Keep my FX-55 or try and find an X2/Opteron
- Thread starter Jschmuck2
- Start date
Yes actually, they're all over the place for cheap now. If it costs much, remember that you can get some DDR2 for $30, a decent AM2 board for $45, and a good dual core for $50.
*Edit - For some reason I thought you asked if you should get a 165 or do a system overhaul... at any rate, I'd go for a 165 if you can find it cheap enough, whatever 'cheap enough' is to you. I was very happy with my 165.
I recently upgraded from an overclocked Opteron 165 (I ran it at 2.56GHz) to my current system. I upgraded just because I wanted to upgrade really, I never ran into anything my dual core Opteron @ 2.56GHz couldn't run well. But I don't know what you consider cheap as you could build an AM2 system around a 5000+BE for not all that much more then the $125ish Opteron 165's are going for on Ebay. I guess it depends on how much you were planning on spending and if you overclock or not.
$87.99 (free shipping) 5000+ Black Edition.
2x1GB of PC6400 memory for $39.99 (free shipping)
Both the above combined are going for about what the Opteron 165's seem to be going for on Ebay.
To be honest I don't know what a good bang for the buck AM2 mother board is, I never really looked at them as I jumped from s939 to AM2+. But, they start at $40 on Newegg and I don't think you need all that incredible of a board seeing as the 5000+BE has an unlocked multiplier so it shouldn't need a pricey board to get a good overclock with.
I don't know what a comprable Intel setup would go for that matches a 5000+BE. I would imagine the Intel platform would be more money as it would probably need a better motherboard to overclock with, but really don't know. Anyway, that's the way I see it, spend a premium on an Opteron 165 or spend a bit more but then have to basically do a system overhaul, but the above shouldn't have to be all that much more then the 165's are gonig for anyway. My $.02 anyway.
I recently upgraded from an overclocked Opteron 165 (I ran it at 2.56GHz) to my current system. I upgraded just because I wanted to upgrade really, I never ran into anything my dual core Opteron @ 2.56GHz couldn't run well. But I don't know what you consider cheap as you could build an AM2 system around a 5000+BE for not all that much more then the $125ish Opteron 165's are going for on Ebay. I guess it depends on how much you were planning on spending and if you overclock or not.
$87.99 (free shipping) 5000+ Black Edition.
2x1GB of PC6400 memory for $39.99 (free shipping)
Both the above combined are going for about what the Opteron 165's seem to be going for on Ebay.
To be honest I don't know what a good bang for the buck AM2 mother board is, I never really looked at them as I jumped from s939 to AM2+. But, they start at $40 on Newegg and I don't think you need all that incredible of a board seeing as the 5000+BE has an unlocked multiplier so it shouldn't need a pricey board to get a good overclock with.
I don't know what a comprable Intel setup would go for that matches a 5000+BE. I would imagine the Intel platform would be more money as it would probably need a better motherboard to overclock with, but really don't know. Anyway, that's the way I see it, spend a premium on an Opteron 165 or spend a bit more but then have to basically do a system overhaul, but the above shouldn't have to be all that much more then the 165's are gonig for anyway. My $.02 anyway.
IMO, see if you can get the X2 or Opty 165 for < $70. I have a 165 running @ 2.6 Ghz with a fairly pedestrian HSF, and am satisfied with the performance.
Otherwise, I'd say your best bet is an Intel system, maybe built around the E7200?
I wonder where firewolfsm found the 939 X2's for cheap...
Dont spend any more money on a socket 939 system. I have two of them still running just fine: a 4400+ @ 2.9 Ghz and a 4200+ @ 2.6 Ghz. They work fine for their assigned tasks and Ill leave them running as long as they do - but I won't spend another penny on them. DDR RAM and the few 939 cpus still kicking around are getting so expensive that it just isnt worth it.
Just stretch it our till you can afford to build new.
OCZ ram on newegg is cheap + rebate. I have 4g of the stuff. I have my Oppy 180 running on an NF4 SLI rig using 8800GS Superclock x 2 and I can run Age of Conan great without AA. The C2D system runs at a higher res + 2xMSAA with an HD3850 512 about but feels just a tad smoother overall.
As for what an BE 5000+ runs speed wise in the C2D world. 3.2ghz ( a very reachable speed for a real overclocker ) will run you about the speed of a 2.4ghz 4mb cache C2D. 3.0ghz sits at about 2.33ghz C2D speed. You 'could' get a e2180 and OC it but you need to push it to 3.0ghz to get around 2.5-6ghz C2D 4mb cache speed. So, either way you are going to be doing OC duty if you want a good gaming rig.
Or you could just get an Opty 165 and OC that since its pretty much just a downclocked 180 from the factory. At 2.4ghz I'd say an Opteron 180 runs about as fast as a 2.0ghz 4mb Cache C2D. Not the best, but no slouch either.
As for what an BE 5000+ runs speed wise in the C2D world. 3.2ghz ( a very reachable speed for a real overclocker ) will run you about the speed of a 2.4ghz 4mb cache C2D. 3.0ghz sits at about 2.33ghz C2D speed. You 'could' get a e2180 and OC it but you need to push it to 3.0ghz to get around 2.5-6ghz C2D 4mb cache speed. So, either way you are going to be doing OC duty if you want a good gaming rig.
Or you could just get an Opty 165 and OC that since its pretty much just a downclocked 180 from the factory. At 2.4ghz I'd say an Opteron 180 runs about as fast as a 2.0ghz 4mb Cache C2D. Not the best, but no slouch either.
personally i wouldn't spend a dime on a s939 system, not after i built my bro a C2D system for $160 and overclocked it w/ stock heatsink and stock voltages to 2.8ghz. its ridiculous how easy they overclock and how cheap they are. i swear i felt like just giving him my ancient opty 165 rig and just taking the new comp, but bloody conscience kept telling its not ethical.
here's what i bought used:
GA-EP35C-DS3R rev 1.1: $70
E2160: $55
OCZ platinum rev 2 DDR2 ram: 2x 1gb $35
to get to 2.8ghz on my opty165 required i buy a TT big typhoon (massive heat sink), the best over clocking mobo for s939, and a good case w/ great cooling (antec p160). Imagine what an E2160 could do w/ a good after market heat sink and a decent case like that (i put it in a really beat up case w/ no case cooling and still managed the aforementioned overclock). hate to say it, but i can't recommend AMD to anyone these days since they've really fallen behind the times.
here's what i bought used:
GA-EP35C-DS3R rev 1.1: $70
E2160: $55
OCZ platinum rev 2 DDR2 ram: 2x 1gb $35
to get to 2.8ghz on my opty165 required i buy a TT big typhoon (massive heat sink), the best over clocking mobo for s939, and a good case w/ great cooling (antec p160). Imagine what an E2160 could do w/ a good after market heat sink and a decent case like that (i put it in a really beat up case w/ no case cooling and still managed the aforementioned overclock). hate to say it, but i can't recommend AMD to anyone these days since they've really fallen behind the times.
Originally posted by: poohbear
personally i wouldn't spend a dime on a s939 system, not after i built my bro a C2D system for $160 and overclocked it w/ stock heatsink and stock voltages to 2.8ghz. its ridiculous how easy they overclock and how cheap they are. i swear i felt like just giving him my ancient opty 165 rig and just taking the new comp, but bloody conscience kept telling its not ethical.
here's what i bought used:
GA-EP35C-DS3R rev 1.1: $70
E2160: $55
OCZ platinum rev 2 DDR2 ram: 2x 1gb $35
to get to 2.8ghz on my opty165 required i buy a TT big typhoon (massive heat sink), the best over clocking mobo for s939, and a good case w/ great cooling (antec p160). Imagine what an E2160 could do w/ a good after market heat sink and a decent case like that (i put it in a really beat up case w/ no case cooling and still managed the aforementioned overclock). hate to say it, but i can't recommend AMD to anyone these days since they've really fallen behind the times.
That's a good price/performance ratio, but it does not address the OP's point at all.
I get 2.6 on my Opty 165 using a TT Silent K8, that was left over from a single-core A64 system. Also a $70 (at the time) Biostar mobo. I'm also using a $40 Enermax case and one additional fan.
It's not really about AMD vs Intel - although you've made it that way - but if there is value for the OP in obtaining an inexpensive X2 to drop into his current system. There's a lot of value to be had there, as well as not losing time due to rebuilding, not having to install the OS and apps, tweak configs, etc.
Note that the E2160 isn't really much more powerful than a similarly clocked X2 CPU, although this varies based on the app.
"New" systems almost always feel faster than older systems - even of similar specs - because the fresh build doesn't have all the programs and other crap that builds up over time within the OS.
The problem here is that you are using inexpensive in the same post as socket 939 Athlon 64 X2. They are just not inexpensive anymore. The cheapest 939 X2 I'm seeing searching on price watch is $135.00 for a 3800. Thats just not inexpensive or good value no matter how you look at it.
Markfw
Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
- May 16, 2002
- 27,329
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My point exactly. I just sold a Q6600@3.3 with a P35-E Abit (virtually new, haven't even gotten the rebate back yet) and 2 gig memory with a Ninja Sythe for $225. For a decent X2 (if you could find one, like a 4800) would probably not be much less !
Amd really screwed the pooch when they jumped ship so fast on the 939's.
Most of the systems I built 3 years ago for customers are still whipping the dell and such, intel systems.
My advice is just keep your eye on the for sale forum and on ebay. You should be able to get a chip for the price you want to give. It may take some time, but you'll get it.
Most of the systems I built 3 years ago for customers are still whipping the dell and such, intel systems.
My advice is just keep your eye on the for sale forum and on ebay. You should be able to get a chip for the price you want to give. It may take some time, but you'll get it.
That is looking at Pricewatch. The OP should look for a used one on the FS/T forums here, or Craig's List, or Ebay. If he can't find one for what he feels is a fair price, then it might be time to assemble a new system.
Your rationale is based on the same thinking I used when in my 1st post I stated :
"IMO, see if you can get the X2 or Opty 165 for < $70. I have a 165 running @ 2.6 Ghz with a fairly pedestrian HSF, and am satisfied with the performance.
Otherwise, I'd say your best bet is an Intel system, maybe built around the E7200?"
wow. and people actually buy them?!? i really need to sell my opty 165 rig (if people are gonna pay anywhere near those 3800 prices) and use that money to help buy a cheap C2D rig.
Mind you, i know people wont buy em for anywhere near that price. When i was buying parts for my bros comp, 2 people were selling opty 170s for ~$90 the entire 2 weeks i was looking for parts and nobody was buying. and why would they when you can get a C2D cpu AND 2gb ram for $90?
OP, do you have a Fry's near where you live? If so, then keep a watch on their newspaper ads, because they frequently run deals like this 5200+ & motherboard for $55. Pair it up with a cheap 2gb of ddr2 and you have a nice, inexpensive setup.
And you could probably sell off your S939 cpu/mobo/ram here on the forums and recoup most of your investment in an AM2 system.
And you could probably sell off your S939 cpu/mobo/ram here on the forums and recoup most of your investment in an AM2 system.
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