Best value/performance CPU right now? A64 3400?

[jspeicher]

3400+ 64bit can be had for $203.00 .... is this the best CPU in this price range?

 

[Insomniak]

Nah, get a 3200+ or a 3000+ they can do the same thing, only difference is that the 3200+ has a 10x multiplier, so it's a bit easier to work with on the OC. The 3000+ has a 9x multiplier, making you jump through some hoops to keep raising your OC without torching your RAM.

 

[SunSamurai]

3000+ Is best imho.

 

[BW86]

3200+. Easier on the value ram bc it has the 10x multiplier.

 

[CraigRT]

3200 as well. Which is why I have a 3200+ NC like BW86

 

[Vee]

Originally posted by: jspeicher
3400+ 64bit can be had for $203.00 .... is this the best CPU in this price range?

Yes.

Zebo has come up with a formula/rating for A64. This fits fairly well enough with the wide benchmarking picture. (GHz X 1500 X (if 939)1.05 X (if 1MB L2)1.05 = Zebos rating ). One might keep in mind though, that s939 is slightly desirable for bandwidth hungry media apps.

s754 3400+ & 2.4 = 3600 (no OC, on a ~$75 MB from ASUS, EPoX or Chaintech. Standard RAM. 300-400W Fortron depending on video and drives)

s754 3000+ & 2 = 3000

s939 3000+ & 1.8 = 2835

s939 3200+ & 2 = 3150

s939 3200+ & (OC) 2.4 = 3780

Even if you choose to rely on 20% OC on 3200+, a non-OC 3400+ measures up very well. If you then also put the cheaper, pedestrian standard components into the perspective, the value should be clearly visable.
Straight geometric performance per $ (non-OC), I suppose s754 3000+ wins. But I don't compare value quite that way.