Best choice for CPU under $200

[Cybordolphin]

I am going to put together the highest performing system I can... but do have a budget. (I hate that word).

I have $200 to spend on a CPU. What gives the best performance for my $200...?

Thanks to anyone who takes time to post.

 

[Markfw]

What motherboard do you have ?

 

[Cybordolphin]

Have not picked a mb yet.

I was thinking of going with the AMD 3500 venice. I may be convinced to pop another $100 for the 3800 venice.

This would put me looking at the 939 motherboards.

Any suggestions on the mb is appreciated also.

Thanks

 

[Markfw]

You have two threads for the same thing. Don't do that !!!!

 

[carlosd]

A64 3500+ for USD$220.
A64 3200+ for USD$190.
MB recommendations: DFI LanParty NF4 Ultra D or MSI K8N NEO4 Platinium.

 

[Cybordolphin]

Yep.... I should have just edited the first post. SRY bout that.

It looks like I am going to pop for a bit more CPU so this thread can die.

Now I am considering the 3500 venice vs the 3800 X2. (can't resist)

 

[superfly27]

Well, when multi-threaded games come out, there will be no contest. The dual cores will win.

However, I found some benchmarks on tomshardware. And, there was like 1 fps difference for the 4000+ on two different benchmarks. One had the Newcastle 3400+ 2.4 GHz socket 754 CPU on it and the other one, an X2 3800+. The socket 754 chip had something like 151 fps in UT2004 while the X2 3800+ had 136 fps.
Heh, I found the 3400+ 2.4 GHz on sale at Compuvest for $163 US. Even with the $25 shipping to Canada, it was worth it (even with the duty).
In two years, I"ll just build a dual core machine. I suspect many things will be different by then (SATA2, PCI-E2, DDR2, high definition DVD or Blue Ray discs etc...)

\EDIT: I just found those links.
http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/200508011/athlon_64_x2_3800-07.html#directx_8
http://www23.tomshardware.com/index.html?modelx=33&model1=64&model2=18&chart=27

You can look at the test set ups as well. They both used a 6800 GT. There are small differences like RAM timings and motherboard chipsets but, about the same with fairly similar results.
This proves the 3400+ 2.4 GHz is a pretty good deal for the price.

 

[Pabster]

Under $200 is an easy one.

Venice 3000+ for about $140. Best P/P ratio out there.

 

[exar333]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Under $200 is an easy one.

Venice 3000+ for about $140. Best P/P ratio out there.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333

Originally posted by: Pabster
Under $200 is an easy one.

Venice 3000+ for about $140. Best P/P ratio out there.