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Which chipset for a cyrix pr233 cpu?

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First post, by meljor

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Hello there...

Has anyone here ever tested if there is a performance difference when it comes to chipsets paired with a cyrix cpu?

I'm planning on building a pc with a pr233 cpu (2,5x 75mhz or 187mhz) and i have a few options when it comes to picking a board for it. For example, i know the Intel hx chipset is among the fastest for intel cpu's but is this the same for cyrix? I don't have a hx board but here are my options:

Dell board with intel VX
Soyo sy-5vd intel VX
Pc partner intel VX
A-trend 5030 with intel TX
Asus p5a Ali V
Msi 5169 Ali V
Jetway J-542B Ali V
Jetway J-542C Ali-V
Aopen ax59pro Via mvp3
chaintech 5agm2 Via mvp3

The Dell board i use for my mmx system and i know it works great (the mmx can move to another board if needed).
I tested fully my Asus p5a boards so i know they work (my favorite for my k6 cpu's, but i have spare boards)
The Aopen is my favorite Via board and i know it is also 100%

The rest i never used but i know they post so i think they are ok, and some came out of working systems.

So, assuming they all work, what is the best pick for my upcoming cyrix build? I want max. performance from it since it has to power a voodoo1 board. Or is a Voodoo rush a better match for this system? Or overclock the Cyrix?

I have other systems for heavier games but it would be nice to be able to play all voodoo graphics games on this system. It will also be used for dos games and i wonder which vga card i should use since i have a few options here also.

Summary of questions:

Which chipset or better, which board from my list for the cyrix.
Voodoo1 or Rush
Good stable overclock settings for the cpu (not over the top)
Which card: S3 Trio 64V+ 2mb, Riva 128 4mb, matrox g200 8mb pci, S3 Virge 2mb , S3 6326 4mb or S3 virge/dx 4mb (if paired with voodoo1, otherwise i use the 2d of the Rush ofcourse)

I prefer ATX boards for my systems but for this one i can make an exception and go AT, it all depends on which board you guys recommend.....

It will be paired with 64mb ram (edo or sdram) and an AWE32 isa card.

asus tx97-e, 233mmx, voodoo1, s3 virge ,sb16
asus p5a, k6-3+ @ 550mhz, voodoo2 12mb sli, gf2 gts, awe32
asus p3b-f, p3-700, voodoo3 3500TV agp, awe64
asus tusl2-c, p3-S 1,4ghz, voodoo5 5500, live!
asus a7n8x DL, barton cpu, 6800ultra, Voodoo3 pci, audigy1

Reply 1 of 21, by Tetrium

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There was this extra option "Liniar Burst" or something, that is supposed to make those Cyrix chips a bit faster. Intel doesn't support it though so you might want to get a non-Intel chipsetted mainboard.
I'm not sure if the Ali and VIA chipsets support Liniar Burst, but the SiS one does (though you don't seem to have one of those).

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Reply 3 of 21, by meljor

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Well yess, i have an 366 also But i would like to compare to my 233 mmx system.

asus tx97-e, 233mmx, voodoo1, s3 virge ,sb16
asus p5a, k6-3+ @ 550mhz, voodoo2 12mb sli, gf2 gts, awe32
asus p3b-f, p3-700, voodoo3 3500TV agp, awe64
asus tusl2-c, p3-S 1,4ghz, voodoo5 5500, live!
asus a7n8x DL, barton cpu, 6800ultra, Voodoo3 pci, audigy1

Reply 4 of 21, by Nahkri

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Since it uses a 75mhz fsb you should use a newer motherboard,either 1 with mvp3 chipset or 1 with ali alladin 5 chipset,usually they work better with the unusual 75mhz speed,but not sure they are period corect,format shouldn't matter.
As for video i would go for either the riva or the 4mb virge + voodoo 1,they both period corect.
I,m looking forward for the results,u should trow in a k6 233 mhz too.

Reply 5 of 21, by idspispopd

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Agree with Tetrium, Linear Burst support may have an impact.
According to Tom's Hardware both Aladdin V and MVP3 should support it: http://www.thg.ru/mainboard/19980731/print.html
In this AnandTech article it is only mentioned for MVP3: http://www.anandtech.com/show/72/19

With 75MHz FSB the Aladdin V will overclock the PCI bus at 37.5 MHz and the MVP3 will run it at 30 MHz.

Quote from http://www.redhill.net.au/c/c-9.html#mx-200
"Our favourite combination was an MX-200 and an FIC VA-502 motherboard. For some reason unknown to us, this particular pairing was phenomenally fast — much faster than the same chip in different boards, or the same board with different chips — ..."

Regarding overclocking: Cyrix chips usually don't overclock well. I had a a PR233 at the time which was the model meant for 66x3 operation, and I used a higher FSB with a smaller multiplier. Not totally sure, but it may have been 100x2.

Voodoo1 or Rush: The 2D part of Voodoo Rush (assuming an Alliance chip which is probably more common) does not have very good compatibility with some earlier DOS games according to Gona's list. Macronix chips should fare better.

You already seem to know that a PR233 won't be able to max out a Voodoo1, here are some figures: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/3d-accele … step,51-17.html

Reply 6 of 21, by sliderider

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meljor wrote:

Well yess, i have an 366 also But i would like to compare to my 233 mmx system.

A 366GP runs at 250mhz so it is a fairer comparison to a 233 MMX than a PR233. A PR233 only runs at 187.5.

Reply 7 of 21, by Nahkri

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sliderider wrote:
meljor wrote:

Well yess, i have an 366 also But i would like to compare to my 233 mmx system.

A 366GP runs at 250mhz so it is a fairer comparison to a 233 MMX than a PR233. A PR233 only runs at 187.5.

Yeah but at 187.5,has same performance at least in integer based operations as a pentium 233.

Reply 8 of 21, by lazibayer

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sliderider wrote:
meljor wrote:

Well yess, i have an 366 also But i would like to compare to my 233 mmx system.

A 366GP runs at 250mhz so it is a fairer comparison to a 233 MMX than a PR233. A PR233 only runs at 187.5.

One can always downclock a 366 to 66x3.5MHz to make it fair and square 😈
But I believe the OP chose 233 for some good reasons 😉

Reply 9 of 21, by meljor

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Thanx all!

I have been playing with the A-trend atc-5030 and a cyrix pr233 and an MII-300. The A-trend (intel TX chipset) was already in a complete case so it was the easiest way 🤣

I have all these systems with s7 and mmx, ss7 and amd, slot1 with p3 etc.with win98se so the plan was a cyrix setup with win95 and an AT board for the slowest voodoo.

I'm cured...... I cannot help it: I hate win95 and its poor support for usb (i use osr 2.5) and I hate the bad framerates the cyrix produces. Yes it can play the old glide games reasonably well, but even a 166mmx feels smoother compared to the MII-300.

Back in the days i started with a 286, then 486 and after that i had a cyrix pr120 and a cyrix pr200.
Then i upgraded to a 200mmx and i felt like FINALLY i had a system that could do anything. Upgraded it with a voodoo1 and it was a blast.

I guess after all these years i feel the same way: my current 233mmx is way more fun to use.

I'm not completely done: The mmx gets a rebuild (different case and different mobo, just for fun). I will try a cyrix in it first and see how it goes when i have 98se, usb ports and a newer chipset. i will built this with an Ali V or mvp3 board.

asus tx97-e, 233mmx, voodoo1, s3 virge ,sb16
asus p5a, k6-3+ @ 550mhz, voodoo2 12mb sli, gf2 gts, awe32
asus p3b-f, p3-700, voodoo3 3500TV agp, awe64
asus tusl2-c, p3-S 1,4ghz, voodoo5 5500, live!
asus a7n8x DL, barton cpu, 6800ultra, Voodoo3 pci, audigy1

Reply 10 of 21, by noshutdown

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the 6x86mx/m2 is somewhat strange. its raw fpu performance(wetstone, linpack etc.) is less than half of the pmmx and also far from the k6, but in most actual game tests, it comes pretty close to the pmmx.

Reply 11 of 21, by meljor

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It didn't feel like it..... But i will give it another go.

asus tx97-e, 233mmx, voodoo1, s3 virge ,sb16
asus p5a, k6-3+ @ 550mhz, voodoo2 12mb sli, gf2 gts, awe32
asus p3b-f, p3-700, voodoo3 3500TV agp, awe64
asus tusl2-c, p3-S 1,4ghz, voodoo5 5500, live!
asus a7n8x DL, barton cpu, 6800ultra, Voodoo3 pci, audigy1

Reply 12 of 21, by Thandor

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noshutdown wrote:

the 6x86mx/m2 is somewhat strange. its raw fpu performance(wetstone, linpack etc.) is less than half of the pmmx and also far from the k6, but in most actual game tests, it comes pretty close to the pmmx.

The FPU of the Cyrix 6x86 is weak. In my benchmarks I found that a Pentium 100 will be pretty close to a 6x86MX PR200 using Quake. However, if it runs Doom it'll be close to a Pentium 166MMX (and outperforming a Pentium 166) since Doom doesn't rely on an FPU.

General Windows/Office work will fly on a 6x86 (Windows '98 perhaps better than on a Pentium MMX!) and games like Grand Theft Auto also run like a dream.

As for graphics; go with S3 + Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo1) and don't use the Voodoo Rush. Although the Voodoo Rush is an interesting board it's performance is behind the Voodoo Graphics. 2D quality of the ProMotion AT-25 on the Voodoo Rush is weak, let alone compatibility. The S3 will run practically everything in 2D. Also run it at 37,5MHz PCI speed rather than 30MHz. 37,5 PCI speed won't be an issue with S3-based and Voodoo Graphics card. Most other components will run with 37,5MHz as well. Using 30MHz PCI-speed you will loose a few frames per second in games 😉.

thandor.net - hardware
And the rest of us would be carousing the aisles, stuffing baloney.

Reply 13 of 21, by noshutdown

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Thandor wrote:
The FPU of the Cyrix 6x86 is weak. In my benchmarks I found that a Pentium 100 will be pretty close to a 6x86MX PR200 using Quak […]
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noshutdown wrote:

the 6x86mx/m2 is somewhat strange. its raw fpu performance(wetstone, linpack etc.) is less than half of the pmmx and also far from the k6, but in most actual game tests, it comes pretty close to the pmmx.

The FPU of the Cyrix 6x86 is weak. In my benchmarks I found that a Pentium 100 will be pretty close to a 6x86MX PR200 using Quake. However, if it runs Doom it'll be close to a Pentium 166MMX (and outperforming a Pentium 166) since Doom doesn't rely on an FPU.

General Windows/Office work will fly on a 6x86 (Windows '98 perhaps better than on a Pentium MMX!) and games like Grand Theft Auto also run like a dream.

As for graphics; go with S3 + Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo1) and don't use the Voodoo Rush. Although the Voodoo Rush is an interesting board it's performance is behind the Voodoo Graphics. 2D quality of the ProMotion AT-25 on the Voodoo Rush is weak, let alone compatibility. The S3 will run practically everything in 2D. Also run it at 37,5MHz PCI speed rather than 30MHz. 37,5 PCI speed won't be an issue with S3-based and Voodoo Graphics card. Most other components will run with 37,5MHz as well. Using 30MHz PCI-speed you will loose a few frames per second in games 😉.

in my benchmark, pmmx-300 scored 56fps in quake while m2-300 scored 40fps, yeah thats pretty slow but better than what i expected.
performance in quake2/3 and 3dmark are even closer.

Reply 14 of 21, by sliderider

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Nahkri wrote:
sliderider wrote:
meljor wrote:

Well yess, i have an 366 also But i would like to compare to my 233 mmx system.

A 366GP runs at 250mhz so it is a fairer comparison to a 233 MMX than a PR233. A PR233 only runs at 187.5.

Yeah but at 187.5,has same performance at least in integer based operations as a pentium 233.

In integer, maybe, but the difference in actual clock speed combined with the weaker FPU is going to kill the Cyrix in gaming. Even at an actual 233mhz, the Cyrix is still going to come up short. A Pentium 233 MMX is going to be the better choice for gaming than a 6x86.

Reply 15 of 21, by feipoa

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It takes a 300 MHz Cyrix 6x86 to achieve the FPU performance of a Pentium 233 MMX. Conversely, it requires only a 166 MHz Cyrix 6x86 to achieve the ALU performance of a Pentium 233 MMX.

Plan your life wisely, you'll be dead before you know it.

Reply 16 of 21, by noshutdown

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feipoa wrote:

It takes a 300 MHz Cyrix 6x86 to achieve the FPU performance of a Pentium 233 MMX. Conversely, it requires only a 166 MHz Cyrix 6x86 to achieve the ALU performance of a Pentium 233 MMX.

if its raw fpu performance, like wetstone and linpack, even a m2-300(not pr300) would be smoked by pentium-150. however actual performance in most 3d games are much closer, at 10-20% slower.
well actually there is quite some difference between 6x86 and 6x86mx/m2. not only with the addition of mmx instructions, but also raw fpu performance is over 10% faster.

Reply 17 of 21, by feipoa

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Looking at the Ziff-Davis Winbench99 FPU mark results, the Cyrix MII at 300 MHz scored 672 while a Pentium 150 scored 577. Looking at Bytemark's 32-bit DOS index, the Cyrix MII at 300 MHz scored 2.24 while the Pentium-150 scored 1.77. By comparison, the Pentium 233 MMX scored 2.52 in Bytemark's FPU index test.

For game performance, Cyrix MII at 300 MHz scored 24 fps in Quake 2 (GL mode), while a Pentium 233 MMX scored 22.7 fps. The Pentium 150 scored only 13.5 fps.

The conglomerate results seem to indicate that the FPU of the Cyrix MII at 300 MHz approximates that of a Pentium 233 MMX. The ALU of the Cyrix MII at 300 MHz is similar to that of a PII-300.

Plan your life wisely, you'll be dead before you know it.

Reply 18 of 21, by meljor

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I assume that is at a REAL 300mhz? So it would be more like a MII 433 or something?

asus tx97-e, 233mmx, voodoo1, s3 virge ,sb16
asus p5a, k6-3+ @ 550mhz, voodoo2 12mb sli, gf2 gts, awe32
asus p3b-f, p3-700, voodoo3 3500TV agp, awe64
asus tusl2-c, p3-S 1,4ghz, voodoo5 5500, live!
asus a7n8x DL, barton cpu, 6800ultra, Voodoo3 pci, audigy1

Reply 19 of 21, by feipoa

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meljor wrote:

I assume that is at a REAL 300mhz? So it would be more like a MII 433 or something?

Correct - MII-433. Or an MII-400 run at 300 MHz. I have an MII-433 in possession, but I ran these tests with an MII-400 at 300 MHz (3x100).

Plan your life wisely, you'll be dead before you know it.