As shown on our K6-2
stats page, the fastest CPU sibling currently available for your Socket-7
motherboard is a K6-2 running at
533MHz. Our CPU Comparator shows that this
would provide a boost in speed of about 60%.
However, there is an even faster alternative, using an older
processor--a K6-III 450MHz. Though it
runs at a slower (but decent) clock speed, our CPU
Comparator demonstrates that the K6-III
would actually increase your speed by about 70%! The reason the K6-III
line still rockets ahead of any existing K6-2
is due to its integrated L2 cache.
Although new K6-III's have not been
issued for over a year, they continue to command a premium price (which is
why they have not been as successful as the K6-2).
Still, if it's speed you need, you would find it a worthwhile upgrade.
If you are willing to wait a while and go for the fastest
Socket-7 CPU soon available, save up for the new K6-2+
processor. While it sounds like an extension of the K6-2
family, it is more akin to the K6-III
and is expected to appear at 550MHz or better, sometime before spring of
this year. Stay tuned to The CPU Scorecard for
the latest details when this value-priced speedster arrives.
