A64 3000 or 3200 ?

[BoomAM]

Hi.
Im upgrading my PC in Feb.

My original plan was;
Athlon64 3200+
1gb TwinMOS PC3200 RAM (2x512)
Asus K8V Deluxe
AseTek WaterChill CPU/Chipset.
Other bits&bobs (DVDR, case window, ect; ) to be brought a month or so later.

After seeing a couple of reviews of the standard A64 3000 (with 512kb cache), im starting to think that that`d be the better option. Its within 5% in most situations of the 3200 w/1mb cache. Aparently it OCs well as well. And is £144 cheaper.
And the £144 could go towards other bits of kit for my rig. Such as £100 for a Lite-On 4xDVD-R and £44 for a pre-made case window and some other gadgets.

What would you do?

Note;
The 3200 is factored into my ingoings and outgoings for the next 4 months, so i can afford it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[joe2004]

I am curious about this 3000+ as well. Is this just crooked 3200+ (lousy cache) or something better. It all depends on overclock, if you get 2.3 GHz then 3000+ is to go. Cache will play some role but not as much as say 100 MHz more.
I also wonder how is this Waterchill going to work on A64. Let us know when you get it.

 

[Jeff7181]

The extra cache will be more important when you make use of it's 64-bit capabilities. 64-bit code is more bulky that 32-bit code obviously, so it'll need more cache to reduce the number of "RAM hits." I say if you can afford the A643200 plan on getting that. There might even be a better choice by the time you're ready to get it.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: joe2004
I am curious about this 3000+ as well. Is this just crooked 3200+ (lousy cache) or something better. It all depends on overclock, if you get 2.3 GHz then 3000+ is to go. Cache will play some role but not as much as say 100 MHz more.
I also wonder how is this Waterchill going to work on A64. Let us know when you get it.

According to several websites, the only difference between the 3000 and the 3200 is that the 3000 has 512kb cache, and the 3200, 1mb. The clocks speeds on both is 2Ghz.
As for the AseTek;
Hexus.net was supposed to have a review about 3 mondays ago with a 3200 & the WaterChill Kit. They then said that AseTek has shipped them the new Plug&Go parts as well to test, so they said it`d be a week longer. 2 weeks later and im still waiting. It could be quite interesting. Ive heard of good A64 OCs with just air. Could be quite interesting with Water.

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
The extra cache will be more important when you make use of it's 64-bit capabilities. 64-bit code is more bulky that 32-bit code obviously, so it'll need more cache to reduce the number of "RAM hits." I say if you can afford the A643200 plan on getting that. There might even be a better choice by the time you're ready to get it.

This is all just talk at the moment, so nothing is set in stone as to the exact components. I update my "list" weekly, with the latest prices.
Hopefully the release of the 3400s will push the price of the 3200s down to sub £300 prices. Its currently about £330. But i dont know if thats wishful thinking.
Im also hoping that the nForce3 250 is released in Jan/Feb. And will hopefully have lockable PCI & AGP clock rates, lockable memory rate clocks, and other stuff like that. And im hoping that the next Via S954 chipset comes out as well. 2nd Gen mobos tend to be better than 1st gen in some minor, but importent ways.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
The extra cache will be more important when you make use of it's 64-bit capabilities. 64-bit code is more bulky that 32-bit code obviously, so it'll need more cache to reduce the number of "RAM hits." I say if you can afford the A643200 plan on getting that. There might even be a better choice by the time you're ready to get it.

he is quite right about this. the effect will be larger with 64bit code. then again by the time 64bit code is widely in use both the 3000 and 3200 will be osolete. so unless you will be running a linux 64 system soon, i wouldnt worry about it. (personally i am gonna try this once mandrake 9.2 comes out with x86-64 support, but yeah most people wont)

the 64bit code size is one reason why itanium 2s have 2-6mb of cache. 64bit code is very large.

for most people though, i'd get the 3000. and yes they are bad 3200s. the die is the same size. this isnt a different die. here in the us its about a $190 difference. with prices here $190 buys you a dual format dvd burner AND a decent video card like a 5600 ultra.

i suppose if you have a ton of money, go ahead and get the 3200. but if you are a normal person the 3000 is a much better value.



its just like thorton cores are bartons with half the cache off. bad dies is all it is. the cache on a 1mb athlon 64 is 60% of the die space. its probably quite easy for osme of that to be bad.

 

[Jeff7181]

I read a big tech article on 64-bit processing, x86-64 specifically, so I understand the differences pretty well. It seems that most places agree that just running 64-bit code vs. 32-bit code has about 20% more bulk IIRC.

 

[sandorski]

Hopefully someone does some 64bit tests on the 3000+. Might clarify the issue up.

 

[Jeff7181]

Hey... I'll take paypal donations so I can buy one and test it. If you donate, I'll take the time to run any test you want to any extent you want as long as I don't have to buy any additional hardware to do so and it's within the capabilities of myself and my hardware

 

[sandorski]

Hehe, me too!

 

[wampa]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Hehe, me too!

lol