64 3200+ vs. XP 3200+

[fish0o]

Ok, I got a dilema. I'm gonna be making a new computer soon (around early August) and I was looking at the Athlon 64 3200+ as my new CPU. However, after talking to some people, they informed me that it was changing sockets and would be a waste of money untill it changed over. Then I started to look at the XP 3200+ as a different way to go, as it would be a bit cheaper.

Now I've got a problem, I've been told to go with a XP 2500+ because it can easily be overclocked to the 3200+ speed. But I thought overclocking didn't change the FSB, just the normal speed. And I'm not a big fan of overclocking, mainly because I havn't done it.

So, what would be the best way to go? The 64 3200+, even though its changing sockets soon. Or the XP 3200+?

 

[scottchen]

Well the ppl who told you socket change is a waste of money then they have no idea what they're talking about. Socket754 will become AMD's value lineup of CPUs, up to Athlon64 3700+, and its entire athlonXP series moved up to it. You won't be able to afford Socket939 anyways. The athlon64 2800+ easily outperforms the AthlonXP 3200+ in any benchmark, so AMD's rating system's messed up. I would definently go for the Athlon64 3200+, you can overclock that to 2.3 easy so that'll be about a 3600+.

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[Snaggle]

The current XP 3200 are not very good nor are the xp 2500+bartons.The speed of a CPU is its multiplier times its FSB/hyper transport,to overlock the desktop XPs one must overclock the FSB as there multipliers are locked or you can hard mod them.The only XP that's really worth overclocking are the mobile ones which will work in desktops and all have unlocked multiliers;but to gain the real benfits of that overclock you'll have to buy more expensive ram to run at a higher FSB speed.Socket 939 may be affordable in august;but most likely it will not give one a huge edge in gaming over socket 754.The AA 64s run cooler,use less power(especially with a mobo supporting cool n quiet),have a hardware defense against viruses and are much better than an overclocked XP in gaming and can use cheaper single channeled ram.Socket 939 is not going to last forever like socket A...so the question is how often are you going to upgrade? Socket 754 will be slower than 939;but 754 will run cooler,use less power and still be good for at least another 2-3 years.Socket 939 may support pci express which will replace agp as the slot for graphics cards giving you more options for GPU upgrades;but if you wait for it you'll most likely be waiting longer than august.

SO your real choices are:an xp+barton;a socket 754 with dual channel ram;a socket 939,the first two will let you jump onto socket 939,the third will be a lot cheaper;unless you upgrade your grapphic's card frequently;than against this card will be $399 when you build and should play most games for another 2-3 years(but not extremely well,nor will it support direct X 10 games) <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-363&depa=0" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-363&depa=0</A>.

The future is uncertain and only you can really make this decision;personally I've already desided to go socket 754 and spend the extra cash on a bigger monitor and that laser printer I've been lusting after for six months and of course more games

 

[scottchen]

SO your real choices are:an xp+barton;a socket 754 with dual channel ram

there's no such thing as socket754 with dual channel ram, that's what socket939 is. Socket754 at same speeds is not necessarily slower than socket939, especially in games it's faster. Socket939 is currently NOT affordable, costing more than FX53 on their 3800+ chips...

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[Snaggle]

Socket 754 does not support dual channel;but it will still run it and if you buy dual channel for 754 you can make the jump to 939 with only replacing the cpu and mobo instaed of the mobo,cpu and ram-all depends upon how often you'll be upgrading your GPU...if you upgrade twice a year like rich enthusiasts than socket 754 is not for you;but if one keeps a video card for two years like most people than it is.

Reasons to upgrade to a Radeon x800pro <A HREF="http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q2/radeon-x800/index.x?pg=5" target="_new">http://techreport.com/reviews/2004q2/radeon-x800/index.x?pg=5</A>-look at the detail on her face.

 

[scottchen]

I don't get your point...

It doesn't support dual channel, so why the hell would you even mention that, and any generic ram 2 sticks of it will run in dual channel mode, you don't need dual channel kit... You're really not making any sense here.

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[phial]

The current XP 3200 are not very good nor are the xp 2500+bartons.The speed of a CPU is its multiplier times its FSB/hyper transport,to overlock the desktop XPs one must overclock the FSB as there multipliers are locked or you can hard mod them.The only XP that's really worth overclocking are the mobile ones which will work in desktops and all have unlocked multiliers;but to gain the real benfits of that overclock you'll have to buy more expensive ram to run at a higher FSB speed.Socket 939 may be affordable in august;but most likely it will not give one a huge edge in gaming over socket 754.The AA 64s run cooler,use less power(especially with a mobo supporting cool n quiet),have a hardware defense against viruses and are much better than an overclocked XP in gaming and can use cheaper single channeled ram.Socket 939 is not going to last forever like socket A...so the question is how often are you going to upgrade? Socket 754 will be slower than 939;but 754 will run cooler,use less power and still be good for at least another 2-3 years.Socket 939 may support pci express which will replace agp as the slot for graphics cards giving you more options for GPU upgrades;but if you wait for it you'll most likely be waiting longer than august.

your behind the times. xp-M is widely available now, and will usually get to at least 2.4ghz

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[P4Man]

"The sockets, they are chaa-aaanging"

Indeed, but its hardly a reason to postpone a purchase. By august, socket 939 might be worthwile/affordable, if not, just pick up a s754 board, its not much of an issue (if at all). Standard credo here was to wait for nForce3 250, now it is wait for socket939, then PCI-E tomorrow, 90nm the day after tomorrow, DDR2 and dual core after that.. there is always an excuse to wait but its rarely worthwhile if you're in need for a new machine.

Besides, it makes even less sense to buy a socket A board with a 3200+ instead. An athlon64 2800+ ought to be faster, more upgradeable and barely more expensive. by August, it may well be cheaper as well.

Other than that, I completely agree with Scottchen.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =

 

[Snaggle]

The only reason to get dual channel ram with a socket 754 is to have it for a jump to an upgrade on on socket 939,yeah you're right most ram will function as dual channel-if you don't care about timings

 

[scottchen]

My generic Samsung can run at 2-3-2-5 at 205mhz with heatspreader and 2.8Vdimm.

<A HREF="http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/myrig.php?do=view&id=17301" target="_new">My PC</A>

 

[scottchen]

And I guess i'm in single channel mode.

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