• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Is this a good choice?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SlitheryDee
  • Start date Start date
S

SlitheryDee

Well, I'm finally jumping on the 64 bit bandwagon. I've chosen only a MB and processor as I plan on using the parts from my current system. However, I need some input on a couple of things.

1. First of all, these are my choices for MB and CPU.

EPoX EP-9NDA3+ Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail

This combination will cost me $271.99 shipped. If anyone can suggest something better for the same or fewer $$ it would be appreciated. BTW I plan on overclocking.

2. I was somewhat disturbed by something in the Processor Obfuscation and You: An Update on AMD and Intel CPUs article which read

"Performance of a 2.4 GHz Barton core is roughly equal to that of the Athlon 64 3000+ - the integrated memory controller essentially improves performance by 20% relative to the older Athlon XP design."

My own Barton 3000+ is currently clocked at 2331 mhz, does this mean that I won't see a huge performance increase with the aforementioned setup? I was under the impression that even the lowliest of A64 will smoke any Athlon XP. Any comments on this?
 
I would say thats failry accurate. your not going to get a big performance boost going from a heavily OC'ed AXP to an A64. Now if you heavily OC the A64 it will be faster... but I would wait for dual core or something ALOT faster... probably socket M2 and when you upgrade move over to DDR2 and PCIe.

If your looking for a huge upgrade, your not going to find on here. You will however get a nice new toy to mess with and a modest boost if you OC the A64.
 
I forgot to mention that I have an AGP card that I am reusing as well, hence the Nforce3 MB. I plan on joining the PCI-E crowd with my NEXT platform upgrade.
 
Thats kind of what I was getting at. A A64 AGP platform is not going to be a huge upgrade from the AXP.

I was kind of saying it would be better to wait for "the next huge upgrade" to upgrade.
 
Not trying to jump the boat here on this thread, but as you were talking about the Barton core chips.

I have an XP 2400+, thats not overclocked. I will be upgrading to a 64 3200+ Venice and overclocking to probably 2.5 or 2.6 depending on the quality of the chip.

Will I see a huge difference in performance here? and would that upgrade be suggested?

I thought it would just be a good idea to ask this question here and not start another thread

The other thing I wanted to touch on, what is your current video card? and what do you use your computer for? It might be a good idea now to upgrade to the better pci-e cards. Supposedly, there is suppose to be a price drop coming in the next month (or the release of the next gen cards). But I keep hearing in the next month or so. Depends what you want to do.
 
Originally posted by: krnxpride83
i wouldn't upgrade it if i were you..
Click to expand...


I've heard that Venice can reliably overclock to ~2.4 ghz, that's the main reason I chose this core.

Assuming that I'll upgrade anyway, would it be smarter to pay the ~$50 for the 3200+ in order to take advantage of the higher clock multiplier? Both the 3000+ and the 3200+ seem to top out at around 2.6 ghz, although that may be a bit much to hope for.

 
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Originally posted by: krnxpride83
i wouldn't upgrade it if i were you..
Click to expand...


I've heard that Venice can reliably overclock to ~2.4 ghz, that's the main reason I chose this core.

Assuming that I'll upgrade anyway, would it be smarter to pay the ~$50 for the 3200+ in order to take advantage of the higher clock multiplier? Both the 3000+ and the 3200+ seem to top out at around 2.6 ghz, although that may be a bit much to hope for.
Click to expand...


Check out this thread i started today, on the same topic:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1593748&enterthread=y
 
Originally posted by: Stokes
Not trying to jump the boat here on this thread, but as you were talking about the Barton core chips.

I have an XP 2400+, thats not overclocked. I will be upgrading to a 64 3200+ Venice and overclocking to probably 2.5 or 2.6 depending on the quality of the chip.

Will I see a huge difference in performance here? and would that upgrade be suggested?

I thought it would just be a good idea to ask this question here and not start another thread

The other thing I wanted to touch on, what is your current video card? and what do you use your computer for? It might be a good idea now to upgrade to the better pci-e cards. Supposedly, there is suppose to be a price drop coming in the next month (or the release of the next gen cards). But I keep hearing in the next month or so. Depends what you want to do.
Click to expand...


I have a XFX 6600GT. I'm working with a very limited budget, and am unable to purchase
a decent GPU, CPU, and MB at once. Since I have a card that is currently considered to be a very good midrange solution I want to carry it over to my next system. I'm hoping that the midrange next gen offerings will eventually make it to AGP in some form or fashion. That, coupled with dropping prices in the socket 939 dual cores, would make my proposed system highly upgradable, and allow me to postpone my transition to PCI-E without forcing me to sacrifice too much performance.
 
It would be great if someone would critique my choice of MB and CPU as well...

Edit: Particularly, if someone could give me information on the stability and overclockability of this motherboard. Alternate suggestions are also welcome.
 
I went from an XP 2500+ @ 3000+ to an A64 3000+@2.5\ 9NDA3+ combo with an AGP 6800GT on both (with an Intel pit stop in between) and there was a noticeable difference in games that were CPU limited. A friend also noticed a huge difference in games going from an XP 2600+ to a Socket 754 3000+ and an MSI nForce3 250Gb board with his 6800.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top