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CPU Choice

L

LT4CAMSS

Member
Well...after a long journey of thinking and brooding, and thinking and thinking, I'm almost ready to complete my upgrade. I've already bought 3 of the 4 parts I need. If you're wondering:

DFI nForce 4 Ultra

OCZ Platinum PC3200 Dual Channel 2X1GB sticks

BFG GeForce 7800 GTX OC


I've got everything else, too. All I'm left with is a damn cpu choice. Here's what I usually do:

IE browsing (up to 5-6 windows)
burst! d/ling
Ares d/ling
Occasional photo editing
Occasional music editing
Burning
Gaming (San Andreas, NFS UG2, etc.)
Anti-Virus running in the background

And it's not uncommon for me to be running many of these things in the same instance (accordingly of course, it would be absurd to say I photo edit and game at the same time).

I'm getting by w/ a P3 Tualatin 1.4 GHz and V5 5500 and it's been really good to me...but it's time to move on. I've narrowed down my choice to the following three cpus and I need some of you fellas' opinions:

Athlon 64 3000+ (OC-able and madd cheap right now, $124 OEM) OR
Athlon 64 3700+ (is it worth the extra $155 (as I'm typing, $279) for the 11X multi and common OC-ability of 2.7+ Ghz?) OR
Athlon X2 4400+ (with the aforementioned tasks I do, is there a justification for spending double the price - minus $1 right now ($557) - for the second core?)

Yes...that's where I am right now. Please give me your thoughts on this issue. Lastly, if I end up going with the 3000+, it is OEM (no fan). I'm gonna be pre-ordering a Zalman CNPS 9500 (~$75) but that thing's gonna take a while to be released. Is there a good underclock at which I can run the 3000+ which would not produce much heat and damage it until I get the CNPS 9500? Thanks. Peace...
 
If you can swing it, go for the X2 4400+.

The Venice 3000+ is an excellent P/P choice but won't be nearly as adept at severe multitasking...
 
honestly i would get the 3000+, take the money you saved and get a huge lcd so you can truly put that gtx through its paces
 
Originally posted by: coomar
honestly i would get the 3000+, take the money you saved and get a huge lcd so you can truly put that gtx through its paces
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I hope you have a plan for how he's going to get his STOCK 3000+ to keep up with that. He's pre-ordering a heatsink. As in, he'll be running stock till it gets there.

I say get the 4200+. You'll love it. The extra cache makes zilch difference.
 
Originally posted by: Bona Fide
I hope you have a plan for how he's going to get his STOCK 3000+ to keep up with that. He's pre-ordering a heatsink. As in, he'll be running stock till it gets there.
Click to expand...

I don't know about anyone else, but he's ordering an OEM (sans CPU fan) - I wouldn't be running that period without a cooler - but that's just me 😉
 
Originally posted by: LT4CAMSS
And it's not uncommon for me to be running many of these things in the same instance (accordingly of course, it would be absurd to say I photo edit and game at the same time).
Click to expand...
This would tell me that you need the X2.
 
3700+ isn't worth the extra cache...either get the X2 3800+ (which i recommend) or get the 3000+. It all turns out to be do you want single core or dual core? Are you capable of fully utilizing the second core? I myself would go for dual core since you would be able to defrag/run other scans on your computer while doing photo editing, gaming and/or other stuff
 
I would get either the 3000+ , or the X2 3800+.

Just so you know, 95% of all Venice 3000+ cpus will do 2.6Ghz on stock cooling. Even at stock, a 3000+ 64 would more than suffice for your needs.

But if those needs grow in the future, say more advanced versions of those applications come out that take more processor power, you may just be able to justify the extra cost to get an X2.

If it were up to me, I would spring and get an X2 3800+. There is really no reason to get anything above the 3800+(unless you live off your benchmark scores) because there is nothing the 4800+ can do that the 3800+ can't do. If there is something that a 3800+ is too slow to run, the 4800+ will also be too slow to run it, so there is some money wasted.
 
Another vote for the 3800+ X2 here; it should serve you a lot longer than any single cored chip, and keep your machine halfway relevant for 6-12 months longer than a 3000+ would. Unless money is not a big issue for you, go for the 3800.
 
Currently building a 4400+ duel AMD , 7800gtx, 1 gig single dimm ram,and l would get the duel if your mulitasking, and it ll run your viris and other applications in backround way smoother. Encoding will be very fast as well.
go the 4400+ duel.....
 
Thanks for all the replies fellas. I forgot to mention...now that I am upgrading and I'm going to be getting a huge performance increase relative to my current setup, that will open up the door for me to do video editing as well. I should have mentioned that as well in my original post. So that's another factor in this choice. Thanks again.
 
Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
of course with that said...you could aLways go with the work horse of the PC world!!

Get yourself an P2-350!!!!
Click to expand...

Now way!! Celeron 300A overclocked to 350!! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: piddlefoot
Currently building a 4400+ duel AMD , 7800gtx, 1 gig single dimm ram,and l would get the duel if your mulitasking, and it ll run your viris and other applications in backround way smoother. Encoding will be very fast as well.
go the 4400+ duel.....
Click to expand...

duel=fight each other
dual = 2 of something.....
 
if you can afford it, why not get the 4400+ its completely justified! only if you have to compromise on your other stuff should you not get it.
 
Damn...what a time this has been. It's like choosing a car along with the colors, options, etc. I finally went w/ the X2 4400+. It's definitely more expensive...but I have great faith that this was a choice that I will not regret at all. This is phat...a few more days and it should be here...and I can finally set this up and even do a nice OC on it. Peace...
 
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