🚀 go-pugleaf

I'm in the same boat..
I've read a couple of things about building athlon systems lately. I
reccommend you buy from a dealer who is fairly good about returns, as the
current crop of MB's for athlons don't seem that wonderful.
I read one story about a guy who went thru 3 motherboards (An ASUS K7M, then
a MSI, then a K7M again) before getting it working (Turns out only the first
was actually faulty... )
Athlon seems to be very picky about voltages and RAM. Be warned. :)

Still, the Athlon 500 seems like a good buy atm, and I only wish I had the
cash to buy one.
TT

Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last checks
> before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
>
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?
>
> The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
to
> do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the synth....yet!!).
Of
> course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
>
> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when
i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?
>
> thanks
> ken
>
>
>
>

When you say that this software is very vague, that right there tells me
this is absolute rubbish. The processor is instruction compatible with
intels x86, and of course amd previous cpus.

The big story is what the athlon does better than the rest.

This is just one happy Athlon 500 user talking :)

If your serious about building a system, check out the AMD website for the
approved components list. This will make the job easier and painless.


JM

Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last checks
> before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
>
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?
>
> The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
to
> do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the synth....yet!!).
Of
> course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
>
> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when
i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?
>
> thanks
> ken
>
>
>
>

No compatiblity is a very old issue any saying that it's not 100% compat
should be smacked cause they anit no's shit.

This was an issues with um what what a K5(or earlier I know the 486 clones
were kinda un compatiable) when was the last time you used one?

Jim Mitzel <mitzeljm@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:ObeX3.10675$hI6.137399@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...
> When you say that this software is very vague, that right there tells me
> this is absolute rubbish. The processor is instruction compatible with
> intels x86, and of course amd previous cpus.
>
> The big story is what the athlon does better than the rest.
>
> This is just one happy Athlon 500 user talking :)
>
> If your serious about building a system, check out the AMD website for the
> approved components list. This will make the job easier and painless.
>
>
> JM
>
> Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> > Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last
checks
> > before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
> >
> > 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
> be
> > compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true.
Has
> > anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> > compatability?
> >
> > The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> > starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
> to
> > do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> > cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the
synth....yet!!).
> Of
> > course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
> >
> > 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of
when
> i
> > put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> > before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> > careful of?
> >
> > thanks
> > ken
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

On Sat, 13 Nov 1999 10:55:44 -0800, "NiPs" <fosterchip@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>No compatiblity is a very old issue any saying that it's not 100% compat
>should be smacked cause they anit no's shit.
>
>This was an issues with um what what a K5(or earlier I know the 486 clones
>were kinda un compatiable) when was the last time you used one?
>

Well...I'm currently using an AMD 5x86 133mhz (basically a 486 clone
with 16k L1 cache)  and I have never had any
compatibility issues with it. Runs everything my old Intel chips ever
did. 


<snip>

You should have no problems running any software or game with the athlon cpu.
But building and configuring them is another story.

I can build and configure a 440bx mb, PII or PIII cpu, and load win98 and all
drivers and have it working in about an hour.  An Athlon and MB with same parts
would take another 30 minutes to an hour.

It takes a little longer because you have to load patches and drivers for AMD
chipset and/or VIA chipsets.  And then sometimes you have some hardware
incompatibilities.

But once you get it working, it's quick.  And it works.

Ken wrote:

> Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last checks
> before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
>
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?
>
> The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning to
> do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the synth....yet!!). Of
> course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
>
> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?
>
> thanks
> ken

Compatibility was a very minor issue in the 386 days. Not since.



In article <ObeX3.10675$hI6.137399@typhoon.southeast.rr.com>, 
mitzeljm@mediaone.net says...
> When you say that this software is very vague, that right there tells me
> this is absolute rubbish. 

2 issues with the ATHLON, firstly the powersupply, it needs to be 300W,
secondly the new GeForce Cards are having major problems with ATHLONs due to
AGP issues. other then those 2 'be warned's all should be smooth sailing!!

Darren
DPC

chris r <"paullin"@(remove_this)seanet.com> wrote in message
news:80kicb$b3j$1@q.seanet.com...
> You should have no problems running any software or game with the athlon
cpu.
> But building and configuring them is another story.
>
> I can build and configure a 440bx mb, PII or PIII cpu, and load win98 and
all
> drivers and have it working in about an hour.  An Athlon and MB with same
parts
> would take another 30 minutes to an hour.
>
> It takes a little longer because you have to load patches and drivers for
AMD
> chipset and/or VIA chipsets.  And then sometimes you have some hardware
> incompatibilities.
>
> But once you get it working, it's quick.  And it works.
>
> Ken wrote:
>
> > Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last
checks
> > before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
> >
> > 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> > compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true.
Has
> > anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> > compatability?
> >
> > The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> > starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
to
> > do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> > cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the
synth....yet!!). Of
> > course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
> >
> > 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of
when i
> > put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> > before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> > careful of?
> >
> > thanks
> > ken
>

Make sure you get the Asus K7M motherboard.

It is far and away the best Athlon board currently available.

It is worth looking around for, even if you have to order it from
interstate.

Lears

Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last checks
> before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
>
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?
>
> The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
to
> do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the synth....yet!!).
Of
> course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
>
> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when
i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?
>
> thanks
> ken
>
>
>
>

I am not sure what are affected or what aren't I know for sure the a 486
clone they usually say 486 not 5x86 even thought they are both 486 like they
aren't the same chips, I am talking aout real old crap here not anything
useful not even to linux.

Rob <Rob@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:382dc310.9529671@news.starpower.net...
>
>
> On Sat, 13 Nov 1999 10:55:44 -0800, "NiPs" <fosterchip@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >No compatiblity is a very old issue any saying that it's not 100% compat
> >should be smacked cause they anit no's shit.
> >
> >This was an issues with um what what a K5(or earlier I know the 486
clones
> >were kinda un compatiable) when was the last time you used one?
> >
>
> Well...I'm currently using an AMD 5x86 133mhz (basically a 486 clone
> with 16k L1 cache)  and I have never had any
> compatibility issues with it. Runs everything my old Intel chips ever
> did.
>
>
> <snip>

I don't recommend anyone to buy Athlon yet 'cause of the chipset(Irongate)
isn't too good... and you can't insert a GeForce into it, at least wait till
Savage2000 and VIA's new chipset came out.


Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last checks
> before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
>
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?
>
> The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
to
> do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the synth....yet!!).
Of
> course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
>
> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when
i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?
>
> thanks
> ken
>
>
>
>

Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
be
> compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true. Has
> anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> compatability?

No - you probably heard this from an Intel fanatic who has never used an AMD
processor.  I've had an AMD 8086, 386-40, 486-80, K6-2/350, and now an
Athlon 650, and never a problem with any piece of software.  The only
substantiated report is the fact that Windows 95 has a problem with K6
processors over 350 MHz, for which there is a patch available (except in the
case of the *original* Windows 95, which no sane person should be running
anyway).

> 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of when
i
> put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> careful of?

It's very similar.  Just don't buy the FIC SD11 motherboard; it requires you
to replace the backplate in your case, and you have to know what you're
doing before you can tell whether it will fit or not.  Any other Athlon
motherboard should work fine.  If you can get the Asus K7M from a reputable
reseller (who will guarantee the board for at least a year; check
www.resellerratings.com to see if there are any consumer complaints against
them), go for that one.

The other "gotchas":

1.    You need a good power supply, preferably 300 watts.  The list of
"approved" power supplies is on AMD's site.  Personally, I went with the
Turbo Cool 300ATX from www.pcpowercooling.com - another safe (and cheaper)
bet is to get the Sparkle version of that power supply from John Howland at
www.specialtytech.com.  It isn't just the Athlon,  your components will love
you for having a decent supply.

2.    Make sure your case has decent ventilation, and a good "fan path".
That is, you have a fan in front blowing in, and a fan in back blowing out.
This is a good thing to do, regardless of what kind of computer you're
putting together.

3.    You need decent RAM.  If you already have functional DIMMs, it's worth
a shot trying them out, but don't be surprised if you need to spring for the
"good stuff".  Athlon motherboards are much more exotic than their BX-based
counterparts, and as a result are less happy with cheaper components,
especially RAM.

4.    "Utterly incompatible" hardware includes:  the new GeForce 256 video
boards and Dxr2 DVD decoder cards; they're working on a fix for both of
these.  I've seen scattered reports of Diamond TNT2 Ultras crapping out,
though Creative brand boards seem to work fine (I personally have one of
these, and it works great).

5.    When you install Windows 98, the first thing you absolutely need to
install is the AMD AGP Port driver (currently version 4.45).  Reboot, and
install whatever else patches your motherboard manual tells you to install.
Again, here is where the FIC board falls down, they give you downright
incorrect instructions that include having you install Via's AGP patch,
which no doubt has resulted in some reports of "flaky" motherboards.  If you
can get ahold of Windows 98 SE, I would *definately* install that.  It
includes all the patches you need, except for AMD's AGP patch.

Good luck!

Rich

Martin Kou || cybermartin <cybermartin@hotmail.com.kill.spammers> wrote in
message news:80oli0$m3b6@imsp212.netvigator.com...
> I don't recommend anyone to buy Athlon yet 'cause of the chipset(Irongate)
> isn't too good... and you can't insert a GeForce into it, at least wait
till
> Savage2000 and VIA's new chipset came out.

There is a fix for the GeForce problem out, and it's not AMD's problem, it's
Nvidia's problem.
See:  http://www.3dnow.net/ for a fix solution.  It's there somewhere or
there is at least a link there that takes you to the fix.  It involves
editing your reg.

On Mon, 15 Nov 1999 08:49:28 -0500, "Rich Perna" <richp@ranir-dcp.com>
wrote:
<snip>
>
>1.    You need a good power supply, preferably 300 watts.  The list of
>"approved" power supplies is on AMD's site.  Personally, I went with the
>Turbo Cool 300ATX from www.pcpowercooling.com - another safe (and cheaper)
>bet is to get the Sparkle version of that power supply from John Howland at
>www.specialtytech.com.  It isn't just the Athlon,  your components will love
>you for having a decent supply.
>

Just curious as to why you didn't go with their new Silencer 275 watt
ATX model?

I have an old 300 watt Turbo Cool and boy does it make some noise?
Don't know it I would do the same thing next time just for a 6 cfm air
flow increase

So it should.  The AMD 386 and 486 chips used Intel microcode under
licence, although Intel disputed the licence for the 486, and lost.

Rob (Rob@nowhere.com) wrote:
: Well...I'm currently using an AMD 5x86 133mhz (basically a 486 clone
: with 16k L1 cache)  and I have never had any
: compatibility issues with it. Runs everything my old Intel chips ever
: did. 

--
/* George Durbridge  Melbourne, Victoria, Australia */
/* tel (03) 9280 3390            fax (03) 9280 3288 */

Also sage 2000's look sweet on athalon's seen at comdex. Beta drivers and
all still faster then anything I have seen used for gaming. Tomorrow I will
run at timedemo but it was very fast too fast, I bet 1024x768 at 60+fps
while being the server, but I don't know for sure. I will try as best I can
and post some more info.


Gonzo <gonzo@n-link.com> wrote in message
news:PoUX3.195$dL1.65629@news.n-link.com...
> Martin Kou || cybermartin <cybermartin@hotmail.com.kill.spammers> wrote in
> message news:80oli0$m3b6@imsp212.netvigator.com...
> > I don't recommend anyone to buy Athlon yet 'cause of the
chipset(Irongate)
> > isn't too good... and you can't insert a GeForce into it, at least wait
> till
> > Savage2000 and VIA's new chipset came out.
>
> There is a fix for the GeForce problem out, and it's not AMD's problem,
it's
> Nvidia's problem.
> See:  http://www.3dnow.net/ for a fix solution.  It's there somewhere or
> there is at least a link there that takes you to the fix.  It involves
> editing your reg.
>
>
>
>

yeah ive checked out the website.....i actually should have gone there
before posting...it would have answered my questions....

theres a peripherals list there which lists all compatible peripherals. i am
assuming that these arent the ONLY peripherals that can be used. there are a
whole lot of other brands that can be used or are there some specific
combinations to watch out for? in particular how about memory? does the
memory NEED to be of a specific brand or can any brand do?

ken


Jim Mitzel <mitzeljm@mediaone.net> wrote in message
news:ObeX3.10675$hI6.137399@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...
> When you say that this software is very vague, that right there tells me
> this is absolute rubbish. The processor is instruction compatible with
> intels x86, and of course amd previous cpus.
>
> The big story is what the athlon does better than the rest.
>
> This is just one happy Athlon 500 user talking :)
>
> If your serious about building a system, check out the AMD website for the
> approved components list. This will make the job easier and painless.
>
>
> JM
>
> Ken <mcclane2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:80j944$ek5$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
> > Alright im 90% sure im going to get an Athlon 500. Just a few last
checks
> > before i go and spend my hard earned cash.....
> >
> > 1) Ive heard that some software (very vague as to what software) may not
> be
> > compatible with the Athlon. I dont personally believe this to be true.
Has
> > anyone run into problems or have heard of any problems with software
> > compatability?
> >
> > The stuff that i will be mainly doing on my comp is games (halflife,
> > starcraft type games) some web stuff like homepage maintenance, learning
> to
> > do some graphics editing, hopefully getting into composing music (ie
> > cakewalk guitar studio. yeah i know, but i cant play the
synth....yet!!).
> Of
> > course i will have the standard stuff like win98, ms office.....
> >
> > 2) Is it easy to build? what sort of things do i need to be aware of
when
> i
> > put it all together? ive got a friend whos put together intel machines
> > before...is it the same? or are there some differences that i have to be
> > careful of?
> >
> > thanks
> > ken
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

(snip)
>The only
> substantiated report is the fact that Windows 95 has a problem with K6
> processors over 350 MHz, for which there is a patch available (except in the
> case of the *original* Windows 95, which no sane person should be running
> anyway).
Thanks, I like it when people call me insane. If you'd like to lend me
your copy of the Win98 upgrade (original, 'cause I have a VIA chipset
and SE won't like my USB controller) or give me $100 to upgrade, I'd
appreciate it. I'd like to think I'm patient more than insane. It takes
a lot of tries to get this thing booted (Win95a with K6-2/400), and I
have to sit here and tell it to boot in normal mode every time it tells
me there's a WPF. It builds character.

--Chris