Best CPU upgrade? From an XP 1900+

[fisheye]

I'm trying to help my bf pick out the best CPU/motherboard upgrade. Right now he's got an XP 1900+. Memory is 1x512mb pc2700, and he picked up the $199 PNY 6800 from CompUSA.

Price is a factor here.

2 plans in mind:

1. Budget upgrade. I have a spare (working fine) socket A motherboard that supports up to 333 fsb (the one he has now is limited to 266 fsb). Price = $30. Then get a Tbred 2700+ for around $100.
Total = $130. (A barton 2800+ brings the total to $170, and maxing out the board with a 333fsb 3000+ = $190 total)

2. Entry-level socket 754 system. Get an inexpensive skt 754 motherboard for around $70. Get an A64 2800+ for $130 or a 3000+ for $150.
Total cost: $200 for an A64 2800+. ($220 for the 3000+).

Socket 939, though it'd probably be the best as far as longevity, is still significantly more expensive than the skt 754 option, with a minimum motherboard + cpu cost of $260+

The XP system would have the benefit of not needing to buy new RAM. The 64 would be hindered (slightly?) by the pc2700.


So, opinions???

 

[mwmorph]

A64 blows the comparitively clocked xps out of the water. in fact, i think in Tom's hardware guide they have a article with xp,p4 and a64 benchs and the 2800+a-64 is faster than the 3200+A-XP

 

[ts3433]

Go 64--as said earlier, the A64 2800 will stomp an AXP 3200 in most everything. There should be no significant performance difference with PC2700 versus PC3200.

 

[amol]

slowest A64 beats fastest AXP

HANDS DOWN

 

[RobsTV]

Another option is the AMD XP-M (Barton core) at around $70 (2400+).
It has FSB of 266, so even old board should work (with jumper trick).
Will run cooler than the others, comes unlocked and overclocks up near A64 entry speeds.
Most can easily run these at XP3000+ to XP3200+ speeds with stock AMD cooling HSF.
Good stop gap measure.

 

[fibes]

Originally posted by: RobsTV
Another option is the AMD XP-M (Barton core) at around $70 (2400+).
It has FSB of 266, so even old board should work (with jumper trick).
Will run cooler than the others, comes unlocked and overclocks up near A64 entry speeds.
Most can easily run these at XP3000+ to XP3200+ speeds with stock AMD cooling HSF.
Good stop gap measure.

I agree.:thumbsup:

 

[ts3433]

I'd also agree if he already had a 400FSB-capable board.

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: ts3433
I'd also agree if he already had a 400FSB-capable board.

Very true.But since he will need a new mobo either way,he might as well go with a A64.

 

[MegaWorks]

Go for an A64

 

[sheltem]

I just recently picked up the Epox 8KDA3J Nforce3 250gb board ($69) and Athlon64 2800 ($130) on Newegg and now its running at Athlon64 3200 speeds. Combo cost me under $200 including shipping.

 

[RobsTV]

Originally posted by: fireontheway

Originally posted by: ts3433
I'd also agree if he already had a 400FSB-capable board.

Very true.But since he will need a new mobo either way,he might as well go with a A64.

Not really. Sure higher fsb is most benificial, but if you can't go there, higher mulitipliers will almost get you to the same spot. My main PC runs a XP-M 2400+ at 205x11, or 2260MHz. But my 266 based motherboard runs at 140MHz x 15, or 2100MHz, which compares nearly to an A64 3000+. I was running 150x14, but 140 x15 is more stable since there is no voltage adjustments on the board, and I didn't do any more jumpers except multiplier.

But it is true that if you went with new motherboard, then A64 or P-M all the way (seen these stock Pentium-M new little monsters, such as 1.8HGz beating A64 3.2GHz in gaming, yet staying stone cold to the point of no CPU fan required?) Original poster also mentioned getting a 333MHz board for $30, which would work great the the XP-M at still end up costing less.

 

[whorush]

mwave has chip mobo combos, they might work out cheaper than newegg.

anyway, you can pick up an a64 2800 and NF3 250gb mobo for ~200

its cheap fast and future proof.

 

[kmmatney]

If you want to go real cheap, then a Mobile Athlon is a pretty good deal. I just bought a Mobile Athlon 2600 XP along with a low cost AsRock motherboard for a friend. The cpu was easily be overclocked to run at Athlon 3200+ speed, and the system runs perfectly using an old 300 watt PSU, and the cpu runs really cool (42 C at load). The mobile Athlons have the Barton core with 512K of cache. The multiplier on the mobile athlon is unlocked, so you don't have to worry about maxing out the fsb.

 

[gwag]

alternative easy change nothing plan: find old 2600+ gets you 533Mhz
or a Mobile XP if your mother bord lets you set muliplers.
BTW- you shouln' t need new ram going to an A64 it will still have better memory bandwidth using2700 than an Xp using 3200.
GL