939 or 754
- Thread starter realredpanda
- Start date
Even if you are on a budget, get a socket 939 motherboard/CPU and go cheap on whatever else that you have to.
That system will allow for you to throw in whatever upgrades you can afford later on... the 754 socket systems are dated.
Keep in mind that you can go either AGP 8X or PCIe with the 939 systems... you don't HAVE to go PCIe if you don't want to.
There are many motherboards for the 939 socket that are the same price as the 754 systems... no idea why anyone would want to buy 754 anymore.
That system will allow for you to throw in whatever upgrades you can afford later on... the 754 socket systems are dated.
Keep in mind that you can go either AGP 8X or PCIe with the 939 systems... you don't HAVE to go PCIe if you don't want to.
There are many motherboards for the 939 socket that are the same price as the 754 systems... no idea why anyone would want to buy 754 anymore.
Upgradeability for me is a "fake" feature. Generally speaking, when I decide I need to upgrade my processor, the motherboard needs to go with it. This is just due to the number of enhancements/additions that have been made since the last time I upgraded. But then again, I typically upgrade every 1-2 years, whereas others might every 6 months or so.
So then you're really down to price and features. Prices for 939s have been eroding, so that barrier to entry vs. 754 is doing the same. Then you're talking about features, SLI being the major advantage for 939s. What people don't seem to like to talk about though is that for the cost of 2 6600GTs and an SLI motherboard, you can get a "plain" motherboard, a 6800GT (which will in a lot of cases outperform the 6600s in SLI) and maybe even add a game or two, all without needing the game/drivers to support SLI, 2 of the exact same cards, etc.
Sure, if you're the type of person that will get 2 6800 Ultras in SLI with a 4000+ under the hood, then go for it. IMHO, I'd take a long look at overall price/performance and certainly trade off $100 for a 2-5% decrease in performance.
So then you're really down to price and features. Prices for 939s have been eroding, so that barrier to entry vs. 754 is doing the same. Then you're talking about features, SLI being the major advantage for 939s. What people don't seem to like to talk about though is that for the cost of 2 6600GTs and an SLI motherboard, you can get a "plain" motherboard, a 6800GT (which will in a lot of cases outperform the 6600s in SLI) and maybe even add a game or two, all without needing the game/drivers to support SLI, 2 of the exact same cards, etc.
Sure, if you're the type of person that will get 2 6800 Ultras in SLI with a 4000+ under the hood, then go for it. IMHO, I'd take a long look at overall price/performance and certainly trade off $100 for a 2-5% decrease in performance.
Avalon
Diamond Member
- Jul 16, 2001
- 7,571
- 178
- 106
There are plenty of reasons why you would want to go s754.
Dual channel ammounts to 1-5% difference at best on the A64 platform.
90nm semprons are well under $100 and overclock as well as winchesters.
There is a larger variety of s754 boards, which also tend to be better than the choices available for s939 so far.
You can purchase the absolute best board for s754 for $100.
What good s939 board can you find for $100? The Epox 9NDA3j, a value board. Which has its quirks, such as Epox not recently including 12v monitoring on their mobos.
Lancaster/Turion will be available for s754.
We upgrade motherboards almost as often as we upgrade CPUs on these forums.
The only reason I'd go s939 is if I wanted PCI-e and a 64bit processor.
There are reasons to go either way. Don't exclude s754 from your possibilities.
Good points Avalon, but there is something to be said for having a newer chipset as well.
The 939 is cheap enough and I would never recommend the 754 unless it was given to you.
The 939 is cheap enough and I would never recommend the 754 unless it was given to you.
I bought my 3400+ last year in jan or feb when the a64 first came out, funny thing is its still as good if not better than these new a64s people are buying.
If you're sticking with AGP, I say s754 because it offers more performance for the dollar and the aforementioned Lanchester pieces which will be awesome overclockers.
754 all the way until Dual Core comes out for me. I can get the same performance as anyone on 939 with AGP and I recently used my boss's 939 setup, and I don't see any differences at all. Gaming, everyday stuff, really don't see any difference. I bought 754 when it came out, and it still pleases me to this day. Next jump will be to 939 once all the new stuff comes out. I don't want to get a 939 now, and have to buy a new processor in a few months. I'll just keep the 754 and get a whole new system when the time comes.
Yes, indeed.
Buy 754 when it came out, it would please you till 939.
Buy 939 when it came out, it would please you till dual.
:beer:
Buy 754 when it came out, it would please you till 939.
Buy 939 when it came out, it would please you till dual.
:beer:
Avalon's quotes....
"There are plenty of reasons why you would want to go s754."
why?? upgradeability and compatability of newer and faster chips without new mobo?? single versus dual??
"Dual channel ammounts to 1-5% difference at best on the A64 platform."
Agreed, but for a user like me 5% makes a big deal when things take 2-3 hours to do....
"90nm semprons are well under $100 and overclock as well as winchesters."
True....But they lack 64bits (for those that it matters), still single channel, clocked so low there multipliers will run into issues with some boards...2600+ is 1.6ghz or 8x200...not to many boards can do over 300HTT reliably let alone older sckt 754 boards...for 2.6ghz one will need 325HTT...That will probably take more of an enthusiast board....
"There is a larger variety of s754 boards, which also tend to be better than the choices available for s939 so far."
Doesn't mean much when again we will need a board capable of a very very high HTT to get to samse levels....Harder then you think and then to get ram to run right....
"You can purchase the absolute best board for s754 for $100.
What good s939 board can you find for $100? The Epox 9NDA3j, a value board. Which has its quirks, such as Epox not recently including 12v monitoring on their mobos.
Lancaster/Turion will be available for s754."
The epox can get to 300HTT and that is all that is needed for the windhseter to make it to 2.7ghz which would take a 337HTT to get to with the sempron....gonna be tough for most...have to have all the right situations probably...
"We upgrade motherboards almost as often as we upgrade CPUs on these forums."
Not me...I usually get 2 cpus per mobo...this is my first...I have done this as far back since my 1.6a in 2001....
"The only reason I'd go s939 is if I wanted PCI-e and a 64bit processor."
good reasons!!! I would have to say I would say the reason I would upgrade from a sckt 754 to a sckt 939 is that....I would if buying new still get a sckt 939....
"There are reasons to go either way. Don't exclude s754 from your possibilities."
100% agree to that!!!
To add my references to the sempron were about the 2600-300+ chips since they have low multiplier...remember most newcastle owners are starting with at least a 10x multi with a few taking the 2800+ up.....
Let us not forget 256kb of l2 cache for the semprons....Test have shown 256 to 512 jump showed a bit of improvement....512 to 1mb a little less of a jump but still a bit in the right app....1mb to 2mb very little as most modern desktop apps are set to take advanatge of it....IE Intel....
"There are plenty of reasons why you would want to go s754."
why?? upgradeability and compatability of newer and faster chips without new mobo?? single versus dual??
"Dual channel ammounts to 1-5% difference at best on the A64 platform."
Agreed, but for a user like me 5% makes a big deal when things take 2-3 hours to do....
"90nm semprons are well under $100 and overclock as well as winchesters."
True....But they lack 64bits (for those that it matters), still single channel, clocked so low there multipliers will run into issues with some boards...2600+ is 1.6ghz or 8x200...not to many boards can do over 300HTT reliably let alone older sckt 754 boards...for 2.6ghz one will need 325HTT...That will probably take more of an enthusiast board....
"There is a larger variety of s754 boards, which also tend to be better than the choices available for s939 so far."
Doesn't mean much when again we will need a board capable of a very very high HTT to get to samse levels....Harder then you think and then to get ram to run right....
"You can purchase the absolute best board for s754 for $100.
What good s939 board can you find for $100? The Epox 9NDA3j, a value board. Which has its quirks, such as Epox not recently including 12v monitoring on their mobos.
Lancaster/Turion will be available for s754."
The epox can get to 300HTT and that is all that is needed for the windhseter to make it to 2.7ghz which would take a 337HTT to get to with the sempron....gonna be tough for most...have to have all the right situations probably...
"We upgrade motherboards almost as often as we upgrade CPUs on these forums."
Not me...I usually get 2 cpus per mobo...this is my first...I have done this as far back since my 1.6a in 2001....
"The only reason I'd go s939 is if I wanted PCI-e and a 64bit processor."
good reasons!!! I would have to say I would say the reason I would upgrade from a sckt 754 to a sckt 939 is that....I would if buying new still get a sckt 939....
"There are reasons to go either way. Don't exclude s754 from your possibilities."
100% agree to that!!!
To add my references to the sempron were about the 2600-300+ chips since they have low multiplier...remember most newcastle owners are starting with at least a 10x multi with a few taking the 2800+ up.....
Let us not forget 256kb of l2 cache for the semprons....Test have shown 256 to 512 jump showed a bit of improvement....512 to 1mb a little less of a jump but still a bit in the right app....1mb to 2mb very little as most modern desktop apps are set to take advanatge of it....IE Intel....
All that being said if I needed to put thogether the cheapest ocer....It gets my nod!!! otherwise I spend a few more bucks get the best I can now and have a bit of room for possibly another chip...whether that is dual core or just an E0 desktop chips that can top out a bit higher then current 2.6-2.7ghz levels.....
couldn't be more true
the way i do upgrades (every 4 cycles= 2 years), entire mobo + proc and maybe more goes out and gets passed down to a family member
so to keep this relevent, consider how often you plan on upgrading before you think about if the platform will be upgradeable. 939 will not be the socket of choice 2 years from now.
Originally posted by: cryptonomicon
couldn't be more true
the way i do upgrades (every 4 cycles= 2 years), entire mobo + proc and maybe more goes out and gets passed down to a family member
so to keep this relevent, consider how often you plan on upgrading before you think about if the platform will be upgradeable. 939 will not be the socket of choice 2 years from now.
however it gets more compliacted then this...
How often do you upgrade the vid card??? some do this 2 times a year so that would be 4 possible upgrades...PCI-e may be the only game in town if you want the best or close to....would really limit that 2 year upgrade dream....
I do:
1 vid card every 2 mobos...
1 mobo every 2 cpus...
1 cpu about every 6 months
Now figure out the algebraic equation for that....
Throw in randomness of drives and cd/dvd-rom drives...
I usually upgrade ram around same time as mobo....
The ABit AV8 can be had for under $100, and it is a fairly good S939 OCing mobo. I have mine teamed up with a 3000+ winchester ($148 retail w/hsf) and cheap PC3200 value ram and reached 2.5Ghz on air with the stock HSF.
richardrds,
I have the same board on order... I see in your sig you're using the 8:2:1 divider; did the "Fixed" option not work for you? Also, what BIOS are you running?
Thanks.
I have the same board on order... I see in your sig you're using the 8:2:1 divider; did the "Fixed" option not work for you? Also, what BIOS are you running?
Thanks.
Avalon
Diamond Member
- Jul 16, 2001
- 7,571
- 178
- 106
I listed a board capable of 300HTT, Duvie. The DFI. It's also $100
Sempys will drop in price over the next 6 months, so a 3000+ 90nm or 3100+ is an extremely viable alternative with 9 multipliers. I just don't want everyone thinking that they HAVE to go s939 and winchester. If an extra $50 is not an issue, or if 64bits or PCI-e are, go s939. Else, s754 should be a part of one's purchasing consideration.
Also, there was an article on Xbit labs recently on the new Palermo sempys. They showed that the difference between 256KB L2 cache and 512 were about 1-5%, just like dual channel.
I don't mean to sound like I'm pimping s754, but if you're on a tight budget but still want an A64 platform, it can't be beat
Sempys will drop in price over the next 6 months, so a 3000+ 90nm or 3100+ is an extremely viable alternative with 9 multipliers. I just don't want everyone thinking that they HAVE to go s939 and winchester. If an extra $50 is not an issue, or if 64bits or PCI-e are, go s939. Else, s754 should be a part of one's purchasing consideration.
Also, there was an article on Xbit labs recently on the new Palermo sempys. They showed that the difference between 256KB L2 cache and 512 were about 1-5%, just like dual channel.
I don't mean to sound like I'm pimping s754, but if you're on a tight budget but still want an A64 platform, it can't be beat
i hear ya avalon...
however 1-5% for the cache, and 3-5% for the dual channel controller...it all starts to add up.....
You are right it cant be beat for budget...it is the mobile barton of right now.....
however 1-5% for the cache, and 3-5% for the dual channel controller...it all starts to add up.....
You are right it cant be beat for budget...it is the mobile barton of right now.....
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