Marianne, Yes, the P-III/K6-3 level of processors have new instruction sets, which will not be fully utilized in most software applications for some time. Your best bang-for-the-buck is getting a 450MHz AMD K6-2 for now, which should run just over $200 for mainboard and CPU with fan (or similar). Wait for the software to come out with P-III optimization. By that time, P-III prices will probably have fallen more than the $200 some you spent on the 450MHz. FYI, check out benchmark test results on Intel & AMD web sites (note that AMD publishes results for their competitor, Intel publishes results for only Intel processors). Now is a great time to buy a P-II/K6-2 level CPU because the next generation just came out, driving these prices way down. Martin Kurr email [log in to unmask] > From: M. Jelley[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > What are your thoughts? > >Before applications programs can take advantage of the P III >instruction > set they'll have to be recompiled in a compiler whose code >generator is P > III aware. That may take awhile, but eventually it will >happen. Depending > on the performance gains -- they may be >detectable only with benchmarks > -- > you can then upgrade your >software to match your hardware. > PCSOFT's List Owner's: Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]> Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>