How big of a jump am I making?

[Civic2oo1x]

Hey all, I'm looking to make the leap into Dual Core chips. Right now my specs look like this.

-P4 Prescott, Socket 478, 800mhz FSB
-Abit IC7-G
-2 x 512 HyperX PC3200
-ATI 9600XT

Looking to upgrade to a smaller Shuttle SFF. I'm currently using a Lian-Li case which I find much too big and loud with all the fans running. I'd like to conserve desk space, thus I'm getting rid of my 19" CRT in favor of a 20" Dell LCD.

Not really considered with pure speed, looking for a value PC which I can use for common applications, video/audio encoding, Distributed Computing, and light gaming (maybe 5% of my computing use will be gaming). I'm sick of 1 hour + DVDShrink times.

Main chips I'm looking at are the X2 3800+ and the Smithfield 830. Shuttle XPC's I'm looking at are SN25P/SN26P on the AMD side, SD31 on the Intel Side. I know it sounds petty but I do like the black color of the SD31, not sure about the Blueish/Purple on the 25P and 26P. Would probably add a 6800XT video card, something under $170.

Thoughts on if it's worthwhile to ditch my current setup? I'd like to keep this whole process under $1500 if possible. Thanks all.

 

[AMDrulZ]

get the X2- 3800 its way better than that pentium d 830... if you must go intel then at least go with the pentium d 930 they run alot cooler than the 830's..

 

[stevty2889]

I wouldn't get the 830 period, if you are going to get an Intel, get the 930 instead. My 920@3.7ghz runs 7c cooler on the stock heatsink than my 830 did at stock speeds. Meanwhile my X2 @2.618ghz on the stock heatsink runs cooler than my 920@3.7ghz water cooled. I would not recomend an Intel dual core for a SFF system period, they just run too hot. Performace wise with my 920@3.7ghz, and my X2 @2.618ghz, they are pretty close in a lot of things, but the X2 is still better for the majority.

 

[Furen]

If you go AMD you can keep the video card and the memory... just something to think about. That would mean that your whole upgrade could end up costing you like 400 bucks.

 

[Markfw]

X2 3800. Even the 920 can't touch it in speed, and its still cooler, especially in a SFF.

 

[Rob80]

No question X2 3800. Plus youe can reuse your ram...

 

[Steaksauce]

how about a vanilla for $160?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130263

 

[Civic2oo1x]

Thanks for all the help guys. I've been keeping up with the X2 line, not so much with the Intel line, that's why I thought of the Smithfield 830 first.

I do eventually plan on replacing everything as the core of this current system my dad wants.

I know there's a video forum here, but I'll ask here. Isn't the 6800XT better then the standard 6800?

Here are my rough specs then
SN26P - $600
X2 3800+ - $300
eVGA Video Card - $160
(2)Corsair XMS PC3200 1GB - $200
(2)Western Digital 400GB Raid 0 - $400
Plextor DVD+RW - $70

Roughly $1700 which I can do. If I stretch it I could spend $2000. I want the larger HDD because I end up editing and making a lot of home DVD's and such. I'm thinking a 6800 because I want a decent card but nothing spectacular. I'm more a console player and the few games I play on PC are MMORPG's. Would the extra $200 be worthwhile to go to a 4400+ with 1mb cache over the 3800+ with 512 cache?

Thanks again.

 

[ribbon13]

No but the Opteron 165 would be worth it.

 

[Furen]

Are you overclocking? I assume not since you dont mention it. If you're a hardcore overclocker then the Opterons are the best, if you're not or you're just a casual overclocker then I'd stick to the X2s.

I'd go for either the 3800+ or the 4200+. Cache helps on some games but is pretty useless for most other tasks. Your encoding would benefit from the 10% clock bump with the 4200+ (for about $60 more), but the 3800+ is speedy enough if you ask me.

 

[couppi]

Definately pony up the extra cash for an opteron 165. It's only $25 more at monarch and encoding would definately go faster with 1 mb of cache per core. Also, a 200 mhz overclock is nothing.

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: Civic2oo1x
I know there's a video forum here, but I'll ask here. Isn't the 6800XT better then the standard 6800?

No the 6800XT IS NOT better than the standard 6800, the XT has 8 pipelines while the standard has 12. So a 6800 should be roughly 33% better at higher resolutions and more taxing games.

 

[Unkno]

Go intel if you don't care about performance and ONLY want to heat up your room.

Go amd if you want high performance but it won't keep you as warm in the winter.

Tough choice.