AMD64 4000+ or X2 4200+?

[serox]

I am impulse buying on newegg right now and it has come down to a choice of 2 processors. I am an avid gamer and almost 70% of the time on my computer is spent playing Counter-Strike: Source. Well right now I am running an AMD64 3000+ Venice along with an ATi X800XL 256MB PCI-E card. Well I am maxing at about 70-80fps and this is due to my CPU as people are telling me/read on forums (since HL2 engine is more CPU reliant than others). So I am now upgrading to something new.

I have a Shuttle SN25P so i dont plan to really overclock so that is not important to me. What I do care about is steady FPS and hopefully getting the max out of my system. I also compile extensive programs in Java and C++ so I know dual cores would be nice for that.

Now the question of the day: Should I get the AMD64 4000+ San Diego (1MB Cache) or the AMD X2 4200+ (512KB/core Cache)? Please provide specific reasons to my case, not generics.

 

[Aznguy1872]

I'd with a dual core, its extremely nice to be able to mutitask like crazy. Also, with new drivers coming out, dual cores are being more used in video games. I'd go with the dual core for sure!

 

[Doctorweir]

Do you overclock? If yes, save yourself money and go for an Opteron 165 or 170...

 

[Furen]

Well, considering that the 4000+ is a 2.4GHz/1MB L2 CPU and the x2 is basically two 2.2GHz/512K L2 CPUs I'd say this last one is your best bet.

The X2 will probably max out your video card considering that its clock speed is around 20% higher and your video is not quite the top-of-the-line any longer. Going for a 4000+ instead would most likely give you a few extra frames but you'll miss out on all the future improvements due to dual-core optimizations on games and drivers (not to mention the smoothness of going SMP).

 

[biostud]

what resoultions and settings do you play at?

 

[serox]

I went with the 3800+ X2. I am going to bump it up to 4200+ speeds and maybe even try 4400+ speeds.

 

[dclapps]

if you're going to do that, then just grab an opty 165/170 for a better OC.

 

[inveterate]

Overclock ur Venice. that should've been more than enough,, don't they go to 2.6+ on stock c?

 

[Tweakin]

I would really think it is the X800XL that is limiting you in the games. I ran a winnie @ 2.4 with an ATI X800XL and finally upgraded to an eVga 7800 GT OC and there is a world of difference in smoothness and FPS...even while testing a new chip at 2.0 Ghz.