Did I make a right choice?

[Chesebert]

I just got a DFI Nforce3 250 Mobo + Athlon 64 3000+ (socket 754)

Did I make the right choice? Consider the following:

1. I can overclock the 2GHz to probably 2.5Ghz
2. Socket 939 will be obsolete when DDR2 and Dual Core CPU comming out next year
3. Socket 939 3000+ is only a 1.8Ghz part
4. I hate to buy a 939 board with no PCI-E
5. I need the mobo + proc now

Anything wrong with this logic?

Rest of the System:
- Pair of Corsair XMS 3200
- 9800XT
- 4 ATA HD (Total 540G)

 

[Megatomic]

I basically made the same decision as you Chesebert. I say you did the right thing. :thumbsup:

 

[jdogg707]

I am about to make the same decision, I think a less expensive upgrade now will definitely hold you over until dual-cores come out. Especially considering XP 64 Bit is coming out soon and you'll see an even bigger increase in performance, for free!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I think you should wait for nforce4 & pci-e, some are already shipping, prices should be reasonable within a couple of weeks.

I'm also curious why you believe Dual Core or DDR2 will obsolete skt 939? any reference to articles, etc?

From the speculations that I've read Dual Core will be on the skt 939 platform, and DDR won't be adopted for the A64 products in the forseable future, because their is no need for it. (AMD chips aren't bandwidth limited like Intel chips)

 

[Chesebert]

Well..Speculation:

1. Dual core would require higher bandwidth, so DDR2 + Dual channel make sense.
2. I assume the consumer Dual Core will not have Level 3 cache, a high bandwidth main memory is a must to keep them fed.
3. DDR2 would mean CPU have a different data width to deal with. so different PIN, different socket
4. Norce4 + PCI-E too expensive, too immature

 

[Megatomic]

I just read a review of the 3500+ over at The Tech Report, and there was a lot of space dedicated to comparing 3500+ to the 3400+. The 3400+ held it's own against the 3500+ in just about every test they ran. If I wasn't certain of my choice before reading that review I certainly was afterwards.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Seem to still be kinks getting worked out with the 939 boards but 754 is mature now, so if you have little time and/or desire to deal with issues, stick with 754 IMO.

 

[Icepick]

You made a sound choice. The 754 motherboards and chipsets are less expensive than socket 939 to begin with. The DFI board has an excellent reputation already. Socket 939 doesn't give you much performance advantage over 754. You're right in that no matter which chipset you get it will be obsolete within a year or 2 anyway. Future proofing computers is a myth. If you return your socket 754 parts you'll most likely have to pay a 15% restocking fee anyway. So enjoy your sweet system!

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

There are really only 3 reasons to go for 939 here:

1) nForce4 - PCIe/SLI, future video card upgrade without changing mobo

2) Lower power consumption at stock voltage on Winchesters

3) 939 mobos *may* be able support dualcore

 

[rpv]

That was a question that I ran in my mind for sometime..I finally decided to go the 754 route as there was no stable 939 board few mnths ago..The NF4 boards are not scheduled to hit the shelves by Dec end(optimistic)....They all cost >200$ or round about there...The upgradability arguement did not hold up for me as when I do upgrade I usually change both the CPU as well as the mobo..As somebody mentioned the dual core are supposed to come out Q1-Q2 2005..Also would wait until the 939 platform-NF4 gets more affordable..

I went the 754 route with the DFI board..the board rocks..i am very happy with the result so far...

 

[imported_OrSin]

I might have to do the say thing. Plus i just read anrtilce saying with Dual core AMD might have to use 941 or 942 pins. The artilce is from the inquirer so read into it what you want.
But the SLI boards cost too much, the chips are more expensive then the 754, in 1 year I would need get a new system anyway. After i get a the new case in NewEgg will have my money. So it no NF4 shows up by Saturday (will only buy from NewEgg), I'm going 754.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=20108

 

[Chesebert]

well..130nm OC was a bit disapointing. I got on 2.3G out of it. It do ok at 2.45G but I need 1.65V to keep it stable under prim95. oh well...OC is all luck anyway. 2.3G ain't so bad