From owner-freebsd-questions Wed Nov 12 07:35:39 1997 Return-Path: Received: (from root@localhost) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) id HAA11334 for questions-outgoing; Wed, 12 Nov 1997 07:35:39 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from owner-freebsd-questions) Received: from tornado.cisco.com (tornado.cisco.com [171.69.104.22]) by hub.freebsd.org (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id HAA11328 for ; Wed, 12 Nov 1997 07:35:37 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from bmcgover@bmcgover-pc.cisco.com) Received: from bmcgover-pc.cisco.com (bmcgover-pc.cisco.com [171.69.104.147]) by tornado.cisco.com (8.8.5-Cisco.1/8.6.5) with ESMTP id KAA26770 for ; Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:34:54 -0500 (EST) Received: from bmcgover-pc.cisco.com (localhost.cisco.com [127.0.0.1]) by bmcgover-pc.cisco.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id KAA01647 for ; Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:34:54 -0500 (EST) (envelope-from bmcgover@bmcgover-pc.cisco.com) Message-Id: <199711121534.KAA01647@bmcgover-pc.cisco.com> To: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Intel, AMD, or Cyrix? (FreeBSD-related hardware question) Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 10:34:54 -0500 From: Brian McGovern Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Ok, time to start a holy war, but as I just dumped some money in to some new Intel pentium VX2 motherboards, I want to get the best processing bang for the buck. Unfortunately, over the last year, my job has switched from hardware to software, so my processor knowledge outside of Intel is a bit outdated, so please excuse me while I ask some stupid things... I'm going to be running FreeBSD on both VX2 motherboards, 32MB a peice. One will be IDE (3.7GB), the other SCSI (4GB plus CD Burner). I'm looking over the chips I can buy for the boards. I'm looking at spending < $200 per board. I was originally looking at Intel Pentium 100-133s. I don't need kick-ass speed, just something "nice". Anyhow, I'm now looking at AMD and Cyrix, and, of course, their chips being called different things, so I'm trying to figure out exactly what I can support, and what I can't. According to the board specs, it can run IBM/Cyrix 6x86, P120, P150, P166. P200. Voltages are 3.5,3.3,2.9,2.8,2.7, and 2.5. No mention of AMD. Now, I get get Cyrix 6x86 P200 processors for $85.00. I can get a 6x86 with MMX for $125.00 I can get an AMD K6 200 Mhx for $182.00 I can get an AMD K5 for $97.00 An Intel Pentium 200 w/mmx for $243.00 Now, the real questions I have are. 1.) Can my boards run the AMD K6s (I know they can run K5s)? 2.) If so,what _really_ is the better of the two chips. (I don't really care about MMX). I'm really looking for cheap speed. 3.) Are there any known FreeBSD problems with these chips that will steer me away from a choice? -Brian