FSB and old computer questions.....

Instead of buying new computers. I need to upgrade these due to $$$$ constraints. Both 100 Hz FSB. I want to get the computers up to speed and one has only 64 meg in L2 cache so I was wanting to go up to at least 256 meg. It is a socket A board ( Duron 850 ) What would happen if I put a CPU that is for 200 Hz FBS on this MB that is 100Hz FSB??? Will it work anyway? The other is a slot A with an Athlon 600 that has 512 meg L2 cache. ( this one actually runs real good but I was thinking about staying as close to identical as I can for ease of maintenance and networking. But I can’t find the MB and CPU anymore. )

Also, how fast can I go with 98se ( and stay out of the flaky range ) if I was to just get new MB’s and identical CPU’s and still be able to use all my old towers, RAM, power supplies, fans, CDR/W, LAN boards, PCI cards, etc. ??

We really don’t like XP … Don’t need it …

Say $100 MB’s, $100-150 CPU’s ??? I like AMD but am open to suggestions…

We have all the rest of the stuff that works just fine for us, just need the boxes a bit quicker for my photo work and her defragging…

All opinions requested…

My suggestions:
Processor: AMD A64 3000+ 135 dollars.

AMD, like you requested, 64 bit for a bit of future-proofing, and plenty fast enough for the casual user.

Motherboard:
68 dollars

Has PCI-E slot for future video cards, as well as an AGP slot for the one you probably have now. Plenty of room for RAM. Not entirely great for OCing, but I don’t know how much of that you’ll be doing.

Side note: Holy crap! You live in NW Arkansas!? I’m from Fayetteville! And live there! OMG!