Athlon64 3200+ or 3000+ Socket939 90nm

[ROcHE]

I understand that the 3000+ have a 9x multiplier and the 3200 have a 10x multiplier. I will be overclocking this cpu and I don't want to spend a fortune on RAM, which IMO, kills the overclocking deal.

I'll be using some Kingston Valuram PC3200 CAS2.5

Considering the higher multiplier of the 3200+, should I go with this one and hope a good overclock with a slower FSB?

Last question, does the Athlon64 takes a big performance hit when running the ram slower than the FSB? I know the AthlonXP does. Is it the same with the A64?

 

[ROcHE]

Anyone?

 

[manko]

^bump

I'm interested too.

 

[ROcHE]

Someone must have some opinions on this?

 

[formulav8]

Hi, you will not really notice any difference if you lower the multiplyer on the ram. You will gain a nice difference by raising the fsb and mhz of the cpu even if the ram is set at the lower frequency. So don't worry about running your ram at a lower speed. The A64 does not depend on bandwidth near as much as a P4 does.

I would definitely get the 3200+ if you can afford it over the 3000+. It will be easier to max out the cpu's oc with the 10x than 9x multiplyer. You won't have to go to as high of a fsb as you would the 3000+. PLUS, you can lower the multiplyer of the 3200+ to a 9x multiplyer anyways if you want to get real high fsb speeds. So, get the 3200+ cpu if the price is not to much more than a 3000+ cpu.

Hopefully I made sense and you can understand what I said.

Edit: I did experience a 3000+ (2ghz) at 230 fsb with the memory at almost 200mhz(400mhz ddr pc3200) a few months ago. The 300mhz oc on the cpu and 30mhz(60mhz DDR) oc on the fsb more than made up for the small decrease in memory bandwidth. So, don't worry that much about having the memory in sync with the fsb. Of course, the performance would be better if the memory and fsb was in sync, but there is no real noticable difference if it isn't in sync. Like I said, the higher fsb and higher cpu mhz speed MORE than make up for any small loss that the slower memory would make. Hope this helps.



Jason

 

[ROcHE]

Thanks

 

[JBT]

Right, just use ratio's to keep the RAM at a reasonable speed. CPU speed is MUCH more important than bandwidth.