754's are cheap

[Greenman]

Are they really that much slower than a 939? The prices almost can't be beat.

 

[imported_i2k]

I have the 3700.. nice performance

 

[n7]

s754 = great for a value system..escept for one thing: AGP.

No dual channel RAM doesn't really matter that much.

Less overclockability isn't the end of the world.

No X2 compatibility is fine unless you need one.

But no PCI-e means no high really end gaming, longterm anyway.

If you aren't a hardcore gamer, or you are happy running games at lower resolutions for the next few years, s754 would be fine.

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Are they really that much slower than a 939? The prices almost can't be beat.

No, they aren't much slower at all. The only difference (practically speaking) is going to be dualcore upgrade. While the single channel memory is slower than dual channel, most of that is taken care of in model naming...

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Are they really that much slower than a 939? The prices almost can't be beat.

No they are not THAT much slower. But if overclocking 939 is definitely the better choice. A 939 3000/3200+ runs from $130-140 and most reach 2.4-2.5 ghz and pair that with a $70 Neo2-F and you've barely spent $200 for a 2.4-2.5 ghz chip. A good 754 chip would need to hit 2.6-2.7 ghz to be comparable in speed...which is unlikely for the cheaper 754's.

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: n7
s754 = great for a value system..escept for one thing: AGP.

No dual channel RAM doesn't really matter that much.

Less overclockability isn't the end of the world.

No X2 compatibility is fine unless you need one.

But no PCI-e means no high really end gaming, longterm anyway.

If you aren't a hardcore gamer, or you are happy running games at lower resolutions for the next few years, s754 would be fine.

There are Nforce4 mobos (with PCIe) for the S754 out there...e.g. the Foxconn NF4K8AB

 

[n7]

Isn't that a crippled PCI-e slot though?

Or are they fine?

 

[imported_i2k]

Mine is also a PCI-E Nforce 4mobo

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: n7
Isn't that a crippled PCI-e slot though?

Or are they fine?

It's not SLI, but other than that it's fine...the determining factor is the chipset in this case (Nforce4). Most of the S754 mobos are Nforce3s because they're much cheaper...S754 is basically a bargain chip.

 

[n7]

Very nice then.

S754 is more alive than i realized then, though really, when you think it over, s939 is so much more worth it, for various reasons.

You can pretty much justify both platforms, but overall, i think it's obvious which way makes more sense.

 

[Greenman]

Thanks for the answers. Looks like I should just get over being cheap and buy 939.
It's odd, if this was something my kids needed for school I wouldn't think twice about droping 3 grand on it, but when it's a toy for me my wallet rusts up.

 

[Hacp]

Heh 2800+ sempron
Nice 754 ocing mobo with pci-e
GTO squared

Equals- Value budget system that roxs.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Are there any good Socket 754 NF4 boards for overclocking?

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Greenman
Thanks for the answers. Looks like I should just get over being cheap and buy 939.
It's odd, if this was something my kids needed for school I wouldn't think twice about droping 3 grand on it, but when it's a toy for me my wallet rusts up.

LoL! I know exactly what you mean. All 3 of my kids need computers, and I plan to go all out for them. Turion lappies will be what they get.

And another LoL at "my wallet rusts up".

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Are there any good Socket 754 NF4 boards for overclocking?

I don't know from personal experience, but I would imagine that the K8N Neo3 from MSI might be a good one...

 

[fatty4ksu]

No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

 

[Shenkoa]

I would not trade my socket 939 for anything but there is absolutely nothing wrong with socket 754 AMD64 proc's. I reccomend them all the time, if your on a budjet and arent a gamer or benchmark junky then you will be fine.

 

[Jeeper94]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Are there any good Socket 754 NF4 boards for overclocking?

DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb

Edit: my bad, I just realized you said NF4. I'm not up to speed on S754 NF4 boards.

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

Uhhh...no it doesn't. The absence of dual channel makes very little difference.

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: charloscarlies

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

Uhhh...no it doesn't. The absence of dual channel makes very little difference.

You are correct, it doesn't unless you are running a Netburst chip...then it makes a HUGE difference. But the 754 chips are quite good (even for gaming), they just aren't the best and you can't upgrade to dual core.

 

[imported_Dimicron]

Originally posted by: Viditor

Originally posted by: charloscarlies

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

Uhhh...no it doesn't. The absence of dual channel makes very little difference.

You are correct, it doesn't unless you are running a Netburst chip...then it makes a HUGE difference. But the 754 chips are quite good (even for gaming), they just aren't the best and you can't upgrade to dual core.

I get along just fine with my "Clawhammer" 3200+, although in a few weeks I will be upgrading due to a PC death in the family. It's not just the CPU that makes the games run well, it's also the other parts you have to go with it. You can have the fastest CPU AMD makes, but if you only have 256MB of RAM, a Radeon VIVO 64MB video card, and a 5400RPM 2MB Cache HD every new game will run like crap (but those old DOS games should work... X-Com box FTW!).

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: n7
S754 is more alive than i realized...

You can pretty much justify both platforms

Yes you can. I've recommended both platforms dependent on intended use and budget. Really funny, yet sad to see people blindly insist on socket 939. Example I pulled out of thin air:

NOOB: My mom has a Celeron 900MHz that died. I need a replacement board/CPU/RAM for under $200 shipped. All she does is browse internet and send emails and will use this system as is until it dies again. Any suggestions? I was thinking of a cheap socket 754 board with integrated video, 512MB RAM and a Sempron.

LEET HARDWARE SNOB: Socket 754 suxors!!! Get a socket 939 - make sure you get an Nforce4 chipset.

Originally posted by: Hacp
Heh 2800+ sempron
Nice 754 ocing mobo with pci-e
GTO squared

Equals- Value budget system that roxs.

:thumbsup:

There are a lot of budget options in socket 754-land. Sempron 2500+ can be had for just over $50. Some A64 are still available with more cache and higher multipliers - $129 for 3400+ A64 that runs at 2.4GHz which will outperform a socket 939 3500+ in everything except memory benchmarks. $162 for a 3700+ is also a reasonable value.

Cheap CPUs with $60-or-cheaper Nforce3 overclocking-friendly motherboards plus a $125 Geforce 6800LE (overclocked and pipe-unlocked for near GT performance) will also make a rocking uber-budget gamer.

Originally posted by: Jeeper94

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Are there any good Socket 754 NF4 boards for overclocking?

DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb
Edit: my bad, I just realized you said NF4. I'm not up to speed on S754 NF4 boards.

DFI makes the Infinity series, socket 754 NF4 chipset with overclocking nearly as good as the LANPARTY series (just lacking the extreme memory voltages and such).

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

Only if you live or die by Sandra memory benchmarks.

Originally posted by: Shenkoa
there is absolutely nothing wrong with socket 754 AMD64 proc's... if your on a budjet and arent a gamer or benchmark junky then you will be fine.

Well, benchmark junky I can understand. Gamer? WTF dude? Gaming is all about the video card. I'm willing to wager that USING THE SAME VIDEO CARD for all intents and purposes of gaming a socket 754 system will perform as well as a socket 939 system for less money.

Video card will be the same/cost the same for whatever card such as 7800GT

Motherboard... overall socket 939 boards tend to cost more, but there are some budget ones. Foxconn makes Nforce4-4X boards in both socket types within about $2 of each other, so let's say they are the same.

CPU... socket 939 3500+ (512k cache, 2.2GHz) is $191. Socket 754 3700+ (1MB cache, 2.4GHz) is $162.

If you compare them unoverclocked and regardless of being "future proof" (which is silly with socket M2 coming out, unless you have that Asrock 939SATA2 board) which platform will score higher in gaming benchmarks? Well, they should be the same since they have the same video card, but the socket 754 is $30 cheaper. Which will score higher in all other benchmarks except memory intensive? The socket 754, at $30 less.

"Future proof?" Socket M2 is coming out, plus many people upgrade motherboards when they upgrade CPUs.

Overclockability? That's the wildcard. It isn't unknown for Venice chips to hit 2.7GHz, but "guaranteed" is more like 2.5GHz. Earlier Newcastles were mostly good for 2.3-2.4GHz, but more recent ones can hit 2.6GHz+ without too much problem. The cheaper Sempron chips should overclock really well except they are limited by their low multiplier.

 

[zephyrprime]

Have you guys seen the prices on some used socket 754 boards on ebay? They're super cheap.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Heh 2800+ sempron
Nice 754 ocing mobo with pci-e
GTO squared

Equals- Value budget system that roxs.

That is a system of true beauty. I had something similar a year ago, and stupidly upgraded to s939. Where am I now? 200mhz slower max OC, an extra 256kb L2 cache, and dual channel memory bandwidth.

Bah. I regret that upgrade, but the Venice overclocking ventures kept torturing me so.

 

[Shenkoa]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: n7
S754 is more alive than i realized...

You can pretty much justify both platforms

Yes you can. I've recommended both platforms dependent on intended use and budget. Really funny, yet sad to see people blindly insist on socket 939. Example I pulled out of thin air:

NOOB: My mom has a Celeron 900MHz that died. I need a replacement board/CPU/RAM for under $200 shipped. All she does is browse internet and send emails and will use this system as is until it dies again. Any suggestions? I was thinking of a cheap socket 754 board with integrated video, 512MB RAM and a Sempron.

LEET HARDWARE SNOB: Socket 754 suxors!!! Get a socket 939 - make sure you get an Nforce4 chipset.

Originally posted by: Hacp
Heh 2800+ sempron
Nice 754 ocing mobo with pci-e
GTO squared

Equals- Value budget system that roxs.

:thumbsup:

There are a lot of budget options in socket 754-land. Sempron 2500+ can be had for just over $50. Some A64 are still available with more cache and higher multipliers - $129 for 3400+ A64 that runs at 2.4GHz which will outperform a socket 939 3500+ in everything except memory benchmarks. $162 for a 3700+ is also a reasonable value.

Cheap CPUs with $60-or-cheaper Nforce3 overclocking-friendly motherboards plus a $125 Geforce 6800LE (overclocked and pipe-unlocked for near GT performance) will also make a rocking uber-budget gamer.

Originally posted by: Jeeper94

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
Are there any good Socket 754 NF4 boards for overclocking?

DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb
Edit: my bad, I just realized you said NF4. I'm not up to speed on S754 NF4 boards.

DFI makes the Infinity series, socket 754 NF4 chipset with overclocking nearly as good as the LANPARTY series (just lacking the extreme memory voltages and such).

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
No dual-channel=Sluggish City USA

Only if you live or die by Sandra memory benchmarks.

Originally posted by: Shenkoa
there is absolutely nothing wrong with socket 754 AMD64 proc's... if your on a budjet and arent a gamer or benchmark junky then you will be fine.

Well, benchmark junky I can understand. Gamer? WTF dude? Gaming is all about the video card. I'm willing to wager that USING THE SAME VIDEO CARD for all intents and purposes of gaming a socket 754 system will perform as well as a socket 939 system for less money.

Video card will be the same/cost the same for whatever card such as 7800GT

Motherboard... overall socket 939 boards tend to cost more, but there are some budget ones. Foxconn makes Nforce4-4X boards in both socket types within about $2 of each other, so let's say they are the same.

CPU... socket 939 3500+ (512k cache, 2.2GHz) is $191. Socket 754 3700+ (1MB cache, 2.4GHz) is $162.

If you compare them unoverclocked and regardless of being "future proof" (which is silly with socket M2 coming out, unless you have that Asrock 939SATA2 board) which platform will score higher in gaming benchmarks? Well, they should be the same since they have the same video card, but the socket 754 is $30 cheaper. Which will score higher in all other benchmarks except memory intensive? The socket 754, at $30 less.

"Future proof?" Socket M2 is coming out, plus many people upgrade motherboards when they upgrade CPUs.

Overclockability? That's the wildcard. It isn't unknown for Venice chips to hit 2.7GHz, but "guaranteed" is more like 2.5GHz. Earlier Newcastles were mostly good for 2.3-2.4GHz, but more recent ones can hit 2.6GHz+ without too much problem. The cheaper Sempron chips should overclock really well except they are limited by their low multiplier.

You know what, socket 754 is budjet but its good. I bet I could not OC a socket 754 chip over 700 Mhz!!!! so whats the better bang for buck? now if your not a overclocker then 754 is fine.