Cheap Socket A Processors?

Ok, I have an old Compaq computer sitting around and decided to run a TF2 server on CentOS 5 linux. Unfortunately my current processor is too old (non-SSE2) to run the server so I need an upgrade.

The mobo I have it a MSI KM266 (MS-6390). I need the cheapest AMD processor that is socket A and is 266 MHz with SSE2.

Mobo specs here:

I'm sorry if I appear ignorant of the going-ons of hardware business, as I've dabbled very little in such endeavours.

Any help on how to install the chip would also be helpful

I don't know which country you're in, but here in the UK I had very little luck finding one for cheap, and anywhere at all other than on eBay. I eventually figured it was cheaper and much faster (and energy efficient!) to go with a low end Athlon 64 instead. I got a 939 board for £12, and an A64 3000+ Venice with stock cooler for £10.

As for installing the chip, just pull the lever up, let the CPU fall in the socket (if it doesn't you're doing something wrong) and then push the lever back down.. Fitting the heatsink is a little trickier and may require a screwdriver though, but just line up the clip with the lugs on the side of the socket.. Still easy

Ok! Seems like a plan to me. I live in Canada and aim to buy a certain chip off of Craig's or eBay (or maybe even a local store?). Would the mentioned Athlon 64 chips work on my current mobo?

Forgot to mention that I wouldn't mind cranking more than 1 GHz out of the chip.

Well check buysell.com too because in edmonton theres a guy with socket a stuff in there.

No, but I still found it cheaper to buy a new board and CPU rather than get a decently quick one for my own KT266 board.

If you're aiming as low as 1GHz though, you could get something really cheap... I was going for more 1.5GHz+ Thoroughbred B's and such.

However, I've just noticed that in your first post you say you need a CPU capable of SSE2 - no Socket A CPU is capable of that. SSE2 first came along with the Athlon 64, I'm afraid.. So you may be completely out of luck on this front

I agree, I have my older A64 system running as a full-time server now and could not be happier. It is a 1.8GHz Venice-core chip and I run it at a maximum voltage of 1.125V. It stays very cool and draws very, very little power at that voltage. The goal with servers will almost always be power efficiency because you can easily end up spending far more operating an extra computer than you save on hardware costs. I know that Hydro Quebec will charge around 7 cents per KWh after 30KWh a day, which means that a system drawing 100W of power all day will cost you (if my calculations are correct, about 60 dollars per year).

( 100W * 24hrs * 365 days ) / 1000KWh = 876KWh/yr
876KWh * 0.07c = $61.32/yr

So spend any money you can on efficiency. You won't find cheaper electricity prices than you pay in Quebec, and its still expensive. Efficiency is key here!