Best Processor

[The Borg]

Hi Guys,

Some advice please? I have an AMD64 3500+ (2200 MHz, 939) on a GIGABYTE motherboard (GA-K8NXP-9). I would like to upgrade it to a dual core machine. I understand that the X2 and Opteron oprocessors are pin compatible with the AMD 64. From what I have been reading about the release of the new Intel chips, it seems like the AMD prices are expected to drop.

Am I correct in assuming that the replacement X2 would be the 4400+ and the Opteron would be the 175? What about the 2xx?

And the most important question is - which is faster for CRUNCHING??? There does not seem much difference in price between the 4400+ and the 175 (about 13%).

 

[ProviaFan]

For single-socket use, there really isn't a difference in features as far as the apps and OS can see. The Opterons, however, are put through a more rigorous quality checking procedure, so they're said to overclock better. For my personal use, I have an X2 4400+ system that works very well for high-end digital photography and distributed computing.

By the way, be sure to check compatibility, and remember to update your BIOS using the old processor if there's a chance that your current BIOS won't work with the new one.

 

[BlackMountainCow]

To me that's basically a decission of intent:

- If you overclock: Opteron
- If not: X2

And yes, I'd wait a bit till Intel pumps out some more Core Duos and the AMD prizes start to drop.

:evil:

 

[networkman]

I recently bought the Opteron 146 combo from JC; it overclocks quite nicely from 2.0 GHz to 2.5 GHz, and that's with the stock AMD cooling of HSF. No telling how much higher it might go with a decent water-cooled setup.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

The 2xx line is a socket 940, it will not be compatible with your motherboard. Either processor would work about as well as the other, but I'd favor whichever one has a higher L2 cache, and if you plan to overclock, I'd definatly recommend the Opteron, like the above posters.

 

[Coquito]

Wait for the price cuts!!!

 

[Wolfsraider]

I never have used an x2 but that opty 165 I had was a powerhouse, it was clocked way under my dual xeon 2.8 nocona system, yet had little heat, and at a bit over a 500mhz overclock on air, it was amazing. I used it more than my xeons, the xeons got higher rosetta points but everything ran smoother and better on the opteron.The xeons had 4 instances of rosetta, the opteron only 2.

The leadtek winfast tv channel surf lit up every channel rather than just the ones I moused over etc...

I really miss the servers, but if I do it again, its opterons for me from now on out unless intel gets a monster on their hands again.

Advice Coming from a devout intel guy, take it or leave it.


Mike

 

[kb3edk]

Coquito's right, wait for the price cuts! I think July 24 is the magic day.

For the record though, here's another voice of experience saying that S939 Opterons do overclock better than Athlon X2s. I have two Opty 170s, an X2 3800+, and an X2 4400+. The CPU that I spent the most money on (4400+) is the slowest one in my fleet because unlike all my others it simply refuses to overclock :roll:

 

[Assimilator1]

Originally posted by: networkman
I recently bought the Opteron 146 combo from JC; it overclocks quite nicely from 2.0 GHz to 2.5 GHz, and that's with the stock AMD cooling of HSF. No telling how much higher it might go with a decent water-cooled setup.

Nice start mate ,now crank it up, ,I built a 146 rig for a friend of mine ,his would go up to 2.85GHz on std vcore!

 

[Wellcky]

AMD pricing info DailyTech