Help, I am lost... I want to upgrade my VIA KT133 based PC

[shadow_wolf8192]

I was given a bare tower with everything except the CPU, RAM, HD and Video Card. Its based on the VIA KT133 chip, which I know is based on AMD's Athlon and Duron series of processors. Being only 200mhz FSB capable I have searched for the best CPU I could use, which I believe is the 1400mhz Athlon 200mhz FSB edition. But it appears that the 1200mhz, 1300mhz and 1400mhz @ 200fsb are extremely rare and really pricey.

So here are my questions...

1. There are a lot of 266mhz FSB Athlon cpus avilable on ebay, can I use one on my 200mhz FSB socket?

2. Also I notice that on the Socket A/462 profile on this site shows on the mobile section that the Mobile Athlon 4 is very similar to the desktop Athlon. I found several Mobile Athlon 4 processors on ebay for cheap at the same 1.2-1.4ghz+ frequency and @ 200mhz FSB, can I use one of these?

3. Kinda off topic but I got an MSI 4x AGP GeForce Ti 4200 for my cheap PC, will any of these Athlon CPUs be a "Bottleneck" for it? I plan to overclock this Video Card to a Ti 4600 level to get the most of my 4x AGP only MoBo.

3.5 These are the specs when completed:

Athlon CPU @ 1200, 1300 or 1400mhz w/ 200mhz FSB
512 or 1GB RAM
MSI GeForce Ti4200 - OC to Ti4600
Creative Sound Blaster Live! CT4780
80GB Hard Drive
USB 2.0 Card

I have Windows XP Home and Windows Vista Home Basic

Are any of these options "Overkill"? Remember I am limited to AGP 4X and a 200mhz FSB cpu bus.

Thank you for your help and interest...

[Cobracon]

Before I spent a dime on trying to get that seriously old tech computer up and running, I'd look at something like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3981675&sku=P459-1236%20S

Besides, even if you do buy all the parts for the old one, it will never run Vista at anywhere near an acceptible level.

I'm not recommending the computer I've used as an example, but it will seriously outperform what you are trying to resurrect.

[Guest]

Dude, I appreciate your concern but I had a Compaq Presario 5000 that was based on an Athlon 900mhz, The MoBo died so I got stuck with some components. If anything we are talking about 50 dollars in cheap upgrades.

As for the link to the bare bones tower it just seems too pricey...

Anyway I already built my new PC back in April, This is just for my little brothers to play with my emulators and classic PC games and for school work...

This is my baby:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40ghz G0 @ 3.40ghz OC
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L MoBo
4GB DDR2 800 - CPU OC Boost
2x 250GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
Nvidia GTS 320 OC - Waiting for a 4850 X2 or 4870 X2...

Honestly I am steering clear from AMDs processors right now for my modern builds wont upgrade till the second iteration of nehalem...

[Cobracon]

Well "Dude", since we're such good friends now, I guess I can call you "Dude" right back, OK?? It's unfortunate, but it sounds to me that you took an honest opinion as a personal attack.

No matter how cheap you think you can buy your upgrade parts for, when finished you'll have pretty much nothing to show for the cash outlay. BTW, ~$225 for what is overall a good computer (except the motherboard) isn't pricey on a performance vs nothing scale. The onboard video integrated into the less-than-desireable PC-Chips (or whatever it is) motherboard is better than the video card you will use regardless of the overclock.

You asked for opinions and mentioned "overkill". Well, you obviously only wanted an opinion that agreed with yours, on what I view as "underkill". I misunderstood the intention of the post, my mistake.

Please note, I said, "I'm not recommending the computer I've used as an example......................................". I prefer Intel processors myself, but do own an old Socket 754 Athlon 64 3200+ based computer which is light years ahead of the computer you're contemplating. It was built last winter because I had most of the parts laying around. Except for the 2GB of OCZ Platinum DDR 400 RAM it was a pretty cheap build. It was real, it was fun, but it's still OLD TECH.

Since we're comparing "baby" pictures, here's mine:

C2Q6700 2.66GHz with a mild OC: 3.35GHz & 1340FSB
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R rev. 2.0 (F11 BIOS)
2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 1066 @ 1117MHz/2.1 volts (5-5-5-15)
2 x 160GB Maxtor SATA 300 HDDs
EVGA GeForce 8600GTS SSC
Corsair TX650W PSU
Lite-On (SATA) LH-20A1S CD/DVD Writer
generic FDD
Cooler Master Centurion case w/3 - 120mm fans
XP Pro SP3 (32-bit, no need for 4GB RAM)


I can't match you on the "CPU OC Boost" because I have no idea WHAT you're talking about. I've never seen that adjustment in my BIOS. LOL

As for the dual ATI (who is owned by AMD!!) video cards, the last time I checked, your board only has 1 (that's ONE) PCI-e x 16 slot so you have no way to run 2 cards (SLI) simultaneously. If you consider $225 'pricey' for an almost complete Barebones kit, I'm curious as to how you'd categorize TWO video cards. The cheapest of which (4850) costs almost as much for 1 card as the whole Barebones kit I used as a reference. Please note that my curiosity is PURELY rhetorical.

Dude, you have a good day and I wish you nothing but the best on your project.

[Guest]

Look, Can someone please help me with my questions... I did not start a thread to compare newer rigs or to attack anyone or to lure anyone. I find it amazing how anyone can find a way to start some sort of argument.

1. When I said "Dude" I meant no absolutely nothing at all... Its easy to tell that you took it for some sort of insult since you "asked" to use it a brought it in as if it had some sort of relevance to the thread...

2. I don't play with the fanboy and preference nonsense, I do have my personal preferences but I don't obsess or follow blindly my emotions when it comes to hardware at least...

What makes you think I hate AMD this was a thread about an AMD CPU... and I did say that I wanted to upgrade my Nvidia video card to an ATI one. Yeah I know ATI/AMD are one in the same I know that genius... Oh you ever heard of the 3870 X2 or the upcoming 4870 X2 or hopefully a 4850 X2? Yeah the ones with the dual GPU on a single board with integrated crossfire?

You make it sound like I was lying and just plain stupid... I can talk about CPU voltage changes or how my ram would have 1:1 ratio or how my CPU was proven capable of 3.6ghz after a lot of stress testing but I decided to keep it a 3.4ghz eventually because I plan on using my PC with its decent cooler for a few good years...

I know my Athlon based system sucks I know so because it was almost 8 years ago I my dad purchased it for me... but I loved that machine and now I want to "resurrect" it as you say... I don't give a damn how your PCs compare to my Athlon or my "Baby", or why you went out of your way to recommend a Bare Bones tower that happens to look like a transformers shoulder pad. Yeah I already have a 5000 BE @ 3.2ghz and a E2180 @ 3.2ghz... Alright I forgive you for insulting my little old PC...

That rant of mine actually felt good after all you cant always abstain form being human...
But please can someone actually answer my questions... Thank You

[Guest]

Wow, I just realized you went the whole nine yards on this one, I like to be an open minded and selfless person at least I try too, when I asked for peoples opinions I wanted just that opinions on the thread not a psychological evaluation on the thread.

Again I referred to "Overkill" as in "Overkill" which could mean "bottlenecks" maybe things that I wont be able to use or possibly too good for the system to take advantage of them...

Windows XP or Windows Vista and so on...

I am still waiting for help... I appreciate the interest...

[Chiefish]

Now Now fight nice children... I dont thonk anyone started out to insult each other here, maybe i can give another opinion and turn this into a three way heh heh heh

1. There are a lot of 266mhz FSB Athlon cpus avilable on ebay, can I use one on my 200mhz FSB socket?
Yes i think you can, it will just revert back to using 200 mhz, unless you can o/c the m/b

2. Also I notice that on the Socket A/462 profile on this site shows on the mobile section that the Mobile Athlon 4 is very similar to the desktop Athlon. I found several Mobile Athlon 4 processors on ebay for cheap at the same 1.2-1.4ghz+ frequency and @ 200mhz FSB, can I use one of these?

Yes i think you can, i bellieve the only difference is the multi is not locked on the mobile one.

3. Kinda off topic but I got an MSI 4x AGP GeForce Ti 4200 for my cheap PC, will any of these Athlon CPUs be a "Bottleneck" for it? I plan to overclock this Video Card to a Ti 4600 level to get the most of my 4x AGP only MoBo.

I dont think the cpus will bottleneck that gpu card, maybe a little but i doubt it since i used to run socket a cpus with better graphic cards and never noticed it, but i dont split hairs over little stuff like that too much.

3.5 These are the specs when completed:

Athlon CPU @ 1200, 1300 or 1400mhz w/ 200mhz FSB
512 or 1GB RAM
MSI GeForce Ti4200 - OC to Ti4600
Creative Sound Blaster Live! CT4780
80GB Hard Drive
USB 2.0 Card


That rig will do what you want it to without any trouble i am sure.


I am also curious if i can join in on the Biggest E-Penis contest as well as i have a rig that will definatly put a smile on anyones face.

[D.8080]

Sorry, but you can google your answers pretty fast.

Vista has minimum requirements to look like human usable, Xp has the same.


I don't really like people asking to do their homework for free, as you seem to be quite in your leather boots when it comes to your pc building skills and ability to reply under stress condition.


Come on man, in the pc world the more you do by yourself the more you learn, it's like a never-ending-investment in yourself.

P.s. It all starts with the cpu compatibility section of your motherboard's manufacturer (browse your model)... it continues with cpu frequncies of Athlon cpus and almost gets you there

[D.8080]

Chiefish, lets have a toast!

[Chiefish]

Heres to ya buddy

[Cobracon]

rhetorical question–noun: a question asked solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply, as “What is so rare as a day in June?”


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[Origin: 1835–45]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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That was fun. Like I said, "..................I wish you nothing but the best on your project."

I think everyone should enter the E-penis contest.

As for the rants, there was only one reply that fit that description, and it wasn't one of mine. Talk about sensitive, Good Lord.

BTW, I'm perfectly familiar with the x2 video cards by ATI, but wasn't sure about some other folks.

You fine individuals enjoy yourselves. I'm going to find my ex-wife and get remarried, it's much more peaceful.

Hows THAT for off topic??

[Wizzard1]

Smiles on faces? How about an 8-way P3-Xeon with 8x900/2M and 8GB of PC100 REG ECC CL2 RAM? Also, RAID5 with 4x18GB 10k SCSI? FX5500 OC PCI Graphics? I can guarantee mine cost the most when bought new!!

That's my entry to the epenis contest

[Guest]

Yeah I have checked google throught, I just needed an extra bit of help becuase like I said these are some rare CPUs and and I had three of them on watch on ebay with less then 48 hours on them. As for MoBo it is one thats based on an old chipset but one that was made after the production of the K7 CPU series so its pretty much a matured MoBo. It clearly states that it supports Athlon/Duron CPUs w/ 200mhz FSB. I kinda remember hearing about using Mobile Athlon CPU as they said the OC very well but that was years ago so I was unsure. as for FSB compatibility I knew that you could put one with lower bus speed, but in regard to Athlon and the VIA KT133 I was unsure about higher bus speeds.

Anyways it was unfortunate that things got carried away, but I started the thread with a clean intentions. Again its unfortunate that their is a lot of obnoxious oversensitivity. And I want to leave it a that..

I still welcome the help... I really want these questions settled.

[Chiefish]

Actually Cobracon is always willing to help out, as are the rest of us here i think, But we do seem to get a lot of lazy people asking some pretty silly questions from us. Not that youres are or anything, and when they dont even register with the forum it kind of makes it look a bit more like its just some noodnick being lazy, I can understand why you need to ask us tho as thats some pretty old hardware youre going to ressurect, and by todays standard very much slow as molasses in january going up hill. But it would be fine for a couple little kids playing space invaders or something without a doubt. I usually dont even respond to stuff like this but i thought ide throw some humor in there and lighten things up a bit.

And wizard youre probly correct about the cost of that rig when it was new, even tho my palm pilot probly has more computational power than that has now.

Meanwhile if i was Geust i would do some googling to find definate answers to the questions youve asked as i am even a bit fuzzy on that stuff it was so long ago i had to deal with it.

[Wizzard1]

On topic post:

We get alot of people asking to help upgrade their ancient rig; and honestly, the information is already out there, there are many, many places (Google!) which can tell you the maximum anything you can put in your motherboard. Our honest advise, normally, is upgrade the board and save money.

We're taking your budget and helping you stretch it in the right direction!