Looking for alternative to the PIII.

[Dominus]

Planning on putting together a new system soon, and because of my extreme computer paranoia, I want to avoid the evil CPU serial number scheme of Intel. I'd like to get some suggestions on alternatives to having "Big Brother Inside"

A couple of options I've been thinking about:

1. SMP with P2s on a Shuttle HOT 649a, and O\Cing

2. Paying big $$$ for one of the new Slot-A K7s (whoops, "Athlon")

3. Taking the plunge into ALPHA Processors, which are coming out with amazing 750mhz, 1000mhz, and 1500mhz Slot-B CPUs @ room temperature.

I'm really considering the ALPHA, as since Athlons will be released in both Slot-A and Slot-B format, the option of using a non-ALPHA mobo will be available as ALPHAs are supposed to be compatable with the same archetecture as Slot-B Athlon's (or so I hear; ALPHA info is really sketchy). Also, consider overclocking a 1.5Ghz CPU! Who knows what you could pull off!

All these options and more are viable, as by the time I can finance a new system, I'll be using Win2K & linux, which both support SMP and ALPHAs, as well as SPARCs and other CPUs.

If you could find me some info on cost as well, I'd appreciate it.

[kec95]

You can disable the serial number in the bios.

Let others ginny pig the Athlon first.


Kenny C

[BBA]

I guess you never use your real name online either, or a credit card...and you lied to your ISP about your identity too, right?

JK...LOL http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Kenny, The CPU S/N can be disabled but even that can be defeated without you knowing it!

I think that if any one is gonna take the effort to enable and then see my S/N, then they can probably find out who I am by regular methods too, so I don't worry about it, I'll sick my puppy on them if they come knockin on my door!!


BBA

[KillerBug]

There is software from Intel too, but how can you say the K7 is expensive? The 500mhz version is a little more than half of the Intel price tag. When it is all said and done, they end up about the same considering good overclocker motherboards cost more in that market.

[Dominus]

I know all about the ability to soft-switch off the PSN on the PIII. I just don't want one. At all.

I'm not worried about h4X0rs trying to identify me, I'm worried about the PSN being used in conjunction with UCITA (a horrible software licensing law being considered)

http://archive.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?/features/990531ucita.htm

http://www.infoworld.com/cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?/features/990528ucitareport.htm

http://www.pdos.lcs.mit.edu/~cananian/UCITA

Just imaging having your software held for ransom using the PSN and UCITA together. I had a link to an amazingly paranoid essay on the subject, but I seem to have lost it.

The bottom line is, is that I'm looking for an alternative to Intel, not just a way of living with their 1984 Orwellian tactics.

(PS: It's not paranoia if they're _REALLY_ after you http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif)

[Underclocked]

You might find a good deal on a PII-450 and have all the speed you need. If you spend the balance on good memory, you will likely wind up better off.

You don't need a car that does 1000mph to drive on a 70mph highway.

[Zacko10000]

This UCITA thing is bad...lets hope it doesn't pass

[kec95]

What can they do? So they see my Serial number.
What are they gonna do arrest me and all the other 1000's of people who use unregistered software.

Gimme a break.

Buy it, Overclock it, and Love it!!!

Kenny C

[Dominus]

Not arrest you, shut shut down your software.
That goes for registered software too, not just "warez". If M$ feels that you've violated their software agreement in some way (which i'm sure we all do on a regular basis) then at the click of a mouse, "poof", no more windows.

Thats where the PSN comes in. It allows them to determine exactly who has the "violated" software, and ensures that the correct computer gets "self help"ed.

Plus, in the fine print it says that software companies are essentially not responsible for faults and failures in their products.

I appreciate the responces, but I still haven't found any reasonable alternatives to Intel for a powerhouse system. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[KillerBug]

Dominus - The K7 is available 50mhz higher than the fastest P3, for less dough, and can be overclocked big time.

[kec95]

Then Guess what, I'd be in jail as a repeated
offender.

Guess I'm just a brickhead.


Kenny C

[BBA]

Wonder if they'd give us adjacent cells?

BBA

[jonespta]

I hear that when you goto prison for this sort of thing they make you wear one of those neon Intel jumpsuits and write VALID CD-Keys on the blackboard 1000X....

[StarWatcher]

Dominus, I am paranoid now http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Just think of it though, the public would not stand for such an invasion of privacy. Least of all, our constitution. Everyone was up in arms over the PIII thing.


It makes one think though. As computers become more and more, a part of our every day lives, more opportunities for loss of privacy in our own homes.

Big Brother is Watching http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif