Any Help?

[151528]

I was wondering if anyone could help out, im stuck with a 754 motherboard, and i need a faster cpu for running games and all, i've heard that the sempron 3400 is a pretty good overclocker, and im debating weather i should go with one of those, or maybe purchase a athlon 64 3200, but ive been told that thse are still using older technologies, but im not to sure on my sources.

anyone with know, can you help?

 

[Avalon]

Which 754 board do you have?
Also, do you currently have a CPU in it, and if so, which one?

If not, and you're looking for a cheap chip to OC (I'm only guessing here because you stated Sempron), then Outpost has a Sempron 3100+ (1.8ghz, 256KB L2) for $60. Most people are getting 90nm Palermo cores which are good overclockers, but some don't have SSE3/64bit disabled...so if you don't like chances, then finding a 3400+ 90nm for $95-$100 may then be your best bet.

All Semprons 3000+ and higher can do Cool N Quiet, though.

I can't seem to find any A64 retail boxes cheaper than $130 that are Venice cores.

 

[chusteczka]

With any computer system, there are four main components that work together and may need to be changed if any one of the other components is changed. These are:

• motherboard
• processor
• memory
• video card

I assume that being "stuck" with a socket 754 motherboard means you have the other three components. Since you are asking about a processor to purchase, then that implies you already have the memory and the video card, or video integrated into the motherboard.

Regarding AMD technologies, the socket 754 is about three years old now,with socket 939 about one year old, and the socket AM2 being the most current at maybe one month old now. I would consider the possibility of purchasing a socket 939 system, possibly with an integrated video card. Both socket 754 and 939 use the same memory, so your memory from the socket 754 motherboard would still be useful. A socket 939 system would cost about $100 more than the 754 motherboard you already have. This $100 difference would be in a new motherboard, possibly with onboard video, and an AMD64 3200+ or 3000+ cpu. It may be better to purchase a motherboard without onboard video and a separate video card for $60 (nVidia 6200) or $80 (nVidia 7200). This would bring the difference in cost from a socket 754 system up to $200 though. However, a socket 754 system is still a good system with excellent potential.

Use the Anandtech RealTime pricing engine to find the current best prices.

AMD Sempron cpu's possess half the L2 cache of the AMD Athlon. A sempron contains 256KB while an Athlon contains 512KB L2 cache. This relationship is similar to the Intel Celerons with half the L2 cache of the Pentium 4's. The Semprons and Celerons are typically only useful for business applications or websurfing and are definitely not good for gaming.

If you wish to purchase an AMD socket 754 cpu, then I would recommend the AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice currently for $145 or the 3000+ Venice currently for $108.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: chusteczka
With any computer system, there are four main components that work together and may need to be changed if any one of the other components is changed. These are:

• motherboard
• processor
• memory
• video card

I assume that being "stuck" with a socket 754 motherboard means you have the other three components. Since you are asking about a processor to purchase, then that implies you already have the memory and the video card, or video integrated into the motherboard.

Regarding AMD technologies, the socket 754 is about three years old now,with socket 939 about one year old, and the socket AM2 being the most current at maybe one month old now. I would consider the possibility of purchasing a socket 939 system, possibly with an integrated video card. Both socket 754 and 939 use the same memory, so your memory from the socket 754 motherboard would still be useful. A socket 939 system would cost about $100 more than the 754 motherboard you already have. This $100 difference would be in a new motherboard, possibly with onboard video, and an AMD64 3200+ or 3000+ cpu. It may be better to purchase a motherboard without onboard video and a separate video card for $60 (nVidia 6200) or $80 (nVidia 7200). This would bring the difference in cost from a socket 754 system up to $200 though. However, a socket 754 system is still a good system with excellent potential.

Use the Anandtech RealTime pricing engine to find the current best prices.

AMD Sempron cpu's possess half the L2 cache of the AMD Athlon. A sempron contains 256KB while an Athlon contains 512KB L2 cache. This relationship is similar to the Intel Celerons with half the L2 cache of the Pentium 4's. The Semprons and Celerons are typically only useful for business applications or websurfing and are definitely not good for gaming.

If you wish to purchase an AMD socket 754 cpu, then I would recommend the AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice currently for $145 or the 3000+ Venice currently for $108.

Didn't see that 3000+, that would be a good deal, and a good overclocker.
Just one minor correction about the Semprons, though. Not all of them have 256KB L2 cache, some models have 128KB.

 

[chusteczka]

Originally posted by: Avalon
Didn't see that 3000+, that would be a good deal, and a good overclocker.
Just one minor correction about the Semprons, though. Not all of them have 256KB L2 cache, some models have 128KB.

I was not aware some Semprons possess only 128KB. Thank you for pointing that out.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: chusteczka

Originally posted by: Avalon
Didn't see that 3000+, that would be a good deal, and a good overclocker.
Just one minor correction about the Semprons, though. Not all of them have 256KB L2 cache, some models have 128KB.

I was not aware some Semprons possess only 128KB. Thank you for pointing that out.

The 2600+ (1.6ghz), 3000+ (1.8ghz), and 3300+ (2.0ghz) are all 128KB cache parts. The performance hit is actually pretty small using these, but I still prefer the 256KB parts for budget builds, since the difference is usually only a few dollars. The 256KB L2 parts are the 2500+, 2800+, 3100+, and 3400+.

 

[151528]

No. 1, money aint a problem.
atm i have a sempron 2800 running fine, but a little slow, and im also relying on the onboard 6100 chipset, although i have a xfx 6800xt on the wayfor this pc, [damn postage issues]
oh, and the motherboard is a asrock k8nf4g sata 2

Also this isnt going to be my rig for much longer, as i have a big order coming thru scorptec for all the new parts for my new system, [inc. athlon x2 4400 and 939 board]

so basically all im needing is a better cpu, as i would like to hook this older one up onto my network so i can host bigger lan partys with a few mates!

Hope that answerd some of the q's

PS thx for ur help so far

 

[chusteczka]

The Sempron 3400+ you mention appears to be a good cpu for the set of cpu's in this socket but the AMD64 Athlon 3000+ Venice is better since it has double the L2 cache. The Athlon 3200+ Venice is an improvement over the 3000+.

The socket 754 technology is about 3 years old now but the AMD64 Athlon 3000+ Venice and 3200+ Venice are the most recent architecture at one year old and would be the best purchase for your motherboard.