AMD64 + GA-K8NS good?

[imported_Deuge]

Hi,

I've been tasked with upgrading my dad's computer. He just uses it for business, etc, and I only plan on upgrading the CPU, MB and memory.

Are there any problems with these parts?

AMD64 3000+
Gigabye K8NS-939 (NF3 ultra chipset)
512 of memory.

That seems to be the most cost-effective set up. If the case & power supply previously housed a PIII 450, will be it be good enough to handle this new setup. Im sure the old MB was ATX..

Another quick question, because the motherboard requires dual channel memory, does that mean if Im using normal DDR DIMMs, I need to install 2 x 256Mb DIMMS?

thanks for any help!

 

[ts3433]

The old PSU might not be ATX12V, which would mean a new PSU is in order.
You also probably don't need to waste money on 939 for a business setup.

 

[imported_Deuge]

Thanks for the comments re ATX. Its not really that much more money to go for 939, so i will.

Some more research reveals that i do in fact need two identical DIMMs for dual channel to work.

Question is: Is dual channel that much better? ie. is it worth going for over single channel?

 

[ts3433]

Dual channel gives about a 5% increase in performance for system-intensive apps on an A64 when comparing identically-clocked chips. However, when you buy a 939 proc, it's clocked 200MHz lower than its 754 counterpart to compensate for the dual channel.