Pentium 4

[big mc]

I need to update my computer and would like to know if it's sensible to get a Pentium 4 processor, or does it still have teething troubles and maybe it's best to stick with a Pentium 3. Does anyone have any experience that they can pass on? Thanks.

[Nig]

Are you a power user or a surfer?
Would an upgrade involve new case ,mobo and fast mem?
The fastest pIII is about forty quid cheaper than a pIV 1.4gig from scan . Would that money be better spent towards a good graghics card?
Are you considering a new fast HD to go with it ?
Have you considered Athlons ? especially the newish 266 fsb

The choice is yours , remember whatever you get it will be fast enough for the average user and will be obsolete pretty quick too.

Nig:)

[pudds]

The current P4 is basically a stop gap. It was bought in to combat AMD's athlon. The P4 in it's current format is not in intels long term plans.
Scheduled for Q3/2001 the new P4 codenamed 'northwood' will have many performance enhancments plus twice the L2 cache of the current one. It will also have a new form factor (PGA478 instead of the current PGA423) which means it won't fit in the current systems.
So if you buy a P4 system now they will stop making processor's for them in september.
In contrast the new Athlon4 will still work in current Socket A motherboards so you'll be future proof for quite a while.
Don't get me started on the P4's performance problems either else we'll be here all day :lol

[big mc]

Thanks for the advice. Have decided to go for the 1.3GHz AMD Athlon :D

[Bluetack]

Pentium 4's dont work with cheap SDRAM yet either! And the memory is uses is well dear!

[Nig]

good choice

get a 266 fsb mobo and cpu if you can

Nig:)