Clawhammer 3500+ Revision SH7-CG question

[mset]

Hi all

Slowly getting my gear together off of the FS threads here and at Hardforums. I'm a non-gamer trying my first build - my needs are speed for multitasking.

So far I have

1 GB OCZ Premier Series PC 3200 2.5-3-3-7 NIB $85

1 WD Raptor 74 GB $120 shipped (thanks jdogg)

1 WD 120 GB Dual Option USB 2.0 external $70 shipped (thanks again jdogg)

1 Enermax Noisetaker 420W $55

Now... I have figured out that a 1MB L2 cache will help me in terms of multi-tasking. The CPU below is at Hardforums for $150.

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (purchased 2005)
Code Name: ClawHammer
Brand ID 4
Socket 939
Technology .13u
Voltage 1.504
Family F
Model 7
Stepping A
Ext Family F
Ext Model 7
Revision SH7-CG

I have done searches on this and I believe it's 1 MB L2 cache, 2.2 Ghz. However, someone at xtreme posted that this Revision will necessitate BIOS upgrades on most mobos. Is this true? I don't mind learning but I want this first build to be as simple as possible and if I don't have to get involved in 'flashing' the BIOS (is that the right term?) it would be good.

This seems like a good used CPU for me, just want to check about this BIOS thing.

Thanks

 

[Shimmishim]

what mobo?

that 3500+ clawhammer is a 512 kb L2 chip, not 1 meg.

I've owned one before that overclocked like mad.

i ran that chip with a dfi ultra-D with the original shipping bios so my guess is any board manufactured late 2004/early 2005-2006 should work for that chip.

 

[mset]

Damn... ok, I did a bunch of searches and I thought that it was 1 MB L2.

re: mobo - I was actually just wondering if every socket 939 mobo I could get today would require a BIOS update for this CPU, but if this is 512 MB L2, then I guess it's not for me. Anyway, you answered my question.

This is all based on the idea that a 1 MB L2 cache will significantly improve my performance for multi-tasking (burn a CD while listening to another while my stock charting software takes in the data streaming in from my data provider while having multiple browser and chat windows open...). I have no plans to overclock the CPU ( I know, I know... a hiss of indrawn breath from the pros here )

Thanks for the reply. Damn - I thought I had my 1 MB L2 cache 939 chip at a nice price with some warranty left and everything.

 

[Shimmishim]

well. if you want to multitask, there's only so much 1 cpu can do before things start to stutter.

i think burning, listening to a CD, etc... should be okay for a single core processor.

now if you were gaming, divx encoding, then i'd say dual core might be better for you.

 

[mset]

Ok Shim

Yeah, there is almost no possibility that I will be gaming or doing anything video-intensive. I presume that the idea that a 1 MB L2 cache is much better than a 512 is relatively accurate?

Guess I have to keep looking for my ideal 1 MB L2 cache 939 chip at a good price.