If 233 is your lucky number then go for it. The speed diff isn't that massive anyways between the two.. and both are already in the same range of speed that needs the same compatibility utilities to run older games..

Both are Klamath, speed is very similar. I would go for whichever has the cooler (in both senses of the word 😉 ) heatsink.

To be honest is the same CPU (266) but as you know is multiplier unlocked, i must decide is is more cool the FIRST PII ever created or the 266, i do not know if they are created same time and the 266 was the MUST HAVE.. i must choose in a cool and historical reason. No talk about speed, that is nothing in this situation.

dionb wrote on 2025-04-03, 20:40:

Both are Klamath, speed is very similar. I would go for whichever has the cooler (in both senses of the word 😉 ) heatsink.

Actually 266 came in Deschutes as well - so if one wanted a cooler running rig, that might be the answer? Though it takes the "first Pentium II" purpose out of the equation ..

H3nrik V! wrote on 2025-04-03, 21:11:

dionb wrote on 2025-04-03, 20:40:

Both are Klamath, speed is very similar. I would go for whichever has the cooler (in both senses of the word 😉 ) heatsink.

Actually 266 came in Deschutes as well - so if one wanted a cooler running rig, that might be the answer? Though it takes the "first Pentium II" purpose out of the equation ..

yes, is cooler the first at the lower frequency or that is insignificant because all 3 frequency was release "the same day"? (233 266 300) i not remember exactly that. 266 and 300 can be labeled as the first in the same way?

AlessandroB wrote on 2025-04-03, 20:23:

the 233 which is the first Pentium II ever released, for example, Could it be a choice?

The original Klamath Pentium II release included 233, 266 and 300 which all released at the same time. Any of those would qualify as the "first" Pentium II.

The Pentium 266 is also available via the Deschutes version, which has much lower power consumption (16.8W versus the Klamath 266 at 38.2W).

If CPU speed isn't a concern, the running a Deschutes 266 would operate cooler and quieter than any of the Klamath versions.

I think it depends what you want to do with it. PII 233Mhz may have historical in being the first PII, but I think the 266 and 300 were released at the same time, so it isn't any more significant than either of those historically. In fact I'd say the 300Mhz one is probably the one to get, as that was the fastest launch PII, and presumably much rarer due to purchase cost.

300MHz definitely seems to be one of the rarer P2 speeds. That was the fastest Klamath. Klamath 233 and 266 show up a lot more often.
I didn't know there was ever a 266MHz Deschutes, that's probably rare also.
A few years ago I had 2 identical Dell Dimension cases, one was for a 300MHz and one for a 333MHz version of the same system. I decided to consolidate and get rid of 1. I kept the "333" bezel but I wonder which was more common.

If your main goal is to get the earliest example, then find how to decode the date markings on the CPU and get whichever is older. I don't know how Intel did those markings so I can't explain it myself.

shamino wrote on 2025-04-03, 22:28:

I don't know how Intel did those markings so I can't explain it myself.

simple - on the string that does not have the speed/model number the 2nd number is the year, 3rd and 4th are the week.

shamino wrote on 2025-04-03, 22:28:

300MHz definitely seems to be one of the rarer P2 speeds. That was the fastest Klamath. Klamath 233 and 266 show up a lot more […]
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300MHz definitely seems to be one of the rarer P2 speeds. That was the fastest Klamath. Klamath 233 and 266 show up a lot more often.
I didn't know there was ever a 266MHz Deschutes, that's probably rare also.
A few years ago I had 2 identical Dell Dimension cases, one was for a 300MHz and one for a 333MHz version of the same system. I decided to consolidate and get rid of 1. I kept the "333" bezel but I wonder which was more common.

If your main goal is to get the earliest example, then find how to decode the date markings on the CPU and get whichever is older. I don't know how Intel did those markings so I can't explain it myself.

No, I didn't mean the first Pentium II simply ordered by date, I meant the choice for "historical/meritorious" reasons. Maybe I can explain myself better with an example: if I had to keep only one Pentium1MMX I would not keep the 166 which was the first one released but the 233 because at the time I remember it caused quite a stir that on the Asus mainboard it could be brought to 290Mhz without any problems. This is the kind of "medals on the field" that I mean for the choice of a CPU in a group.