AMD 939 [940?], 754, AM2 sockets ~ Best processor.

[QUOTH]

Nvidia 6150 LE specs.

At the moment I have a Athlon 64 X2 Dual 5000+ 2.61GHz processor

I'm curious what the best processor is, and if any better ones will be released or if AMD is moving forward with sockets. Is quad core out of the question?

Also are there any bad bottlenecks? I know it can't SLI and can only take 4gb of 533mhz ram. Do you need lots of/better RAM to get use out of better processors?

Thankyou

athlon 64 x2 dual
athlon 64
sempron

Bus Speed = 1000 MHz
level 2 (l2) cahce. 1mb per core. upto 256 for sempron
max memory 4gb DDR2 SDRAM
1GB non ECC [whats this?]
Number of Memory Slots = 4 x DIMMs
Installed Video Memory = 256 MB
Installed Cache Memory = 1 MB
DMA chanels 8
interupt levels 24
bios chip [nvram] 4mb

 

[Martimus]

You aren't going to get a better S939 Processor than that. They abandoned that socket to go to one that supports DDR2 (AM2). Socket AM2/AM2+ supports Phenom (AMD's mainstream quadcore CPU) The best Phenom is the 9600 Black Edition. The best X2 is the 6400+ Black Edition. Both have unlocked multipliers, but the X2 Black Edition does not come with a heatsink.

 

[QUOTH]

OK, so which is better? The phenom 9600+ or the x2 6400+ ? Heatsinks don't bother me.

Thankyou

 

[Martimus]

That is a loaded question. The X2 has two cores that run at 3.2GHz, while the Phenom has 4 cores that run at 2.3GHz. The Phenom is a little better clock for clock than an X2, but it will still run slower than the X2 in many applications. Application that take advantage of more than two cores will run better on the Phenom. However, the Phenom has a well publicized bug, that while minor, does exist. It is similar to the Pentium floating point bug in that it got a lot of press, but you will probably never see it. Not many people on this forum have tried out the Phenom, so I haven't seen many benchmarks with it. The only overcloccking bench that I have seen was on the HardOCP forum, where out of four CPU's, they got 2 to run at 3.0GHz, 1 to run at 2.9GHz, and one to run at 2.8GHz with stability using a Thermalright Ultra 120 Air Cooler.

 

[lopri]

Looks like OP has an AM2 platform? 6400+ is the fastest A64 X2.

 

[QUOTH]

DUAL CORE
MODEL NUMBER = Athlon 64 X2 6400+ (F3, black edition)
STEPPING =
FREQUENCY = 3200 MHz
L2 CACHE = 2 x 1024 KiB
L3 CACHE =
HT = 1000 MHz
MULT = 16x
VOLTAGE = 1.35/1.40 V
TDP = 125 W
SOCKET = Socket AM2
RELEASE DATE = August 20, 2007
PART NUMBER = ADX6400IAA6CZ

QUAD CORE
MODEL NUMBER = Phenom 9600 Black Edition
STEPPING = B2
FREQUENCY = 2300 MHz
L2 CACHE = 4 x 512 KiB
L3 CACHE = 2 MB
HT PER DIRECTION = 1800 MHz
MULT = 11.5x
VOLTAGE = 1.1-1.25
TDP = 95 W
SOCKET = Socket AM2+
RELEASE DATE = November 19, 2007
PART NUMBER = HD960ZWCJ4BGD

Do I have a AM2+ socket?

As i'm not running 3dmax it looks like the 6400+ is for me. Is it any good? As i'm in no rush at all, the question is will it get cheaper in time, and how long can I wait.


Also I would like my RAM / motherboard bottlenecking question answered, if someone would be kind enough.

Thanks guys.

 

[Martimus]

I don't know what socket you have. You linked an integrated video spreadsheet. What kind of motherboard do you have? What chipset does it have?

 

[Martimus]

The Phenom seperates the HT link so that you can have data flowing each direction, where as the X2 shared the bus between receiving and transmitting. The Stepping on the 6400+ is given, but it is under model number for some reason (F3). The Phenom has L3 cache, because it is slightly faster than getting data directly from RAM and can be shared by all four cores - this is also where the bug is.

 

[QUOTH]

Originally posted by: Martimus
I don't know what socket you have. You linked an integrated video spreadsheet. What kind of motherboard do you have? What chipset does it have?

Ah, sorry my mistake.

I don't know much more, other than its a [micro?] BTX from dell. Came with the e521.

Motherboard
Bus Speed = 1000 MHz
Video Output Interface = PCI Express
Memory
RAM Technology = DDR2 SDRAM
Max Supported RAM = 4 GB
Number of Memory Slots = 4 x DIMMs
Installed Video Memory = 256 MB
Supported RAM Speeds = 533 MHz
Installed Cache Memory = 1 MB

Diagram

Photo

 

[Martimus]

I looked it up on the Dell website, and it is a socket AM2 Motherboard. The best replacement chip you could use would be the X2 6400+ (Although technically the Phenom should work as well with a BIOS flash, but that is somewhat of a crapshoot from what I hear.)

edit: Also there probably isn't any need to get the Black Edition, since I doubt there are any overclocking type options in the Dell BIOS. Just get the stock version, if you do upgrade, and it will come with a heatsink as well.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: QUOTH
Nvidia 6150 LE specs.

At the moment I have a Athlon 64 X2 Dual 5000+ 2.61GHz processor

I'm curious what the best processor is, and if any better ones will be released or if AMD is moving forward with sockets. Is quad core out of the question?

Also are there any bad bottlenecks? I know it can't SLI and can only take 4gb of 533mhz ram. Do you need lots of/better RAM to get use out of better processors?

Thankyou

I was in a similar boat to you.. honestly there is simply no viable upgrades for you in AMD.
Its too little and costs too much.

Go for an E8400 wolfdale C2D... I ordered mine yesterday.



WORD OF CAUTION:
The X2 6400 black edition does NOT have unlocked multipliers, it is also unoverclockable due to being borderline already. (I actually got one to replace my X2 3800, only to find out its locked multi, and comes without a fan/heatsink! I returned it for a refund)
the X2 5000 brisbane black edition DOES have unlocked multi, and can go up to the 6400 speed with much less power and heat, and it even costs less!

The phenom is buggy and the TLB fix reduces its already comparatively poor performance, it also costs way too much.
Even without it the phenom is 2.2ghz while the 6400 is 3.2ghz... the 6400 is almost always faster. the phenom only gains on video encoding, and even then very slightly so.
Gaming performance would be atrocious. Worse then what you currently have.

 

[Martimus]

Also, I just reread the original post, and I don't think that better RAM will really make much of a difference, but the amount will. 2GB seems to be enough for Windows XP, but Vista generally runs better the more RAM you throw at it. Although you will only see up to ~3.5GB of RAM if you have a 32bit operating system.

 

[QUOTH]

1st post updated


locked/unlocked multipliers? confused...

Wait, there are other options than amd? Lol, can you tell I'm new to building PC's

Huh, didn't know about the 32bit RAM limit. Thanks

 

[taltamir]

Actually, its not that there are other options then AMD, but that AMD isnt even an option right now. Cost more, gives you less. Inferior in every possible way imaginable.

the CPU speed is determined by multiplying the FSB speed (the speed which determines your ram speed) by a number.
The various speeds of CPU of the same model are made by setting a different multiplier for each "model".

An unlocked multiplier is usually found on highest end processors, allowing you to take that further and easily overclock.
The exception is the 5000+. where it is a lower end processor with an unlocked multiplier, meaning you can EASILY get it to 6400 speeds without messing around much, or expensive overclocking hardware.

The 6400 (non black edition) now comes with a fan (the black edition was not unlocked multiplier, it just came without a fan, so its WORSE then the non black edition parts) is still much too slow to be worth it as an upgrade.
And even that unlocked multiplier on the 5000 isn't enough to justify AMD.

 

[QUOTH]

Lol, so I can get close to the same results by overclocking my current processor? Cool, I'll have to look into it.

I guess that means I'll be getting rid of my spare mobo and going with a better one/intel if I need to.

Taltamir, from your post I get the impression Intel is better. Howcome? Better tech, better prices?

 

[taltamir]

Both better prices and better tech...
Between 2002 (I think that was the year) and early 2007 there was absolutely no reason to buy intel. AMD was faster and cheaper.
However, now intel is faster, cheaper, more power efficient, better overclocking, and runs cooler.

OC your current board, if you want something faster go with intel.

HOWEVER, if you wait a while before deciding to upgrade, make sure to check again to see what is currently better. Market situations shift, prices change, etc... even if intel is faster in a year it might end up jacking up prices making AMD a better buy at the range which AMD offers...

But at this exact moment. AMD cannot compete.

 

[magreen]

If your RAM is running at 533, since it's an AM2 cpu you could see a 20% increase in overall system performance by throwing out your ram and putting in ddr2-800 ram instead. You'll see a 10% increase in superpi performance (yeah!), 20% performance increase in games, >20% increase in winrar performance.

Now I know some ignoramus is going to challenge me on this and make me dredge up the same old links again to prove it... sigh

 

[QUOTH]

I'm in no rush. My pc's abit slow, but all I feel like I need to wipe everything and upgrade to 64 vista. I do have a vague memory of AMD being the one to go for, but that was a long time ago.

Thanks for the advice guys, no doubt at somepoint you'll see me aksing about overclocking


Oh, one more thing. I've seen on here that RAM over 533mhz is pointless unless you overclock. IS that true? If I was to overclock this processor what RAM would be ideal.

 

[taltamir]

its not true, faster ram is always better. Back in the day it didnt make sense ECONOMICALLY.

But now 2x1GB kit of quality DDR2-800 ram 20$ after rebate (oddly enough 50% of them have a 40$ mail in rebate)

 

[QUOTH]

Good to know, My next purchase will be 64bit windows and 4 sticks of 1GB ram

Another ram question, lol. Will ddr3/something else be replacing ddr2 soon?

 

[taltamir]

in a year. Right now its far too expensive and not all that faster.

 

[QUOTH]

OK, so forget the RAM and build a whole new set up in 2+ years with ddr3 and 2.0 usb's

Now I just have to start saving

 

[taltamir]

you can still upgrade your ram to DDR2 800...
Its VERY cheap right now. and if you want to OC an intel CPU it will help a lot.

 

[magreen]

On intel faster ram just means more room to OC. On amd faster ram means faster computer. That's what I was trying to tell you above.

 

[kpo6969]

I have an E521 (Dell)
3.0Ghz max. supported
cpu fan/heatsink rated 89w (stock)