Making the jump to Dual Core, what's the best choice?

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

So my 3000+ Venice just isn't cutting it anymore, so I've decided I'm gonna upgrade to Dual Core. Now my question is, at this point what is the best cpu to get, or more precisely Opteron or X2?

Also, do the more recent Opteron 165s still O/C pretty well? If not then would X2 be the better choice? Also I've heard that most X2 3800+ now use the Toledo core, is that true? Gonna be used on an MSI Neo4 board.

 

[DrMrLordX]

X2s still mostly use the Manchester core. As far as overclocking is concerned, whether you get an Opteron or X2 is mostly going to be dependant on how much you want 1 meg of l2 cache per core. I'd personally get an '06 X2 instead of the 165, but that's just me.

If you want more cache and can deal with the extra heat generated by the Opteron, go for it instead.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
X2s still mostly use the Manchester core. As far as overclocking is concerned, whether you get an Opteron or X2 is mostly going to be dependant on how much you want 1 meg of l2 cache per core. I'd personally get an '06 X2 instead of the 165, but that's just me.

If you want more cache and can deal with the extra heat generated by the Opteron, go for it instead.

So basically the recent Opty's aren't so good overclockers anymore?

 

[ericwsanderson]

I have an Opty 146 0607 CACJE APAW does 2.8GHz at 1.425v memtest86+, OCCT, SuperPI 32M, & 24hr+ Prime95 stable.
I figure that's a pretty decent OC, although it isn't 3GHz

 

[imported_ST]

for x2 3800 you want an 0601 stepping :

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/stranx44/sp24-2900cnq-a.jpg

for opty 165, get a ccb1e 0608 :

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/stranx44/sp04-3006.jpg


if your cooling kinda sucks, get the x2. if you want to get max oc and can handle high temps, get opty 165...

 

[imported_ST]

grr double post...

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: 1Dark1Sharigan1

So basically the recent Opty's aren't so good overclockers anymore?

It's not that at all. They're about as good as they ever were. The thing is that the '06 X2s are better overclockers than the '05 ones, so in most instances, the X2s are OCing about as well as the Opterons.

You really can't go wrong either way so long as you get the right stepping. Just read ST's post(s).

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX
It's not that at all. They're about as good as they ever were. The thing is that the '06 X2s are better overclockers than the '05 ones, so in most instances, the X2s are OCing about as well as the Opterons.

You really can't go wrong either way so long as you get the right stepping. Just read ST's post(s).

So which stores are most likely to be shipping those steppings? Newegg, Zipzoomfly, Monarch?