754 vs 940

[SDOG34]

Hi all,

My bro is about to upgrade his computer and I was wondering what the smartest socket bet was. In other words, which of these sockets seems to be the future of AMD chips? Any suggestions from the sages?

Cheers

 

[Peter]

940 is the multiprocessor server platform, traditionally the longest lasting. 754 is entry level, soon to be paired with 939 for the performance desktop/single-CPU workstation market.

 

[SDOG34]

Does that mean it's best to wait for the 939 socket? When will that be released?

 

[Peter]

First boards have been presented at CeBit. So it's just round the corner.

939 is the performance option, with dual channel RAM support but no multiprocessor option. 754 has just one RAM channel.

 

[jrphoenix]

Originally posted by: SDOG34
Does that mean it's best to wait for the 939 socket? When will that be released?

Definately wait until socket 939 boards come out! The 939 will be the socket for all future AMD 64 procs & FX series procs for the forseeable future. The boards should be out in May sometime according to some stories circulating. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be a late April "surprise"... probably May.

 

[newellrp1]

when is the 939 coming out? i need it *now*. im building a computer at the moment and have decided on everything but the Motherboard (i think). I have either ordered or at least decided on most of the components. will the 939 allow me to use the athlon 64 2800? it's only $130 right now and i would like to wait for the 64 FX's to go down below the $730 they are at now...

 

[Vette73]

If building now then get a good 754 board. It will be supported for a while and be updated at least around the 3800+ I have read

 

[newellrp1]

but i suppose any athlon FX dual channel memory shenanigans are then (using 754) out of the question?

 

[Peter]

Yes.
754: One CPU, one memory channel
939: One CPU, two memory channels
940: Up to eight CPUs, each with two memory channels.

 

[newellrp1]

is dual memory channels worth the price? what is the fastest memory (SDRAM not RAMBUS) that i can get?

 

[Peter]

The fastest _specified_ memory standard is PC3200, aka DDR400, technically DDR SDRAM at 200 MHz. This also happens to be what any incarnation of the AMD64 architecture likes best - although you can feed it any lower speed DDR RAM as well. E.g. when you migrate a twin set of slower DIMMs to an AMD64 machine, it'll be much less of a brake to the new system if it's a dual channel configuration.

Socket 939 and 754 take the commodity type "unbuffered" DIMMs, while socket-940 wants server grade "Registered" or even "Registered ECC".

 

[SDOG34]

Peter,

Do you have any reccomendations on 754 boards?

Thx

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: newellrp1
is dual memory channels worth the price? what is the fastest memory (SDRAM not RAMBUS) that i can get?

In all honesty for this platform you won't see that much of a performance hit (if any) from single channel ram. If you really need to buy right now...go with a nice 754 chip.

And I know you asked Peter, but as for motherboards...if you want to overclock either 1)get an nf3 150 OR 2)wait for nf3 250. If you just plan on leaving everything at default speeds...go with a Via board.

nf3 150:
Gigabyte K8N Pro (had it...nice board for the price)
Shuttle AN50 (i think that's the model #)...supposedly one of the better OC boards
Chaintech Zentigh (nice looking but some people have issues

Via:
K8V Deluxe - some people have had problems with it but so far I haven't had one...I love this board...very fast, stable, and relatively cheap
MSI - haven't owned it but it is also supposed to be a very nice board
Abit KV8-max3 - ditto
Aopen Ak-89 - read the anand review from the front page

 

[Peter]

I'd go with the SiS chipset. Best performance everywhere - on AGP (unlike NVidia) and on the southbridge I/O (unlike VIA). Boards available from ASRock and ECS. But then, I'm a high priest of the Church Of Stock Speed.

 

[SDOG34]

Thanks for all the help fellas. I am passing all this info on to my bro.

Cheers