Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core or AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego or Neither?

[Pez D Spencer]

Im not all that familiar with 64-bit CPU's or AMD CPU's period. I've always owned Intels. However, this Christmas I'm building new gaming PC with dual 7800GTX's in SLI and the works but I'm not sure on which CPU I should get.

Should I get the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core or AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego or neither one? The dual core is about 10 bucks cheaper at 322 bucks. Around 350 or so is all I really wanna spend on a CPU and looking on Newegg, these two are in my range and got good reviews. The Athlon 64 4000+ ClawHammer looks like a decent CPU as well, but I'm no expert.

Also I would like to try and overclock the CPU a little. Ive never really overclocked a CPU before, only my video card. How much faster than the PC3200 RAM that the mobo Im getting calls for will I need? Im thinking about getting the ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo or one of the DFI LAN Party boards.

Thanks way in advance.

 

[Markbnj]

Dual core, imo.

Now prepare for the flame war!

[dons suit]

 

[MoogerFooger]

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ !!! Just for the sake of knowing your CPU has a spiritual connection with Manchester United!

 

[The Green Bean]

Dual core

 

[Markfw]

Well, you only need a decent single core even with those video cards for gaming, but since its in your price range, overclocking, and dual-core is the future, even for gaming, I say dual-core !!

 

[onn2000]

Get the fastest dual core processor within your budget. Personally, I think the 2x512Kb L2 cache versions are in general better overclockers than their 2x1Mb counterparts, since there is less strain on the memory controllers. But since you're only doing 'a little' overclocking, take the 2x1Mb version. And don't waste money on faster RAM. Just use a divider.

 

[Pez D Spencer]

Whats a divider? Im not familiar with that.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: Pez D Spencer
Whats a divider? Im not familiar with that.

Its called many different things in the bios. It tells the motherboard to run the memory at 100,133,166,200 (common settings) so if you raid the FSB to 240, and use the 166 memory divider, it will actually run at its rated 200, but the CPU sees it at 240, and it is overclocked.

 

[drifter106]

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: Pez D Spencer
Whats a divider? Im not familiar with that.

Its called many different things in the bios. It tells the motherboard to run the memory at 100,133,166,200 (common settings) so if you raid the FSB to 240, and use the 166 memory divider, it will actually run at its rated 200, but the CPU sees it at 240, and it is overclocked.

Well said Mark, you know, it took me a long time to get a handle on that term and how it applies to the bios. Unless you hit it lucky in the "search" mode your not gonna pick up on what its true meaning is (like you explain in the previous message). Its too bad their isn't a sticky of sorts that could have some common terminology for new people that they could refer to. Trying to understand the mind set of some of the "less informed" people and how to apply the terms would take a lot of pressure off these forums and the repeated questions.

 

[Pez D Spencer]

Thanks for all the repiles. You've all been a really big help.

 

[Linflas]

Bumping this for some more opinions. I am currently doing a new build to replace my current gaming machine (P4C800E Intel 3.2 800 FSB) and am still trying to decide between the X2 3800 and 4000+ San Diego. I am not planning to overclock and the CPU will be going into an A8N32-SLI Deluxe with a BFG 7800 GT OC vid card. Given that I am not overclocking would I be better to go with the 4000+?

 

[Tweakin]

If you are not going to overclock, and you want to game some, I would go for the fastest single core you can afford.