looking to upgrade processor

[angrynerdrock]

so i want to upgrade my current processor, which is a XP 1800+, but want to utilize my current motherboard for cost reasons. My current motherboard is a Soyo KT400 Drangon Ultra, and according to Soyous website the fastest i can use is a XP3000+ (barton), or Sempron 2800+. I cant seem to find XP's anywhere anymore, do they no longer sell them? I can find Semprons, but isnt that a budget processor like the Duron?

Where might i find a XP3000+ at a decent price?

secondly, say i do take the plunge, and upgrade the motherboard, if i get a amd 64 bit processor, will i then need a 64 bit version of windows? What are the best mobo/processor deals on these? keep in mind id like to use my current HSF which is rated at up to XP 3400+

 

[Unkno]

i'd say you should save money on a better motherboard since if you get a socket 939 motherboard, you'll be able to more upgrade options later on. No, you do not need a 64 bit version of windows, the cpu supports 64bit instructions but do not require it, it would run happily on 32bit windows. A good deal on 939 Cpus would be the opteron or the amd 3000+ Venice core. The venice and the opteron (sorry, haven't been keeping up with opterons, it should be optern 146 or something) both overclock very well, although i'm not sure if they would work for your heatsink. I still think you should save up the money for a socket 939 motherboard.

 

[Leper Messiah]

if you want a 3000+ or some other XP, your best bet is ebay or FS/T.

 

[themusgrat]

Socket 939 is great. The Opteron 144 can be had, if you look hard enough long enough, for about 150 when people are in stock. The 3000 Venice is 170 new, less on ebay. 939 boards are coming down, and if you don't need SLI, they are reasonable. The Sempron is a budget CPU, but they overclock well, I've heard.

 

[lyssword]

well semprons are pretty much like bartons with a little bit less L2 cache