AMD Athlon XP 1900+ CPU

Richard Price
5 February 2002

One way of ensuring your computer keeps up with the ever-increasing demands of modern software and power hungry operating systems is to regularly exchange it for a new one.

A cheaper option is to upgrade what you already have. Considering that in many cases CD-ROM drives, floppy, hard drives and other periperals in the standard PC case are still adequate it’s a sensible option.

Intel is not always inside. Many brand new computers have one of the AMD chips as standard CPU while increasing numbers of vendors including Hewlett-Packard and Compaq are switching.

The Athlon XP 1900+ is the latest chip in AMD’s XP range. The XP in this case refers to the “Extreme Performance” of the chip and should not be confused with the Windows eXPerience, although AMD has worked closely with Microsoft to ensure their XP range work well with the new Windows operating system.

AMD is also using a controversial system of model numbers, as opposed to clock speed in megahertz, to convey the relative performance of their new processors. The higher the model number, the better the performance.

I am still trying to make sense of AMD’s new naming scheme but the 1900+ chip's frequency is 1.6 GHz. --- which compares favourably to Intel's 2-GHz Pentium 4.

I tested the AMD Athlone XP 1900+ with an EPOX motherboard and was quite literally blown away by its performance.

Initially I was a bit hesitant to plug it all together, but it is really not rocket science. Anyone who can handle a Philips screwdriver and can cope with the clumsy way generic PC cases are designed should not have a problem.

While most peripherals can just be plugged in, it is important to make sure the chip matches the motherboard. The 1900+ is a Socket A processor which is backwards compatible with most motherboards.

The Epox 8KHA+ motherboard I used conforms to the ATX form factor. Instructions on inserting the chip are easy to follow. It is almost impossible to insert it incorrectly.

Jumper settings can be changed but I went with the default settings.

Everything else is clearly marked so plugging in the hard drive, floppy, CD-ROM and other peripherals is simple.

Having been brought up to believe that Intel had to be inside everything, what I was doing seemed sacrilegious. So after lighting candles and placing crystals around the computer I switched it on and held my breath as it whirred into life. I installed Windows, it worked. I installed software, it worked --- quickly.

So far I have not run into any problems. I utilise a wide range of graphics and multimedia software, which the 1900+ is taking in its stride.

So if you need to upgrade your PC, and don’t mind annoying Intel at the same time, get hold of an AMD Athlone XP 1900+ --- the price alone is sure to appeal to consumers as well as backyard enthusiasts.

Price: AU$630
www.amd.com.au

Note
An upgrade to an Athlon requires the following:

• Athlon XP CPU
• Large cooling fan (usually supplied with Pentiums)
  
• Motherboard supporting Athlon CPU (Via KT266A
  chipsets are recommended)
  
• DDR RAM (often can't use old SDRAM in Athlon
  motherboards - doing so reduced performance)
• Compatible case and power unit.

By Richard Price, Editor, EnergyME.com

For information on getting a product reviewed email richard@energyme.com