Tbird pro's .... which cpu is best for me?

[Midnight]

After 7 years of being an Intel zealot, I've decided to check out "the dark side" ... :)

I've narrowed my motherboard choice to the Epox 8K7A, and for RAM I chose a stick of 256MB Crucial PC2100. But, I'm unsure of which CPU to get. I've read good things about the 1Ghz AXIA. I wanted to go with a 1.33 chip, but my vendor doesn't carry AXIA chips, I'd have to get one through Pricewatch.

Should I go with a 1Ghz AXIA, or a 1.33Ghz non-AXIA, or a 1.33Ghz AXIA? I'm looking for some solid advice on my trip to the unknown. :)

Thanks,

-Mid

[krakerman]

well, go to the overclockers front page and look at the cpu database. you'll notice that for both the 1ghz and 1.33ghz tbird (those listed in list as axia), they fall in very similar speed ranges. the 1.33 seems to max out just ahead of the 1.0, but not enough imo to warrant the price difference. i did read somewhere that maybe 1.2ghz and above come pre unlocked though, if that is true and is a factor for you. i cant guarantee that the 1ghz would oc as well as the 1.33ghz though *shrug* only thing i seen about it really is that database. either way, it looks like the top performers are all watercooled or pelts. if it were me, i would maybe get the 1.2ghz (assuming its axia). if you look on pricewatch, youll see the pricestepping. the 1.33 is $50 more than the 1.0, but the 1.2 is in the middle of both. out of your list (and this is coming from someone saving money to get a palamino/ddr system later) i would get the 1ghz and just overclock the hell out of it ;-)

[sequoia464]

... is the current best stepping. 1.4 and some 1.33's are this stepping. The AXIA precedes the AYHJA, but is still a good option, I have a 1gig 266 AXIA on order, should be here tuesday. Appearantly the AYHJA will run easilly into the mid 1600's and beyond and does so cooler (at least at idle and low usage) than the AXIAs.