fast. And here I was thinking that I'm the only one with no life.

I was thinking of AMD-certified stuff, like the power supplies. These look like people who stuck them into various systems and waited to see if they'd explode. Oh well, it's still better than nothing.