AMD64 4200+ X2 or AMD64 4800+ X2

[rajhouston]

I need your advice guys..
Should I get AMD64 3800 X2, AMD64 4200+ X2 or AMD64 4800+ X2?
Mainly I will use pc for watching movies all the time (avi, mpeg) , burning movies in dvd writer, and surfing internet. I never played game before on pc, but I will play game in future. I heard that AMD64 are giving out far cry game or half life? free with cpu purchase..
Currently I have amd duron 1ghz (dont laugh) I last builted on year 2000 im not sure.. but everytime i watch movie on it, sometimes my pc freeze up.. prolly cpu overheating.
I will definetly go for fanless Water cooling system because fan cpu mess up my pc.. my current pc 1ghz duron, cpu fan got soo messed up, that dust inside the fan are sticky to cpu fan like cement stuck to wall. I tried to clean up, but it wont go away thats the main reason Im planning to get water cooling (zalman reserator) dunno, i have to check out my local fry store.
MOtherboard im going to choose is av8 3rd eye cuz it has agp slot which my video card is on agp
I dont have money problem, sometimes I think to get 4800+ or cheaper one 3800?? but any dual core amd is definetly a must buy for me..
what do u think guys?
any suggestion is greatly appreciated
raj

 

[munchow2]

If you have loads of money, just buy the best thing you can.
If you have reservations about spending excessive amounts of money on something that costs higher than its mass in gold (ie:4800), then get the x2 3800 and OC it like mad since you will be getting water cooling. To put things in perspective, each successive step up on the x2 chipsets offer 3-5% additional performance for most benchmarks.

 

[rchiu]

I bought an AMD64 x2 3800+ and was able to OC to 2.5Ghz prime stable. If you go with 4200+ or 4800+, you maybe able to get a little higher, but I am not sure how much more. Of course, OC differs from case to case, but even at stock speed, 2Ghz and 2.4Ghz isn't gonna be much different for what you do.

I am not sure about the via chipset working with X2, but I see many more people going with nForce4 chipset. So if there is any incompatibility problem with X2, it will probably get fixed faster. If you go 3800+ route, you can use the money you save, sell ur AGP card, and get a fast PCI-E card. A 7800GT is now selling for 3xx, and that's a real good deal.

I got my CPU/Mobo combo from Mwave, and their combo deal comes with free Half Life 2. Monarch computer systems sells their combo with free far cry and half life.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Get an X2 4400+ and overclock it like mad.