Cyrix Processors and Microsoft Word

[photobyjs]

Is anyone aware of conflicts with Cyrix processors and using Microsoft Word. Our school has a lab with Cyrix 266s and we are having problems with Word performing illegals and closing down. We need to update a second lab and are looking at machines that have Cyrix 366s. I am not sure if the illegals are the result of a conflict with the chip or with our profiles. Our prior tech coordinator used the profiles to lock up the machines so that no one could make any alterations. We are using roaming profiles and our network has both Win95 and Win98. I have heard that the roaming profiles could cause the problem and/or that there might be a possible conflict with Word and Cyrix. Anyone with info would be deeply appreciated. Thank you.

[krusty the klown]

I had a cyrix PR166 in my old work computer and had to re-format my hard disk, re-install windoze and all the software on a monthly basis (6 weeks if I was lucky). Managed to get hold of a K6II-300 and no more probs.

This is just my experience with them and I would recommend these chips to someone I didn't like much. I don't know whether there is a specific problem with the cyrix and the setup you have, it's just a case of once bitten, twice shy!!

Personally, I would recommend AMD K6's or Celerons. You can get some good mobo's with onboard sound and graphics that would be ideal for keeping costs down with your upgrades. You could buy such a mobo&CPU combination for less than £100 per computer.

Krusty.

[Peter M]

The Cyrixes themselves do not have a problem regarding stability, but they are very likely to trigger other problems.

Cyrixes up to PR366 are 2.9V and draw quite a bit of power. Flimsy CPU power supply on the mainboard makes them unstable, as do insufficient cooling solutions.

I'm always using Cyrix processors when I'm asked to assist in building low budget workhorses, and there's quite a few of them out there now :-).

Right now, I'm typing this on a Cyrix MII-300 in NT 4.0 - this is my workdesk computer that runs all day without ever crashing. Most people here in the office have Cyrixes in theirs, on ASUS and PC-Chips mainboards.

At home, I just put my faithful old 3.5V Cyrix 6x86-200 from an FIC PT2000 over to a PC-Chips M560 (that had a Cyrix MII-333 in before I got the board). This one runs Linux 24/7, no problems.

That MII-333 moved over onto a DFI K6BV3+/66, that box is flawless as well, running W95OSR2 24/7.

Mom has a 6x86MX-233 on a PC-Chips M571, her friend has an MII-333 on a PC-Chips M598LMR, both running W98.

So that makes quite an impressive list of positive experiences.

Three rules: Feed them well. Cool them well (use a high-revving fan/heatsink, and thermal paste inbetween). Do as you're told (in writing on top of the CPU) regarding the jumper settings - some people jumper their PR233 to 233 MHz and wonder why they crash ...

Regards, Peter