Both AMD and Intel have now released extremely respectable low-cost solutions, with performance that's not too far off of the mid-range/high-end. It really is a toss-up between the Celeron 700 and Duron 700 in terms of what you, the end user, wants.
The Duron provides the gamer on a budget a great little number. This is why we side with the AMD Duron for now. Its performance is actually good enough to out-pace an Athlon "Classic" at similar frequencies not to mention the headroom left for overclockers. The Celeron 700 has some real advantages as well though. It already has a stable platform in the BX. The BX is proven technology and nowhere near as rare and hard to find currently as the VIA KT-133, which is the only solution available for the Duron just now. The Celeron 700 also runs just fine on the 815 "Solano" all of which bodes well for the commercial/business sector where stability and supply are both key.
The value sector has never had it so good. We know a few of you are already scratching some shillings together looking to build a second system...
- SSE Boosts Quake III performance
- Cheap
- Works with 815
- 66Mhz FSB
- 66Mhz FSB
- & 66Mhz FSB
Jon Simon
Assistant Editor
Alex "Sharky" Ross
Editor-in-Chief