Need help buying a new AMD processor...

[1200monkey]

This will be my second computer that I'm building. I wanted to know the difference between all of the AMD processors (Barton, Thoroughbred, Thunderbird, etc.). Can anyone brief me on this, or link me to an article? Thanks.

 

[Shimmishim]

okay

thunderbird - 256k's L2 .18 um process
duron aka applebreds - 64k's L2 .13 um process
tbred - 256k's L2 .13 um process
tbred (thortons) - 256k's L2 .13 um process <---- basically a barton with 1/2 the L2 cache disabled
barton - 512k's L2 .13 um process
A64 newcastle - 512k's L2 .13 um process <-- 64-bit enabled processor (backwards compatible with 32-bit)
A64 clawhammer - 1024k's L2 .13 um process <-- 64-bit enabled processor (backwards compatible with 32-bit)

I believe the L1 cache is all 64k's on all these processors but i could be wrong


bartons have a larger die due to the larger cache than the tbreds
HOWEVER, the thortons have the same die size but have 1/2 the cache disabled

anyone can add to this

 

[Jeff7181]

Lets simplify this a bit... if money is a concern, you want a Barton... if you have money to spend, you want an Athlon-64.

 

[alphonsus]

I just bough a barton off newegg for $86.20 with free shipping.
AMD 2500+ 333Mhz FSB with 512k Cache

I wish I had the money for the 400mhz FSB but I'm not sure how big of a diff that would make since I rarely play games. Retail was only a few bucks more than the OEM so I got it instead for the warranty.


It says from newegg easter sale; so I dont know how much longer the price will stay.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
okay

thunderbird - 256k's L2 .18 um process
duron aka applebreds - 64k's L2 .13 um process
tbred - 256k's L2 .13 um process
tbred (thortons) - 256k's L2 .13 um process <---- basically a barton with 1/2 the L2 cache disabled
barton - 512k's L2 .13 um process
A64 newcastle - 512k's L2 .13 um process <-- 64-bit enabled processor (backwards compatible with 32-bit)
A64 clawhammer - 1024k's L2 .13 um process <-- 64-bit enabled processor (backwards compatible with 32-bit)

I believe the L1 cache is all 64k's on all these processors but i could be wrong


bartons have a larger die due to the larger cache than the tbreds
HOWEVER, the thortons have the same die size but have 1/2 the cache disabled

anyone can add to this

Actually, Shim, the L1 cache on all of the processors except the Durons is 128KB. It's just split up into 64KB of L1 Data and 64KB of L1 Code, for whatever reason.

 

[Shimmishim]

hehehe thanks myo...

i thought something looked wrong!

 

[myocardia]

No problem, Shim, I would forget all about what kind of cache the XP processors had myself, if I had a 2.6ghz Athlon64!

 

[bdjohnson]

Originally posted by: alphonsus
I just bough a barton off newegg for $86.20 with free shipping.
AMD 2500+ 333Mhz FSB with 512k Cache

I wish I had the money for the 400mhz FSB but I'm not sure how big of a diff that would make since I rarely play games. Retail was only a few bucks more than the OEM so I got it instead for the warranty.


It says from newegg easter sale; so I dont know how much longer the price will stay.

If you bump the FSB up to 400 like i did on mine it performs like a 3200+. I was able to do this with no voltage gain.

 

[Hyperfocal]

Actually, Shim, the L1 cache on all of the processors except the Durons is 128KB. It's just split up into 64KB of L1 Data and 64KB of L1 Code, for whatever reason.

Durons have the full L1 cache. They only have 64k of L2 cache.

 

[Corsairpro]

Originally posted by: Hyperfocal

Actually, Shim, the L1 cache on all of the processors except the Durons is 128KB. It's just split up into 64KB of L1 Data and 64KB of L1 Code, for whatever reason.

Durons have the full L1 cache. They only have 64k of L2 cache.

Hyperfocal is correct.

 

[Fricardo]

Originally posted by: bdjohnson

Originally posted by: alphonsus
I just bough a barton off newegg for $86.20 with free shipping.
AMD 2500+ 333Mhz FSB with 512k Cache

I wish I had the money for the 400mhz FSB but I'm not sure how big of a diff that would make since I rarely play games. Retail was only a few bucks more than the OEM so I got it instead for the warranty.


It says from newegg easter sale; so I dont know how much longer the price will stay.

If you bump the FSB up to 400 like i did on mine it performs like a 3200+. I was able to do this with no voltage gain.

Exactly. You can get a 400 fsb AMD processor right now for 78.00 right now at New Egg. Buy an XP-M 2400+ if you want performance on a budget. It should easily OC to 400 fsb and beyond.