Is the Cyrix worth it?

[KillerBug]

Ok, here is my situation:

My mobo goes to 225mhz core. I am going to use it for a mini-server, so don't say anything about getting a better board. Becides, for what I want, I need to have PCI video, no AGP.

I just saw this on the Cyrix web site:

Celeron 300 - 15.5
M2-300 - 15.2
K6-2 - 14.6

My board only supports the 2.8v, so would the CPU run 2.8v @ 200mhz core? Or if I bought the 333, would it run at 225mhz @ 2.8v? How hot od these get underclocked and 0.1v underpowered? How big of a 'sink do I need for one of these.

[DavidX]

Take any statistics posted on a chip manufacturer's website with a very large pinch of salt - whether it's Cyrix, AMD or Intel! I'm sure the figures themselves are accurate enough, but don't forget that they are the selected results of tests which happen to favor their own chip. I bet Cyrix were strangely quiet regarding FPU performance, for instance.

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 07-02-99).]

[KillerBug]

Yes, I noticed that, but I do not know that I realy need it, I am not trying for 100fps in Half-Life or anything, I want a computer that will run the following well:

Blood
Duke 3D
Quake (Windows95)
Heretic
Hexen 1+2
X-Wing
Tie-Fighter
Rebel Assault 1+2
Virtua Fighter 2
C&C: Red Alert
XenoPhage
Strife
Daona USA
Normality
Monopoly

Would I have any problems running any of these games? OS= Win95/98

[LJE2]

As DavidX pointed out the FPU is the Cyrix's weakest point. It has lower values, at any given speed or P value than both AMD and Intel. A high Floting Point Unit value is what makes a processor good in games and 3D. What is acceptable to you might not be to someone else but these chips are the worst choice for games and if you are going to underclock this chip it will be even worse that is assuming it will even run in this motherboard.

[AndreBranco]

i now have an intel celeron 400 but before i had an ibm cyrix 6x86 pr233 the 400 is great-faster but the pr233 cyrix did work okay for me, played all games i have. the most important thing in a system (i think) is the graphics adapter, with a good graphics adapter like the voodoo 3dfx your system can run all games even if you have a cyrix 233 cpu. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[mbeaton]

Get rid of Cyrix. They run hot as standard. I have been through 3. work well for about a month then start having unspecified windows problems. Now have an AMD K6-300. No probs

[KillerBug]

So I would be better off with a K6-2 @ 225mhz than a Cyrex 300? None of these games take advantage of video accelerators or anything, and some actualy ran OK on my old 486/66. Does anyone know about how well this Winchip performes, I am giving everyone chances today!

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

Hi, everyone! The Cyrix 333 is about $35.00, so it is a great value, but it requires a good fan and do not overclock at any circumstances. Definetely, Cyrix is not a good choice for games; it is excellent for small home business applications. Since the prices are coming down, I would rather recommend an AMD (Socket 7) or any of the Celerons ' flavors. The rumor is that Cyrix won't be around next year.

[KillerBug]

Ok, so the K6-2 it is! I was thinking of the IDT Winchip, 3.3v, I thought it ran on non-mmx motherboards, like 2.2v!

[ArchMagi]

Cyrix Blows Peroid. Used to have one, lots of problems, even thou the guy at the store says otherwise. Got me a Intel and its all good.

[Zacko10000]

go for an IDT Winchip, super cheap, runs cool, not the best chip but it beats buying from cyrix

[KillerBug]

It says on their web site my mobo needs 3.3v

[AndreBranco]

IDT CYRIX OR AMD? AMD IS FASTER.

[KillerBug]

But here is what I wanted to know: at the same true clock speed, is Cyrex as fast as AMD at that same internel clock speed? If I put a M2 300 and set the jumpers for say, 200 and benchmarked it, then pulled it out and droped in a K6-2, changed the voltage, and benchmarked it, what one would win?

[AndreBranco]

cyrix 233=pentium 133
cyrix 300=pentium 200
cyrix 333=pentium 233
cyrix 366=pentium 266!
cyrix is #3
amd #2
intel=1
i know this i had a cyrix before
dont know much about amd chips only that they are fast but not as fast as intel cpus. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif
fpu


[This message has been edited by AndreBranco (edited 07-11-99).]

[This message has been edited by AndreBranco (edited 07-11-99).]

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

If I may ask: What kind of benchmarch test are you running? The chip performance varies in terms of applications and configuration. For general users, Cyrix will perform adequately in Microsoft Office's applications but poorly in desktop publishing. When you are planning to buy a chip, please, consider this: Cyrix needs the the right fan and a temperature monitor in your motherboard--It is an excellen utility. In terms of public image, Cyrix could not change their bad reputation about overheating and avoid the confussion on pentium rate. I have mixed feelings about AMD with Via chipset, please avoid them. Good luck and I hope it helps!

[This message has been edited by ANTONIO E GUERRA (edited 07-11-99).]

[kec95]

Save yourself the aggervation. Go INTEL.
WHY?
AMD 3d now technology required too many patches.

Cyrix just sucks!

Get yourself a Abit BH6/celeron400a. Good combo at a great price.

remember Just because the mobo has an AGP slot doesn't meam your HAVE to use it.

As for the clock speed race, That depends on the Actual chip.

Kenny C

[This message has been edited by kec95 (edited 07-11-99).]

[KillerBug]

I don't use 3D-NOW, I don't even use MMX for these programs I want. Why should I buy a new BH6 and a celeron 300A when all I need is like a 200mhz system, and all the money I have is like $50? The BH6 does not support the video card I have sellected, and the only other PCI card that fits all of my wanted specs is the Voodoo 2 2000, $100.

[kec95]

I suggest then you look in a "Bargain News" type paper and look for a used system.

I just noticed you list of games you want to be able to play and based my answer on that.


Kenny C

[This message has been edited by kec95 (edited 07-11-99).]

[KillerBug]

Hmmm... no, no entire systems for the price of one of the chips I want to buy...The truith is that a 100mhz pentium would probable do me just fine if it were not for the fact that I want to use my scanner with the computer, and the software that comes with it is some big stuff. from what I have read here, Cyrix is a great deal! A 166mhz Pentium MMX is like $10 more than the M2 300! As for K6, it is the same price as the K6-2, and it is more then an M2. I guess I will go with the K6-2 though, everyone seems to hate the M2, so I guess I will too.

[Joel Kleppinger]

<Rant> (There is education here, too)
OK, Everyone... you can stop your CPU bashing now. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

You all aren't comparing the CPUs like KillerBug wants them compared. I would HIGHLY recommend reading this article Anand wrote sometime back:

http://www.anandtech.com/html/review_display.cfm?document=164

Check out the Results page. And for those that don't want to read the thing, just check this out:
Coming in first place in all of the tests was the Cyrix 6x86MX of all processors, the truly amazing part is that the 6x86MX received a higher High End Winstone 97 score than that of the Pentium MMX, Pentium II, and K6...the High End Winstone 97 tests make fairly heavy use of the processor's FPU, supposedly Cyrix's weak point...well, when the playing field was leveled Cyrix's weak point turned out to be much stronger of a device.

I would venture to say that, all things being equal again.. between the M2, K6-2, and Celeron - the M2 would prevail just as it's predicessor did. For those that say heat will be a problem remember that KillerBug is going to be underclocking it

So before you all go slamming Cyrix, AMD, or Intel for whatever reason, let's get back to the initial question, and answer that. And I tend to believe that in KillerBug's situation, it's quite likely that the Cyrix could be the best chip for him based on price/performance and his limited clocking capabilities.

Of course, with K6-2 350s being ~$35 apiece, I just had an uncle of mine buy two for two boards that topped out at 233 MHz. Tough to go wrong doing that. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif
</rant>

Thanks for your time. =)

[Desertway]

My meager 2 pennies: I have a cyrix MII-300. I run MS Office, IE5, Quicken, several graphics programs, and many games for my 5 year old. My system is not blazingly fast, but I have not had an "illegal operation", or "blue screen of death", or any freeze ups, in many, many months. This computer is VERY stable, and fast enough for my needs. I would categorize myself as a basic home user who likes to play a little bit.

[KillerBug]

Thanks, Joel, I guess I will have to go with a Cyrix after that article! Of course, that was based on the K6, not the K6-2, and it was not based on the M2, but since the M2 is not all that different from the one reviewed there, can it be that bad? Isn't it amazing that so many people wanted to hate the M2 just because it is a bargain and maybee it runs a bit how? Imagin this: strap a socket 7 heatsink on a .35 micron P2, run it at full clock speed, you might have some heat problems!

[HOTRODk62]

Cyrix's are EXCELLANT processors if used for what they are intended and that's windows/business apps, and such, you can't beat the price per performance ratio considering this, and most people use these type of apps all of the time, I had an old 166+L chip that I overclocked to 200+ and ran on 75 mhz bus at 3.52 voltage and then gave the system to my parents, it's still running it, and it's been 3 years now, so they are overclockable, even if not by very much. I am glad VIA bought them, I think they have their place in the cpu market, although k6's and k7's are obviously a better all around chip as an option to intel, for people wanting to go budget, they are top of the line...;p

[Seldon]

I think a lot of people don't trust Cyrix mainly due to its previous mediocre to crappy performance. Of course, that doesn't mean the new ones are as bad as the old ones, but the brand loyalty and confidence just aren't there.

And really, what can one expect from a $30 CPU? Generally, the products that are priced several times lower than their peers tend to be of flimsy design and capability. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but I for one don't think Cyrix is one of them.

[KillerBug]

Ok, the moment of truth, about time I dropped the cache! Da*n, I am a nerd! CASH! Cyrix here I come! Seriously, perhapse the Cyrix is just a slight modifcation of the orriginal P2, it runs .1v over, but has double the L1, it runs a lot hotter, and slower, but if all you put on a P2 was one of those dinky socket 7 heatsinks, it would run hot as hell, and it would only be stable at say, 250mhz? So how would intel keep up with everyone else if they had such a slow CPU? They would add all kinds of L1!