Advantages: good and cheap processor for using simple apps
Disadvantages: too slow in dificult graphics operations

...The AMD-K6-III processor with 3DNow! technology incorporates AMD's TriLevel Cache design to enable leading-edge performance for today's consumer PC enthusiasts and business power users. The innovative TriLevel Cache design maximizes the overall system performance of AMD-K6-III processor-based desktop PCs by delivering one of the industry's largest maximum combined system caches. This larger total cache results in higher system performance. The TriLevel Cache design includes a full-speed 64KB Level 1 (L1) cache (a standard feature of the AMD-K6 processor family), an internal full-speed backside 256KB Level 2 (L2) cache, and a 100-MHz frontside bus to an optional external Level 3 (L3) cache on the Super7™ motherboard. With a total of 320KB of combined L1 and L2 cache, the AMD-K6-III processor has more internal cache memory than any... Read review

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Advantages: cheap, 100 MHz bus, 3D Now!, solid allround budget performer
Disadvantages: a little lacking in the latest games

...The K6-2 came out a long time ago to offer an alternative to the Intel Pentium II and the Cyrix MII. As for speed it offered very respectable speed but never quite beat the Pentium II. However this CPU is still going strong available in speeds of 500, 533 and 550 MHz now. This CPU was also the first CPU to feature 3D Now!, the multimedia extension of AMD, Cyrix and IDT. This meant a massive boost in FPU performance over the K6 and very nearly enabled the K6-2 to beat the PII but it never quite made it. The K6-2 has lasted so well though thanks to being aimed at the budget sector and still offering decent performance on most games, particularly when coupled with a decent video card. The quickest K6-2, the 550, can now be bought for around £65-00 so this enables system builders to offer K6-2 systems at very good prices. How long the K6... Read review

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Advantages: Saves Money on Upgrading a Super Socket 7 Motherboard
Disadvantages: Motherboard needs to support a Core voltage of 2.0, also requires the latest BIOS upgrade for your motherboard

...Although the AMD K6 III+ 450MHz was designed for laptop use they can be used in Super Socket 7 motherboards as many of the major board makers have now released BIOS upgrades to support the CPU. The AMD K6 III+ 450MHz is available on auction sites such as eBay and QXL, but not in the shops as they are only released by AMD as OEM for the major laptop makers. The CPU is made using the 0.18 Micron process which is the same as the Duron range, the old K6 III series which is no longer available was made using the 0.25 Micron process. So as look as your board supports a Core voltage of 2.0, Multiplier of 4.5, FSB of 100MHz. It is also possible to overclock these processors to 600Mhz because of the 0.18 Micron process and the 2.0v Core voltage with the use of a good fan and heartsink. All this will help the owners of Super Socket 7 motherboard... Read review

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Advantages: Price, very cheap!
Disadvantages: None

...At some point last year, well more than a year ago, I decided that I needed to boost the speed of my computer a bit. I didn’t want to spend too much; I only really wanted to upgrade my processor. I had a look at what was on the market and I was quite restricted as the motherboard I had was quite old. It was a choice between an Intel chip, I am not sure what this was, and an AMD chip. In the end what made up my mind was the price of the AMD K6-2 500 it was only £40. What a bargain, this could keep my computer going for another year or two, hopefully! I then had a few problems getting the chip as they didn’t make it any more, which means by now you can’t get it I should think. ** Installation ** It is not recommended that everyone change their CPU in their computer as they are sensitive pieces of equipment... Read review

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Advantages: Top of the Socket 7 processors
Disadvantages: Rare, and difficult to find, and no longer worth the upgrade.

...When I say "K6-X", I refer to the following CPUs or processors made by AMD (Advanced Micro Devices): K6-II, K6-III, K6-II+, K6-III+. I'm just too young to remember the K6 cpu, let alone the K5. In this "article", I am going to write on the top of my head, what each CPU is/are/were, my experiences with them, what they can do, how much they would cost, and to conclude whether it would be worth buying one! (Warning, this may be a little technical but I'll try my best to explain) All K6-X cpu's require a (super) Socket 7 motherboard, otherwise it won't fit! - for simplicity. Socket 7 is fading out, just like the K6-Xs, so they are becoming rare. To start, the good old K6-2. This is available at many clock speeds from less than 350MHz, to upto 550MHz. Currently, AMD are in the final stages of phasing out the entire K6-X line of CPUs... Read review

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Advantages: fast socket 7 chip
Disadvantages: dont make them anymore

...There is one simple reason why AMD stopped making the K6-III processor chip. that reason is that the chip was just too good. Yes seriously the K6-III was too good for AMD to sell. Strange you think that AMD would not sell such a good chip. Well the reason behind it was that AMD was about to release the Athlon at the time which would be its new intel beating power chip. To make the Athlon such a succsess they had to make the gap between its last chip and this new one as big as possible. AMD feared that if the K6-III was still on sale it would eat into the profits of the Athlon and so make the Athlon not appear as good. Image is just as important as the profits. The K6-III 450 would be about the equivalent power or a k6-2 550-600 in my opinion. With a decent graphics card it would suit any mid range system. The K6-III... Read review

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Advantages: Fast, 3D NOW! technology, Cheap
Disadvantages: None

...***ORIGINAL OPINION*** Last summer I decided that I wanted to upgrade my Pentium 1 233, as it was very slow, what was I to buy on my limited budget of 300? After looking around I decided on the AMD K6 3 450 MHz. It was half the price of the Intel Pentium 3 450, and looked just as good, from looking at tests on the Internet. So for my £300 I got a PC case, motherboard, ram and the AMD processor. At first I was a bit worried that this processor wouldn’t perform. This processor is as fast as any Pentium process running at 450 MHz it is a brilliant chip at an affordable price, and ideal for games. This processor may be a bit rare now but if you can find one then get one. ***Specification of the AMD-K6-III processor *** The AMD-K6-III processor with 3DNow! technology incorporates AMD's Tri Level Cache design... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, Super stable, good for office work/students/multimedia
Disadvantages: Poor 3d performance, DVD playback is average.

...with no problem at all. Also DVD playback is not completely smooth when no hardware accelerator is used, but again it is very watchable. The best thing about this cpu is it's stability which I can not fault, having built the pc myself I expected to have problems and did with other cpu's, but when I put in the AMD K6-2 500, I haven't had any hiccups since. You should buy this product if you want to upgrade your socket 7 board, it is quality, good for students and office work etc, internet use as well. Recommended!... Read review

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Advantages: Price
Disadvantages: OK so I can't think of any!!!

...I bought this processor as I was building my own computer from scratch. I got the processor because of the AMD name, I already had the same processor running in my ready made machine and I found it was fast enough for all my desktop needs (games, internet and WP). One thing that I found very good was the fact that although I don't have a 3D AGP motherboard or card in my shop made machine I can still play plenty of 3D games without any problems, they all run as somooth and crisp as a machine that has all the 3D gaming gear... then again I'm not really into games so I can't say that it is as good as having a propper 3D graphics card but I have been very impressed with the overall game play thanks to AMD's 3D-NOW technology. Anyone who has a Super Socket 7 motherboard that is running an AMD processor slower then 450MHz should think about... Read review

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Advantages: If you already have a Super Socket 7 board then you can go up to 550Mhz.
Disadvantages: It's gone as high as it can, dead board format, Duron only costs about £10 more, motherboards limited to AGP 2x, won't play games in six months time

...Why bother writing about a processor that's almost at the end of it's shelf life? Mainly because of Ciao. I've read a couple of opinions that seem to promote this processor and I have to ask why (if this op upsets those reviewers then I'm sorry, but this is my opinion). It's stuck in a motherboard format that is not much longer for this world, it's slow and at 550Mhz it's reached the absolute limit of it's speed. If there had been anywhere to go with the motherboard format I wouldn't have spent £500 upgrading to Socket A. Some history about the actual processor. My first PC was based on an AMD K6-2 3DNow 350Mhz processor which (at the time) fitted into the new generation of Socket 7 motherboards, labelled Super Socket 7, which ran on a 100Mhz front side bus and necessitated that you had PC100 memory. At the time it was slated... Read review

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