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RSS feedsThanks to its aggressive and rather successful advertising campaigns, you could be forgiven for thinking that Intel was the only manufacturer of PC processors. But you'd be wrong. Rival AMD has been giving the chip giant a run for its money for some 30 years, producing compatible and often cheaper processors with comparable performance.
We take a look at what PCs based on AMD's latest K6-III processor have to offer. We asked manufacturers for machines that would allow us to access the Web, use e-mail and do basic home-productivity tasks like word processing and accounts.
As ever, we were looking for excellent value for money; but we were equally keen to see a well-balanced PC that was up to all these tasks.
Rather than setting a budget for our PCs we gave the manufacturers free range to build the best machine possible for our needs - with the sole proviso that it be built around a K6-III processor.
The AMD story
AMD has been around since 1969, and the company's most recent processors are the K6-2 and K6-III. The K6-2 was introduced in May 1998, a year after Intel's Pentium II, though its introduction trailed Intel's budget chip - the Celeron - only by a month. Performance from the K6-2 was never really Pentium II-beating, but where it did win out was on price, as K6-2-based PCs undercut the cost of their PII rivals.
Intel's Celeron was a more comparable chip, and PCs built around this processor were priced similarly to those with a K6-2 inside. The K6-2 also has more in common with the Celeron as far as technology is concerned, and performance from the two chips is similar.
Neither the K6-2 nor the original Celerons had any Level 2 cache on chip, while the PII has 512Kb as standard, which goes towards explaining its better performance.
However, the latest Celeron chips have 128Kb of Level 2 cache.
Due to its relatively slow performance, the K6-2 has been overtaken by the K6-III for all but low-end budget PCs. The K6-III was launched in February this year, in the same month as the Pentium III, and these two processors are more on a par in terms of speed, though Pentium III PCs still tend to be a little more expensive. The K6-III has 256Kb of Level 2 cache included on chip and this runs at the full speed of the processor.
The PIII has 512Kb, in this case runnning at half the clock speed. Both the K6-III and the Pentium III also have extra instructions for enhancing multimedia.
The next step along for AMD is the K7, which it claims will be the first processor to feature a 200MHz system bus. This is due for release any time now, running at an initial clock speed of over 500MHz.
Watch out for future Close-up reviews of the first PCs to use this chip.
AMD K6-III EXPLAINED
The K6-III is AMD's current top-of-the-range processor, having replaced the K6-2 in February this year.
The main difference between 2 and III, apart from the shift to Roman numerals, lies in their Level 2 cache. Both feature 64Kb of Level 1 cache, but the location of the Level 2 cache differs. On the K6-2 the Level 2
cache is on the motherboard, and its speed is limited to the system bus speed. On the Super7 motherboards required for AMD K6-2 and III processors, this is 100MHz - so this is top speed for the K6-2 Level 2 cache.
The K6-III takes a different route with 256Kb of Level 2 cache on the chip, running at the same speed as the processor - similar to the way the Level 2 cache works on Intel's Celeron. To further boost performance, the chip also benefits from motherboard-based Level 3 cache - up to a maximum of 2Mb - although this is limited by the bus speed of the motherboard.
The AMD K6-III also contains 3DNow! Technology, which was introduced with the K6-2. 3DNow! is designed to enhance performance for 3D graphics, multimedia, and processor-hungry applications like speech recognition.
It consists of 21 extra instructions that help speed up the heavy calculations involved in these areas. These work in a similar way to the much-talked-about SIMD instructions included in Intel's Pentium III chips.
The key advantage 3DNow! has over Intel's extra instructions is that it's been around longer. For users to really see the benefit of either of these added technologies their software has to be optimised to use them and because 3DNow! was launched back in May 1998 there are more titles that can take advantage of it.
Another point in favour of the K6-III is its price; while its performance stands up well against a Pentium III chip running at the same clock speed, it is a cheaper processor. That's why a PC based on a K6-III may turn out to be more of a bargain than one with a similar specification, but with a Pentium III at its heart.
MESH K6-III 450 CDR
We're rarely disappointed by Mesh, but its K6-III 450 CDR really took our breath away. This PC is more than up to any task you throw at it, and the company has been generous with the extras too.
Like all of the machines in the test, it's built around the fastest K6-III chip on the market, running at 450MHz. But Mesh has also fitted the maximum 2Mb of Level 3 cache on the motherboard to boost performance.
It comes with 128Mb of RAM and the hard drive is a generous 13Gb, which should provide you with ample space to store all your data for the foreseeable future.
If you're worried about storage, or backing up vital information, then you'll be pleased with the Philips CD-RW drive, which allows you to copy data you want to keep onto CDs. The drive can write or rewrite CDs at up to 2x, and read them at up to 6x, but to play CDs and install software you'd be better off using the 5x DVD-ROM drive. With these two drives Mesh has covered all bases - indeed, the only thing you might like to add is a Zip drive.
The graphics card is 3Dfx's latest - the Voodoo 3 3000 running at 166MHz and fitted with 16Mb of VRAM. This is a superlative card, which won a coveted top score of five stars in our Close-up review (page 30, What PC? June 1999). It's an excellent choice for both 2D and 3D graphics, and more than up to running the latest games and applications.
As far as bundled software is concerned you get a copy of Corel's new productivity suite - WordPerfect Office 2000 (page 34, What PC? August 1999). This provides you with all the software you'll need for word processing, contact management, accounting, presentations and Web publishing.
The outside of the PC is equally impressive; Mesh stands alone in providing a Trinitron monitor. The 17in Sony display is crisp and bright and would be a pleasure to work at. You also get a wheel mouse that's broader and flatter than Microsoft's Intellimouse. We rather liked this, but it's a matter of taste. The keyboard is a standard Mesh-branded model.
The attention to detail illustrated by the choice of components continues when you come to set it up. The first thing you see when you open up the box is a large-scale getting started guide. This is full of useful advice on how to get your PC up and running and tells you who to call if you do have any problems.
The getting started sheet points you to the Mesh User Guide for more detailed information about how to get your system going. This is helpful and we'd like to see something like this bundled with all new PCs. As well as instructions on how to set up your PC, it also has a checklist of everything you should have received, all the telephone numbers you need, care and maintenance advice and a troubleshooting section to help out with common problems.
If you do run into more serious difficulties, then you can take advantage of the one-year onsite warranty. This isn't the most generous support option on offer, but at least an engineer will visit you to sort out your problems so you won't have to be without your PC - as you would if it had to be returned to the manufacturer.
Once you've gone beyond the basics and you want to start the more tricky business of adding new components, you will appreciate the care that's gone into keeping the inside of the PC as neat as possible. Fitting extra memory into the two free DIMM slots would be no trouble and new cards should be equally simple to slot into the free PCI, ISA or shared PCI/ISA slots. There are also two 3.5in bays, one external and one internal, and a 5.25in bay available, with power cables dangling conveniently.
Although performance isn't everything, you'll have no cause for concern on this front as the K6-III 450 CDR came out on top in both our tests. It beat the second-placed PC in our SYSMark 98 test by just one mark, but it was well ahead of the field in the 3DMark graphics test.
Easily the Best Buy in this test - it's a fantastic system, which combines top-notch components with blistering performance and impeccable build quality.
Price: £1,199 (inc VAT)
Contact: Mesh 0181 208 4707; www.meshplc.co.uk
MESH K6-III 450 CDR
Performance: *****
Build quality: *****
Features: *****
Value for money: ****
Overall: *****
CARRERA SIRUS M450
Carrera is one of Mesh's main rivals and the Sirus M450 certainly gives our Best Buy a run for its money. Both are built around a 450MHz K6-III chip (though Carrera only fitted 512Kb of Level 3 cache on the motherboard) and have 128Mb of RAM.
Carrera opted for a slightly smaller hard drive at 10Gb, but you'll be hard pressed to fill this up. There's no extra backup device, but you do get a 5x DVD-ROM drive. The graphics card is exactly the same as the one found inside the Mesh system - a 16Mb Voodoo 3 3000, so graphics performance is impressive.
3D graphics are complemented by 3D audio from the VideoLogic Sonic Vortex 2 sound card. This is a topnotch card, which won five stars across the board in our review (page 54, What PC? May 1999) and it's backed up by a pair of Altec Lansing speakers.
The monitor is a 17in model from LG Electronics, and while it's nothing out of the ordinary, it's a clear screen that's fine for everyday use.
The keyboard is a standard Carrera-badged unit, but the budget Mitsumi mouse that accompanies it is disappointing - we'd much rather see a wheel mouse. Bundled software is Lotus SmartSuite Millennium, which sets you up with most of the productivity tools you need.
Our review system didn't come with much printed information, just a brief setup guide, but this is because the manual is currently being reprinted.
Fortunately, the PC is easy to set up and all the software was preinstalled.
The warranty lasts three years, but if you do have a problem you'll have to return your computer to Carrera.
If you fancy adding a few extras to the Sirus, it would be easy to fit cards into the ISA, PCI or shared PCI/ISA slots, or add a new drive - perhaps a backup device like a Zip - into the external 3.5in bay or either of the internal or external 5.25in bays. But if you want access to the two free DIMM slots, you'll have to unscrew the power supply, which is a nuisance.
The Sirus is a speedy performer; in fact it was only pipped to the post by Mesh in the SYSMark test by one mark. It also grabbed second place in the 3DMark graphics test.
We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Carrera Sirus M450. It's fast, well built and good value for money.
Price: £1,056.33 (inc VAT)
Contact: Carrera 0181 307 2800; www.carrera.co.uk
CARRERA SIRUS M450
Performance: ****
Build quality: *****
Features: ***
Value for money: ****
Overall: ****
BIG RED VOYAGER DIABLO RK450
Our other recommendation is the Voyager Diablo RK450 from Big Red, which represents excellent value for money. Once again you get a 450MHz K6-III chip, this time with 512Kb of Level 3 cache on the motherboard and 128Mb of RAM. The hard drive is 9Gb, not the biggest in the test, but plenty for most needs, and the DVD-ROM drive is one of the faster 6x models.
Understandably, 3Dfx has won a lot of fans for its Voodoo 3 graphics card, and Big Red is among the four manufacturers to fit the fast 3000 model with 16Mb of VRAM. The Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live Value sound card is more of a budget choice, but it does play through two speakers and a subwoofer.
The 17in ViewSonic monitor is a good-quality display, if nothing out of the ordinary. We were pleased to see that Big Red has ditched the odd Trust mouse with the side button for scrolling that it used to ship with its PCs, in favour of a more familiar scroll mouse. The Cherry keyboard is also pleasant to use, with soft, responsive keys.
There's quite a bit of scope to upgrade with four free bays - two external 5.25in and two internal 3.5in, plus one ISA, one shared ISA/PCI and two PCI slots available. But we did notice that space to fit a new PCI card in the slot next to the AGP card is tight, and if you want to add more RAM you'll have to unearth the DIMM slots from under quite a bit of cabling.
Software comes in the form of SmartSuite Millennium, a good productivity suite that offers all you need for word processing, contact management, accounts and so on. The warranty provided by Big Red is one of the best in the test, as it lasts five years, although only the first year provides onsite service - from then on your PC will have to be returned to base to be fixed.
Despite its competitive price, the Voyager is no slouch in the performance stakes, winning third place in the SYSMark test. Having said that though, its graphics performance isn't so impressive and in these tests it came in last.
If you are seeking a bargain, look no further. The Voyager may not be our top performer, but for under £1,000 it's a fantastic deal.
Price: £999 (inc VAT)
Contact: Big Red 0181 245 2456; www.bigred.co.uk
BIG RED VOYAGER DIABLO RK450
Performance: ****
Build quality: ****
Features: ***
Value for money: *****
Overall: ****
PANRIX NITRO MAX 450
Panrix only just missed out on the Recommended title, due to its slightly higher price and slower performance score than the Big Red, as well as the fact that there was no bundled software suite.
Apart from these issues, this is a first-class system, twinning a 450MHz processor with 128Mb of RAM, a 13.5Gb hard drive, a 6x DVD-ROM drive and the same 17in ViewSonic monitor as the Big Red, plus Windows 98 Second Edition.
Inside there are no ISA slots, only three PCI slots for new cards, so you're out of luck if you want to fit cards using the older standard. There are two DIMM slots for extra RAM, plus one 5.25in bay and four 3.5in bays free.
The Nitro came fourth in the SYSMark test and third in the graphics test thanks to the 16Mb Voodoo 3 3000 graphics card.
Fast and fully featured but the lack of software could be reflected by a lower price.
Price: £1,173.83 (inc VAT)
Contact: Panrix 0113 244 4958; www.panrix.com
PANRIX NITRO MAX 450
Performance: ***
Build quality: ****
Features: **
Value for money: ***
Overall: ***
PROTEK ULTRA
Protek's reputation is based on providing value-for-money PCs and the Ultra is no exception. It's the cheapest PC in the test by far, so if you are looking for a real budget option this is the best choice.
But, as with everything, you get what you pay for - the processor is the same as the other PCs as is the RAM, and the 10Gb hard drive isn't the smallest in the test - but the 15in monitor is.
The smaller screen isn't very pleasant to work at, and do remember that you have to look at this the whole time you are using your computer. You'll also have to buy any software you want to use as none is bundled.
The Ultra was the slowest performer amongst these PCs when it underwent the SYSMark test, although graphics were better due to its Voodoo 3 graphics card, albeit the slower 2000 model, and it came fourth in the 3DMark test.
This is a bargain, but don't expect top-of-the-range components or performance.
Price: £749 (inc VAT)
Contact: Protek 0800 458 0577; www.protek-europe.com
PROTEK ULTRA
Performance: **
Build quality: ***
Features: **
Value for money: *****
Overall: **
TIME K450 XR
Time sent in its usual comprehensive system bundle, with plenty of software including a copy of SmartSuite Millennium and two joysticks. The PC itself isn't bad either with the same processor speed and RAM as the others, plus a massive 17Gb hard drive.
Time's one of the few manufacturers to spurn the Voodoo 3 graphics card in favour of a 16Mb Creative Labs 3D Blaster TNT - which should let you give your joysticks a thorough workout playing the latest games. The 17in monitor is the same as the one supplied with our Recommended Carrera system and the speaker system is impressive, with four satellite speakers that hook up to a huge subwoofer.
If you want the speediest performer then this is not the PC for you as it only managed fifth place in the SYSMark test and second to last in the graphics test.
Plenty of extras for the price, but it loses out in the performance stakes.
Price: £1,173.83 (inc VAT)
Contact: Time Computers 01282 777555; www.timecomputers.co.uk
TIME K450 XR
Performance: ***
Build quality: ****
Features: ****
Value for money: ***
Overall: ***
WATFORD ELECTRONICS ARIES 3203
The Aries 3203 is distinctive because it comes in a huge case, emblazoned with the green Aries logo, but apart from that there's not much to set it apart from the crowd. It comes with the same processor and RAM as the rest, plus a 10Gb hard drive. But it does have a 6x DVD-ROM drive and a 32Mb Diamond Viper graphics card.
The 17in monitor was a little blurry, but the Intellimouse is a bonus and we found the small keyboard pleasant to use. Unfortunately, Watford is another manufacturer to omit any software from the package - and once again this isn't reflected in the cost.
Its performance scores don't do any more to raise it above its rivals as it was second to last in the SYSMark test and the extra memory on the graphics card didn't help much as it only managed fifth place in the graphics test.
An average PC that's more than up to the job, but doesn't offer any tempting extras.
Price: £1,173.83 (inc VAT)
Contact: Watford Electronics: 0800 035 5555; www.watford.co.uk
WATFORD ELECTRONICS ARIES 3203
Performance: ***
Build quality: ****
Features: **
Value for money: ***
Overall: ***
All the machines reviewed in this group test were examined in VNU's European Lab. Performance testing entails two benchmarks, which allow the PCs to be compared while performing a variety of tasks (in all cases, the higher the figure, the better the performance).
SYSMark 98: SYSMark gives an overall indication of how the machine performs in normal business use. It runs macros and times the speed of operations in 14 standard business applications including Word, Excel and Photoshop. These applications do not use the new 3DNow! or SSE instructions.
3DMark 99 Max: An updated version of the 3DMark graphics benchmark, this test uses graphics-specific operations to measure the speed and display quality offered by a PC. It uses 3DNow! and SSE instructions, providing a realistic impression of how games using these commands perform. Because of the new commands, 3DMark 99 Max results are not comparable with the 3DMark results printed up till now.
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