74
A Guide to Building a PC with an AMD Athlon™ Processor
22914B/0—September 1999
Migrating Peripherals and Components
Q. Can I use all of my peripherals and components presently in my old computer in my
new AMD Athlon computer?
First, you must understand that the AMD Athlon is a new generation of processor
that also requires a new generation of motherboard. Check with the device vendor
to see if they have developed drivers for AMD Athlon processor-based systems.
A. However, some components, peripherals, and software presently compatible in
your older computer:
n
May not have current fixes or drivers for satisfactory performance
n
May not work with various software applications
n
May experience intermittent problems
n
May not be compatible
For these reasons, it is important to check the AMD web site at
www1.amd.com/athlon/config for the most up-to-date list of recommended compo-
nents and drivers.
Q. What about compatibility issues with legacy or end-of-life components and my
AMD Athlon computer?
A. Legacy or end-of-life (EOL) components and peripherals are usually no longer
supported by their manufacturers. In many cases, modern software cannot be used
with them, especially current operating systems and application software. In most
cases, drivers are no longer researched and developed for legacy and EOL
components.
In order to get the best performance from your AMD Athlon processor and recom-
mended motherboard, we recommend using current-production components and
peripherals that support the AMD Athlon processor. Again, for these reasons, it is
very important to check the AMD web site at www1.amd.com/athlon/config for the
most up-to-date list of compatible components, peripherals, and drivers.
ISA Components—Limitations
Q. Can I use my older ISA components, such as an ISA video card?
A. Most will work, however, there are specific limitations of older generation, legacy,
and end-of-life components (i.e. ISA video cards, etc). Check with the device
vendor to see if they have developed drivers for AMD Athlon processor-based
systems.