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Choosing Between Athlon XP and Sempron

I

irenealan

Senior member
Hi I am building a system with an EPox barebone link and I wonder which Socket A CPU should I pair with such system? Currently I am choosing between a Sempron 3000+ and an Athlon XP 3000+, though the Athlon XP is much more expensive! Is the Sempron better than the Athlon since it has integrated memory controller (correct me if I am wrong) and it has exclusive L2 cache?

Please advise and thanks for the help!
 
No Socket-A CPU has an integrated memory-controller. If you want a Sempron with an integrated memory-controller, you need to make sure to get the Socket-754 version.

See here
 
Thanks for the advise. But I really like the look of the case and how it's nicely built with memory card readers and auto sliding door. It also can be powered on just for listening the music without turning on the OS. I really wold like to go with such barebone.

If I really need to get a Socket A CPU, which Sempron or Athlon would you suggest then? My budget is around $120. Thanks for all the help.
 
The Athlon is going to outperform the Sempron hands down. The best bet would to be, getting an Athlon mobile 2500 or 2600 and overclock it, if that motherboard has the options.

The speed on the xp3000 is 2.16ghz either of the mobiles listed above can hit 2.4 - 2.6ghz pretty easily. Or if you prefer since it's a mini case you could run it at a lower voltage and keep your setup nice and cool. Also the mobiles cost about $30.00 - $40.00 less than a xp3000
 
I would find out if that thing supports changing multipliers, if it does get a mobile 2400. if not get Barton core 2600 or 2800, or if you can find a SOCKET A 3000+ sempron its a barton running at 2.0Ghz and its not that explensive.
 
Just wonder, other than the 512k cache, is the Athlon any better than the Sempron. I always wonder why AMD push out a new chip that performs worse than their predecessor?

I would love to get the Mobile Athlon but then I can't find any info whether the board will have such ability to overclock the chip. Also it seems risky to run with such system since it's so limited in space and also only has a 200W PS. Is it a good idea to overclock? If so what type of heat sink fan should I get with the Mobile Athlon? So far I just know that the system would run 400mhz for the CPU and 333mhz for the ram. So I can still overclock the chip but tweaking the CPU bus to 400mhz without changing any multipliers?

For the non-clock choice, I found this Sempron 3000+ which runs 2ghz and has 512k cache. Would that be comparable to the Barton? Thanks for your comments!
 
as far a heat goes it not a whole lot of concern unless you get into the 2.4 or higher range. they mobile thing is just to save$. yes the sempron 3000+ socket A is a barton.
 
The way they word that is misleading "the sempron has up to 512K total" but if you read the specs it says "256 L2 cache" so it is not 512 and still not a "Barton" core. That said the Sempron is still a good chip, with the Barton XP3000 your getting 2.16ghz and the 512 cache and the Sempy is 2.0ghz. and 256 cache. Either one should be fine for what your doing

 
Originally posted by: irenealan
Just wonder, other than the 512k cache, is the Athlon any better than the Sempron. I always wonder why AMD push out a new chip that performs worse than their predecessor?
Click to expand...

essentially, the sempron replaces the Duron line. the XP was amd's flagship, before the A64's. semprons are budget cpu's, the XP is not. in any case, the xp wins hands down.

if i were you though, i would definitely look for a S754 barebones, because you will be able to upgrade to an athlon64 in the future, which is impossible with the socket A/462
 
I would love to get a barebone with Athlon 64 support! Too bad the EPoX case I like don't have such support, if it does I sure will get the Athlon 64.

As far as the Sempron 3000+, both Newegg and AMD had it listed with 512k cache. It's the only Sempron chip with 512k cache. If it doesn't then it's no difference from the Sempron 2800+ since they both run at 2.0ghz! Can someone clarify? Thanks.

Now I am deciding between a Sempron 3000+ and a Mobile Athlon 2400+. If I get the 2400+ and the barebone doesn't support multiplier change, what will be the base multiplier of such chip. Since the Mobile Athlon 2400+ runs at 266mhz, if I were to overclock it to 333mhz or even 400mhz, how fast will it be? How to calculate such speed and how will it compare to a Athlon or Sempron 3000+? Thanks.
 
base is like 6X, you can use the wire trick on it but that can be a pain. The speed would be set at what FSB and multiplier you set it at, they usually go to the 2.2-2.4 range. surely you can did up some infoas to weather it supports multipliers. Google is your friend

2800+=256k
3000+=512k

well I did your work for you!! http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=320
"Power BIOS for excellent over clocking features:
Support Asynchronous FSB/AGP and FSB/DIMM timing mode
1MHz fine tuning on FSB, AGP timing
Support BIOS adjustable CPU multiplier & Core voltage, FSB clock, AGP clock, Vdd voltage, DIMM frequency and voltage settings"
so looks like its mobile worthy.
 
Originally posted by: gwag
base is like 6X, you can use the wire trick on it but that can be a pain. The speed would be set at what FSB and multiplier you set it at, they usually go to the 2.2-2.4 range. surely you can did up some infoas to weather it supports multipliers. Google is your friend

2800+=256k
3000+=512k

well I did your work for you!! http://www.epox.com.tw/eng/products_content.php?ps=320
"Power BIOS for excellent over clocking features:
Support Asynchronous FSB/AGP and FSB/DIMM timing mode
1MHz fine tuning on FSB, AGP timing
Support BIOS adjustable CPU multiplier & Core voltage, FSB clock, AGP clock, Vdd voltage, DIMM frequency and voltage settings"
so looks like its mobile worthy.
Click to expand...


Thanks gwag! I am so grateful for your help. So it seems the BIOS support multiplier change and all I need to do is to change the multiplier and up the FSB then the CPU should be overclocked to 2.2 or up? Sorry I am still new at overclocking the Mobile Athlon!

I am not planning to use the IGP. I am still planning on getting a good graphic card. Probably a 9600XT AIW. Since the case should be shipped to me in a couple days, I will start setting it up with the IGP first! Is there any problem with such IGP?

I also just purchsed this 1GB of KingMax ram below $100. Wonder if these are good for the system overclocking. The ram is PC3200 but the system only supports dual channel up to 333mhz, so can I still overclock the Mobile Athlon?

Thanks again for all the help!
 
Well the Barton core Athlon XP's still win because all the Sckt A semprons are are Rebranded Thouroughbred B Cores with a clock speed increase. Get a Mobile 2400+ Barton core and OC it to 400FSB.

-Kevin
 
just wonder if I should get the Mobile 2400+ or the 2600+? Is there much difference if I am overclocking?

Also just wonder since the system only takes ram at 333mhz and the CPU at 400mhz, usually what's the better number to set for the multiplier and the FSB? Should I set the CPU at 333mhz to be in sync with the ram or should I up the CPU to the max at 400mhz? Thanks again for the help!
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well the Barton core Athlon XP's still win because all the Sckt A semprons are are Rebranded Thouroughbred B Cores with a clock speed increase. Get a Mobile 2400+ Barton core and OC it to 400FSB.

-Kevin
Click to expand...

Thanks Kevin just posted my question before seeing your response. So a Mobile 2400+ with 400FSB and set ram at 333mhz? Does it matter if CPU and Ram speed are not in sync? So I guess at 400FSB I should set the multiplier at 11 to be safe? Thanks.

 
2400 (in general) make it to the same speeds as 2600's. The only advantage the 2600's possess is a higher multiplier.

Just OC the RAM to 400. If not then leave the CPU at 333FSB. Running async on a non A64 based solution isn't a wise idea.

Also i would highly recommend getting the 25Watt version, which means it is the absolute best batch of silicon if it is rated at those voltages.

-Kevin
 
My rams are KingMax PC3200. However, the barebone said it only support up to 333mhz for the ram. So does it mean that I can't up the ram to 400mhz even though the ram is designed to do so. The weird thing is system supports 400FSB for the CPU so it means the system is designed for running async? Really don't know why!
 
Wonder if I can get this heatsink since it's cheap and has a lot of good reviews. But don't know if it will fit in the barebone given the sytem has a cooling kit.

Also the price between the Mobile 2400+ 35w and 2400+ 45w is around $20. Is it really worth for such upgrade since the 2400+ 35w is at the same price as the 2600+ 45w. Anyone else has the experience and can tell me which one is a better choice? I would like to order today since the barebone already got shipped out. Thanks for all the help.
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Well the Barton core Athlon XP's still win because all the Sckt A semprons are are Rebranded Thouroughbred B Cores with a clock speed increase. Get a Mobile 2400+ Barton core and OC it to 400FSB.

-Kevin
Click to expand...

the 3000+ socket A IS a Barton corenot Tbred.
 
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