AMD 3700+ 939 Upgrade Strategy

[DJCrunkMix]

Hi mates,

My system is as follows:

AMD 3700+
EPoX 9NPA-Ultra (Socket 939)
DDR 400 2x1GB
X1900XT 512

All running stock. I was wondering if I should upgrade this January when the new E8xxx series dual cores and Q9xx quads are released. Or should I wait for the new Nahalem architecture to be released in Q4 08? I am aware that it would require new socket, ram, etc. Or, may be should I get on the Penryn train and wait until Nahalem is established and upgrade in 2009?

I primarily play new games like Oblivion, Fear, Gears of War, TF2, Cod4, Bioshock.

Please enlighten.

Regards,

Neil

 

[Snakexor]

I would get a cheap X2 for the time being and then upgrade to nehalem if you need more cpu power. Here are a few reasons why:

1) Dont get "stuck" with ddr2 from penryn/conroe. Get DDR3 when it is cheap and mainstream (a few months after nehalem release probably)

2) You already have 2gb of ram so ditching that would be costly for no ram upgrade at all.

3) Invest the $$ in a gfx card after the x2, you will see a much larger gain in fps.

 

[DJCrunkMix]

Thanks for your reply. Any good places to find a 50$ deal on X2 939? Used is fine...

Moreover, I tried to OC the 3700 from 2.2Ghz stock. I can only get it up to 2.56Ghz stable with 233 FSB and 11x Multi. I am a total n00b at overclocking and I read the guide here on Anandtech on how to overclock AMD 64. Do you think that my ram is limiting the OC? I tried to set the HT just under 1000 to be safe. I am not sure why I can't hit 3.0Ghz like a lot of people do.

Moreover, my gpu won't OC more than 10% (max) and it runs hot as shit...I think I am just unlucky...

 

[o1die]

Don't think you have to upgrade to x2. If you don't do alot of video editing or multitasking, you may not need it. For single applications, you won't notice the difference. Better to find a cheap backup motherboard before they're all gone.

 

[Martimus]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ption=x2+939&x=12&y=31

For X2 S939 processors. I just bought a X4 4200+ 2 weeks ago for $20 less, so maybe they are marked up for Christmas.

I bought a HD 3850 with it, and the difference is huge! I am glad I went that route, as otherwise I would wait until the spring and buy a whole new computer, but now I can hold off for a few more years and save some cash

 

[DJCrunkMix]

its marked up to 80$!! That is ridiculous. What did you upgrade from? CPU and GPU?

 

[Martimus]

I had a Athlon 64 3500+ (S939), and a PowerColor Radeon X800 XL. I bought them in 2004 I think (Maybe 2005?) I am putting them up for sale on ebay tonight. I figure someone might want to pick up a cheap video card for Christmas, and maybe replace an old processor that died or something.

The change in processor was nil, but I wanted dual core to make my system a little more future proof, and it was affordable at the time ($60). It should keep me until I buy a house, I think.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Forget about worrying about getting "stuck" with DDR2 - especially since you only have one gig of DDR1!!!

Look at these prices for DDR2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227058
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227124

$44 for 2GB or $40 after rebate!

Then, you can get a dual core 4000+ AM2 for $69:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103775
or a 4800+ for $99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103778

Although personally I'd wait until January and upgrade to a 45nm Intel chip if I were in your position - dual or quad core. It will give you a very nice boost in performance!

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

If you go penryn, it would probably be in your best interest to wait for the "tock" refresh of nahalem. I am really afraid intel's iteration of an onboard controller will be buggy, or last penryn processors will perform better, even given nahalem's theoretically more efficient design.

 

[Martimus]

Nehalem scares me too. Especially since it is essentially a Barcelona chip at 45nm. The chances are that it will be delayed as they have a hard time getting good yeilds from a 4 cores per die w/ IMC to control how all of them access memory just like the AMD chips were. The move to IMC and away from FSB along with the move to more than 2 cores per die really increases the complexity of the chip, and would kill their yeild. As is, they can get by with simpler designs to help their manufacturing, but Nehalem will change that. We will see what happens. I expect delays, but I don't think it will be a failure; just late.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
Forget about worrying about getting "stuck" with DDR2 - especially since you only have one gig of DDR1!!!

Look at these prices for DDR2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227058
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227124

$44 for 2GB or $40 after rebate!

Then, you can get a dual core 4000+ AM2 for $69:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103775
or a 4800+ for $99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103778

Although personally I'd wait until January and upgrade to a 45nm Intel chip if I were in your position - dual or quad core. It will give you a very nice boost in performance!

umm 2x1GB implies 1GB+1GB not 512MB+512MB.

Still he'd need a new motherboard at that phase when then he may as well go Intel.

 

[rogue1979]

X1900XT's run hot with stock cooling, your not unlucky.

Makes sure and move down the HTT a notch and set your memory to 166MHz.


Get the 3600+ at newegg for $48.99 shipped. Put the fsb on 250 and raise the core voltage to about 1.4-1.45 volts.

Enjoy dual core 2.5Ghz for dirt cheap. Sell your old cpu for $30 or so and get upgraded for less than $20 total.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Ah my bad I read the 2X1GB but then the X1900XT 512 right below it tricked my brain.

I'd still consider upgrading to Core 2. a P5B or P5K series board new or used can be found for a good price, and they both support 45nm quad core (ergo, future proof).

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
Ah my bad I read the 2X1GB but then the X1900XT 512 right below it tricked my brain.

I'd still consider upgrading to Core 2. a P5B or P5K series board new or used can be found for a good price, and they both support 45nm quad core (ergo, future proof).

Sorry, but I own both a P5B and a P5K, and they suck IMO. Gigabyte rules right now.