New CPU....Opinions needed

[AzzMan]

Hey I'm building a new computer soon, and I'm trying to decide which processor would be best. I'm trying to decide between a Pent 4 3.0 Ghz and a AMD Athlon 3200+/3000+. I've heard that the performance difference between the 3200 and 3000 isn't worth the price difference. Can anyone verify this? Also, can anyone give me a recommendation between ASUS and Gigabyte mobos? I'm also trying to decide on one of those. THanks for your help.

 

[gh0st]

cpu: i would suggest (i assume you mean the Athlon 64bit versions) a athlon64 3000+ for more budget gaming, and a 3200+ for... well, a little performance increase

mobo: the motherboard i'm getting is the ASUS K8V. lots of good reviews for it.

i wouldent suggest a pentium at this point. in getting a athlon64 you get 1) future proofing and 2) great 32bit performance... and a 30% or so inrease in 64bit software.

 

[crabcakes66]

im with gh0st.

At your particular price point a A64 3000+ is probobly the best deal.

if you went a little cheaper i would say go with a P4 2.8c

 

[AzzMan]

Actaully I was talking about the XP Athlons, I've never seriously looked into the 64-bit versions very much. I guess I'm worried that by the time they become mainstream enough to be able to take full advantage of, The one I get will be obsolete by that time. I was considering getting a Western Digital Raptor 10k rpm, 74GB Hard Drive. It's a little pricey (~230.00$) but from what I hear it's well worth it. Oh well, I still have a while to decide. I really wish I would have known about NewEgg sooner, though. I feel like I really got ripped on this computer I had made.

 

[Habibapotamus]

Athlon 64 3000 is the same clock speed as the 64 3200, the only difference is that the 3000 has only 512kb cache compated to the 3200 with 1 mb. The athlon 3000 performs only a few percent behind the 3200.

 

[Asus]

No reason to consider 64bits but at the same time there is no reason to doubt compatibility.
X86-64 (AMD64) OS : Linux / Windows XP 64 / Windows 2003 64 / Longhorn
Both Athlon 64's and Intels future 64bit CPUs will be X86-64 (AMD64).
Take it for what it is right now running the current WinXP . A very fast and efficient 32bit CPU.

CPU Prices: AXP<A64=P4
Mainboard Prices: AXP<A64<P4
Performance: A64>P4800FSB>AXP

Suggestions:
1)Athlon 64 3000+ for ~224$
No reason to spend more money on L2 cache in a 3200+. A64 is a fantastic core design and speedy ondie memory controller freeing up the FSB (HT). Best performance out there for the same price as the P4.
2)P4 3.0c ~227$
Better than the Athlon XPs in performance and same price as the A64's
3)Athlon XP 3000+ ~166$
Again, no reason for the 3200+. 3200+ is ~same clock speed but added memory bandwidth that the AXP does not use nor need. Cheap cheap cheap but solid performance.

 

[X-FacToR]

Personally I like Intel, and I would go with a high end hyper threading processor, but if you are stuck on the 64bit althlon's by all means go for it (don't know much about heating issues with that might wanna look into it) Another thing I don't think any software is going to take "full use" of a 64 bit processor for quite a while to come so you might wanna consider that.

 

[Asus]

Hyper Threading is good if your using SMP aware apps for the most part but for just plain multitasking I urge you to check this out.
3 levels for testing multitasking. Only the hardest does HT pull through which would include: "Norton AntiVirus software running in the background and the whole bunch of office applications, such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Access, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft FrontPage and WinZip."
Link

64bit really should be ignored unless you are counting on some 64bit app. HT link and ondie memory controller is where it's at.
Athlon 64s run cool and why anyone would want to change the stock cooler is beyond me.
Look into Cool&Quiet too.

 

[mrchimp]

If your a Linux user then you can already take advantage of AMD64, as for the most part all you need to do is recompile your kernel and your apps.

Personally i would go with AMD64 or wait for the new socket type, in alot of gameing tests it's equal or faster than P4 and in my experience it's always turned out cheaper to go with AMD.

 

[X-FacToR]

If your a Linux user then you can already take advantage of AMD64, as for the most part all you need to do is recompile your kernel and your apps.

Personally i would go with AMD64 or wait for the new socket type, in alot of gameing tests it's equal or faster than P4 and in my experience it's always turned out cheaper to go with AMD.

Amd is allot cheaper in most cases, but with the new chips (they are relatively close) I still stand by intel

http://www.pricewatch.com/

Check out some prices for yourself.

If I had the money Id be buying a Intel Pentium 4 3.4GHZ 800FSB around $420.00 but Im gunan end up waiting untill the 4ghz benchmark is hit then Ill end up buying the finishing touches on my computer.

 

[mrchimp]

I wasn't just talking about the CPU price which at the moment is roughly equal for both AMD and Intel.

 

[AzzMan]

I remember as early as August last year, the price difference between intel and AMD was huge. That was one of the main deciding points that made me go with AMD instead of intel. Cost me about 200 dollars less. Also I remember when the Athlon 3200+ and the P4 3.0 Ghz came out, they were ridiculously expensive. Now the prices are nothing. Ill wait a month or 2 when I have some more money, and when prices come down even more, and after I sell this comp I have now. BTW anyone know where I could sell computer parts, or who would buy them? I would try ebday, but I don't have a credit card #.

 

[X-FacToR]

I remember as early as August last year, the price difference between intel and AMD was huge. That was one of the main deciding points that made me go with AMD instead of intel. Cost me about 200 dollars less. Also I remember when the Athlon 3200+ and the P4 3.0 Ghz came out, they were ridiculously expensive. Now the prices are nothing. Ill wait a month or 2 when I have some more money, and when prices come down even more, and after I sell this comp I have now. BTW anyone know where I could sell computer parts, or who would buy them? I would try ebday, but I don't have a credit card #.

you don't need a credit card, goto your local bank and get a debit card (and a paypal acount is usefull over the net) Should be plenty of places you could sell your old stuff do a search on google

 

[gh0st]

um... there is a great reason to get a64's.

i think it has something to do with better 32bit performance than virtually all 32bit processors (except MAYBE the 3.2EE). not to mention the 3000+ is really not much more expensive than intel's cpu's.

 

[Maskirovka]

since there's going to be a new socket for AMD soon, and the prescotts are crap, i wouldn't buy anything right now unless your system is really old and crappy....i'd wait until fall so you can get on a better upgrade path and save some future $$.

right now, i'd suggest a non-64bit athlon...they're going to perform fine for the forseeable future and they're going to be on the cheap side.

i bought a 2.4c last summer because i was counting on the prescotts as an upgrade path, whereas AMD was going nowhere with the athlon XPs...and now that the prescotts are crap, i fully intend on:

A: hoping intel will fix the prescott line
B: getting a socket 939 athlon64 in the fall

check this article out:

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NTYw

 

[AzzMan]

Okay, I've just decided I'll stick with the system I have for now. Maybe until summer or fall. It's not a bad computer at all, I just feel like I got kicked in the nuts when I think about how much I paid for it, and think about how much I could've gotten it for on someplace like newegg.

AMD 2400+-------Epox EP-8RDA+ Mobo-----512 MB Kingston PC2700 RAM-----Radeon 9800pro------
80gig WD HD---------Samsung CD-RW/DVD Combo---------Win XP Home-------
ENERMAX Black Mid-Tower ATX Case
Plus Assembly taxes and whatnot = about 1300 bux

I just feel I coulda gotten such a better deal had I known the things that I do now

 

[Maskirovka]

yeah man...2400+ and 9800 pro is totally fine until fall...i wouldn't upgrade that...especially since the current upgrade paths are relatively worthless...

maybe you could just max out your mobo if things start feeling slow? i don't know what the max cpu is for that chipset/mobo

 

[AzzMan]

Me either. Thing is I didn't know jack **** about different mobos and RAM speeds and such. The people building it could have just slapped whatever into it and I wouldn't have known. Not to mention I didn't know about places like NewEgg, which could have saved me hundreds of dollars (the main reason I feel like I got ripped off)I was leaving for school soon and I needed a decent computer fast. Oh well, besides if I did upgrade I would have taken my video card out and used that in the new comp. Heh, it's probaly one of the only things I'm glad I did get.

 

[Maskirovka]

http://www.epox.nl/english/products/motherboard/8rda+.htm

well that's the epox page for your mobo...should support any AMD socket A CPU...so unless i'm missing something, you should be able to put a 3000+ on there (the 3200+ has a 400MHz FSB, which your mobo doesn't support)...but i don't see why you'd want to for the price...which is like $160+

for around $115 you could get a 2800+...but again...you have to ask yourself why you're doing it...assuming you're running dual channel DDR, your mobo/cpu/ram/vidcard combo should last you until the next level of upgrades...i.e. the new socket athlon64's.

i don't see any reason for you to upgrade unless you just flat out really want to....and even then, it's a waste of money until this fall, imo.