AMD Procesors

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

AnnoyedGrunt

Senior member
Jan 31, 2004
596
25
81
How long you planning on keeping the system? Are going up upgrade piecemeal, or just buy a whole new computer next time?

I think you should consider these questions, because IMO they hinge around the main difference between 754 and 939 sockets.

754 is less expensive currently, but is also more limited in upgrade potential (fatest chip I am aware of is 3700+). Therefore, if you plan on keeping the system for a shorter time, or upgrading all at once, it would probably be fine since you can upgrade Mobo and CPU and all the other stuff.

939 is currently more expensive, but also has more room for growth. You can buy a 3500+ now, and in a year or so you may be able to get a 4500+ or whatever. Not sure how the whole video situation will work out, but I expect AGP to be around on the next generation of chips (possibly next couple generations) so you will probably have an upgrade path in that arena as well. So, if you plan on later upgrading your computer one component at a time, the 939 may be a good way to go.

Personally, I would buy a 754 now since it should be plenty fast for a couple years. If I could wait for 6 months then I would maybe buy 939 when the PCI-E versions become available (which will insure you have an upgrade path for the video a couple years from now).

I would probably get a 3200+ now, and maybe in a year I'd play around with overclocking. That way if something craps out you will be able to replace it for a lot less money and you will have at least been able to use it for quite some time.

All my opinion of course.

-D'oh!
 

Confusednewbie1552

Golden Member
Jun 24, 2004
1,047
0
0
Ok so I'd keep the chip until it'll start playing games slow at highest setting. Then i'll overclock it just a bit and then when it couldn't do highest settings overclocked then I'll upgrade, or buy a new computer depending on how long it's been. How long would that be?
 

AsiLuc

Member
Apr 11, 2004
75
0
0
One thing, there's really no telling how it'll overclock...
Clocking = luck + skill + effort..

Get a good PSU! That contributes to the stability of a system, especially when oc-ing.