AMD ATHLON 3200+ or 3500+?

[fevoldj2]

Ok i am stuck between these two processors, is dual channel memroy really gonna make it much faster then single channel or is it worth the extra 100 bucks to go with a 3500+ or is the performance difference minimal? I can afford to buy pc3700 ram if i get a 3200+, will that be better then dual channel 3500+ pc3200 ram? Thanx for the help this is kinda confusing, i also wanna do some slight overclocking if that makes a difference. I will probably be ocing the 3200+ if that's what i get, if i do get it to 3600+ speed will it perform better for the money then the 3500+ with dual channel memory?

THANX IN ADVANCE!!!

 

[fevoldj2]

sry for double post, but someone should have an answer...

 

[Mik3y]

if your on a budget, get the 3200+. if not, then go for the 3500+. thats wut i would do. pc3700 ram wont make it run faster, but it will allow you to overclock higher. as for the 3500+, dual channel does about a 10-15% increase in memory performance. also, with socket 939, its faster in everything then an intel and you can always overclock that to 3800+ also.

 

[Zebo]

3500 is better technology.

If you overclock both processors to 2.4 Ghz one will look like the 3700 and the other 3800 featured here:
http://hardocp.com/article.html?art=NjI2

Really a 50/50 type of deal..

I would go for cheaper just because I have faith in 2.4 with the 2.0 clawhammer (3200).. but the 3500 is almost guanteed to sqeeze out another 200mhz since it starts out at 2.2...

Tough choice.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

3500+ is on 939 which offers a future. The 754 is about dead in terms of upgrade path. You can now get the 3500+ for around 350.00. Finally, closer to sane levels for these chippies. Not there yet but closer. 6 months from now you will be able to put in a 4400+ or something like that in the 939 but on the 754 you are stuck at 3700+ (that is if AMD doesn't release another 754 which with AMD you never know)

 

[Dman877]

Don't forget 754 sempron .

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Sempron. Nah. Must have 64bit and 16GPR's must have now ... ... Sorry had a moment.

 

[SickBeast]

The 3500+ was just massively cut in price, making it a decent buy. I think it's around $349 now. The 3200+ was also cut, but not by as great a percentage.

In the end it comes down to budget, but I think I would splurge on the 3500+ in this situation. I'm personally waiting for a 939 CPU to hit the $200 level before I jump ship. I don't know if I can hold out for nForce4.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

I figure I will sell my agp board and x800xt sometime around January or February and buy the Nforce4 and Pci-ex videocard. Maybe March. I have a 2400xp now and I can't wait another 5-6months. I am going with the 3500 now. I would say, if you have the money go with 3500 for now

 

[DarkAmeba]

I am buying the 3500+ as soon as the MSI NF3 is available. If you can I'd get the 3500+ definatly. The PC3200 ram should be fine for you.

 

[chuwawa]

But why splurge $350+ for the lowest s939 proc when you can buy a 3200+ s754 WITH the mobo for less than that and then upgrade to a higher s939 later when the 4000+ come out and the prices are less than half of what they are now.

I just don't get this mentality where if you get a s754 proc you are dead and can no longer ever upgrade.