CPUs

[tmod]

New machine will be for gaming and some CAD (Solid Edge). At first, I zeroed in on the A64s real quick. Now I'm not so sure. FYI, if I went A64 I'd be going 2800+ - 3200+, probably OC if one of the lower 2. Really, the 64 bit capability isn't worth much of anything right now, it is just a better chip. Now, socket 939 is coming up, which means dual channel memory for the A64s...but I think the XPs are carrying on with socket 754 (and will have integrated memory controllers a la A64). Anyone wanna help me sort all of this out into a reasonable decision (I'd be willing to wait a few months to buy, too)? Also... Opterons? 1.8 GHz 64-bit doesn't sound like such a bad thing to me for no more than a 3200+. And a 2500+ M @ 2.5 Ghz or so has to be nice. What about A64 mobile processors? All this is without thinking about Intel, too. I should've kept up with CPUs! :thumbsdown:

 

[myocardia]

I'd get an A64 3200, for what you're wanting to do with it. Of course, the P4 2.8C's running at 3.5ghz are awesome also. Either way, you'll be happy with what you get. Oh, and dual-channel makes no difference speed-wise with A64's; why do you think that a socket 754 chip is ~99% as fast as a socket 940 chip, at the same speed? Because dual-channel benefits an A64 even less than an Athlon XP, it seems. Oh, and I have a 2.5ghz mobile Barton, and it's very good for gaming (the only reason I have ever upgraded a processor), but I doubt it would keep up with even the slowest A64, when it comes to CAD.