Is the AMD 64 3000+ a good processor?

[nickv360]

I am probably going to get that for my PC, but I just wanted some opinions. And, what would its equivalent be in terms of an Intel Proc. I am going to spend about 150 to get it, which I think is the retail price.

 

[Mik3y]

it is a better overall performer then the P4. it's comparable to the P4 3.0ghz. it's faster then the P4 in general also and kills it in gaming, but the P4 multi-tasks a bit better. as for encoding/decoding, they are about on par with each other, that is if you go for socket 939.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
it is a better overall performer then the P4. it's comparable to the P4 3.0ghz. it's faster then the P4 in general also and kills it in gaming, but the P4 multi-tasks a bit better. as for encoding/decoding, they are about on par with each other, that is if you go for socket 939.

But is it a good processor? After all, that was part of the OP's question.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Mik3y
it is a better overall performer then the P4. it's comparable to the P4 3.0ghz. it's faster then the P4 in general also and kills it in gaming, but the P4 multi-tasks a bit better. as for encoding/decoding, they are about on par with each other, that is if you go for socket 939.

But is it a good processor? After all, that was part of the OP's question.

keys! wot chu doin in here?

Mik3y:

well, i wouldn't say "kill" in gaming... amd is 10-15% faster in most games at cpu bound resolutions of 800x600 (i dunno anyone with a high end processor running a game at that res tho). at more common resolutions where gfx card limitations play a part, it's much closer.

OP"

guess that would depend on what you mean by "good". my general thoughts on the 3000+ cpus:

they're fast.
they're stable.
in general they overclock well (my s939 oc's 30%+, my s754 oc's 20%).
they're very reasonably priced.
their encoding speed is just fine, depending on the app.. they lose some, win some vs intel and are overall pretty comparable imo.
i'm disappointed by it's multitasking compared to my intel.

does that make it a "good" chip by your standards?

 

[nickv360]

BY Multi-tasking, you mean running 4+ programs at once? Normally I have one or two windows open max. Firefox, and MAYBE Gunbound. Could be because my current PC has an 8mb vid card, so I can't play games. Either way, multi-tasking not so much an issue as gaming, which I hope will be much more possible with a better PC.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: nickv360
BY Multi-tasking, you mean running 4+ programs at once? Normally I have one or two windows open max. Firefox, and MAYBE Gunbound. Could be because my current PC has an 8mb vid card, so I can't play games. Either way, multi-tasking not so much an issue as gaming, which I hope will be much more possible with a better PC.

having a couple of windows open doesn't really count; amd handles that just fine, heh..

yes, the 3000+ is a great gaming cpu, but upgrading your video (and which one you get) will have much more impact than whether you chose intel or amd. from the sounds of it i have little doubt you'll like the 3000+, and it had a very good price/performance value.

 

[SonicIce]

The 3000+ is $148 on Newegg. All Intel has at that price point is a 2.4GHz (800MHz FSB) or 2.53GHz (533MHz FSB) CPU. The cheapest 3GHz CPU is $175 (LGA 775)

 

[AMDbloke]

its a nice chip indeed...benches against the 3200+ with same clock, more cache almost the same
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articl...y/athlon64-3000_5.html

 

[Mik3y]

to answer the origional question: yes, it's a great chip. perhaps the best bang for the buck now since it oc's extremely well also.

 

[RussianSensation]

Massive Attack: Performance Tests of 14 Processors Priced at $200+
Review 2
Here you can estimate the performance of the A64 3000+ rating

Choosing the Best CPU for Half-Life 2
here you can see just how well A64 3000+ 90nm does in one of the most cpu intensive games

Its overclocking is mostly luck of the draw, so I will not comment on it too much. You should be able to squeeze 2.4ghz if all goes well considering 90nm process.

Make sure to go for A64 3000 + 90nm socket 939 processor. NO need to save a few $ on socket 754 motherboard since socket 939 provides a longer upgrade path which you could benefit from since users who are on a budget highly benefit from upgrading to a newer cpu later without having to buy a new motherboard.

You can pick up A64 3000+ 90nm from Monarch Computer for $140. Toss in a decent heatsink and $120 socket 939 mobo and you are set.