Sun UltraSPARC IIi 333 MHz processor board

Advantages: Cheap entry level Sun SPARC from 1997
Disadvantages: Build quality is PC like, and low cache processors

...The Sun UltraSPARC 5 workstation was brought out in 1997, and was priced so you could have one on your desk for approx 1000 US Dollars. They stopped shipping to customers in May 2002. These days, it is not a fast machine, but still they are perfectly useable for many workstation and server tasks. Processor and Memory - This model has an UltraSPARC IIi processor which is, of course, 64 bit and is clocked at 360 MHz. You can have 1GB of memory in the workstation, installed as up to 4 DIMMS, which must be installed in pairs. "Normal" PC memory will not work in these workstations. The 260MHz model only has 256kB cache (same with the 270MHz processor) For better performance, you need the 2MB cache version on the 333 or 400MHz versions. Storage - There is one HDD bay in the machine, although if you remove the floppy drive, you... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, Reliable, AMD board
Disadvantages: Socket A, so wont work with Intel cpu's

...I bought my ASUS A7V333 for £85 online. It boasted many modern features, a good BIOS, and the ability to add loads of RAM. The ASUS motherboard costs a little less than some other motherboards, mainly because it is a Socked A board. This means that the only processors it can take are AMD Socket A processors like the Athlon 1800 that I have in mine. The board boasts the standard 5 PCI slots for all your Modem and network cards, and has the newest AGP X4 AGP slot, meaning new cards like the nVidia GeForce 4 cards can run to their full capacity. One nice little touch on the A7V333, is that in addition to a top of the range AMD Athlon XP2200+, you could also have 3GB of PC2700 333MHZ RAM. Unfortunately since 256megs of that RAM costs about £60, i work that out to be between £500 and £600 for 3 Gigs. Ive also seen 4 fan power slots... Read review

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Advantages: Reliable
Disadvantages: Cost? ( see opinion )

...tag given to Intel processors is somewhat unjustified. For example my PIII 600 in May 2000 - cost £240 running at 800mhz. An 800mhz PIII at the time was approx £500, enough to get a top of the range graphics card and change. Admittedly there are some "hidden" costs to the overclocked version e.g. a good quality mainboard, roomy case for good airflow, and a better heatsink, but I think that these are good practice in building any computer, the other minus is there's no guarantee that the processor you get will sucessfuly overclock. I would however still recommend the Pentium III, it's a good, fast and stable processor even when pushed towards it's limits.... Read review

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