Opteron or x2

[emperor77]

I currently have a 3500+, x850xt, 2gig dual channel.. and want to upgrade. What is the best option here?

Does the opteron chips need different ram?Should i hold on to the current system a while longer and purchase a full upgrade later, after vista is released and dx 10 etc...?
Opteron 170-180 or x2 4200-4800 for 939 socket.

 

[qcmadness]

I currently have a 3500+, x850xt, 2gig dual channel.. and want to upgrade. What is the best option here?

Does the opteron chips need different ram?Should i hold on to the current system a while longer and purchase a full upgrade later, after vista is released and dx 10 etc...?
Opteron 170-180 or x2 4200-4800 for 939 socket.

Opteron 170: 2.0GHz with 1MB L2 per core
Opteron 175: 2.2GHz with 1MB L2 per core
Opteron 180: 2.4GHz with 1MB L2 per core

x2 4200+: 2.2GHz with 512KB L2 per core
x2 4400+: 2.2GHz with 1MB L2 per core
x2 4600+: 2.4GHz with 512KB L2 per core
x2 4800+: 2.4GHz with 1MB L2 per core

You will know what to buy.

 

[emperor77]

Can i use my existing ram or do i need ecc reg ram for the opteron chips

 

[qcmadness]

Can i use my existing ram or do i need ecc reg ram for the opteron chips

For Socket 939 Opterons, no ECC-reg ram is needed.

 

[emperor77]

What is the difference between the chips?Can you please give me a link to a cheap uk based online pc shop....

 

[qcmadness]

What is the difference between the chips?Can you please give me a link to a cheap uk based online pc shop....

I don't have it...

 

[sirheck]

you probably wont notice any difference in any of those cpu,s

unless you benchmark.

probably wont notice any difference from what you have now.
i didnt. 3700 to x2 4400.

get the best you can afford.

if overclocking i give the edge to the opty,s.

 

[sirheck]

Should i hold on to the current system a while longer and purchase a full upgrade later, after vista is released and dx 10 etc...?

go for the upgrade to dual core as they will probably go up in price
and down in availability.

 

[ShadowdogKGB]

Opty 165 is the gem in the opteron line. 2.7ghz without a hitch on air. You'd be nuts to get a single core anything. Once you go dual core you'll never go back.

I'd save your money though. A conroe 6300 will beat my 2.7 opty.

 

[bluntside]

The Opty 170 :!:

I just bought this CPU for my system and my girlfriend has the exact same chip, and hers is running stable a killer 3.2GHz, with a phase changing system. Even with out her phase, sh managed to get a solid 2.8 running it air cooled.

DFI LP SLI-Dr ExPert
AMD +3700> soon to be replaced by Opteron 170
2x 1Gb Corsair Pro 3.3.3.8
Evga 7900gt Co

The 165 is indeed a jewel, the best bank for the buck Opteron out ther today, I decided to go a 170 cuz its right in the middle of the line of Opty's, I read threads stating that the 180, 175 dont OC as well as the 165 or 170, but you know how it goes, people think the bigger the numbers the better the unit. If $$ is tight on ya, the 165, if you can spare a penny or two, Id slide towards the 170.

 

[bluntside]

The Opteron chips are special chips, capable of outperforming a x2 4200, x2 4800 with out a doubt, a OCers dream chip, plus you save money just going Opteron and OC to mad speeds, Opteron> OC > Bang for buck = you!


Which brings in another point of matter, if you are planning on OC, which I will assume you will, you want to make sure that your MOBO has the features and resources to do so. If you have no idea how to OC or if you think your mobo cannot handle the instructions the X2 might be a easier way out through your choice.

What is your current mobo, or whatever mobo you plan on using once you get an Opteron or a X2?

 

[emperor77]

I have a nf4 ultra msi k8n neo 4 platinum.Haven't overclocked a chip yet but why not.Will practise on my current chip.Gonna take a 170-180, depends how difficult it is overclocking cpu's

 

[emperor77]

What is the best online uk stores to buy from?

 

[bluntside]

I have no idea what the stores are in the UK, but I'll tell you this much, you wont be disappointed with the Opteron. Just ordered my today from newegg

 

[bluntside]

try this

http://www.misco.co.uk/promos/consumer/homepage.aspx

 

[emperor77]

On most uk sites the 170 costs more than the 180 and 175

 

[emperor77]

What should i use for cooling?I am not a fan of watercooling?just ordered the opteron 170

 

[gOJDO]

I currently have a 3500+, x850xt, 2gig dual channel.. and want to upgrade. What is the best option here?

Does the opteron chips need different ram?Should i hold on to the current system a while longer and purchase a full upgrade later, after vista is released and dx 10 etc...?
Opteron 170-180 or x2 4200-4800 for 939 socket.

The s939 Opteron works with unbuffered(unregistered) DDR memory, just like the s939 Athlon64/X2/FX. You can change your 3500+ with an Opteron CPU without changing anything else.
Same revisions of same clocked K8 CPUs(Athlon64, Athlon64 X2, Athlon64-FX, Opteron 1xx) with same L2 cache capacity and same cores count are performing same
If you are going to overclock your CPU, than the Opteron CPUs are better choice. They are more stable and have more OC headroom.
If you are not going to overclock, than buy the cheaper CPU(probably the Athlon64 X2).