athlon 3400+ and beyond

[gh0st]

sooooo now that i've pretty much decided upon getting a 64bit cpu... so naturally i guess i'm going to be getting an AMD processor. should i wait for the socket 939 cpu's that are coming out late march (allegedly) or should i just go ahead and get a 3400+, right now. so far i havent seen any huge advantages to them, just want your guys' opinions.

 

[Asus]

The main 2 changes with socket 939:
- dual channel memory controller.
(The CPUs will have less L2 cache to keep the same rating with added dual channel memory which is OK by me. Look at the 3200+ vs 3000+ cache is not a big deal. Dual channel memory on a high bandwidth system is a bigger deal)
- upgrade path will be with the FX/A64 CPUs

If you buy a 3000+/3200+/3400+ now, you will have an upgrade path but it will be with the more mainstream CPUs with single channel memory etc. That would only be an issue if you only upgrade the CPU for the system. If you are the type to buy a new board/ram/cpu together then don't worry.

The waiting game is sort of tricky if you are already antsy.
Socket 939 comes out with dual channel boards, regular ram for the FX series. March?
New gfx card AGP versions released late March, on the shelves 'bout April.
PCI Express cards come out in late April or later.
BTX should be hitting here around Summer or end of.
DDR2 (I couild care less) comes out in H2 '04 I think.

Buying now is not exacly a poor choice at all. Just future tech. to come is all.
The one a lot of people are waiting on is socket 939. Nforce3 250 pro is coming out then as well. W00T
Intel's new socket is also coming out this spring.
The other one is BTX/PCI express boards and cases.

IMHO
If you are buying a A64 3000+, go for it. Even a A64 3200+.Don't bother waiting unless you want BTX or PCI Express.

A 3400+ is a more high end product and I would rather get the socket 939 version running on a Nforce3 250 Pro board with dual channel memory. Maybe even have enough money for a 3700+ by then. Should be about the same price.