New Office Machine

[g-paw]

Want to replace my current office machine. It's an MSI 865PE MOBO and the 2.4Ghz Prescot. This is what I've decided on so far:

Anec SLK1650B Black Mini Tower $62.99
EpoX EP-9GF6100-M $69.00
Crucial 1GB(2 x 512Mb) $86.00
AMD Athlon 64?

Not sure whether to get the Veinice 3200 or 3500. Only use it for work. OS is Windows 2000, , genrerally running, Word, E Mail, Browser, Fire Wall, Anti Virus, Anti Spyware, and a utility that is an more functional Windows Explorer. May be wrong but don't think the cost/performance of a dual core 3800 is worth the additonal money for how it'll be used. Obviously want it faster than my current one but don't want to put anymore into the CPU than necessary, can always upgrade to dual core later.

 

[Bluefinger]

Go for the 3200+, not much point in spending loads on a pc thats only for office use.

 

[g-paw]

Thanks to both. Looks like for once I can actually get the less expensive of the 2.

 

[mdd1963]

Unless you have a buyer for your current rig, I'd consider just slapping in a 3.2C Northwood core for about $170....(I am assuming you have a socket 478 mb, as I find no socket 775 Prescotts at 2.4G)

ABout the same cost and performance as a 939/3200+, and you will not need a new mb...

For office work, should more than suffice, and might save you money...

 

[g-paw]

Unless you have a buyer for your current rig, I'd consider just slapping in a 3.2C Northwood core for about $170....(I am assuming you have a socket 478 mb, as I find no socket 775 Prescotts at 2.4G)

ABout the same cost and performance as a 939/3200+, and you will not need a new mb...

For office work, should more than suffice, and might save you money...

Sorry, it's a 2.4 Prescott on an 865PE MOBO. So I won't get any significant increase in performance going with an Athlon 3200 on a 939 MOBO?

 

[Bluefinger]

I had a 2.8GHz P4 Northwood chip... and it was dire.... it hit that 100% CPU usuage way too easily, and for me at least, wasn't good enough. A 3200+ will be a good investment, will perform much better, i assure you.

 

[linux_0]

Want to replace my current office machine. It's an MSI 865PE MOBO and the 2.4Ghz Prescot. This is what I've decided on so far:

Anec SLK1650B Black Mini Tower $62.99
EpoX EP-9GF6100-M $69.00
Crucial 1GB(2 x 512Mb) $86.00
AMD Athlon 64?

Not sure whether to get the Veinice 3200 or 3500. Only use it for work. OS is Windows 2000, , genrerally running, Word, E Mail, Browser, Fire Wall, Anti Virus, Anti Spyware, and a utility that is an more functional Windows Explorer. May be wrong but don't think the cost/performance of a dual core 3800 is worth the additonal money for how it'll be used. Obviously want it faster than my current one but don't want to put anymore into the CPU than necessary, can always upgrade to dual core later.

I believe a Socket 939 is your best upgrade path and would recommend an nVidia 6150 based motherboard with 1GB Corsair Value Select or Crucial PC3200 (2 sticks in dual channel) and any decent Antec case/PSU like the one you already picked :-D

If you want more performance you could put a 3500 or 3700 in there but a 3200 will be fine for most tasks.

Later on if you want to upgrade you will have the option of going with a 939 dual core. When the AM2 CPUs are released in June dual core prices should go down quite a bit.

If you are planning to retire your existing system you could check to see what all you can salvage out of it.

Good luck :-D

 

[mdd1963]

"Sorry, it's a 2.4 Prescott on an 865PE MOBO. So I won't get any significant increase in performance going with an Athlon 3200 on a 939 MOBO?"

There are socket 775 and 478 versions of the MSI 865PE, I assume you had a 478 version, as I found no Prescott 2.4 cpus in socket 775 form?

Yes, a socket 939 3200+ might outperform a Northwood C at 3.2G, but the added cost of another MB to go to socket 939 would hardly make the 1-2% performance differences more cost effective...

Frankly, I'm surprised that so many people would recommend a new 939 mobo to upgrade a system for $300 for doing office work, when a $175 Northwood C (with Hyperthreading) would be a drop in....

The 3.2G Northwood is easily as fast as a 3.4 PRescott core anyway, and many 3.0-3.2 NW cores are running happily at 3.6G, although this would not really be necessary for MS Word.......

 

[mdd1963]

" A 3200+ will be a good investment, will perform much better, i assure you.
"

How much faster will a 3200+ cpu and 939 mainboard upgrade (totaling $300+) open an MS Word or Excel doc than a $175 Northwood "C" running at 3.2G?

Were the user buying a completely new rig and had a buyer for his socket 478 rig, I'd recommend 939 solution anyday..

But for office work? I'd bet most users would be hard pressed to say a 3200+ feels faster or actually is faster or more responsive than a NW 3.2G....

 

[mdd1963]

"So I won't get any significant increase in performance going with an Athlon 3200 on a 939 MOBO?"

Compared to a 2.4 Prescott, yes, the 3200+ is indeed faster...

But if your mainboard is a socket 478, and Northwood/Prescott ready, then it also supports a Northwood 3.2C/800 FSB processor, which would essentially be a drop in upgrade for $175....

I will try to find some non-gaming benchmarks comparing the two..

 

[g-paw]

Probably will go with the 939 and 3200, total cost would be about $400 and means I could go with a dual core down the road. The P4 would save money upfront but would have a shorter life span. End up giving one of my grandkids the old one. An advantage of having your grandpa into computers, get some decent hand me downs.

"believe a Socket 939 is your best upgrade path and would recommend an nVidia 6150 based motherboard with 1GB Corsair Value Select or Crucial PC3200 (2 sticks in dual channel) and any decent Antec case/PSU like the one you already picked "

For some reason it's really hard to find nVidia 6150 boards most are 6100. Is there a significant performance difference between the 2?

 

[linux_0]

The 478 is obsolete and not worth upgrading.

The Socket 939 platform is still alive and well and will be upgradeable for some time.

Assuming the 865PE is currently using DDR SDRAM it would be a very reasonable upgrade to move to S939 which also uses DDR.

The OP could choose to go higher than the 3200+ or even dual core with a 939.

I think it makes a lot of sense

 

[linux_0]

Probably will go with the 939 and 3200, total cost would be about $400 and means I could go with a dual core down the road. The P4 would save money upfront but would have a shorter life span. End up giving one of my grandkids the old one. An advantage of having your grandpa into computers, get some decent hand me downs.

"believe a Socket 939 is your best upgrade path and would recommend an nVidia 6150 based motherboard with 1GB Corsair Value Select or Crucial PC3200 (2 sticks in dual channel) and any decent Antec case/PSU like the one you already picked "

For some reason it's really hard to find nVidia 6150 boards most are 6100. Is there a significant performance difference between the 2?

I was typing and didn't see your reply. I believe we are in agreement

Actually I understand the 6150 is quite a bit better

http://www.pcstats.com/artvnl.cfm?articleID=1865

The nForce4 is better still and your best bet but will also require a PCI-Express VGA card which will cost you another $30 - $299

I would urge you to get an nForce4 if at all possible.

PS This RAM whould also save you a few bucks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

 

[mdd1963]

"The Socket 939 platform is still alive and well and will be upgradeable for some time.
"

Yes, it's alive and well *now*, but exactly what new A64/Opty/X2 processors will be arriving in socket 939 format?


Hint: none

I find it hard to believe that so many people recommend a new 939/3200+ cpu and mainboard upgrade for $300 vs. a drop-in $175 3.2C Northwood model...

A Northwood 3.2C with Hyperthreading, will outperform a 3200+ in office work, video encoding, etc...

(Yes, socket 478 is dead...but so is 939)

Here is a comparison of PRescott, Northwood, and 3200+/3500+ processors...

Please find the non-gaming application where a 3200+ beats a Northwoood 3.2C..

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/page44.html

 

[captaincharisma]

"The Socket 939 platform is still alive and well and will be upgradeable for some time.
"

Yes, it's alive and well *now*, but exactly what new A64/Opty/X2 processors will be arriving in socket 939 format?


Hint: none

I find it hard to believe that so many people recommend a new 939/3200+ cpu and mainboard upgrade for $300 vs. a drop-in $175 3.2C Northwood model...

A Northwood 3.2C with Hyperthreading, will outperform a 3200+ in office work, video encoding, etc...

(Yes, socket 478 is dead...but so is 939)

Here is a comparison of PRescott, Northwood, and 3200+/3500+ processors...

Please find the non-gaming application where a 3200+ beats a Northwoood 3.2C..

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/page44.html

I agree here why spend alot of cash on a new mainboard with a new CPU when you can just buy a chip that fits in an existing mobo that would in reality have more mhz then the athlon chip that your going to buy. not that rreally means anymore anyway. stop listening to all this amd fanboyism and use your money wisely. I mean it just an office PC.

 

[g-paw]

"The Socket 939 platform is still alive and well and will be upgradeable for some time.
"

Yes, it's alive and well *now*, but exactly what new A64/Opty/X2 processors will be arriving in socket 939 format?


Hint: none

I find it hard to believe that so many people recommend a new 939/3200+ cpu and mainboard upgrade for $300 vs. a drop-in $175 3.2C Northwood model...

A Northwood 3.2C with Hyperthreading, will outperform a 3200+ in office work, video encoding, etc...

(Yes, socket 478 is dead...but so is 939)

Here is a comparison of PRescott, Northwood, and 3200+/3500+ processors...

Please find the non-gaming application where a 3200+ beats a Northwoood 3.2C..

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/page44.html

Thanks for the charts, forgot all about them. After looking at the charts and reading all of the above posts I think I will just save my money and get a dual core 3800. I know AMD and Intel are coming out with new chipsets but it would be likely a year or more after they come out before the prices will come down to the point I'd consider buying either. The entire discussion was really very usefull and my thanks to all.

 

[mdd1963]

"I know AMD and Intel are coming out with new chipsets "

True!

Wait for Conroe!

 

[g-paw]

"I know AMD and Intel are coming out with new chipsets "

True!

Wait for Conroe!

Only if I win the lottery, can I afford the premium price. I usually buy at the end of a tech life cycle because it's cheaper The build after this will be Conroe/AMD2, not taking sides. Figure if Tom ever wants to put on a reality TV show where each week they put a couple of Intel and AMD fanborys in a cage to fight to the death, I can be a referee if I stay neutral. Referring Geek Gladiators is my goal in life

 

[mdd1963]

The top end Conroes (disregarding the Conroe'EE" variant!) will debut at $600 or so, but some of the lower clocked versions at 2.2G will likely be quite affordable, as I hear Intel is planning on an aggressive price strategy beginning in April or so...

I'd be surprised if even a 2.2G Conroe is not keeping pace with an FX60 in most games, and the lowest clocked Conroe will probably be more than adequate for all office apps.

Anyway, good luck with your assembly!

 

[g-paw]

After reading everything, decided I'm going to wait till I get the money and build a dual core and use the P4 3.0 in the office. Are all the Conroe's dual core?

 

[mdd1963]

"Are all the Conroe's dual core?"

Yes, but not due to ship until 4 months or so, but they are indeed duallies, and absolute BEASTS on the various benchmarks I have seen.