Duron or Athon XP for a gaming machine?

[JEDI]

i currently have a 700mhz machine using a i810e mobo (no agp slot). The video card is a radeon sdr 32mb PCI and it blows when playing Serious Sam2 at 1024x768x16bit 2xAA. I only get 17 fps. my friend on a 667mhz system w/agp slot using a gf2 GTS gets ~30 fps at those same settings.

With Unreal2 and Warcraft3 coming this summer, it's time to upgrade to a system w/an agp slot. Which cpu to get, Duron or Athlon XP? (and as always, price matters. i want best bang for my buck )

according to anadtech's price guide, http://anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.html?i=1587&p=2, a duron 1.2ghz = $74 and a athon xp 1700 (1.47 ghz) is 114.

1) is it worth $40 more for .27 ghz and little bit more cache for a gaming machine?

2) also, how do u overclock a duron 1.2ghz? is it the same as a athlon xp?

THX

 

[marketsons1985]

I currently have an Athlon XP 1700+ and it is a great CPU!!

I run UT, CS, and NOLF with no problems whatsoever, and also SC, Diablo II and others. It is a kickass CPU. The only downside is that you need a pretty good cooler if you're gonna keep it under full load all the time.

I would go for the XP

 

[Skitzer]

If you want best bang for buck get a Duron 1 Gig with Morgan core for about $45 and overclock it to 1.2 Gig. A Duron 1.2 Gig will run any game out there quite well
Remember, you said "Bang for buck"

 

[formulav8]

The Duron would be plenty for any game out there.

 

[RagingGuardian]

I have a XP1500+ overclocked to 1800+ and a TI200 also overclocked and I get alot of stuttering in Serious Sam SE at 1280*1024*32 with everything maxed out.

 

[JEDI]

Raging, whats your fps in sam2? and is that a gf3 ti200? (the gf2 ti200 is only a little better than a gf2 gts.)

also, have u tried 1280x1024x16 bit, 2x AA? if so, what fps? (i found no visual difference between 16 and 32 bit colors, nor 2x and 4x AA.)

 

[Mavrick007]

For a gaming machine I would rather have an XP than a Duron. Especially when you take into account that it will last longer without upgrading, unlike the Duron. The extra cache and faster cpu will make your games that you play much better now and into the future. If you compare the Duron 1.2 and the XP 1700+, the 1700+ is a much better deal for just a bit more money, but you can't compare the 1G Duron to the XP cause that's a really good deal right now at $45.

I would buy the Duron 1G for a nice second machine but not run it for a main gaming rig unless money is really tight.

 

[Ausm]

I am using an Athlon 1800+ XP works great


Ausm

 

[jcmkk]

I think that it is worth $40 to go with an Athlon XP.