AMD Opteron vs. AMD Athlon 64 FX vs. AMD Athlon 64 vs. AMD Athlon XP

[reicherb]

I haven't be following the processor world very closely. Now its time to make a purchase and I'm not sure which route to go. Can someone explain the differences between thoese processors or send me a link to a good comparison?

AMD Opteron
AMD Athlon 64 FX
AMD Athlon 64
AMD Athlon XP

Thanks.

 

[Jeff7181]

Opteron = Server CPU... Socket 940... supports dual channel memory but doesn't support DDR400, only DDR333 and DDR266... has 3 Hyper-Transport links... passed validation to be a server CPU... 128k L1 cache, 1 MB L2 cache

Athlon-64 FX = enthusiast CPU... currently socket 940 just like the Opteron (but will be switching to socket 939 soon)... support dual channel memory up to DDR400... has 3 Hyper Transport links... has not gone through the validation necessary to be a server CPU, but is basically the same as the Opteron... 128k L1 cache, 1 MB L2 cache

Athlon-64 = "value" 64 bit CPU... currently socket 754... does not support dual channel memory (yet, but probably will early next year), but does support DDR400... has a single Hyper Transport link (no multi-cpu capabilities)... not designed to be a server CPU... 128k L1 cache, 1 MB L2 cache

AthlonXP = demoted to the value line (duron status)... socket 462 currently... dual channel and memory speed depend on motherboard... also not a server CPU... 128k L1 cache, Bartons have 512k L2 cache, all others have 256k L2 cache

*EDIT* I typed this up pretty fast just off the top of my head... if I made an error somewhere somebody please correct me.

 

[reicherb]

Ok, So let's say I want a rig to do some video editing (moving old VHS tapes to DVD). Should I go with the 64 FX or just the 64?
What/'s with the Model 240, Model 246, etc on the Opterons?

Thanks.

 

[klah]

The new Opterons (148, 248, 848) can use DDR400.

For the Opteron model #'s the first number is multiprocessor scalability (1xx = 1-way, 2xx = 2-way, etc). The second two numbers are performance. x40 = 1.4GHz, x48 = 2.2GHz.

The FX-51 is essentially an Opteron 148.

The Opteron and current FX require registered memory also.

When the FX moves to 939-pin it supposedly will not require registered memory.

As for which to choose I would suggest searching for benchmarks testing the exact software you plan on using.

 

[Shimmishim]

Originally posted by: reicherb
Ok, So let's say I want a rig to do some video editing (moving old VHS tapes to DVD). Should I go with the 64 FX or just the 64?
What/'s with the Model 240, Model 246, etc on the Opterons?

Thanks.

in most cases where video encoding is invovled... intel processors are optimized better at doing such things....

with the introduction of the new amd processors, i'm not quite sure if intel is still on top with encoding or if they're neck-in-neck or amd is better....

might ahve to search myself! 🙂

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: reicherb
Ok, So let's say I want a rig to do some video editing (moving old VHS tapes to DVD). Should I go with the 64 FX or just the 64?
What/'s with the Model 240, Model 246, etc on the Opterons?

Thanks.

The FX. 64bit Linux and a 64bit Video doomahicky software(if it exists for Linux) would be recommended.

 

[ScottyB]

Are you going to be doing other things besides video editing? If not you should look into a Mac.

 

[unclebabar]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Athlon-64 FX = enthusiast CPU... currently socket 940 just like the Opteron (but will be switching to socket 939 soon)... support dual channel memory up to DDR400... has 3 Hyper

Anybody know why they would switch sockets? Seems like a bone headed move (I'm assuming that 940 is just 939 with one more pin).

I think if AMD had any sense, they would enable MP on all their Athlons to compete with HyperThreading. It seems you can get at least 3 AMD for the price of 1 Intel, and if you could have a real dual AMD machine for 2/3 $$$$ of a P4-HT, it sure would make wannabe geeks like me happy ... at least if the performance is at least as fast as a single P4-HT. Maybe after they stick some forks in the server market ....

 

[unclebabar]

Originally posted by: reicherb
Ok, So let's say I want a rig to do some video editing (moving old VHS tapes to DVD). Should I go with the 64 FX or just the 64?
What/'s with the Model 240, Model 246, etc on the Opterons?

Thanks.

I've been moving old VHS tapes to DVD with an XP1600+ for a couple of months now just fine. I've got a Hauppage hardware encoder though, $100, capturing and editing without waiting on the CPU. Pricewatch price for Opteron, $175; A64, $400.

Now if you want to do some molecular modeling, or know what LINPACK is, then yes, go ahead and get an A64.