Need Newcastle A64 3200 benchmarks vs SKT939 A64 3500

[Lyfer]

I have a friend who is planning a big A64 upgrade, he was thinking about going with the much more expensive A64 3500 which is $189 more than the A64 3200 newcastle and is basically the same cpu other than DC ram. I need some benches to show him that the DC ram offers a minimal boost and that SKT754 is the way to go. (he doesn't care about upgrade path, he always upgrades both cpu/board)



Thanx!

 

[Remedy]

Try this?

 

[Bar81]

Why don't you just go to Anand's review of the 939 CPUs which has a comprehensive full page breakdown of the gains/losses of a 939 CPU at the same speed as a 754 CPU with a full MB of cache. Then just look at the comparative reviews of Newcastle versus Clawhammer cores and check out the difference. Given that both of the CPUs you are mentioning run at 2.2Ghz and the same 512k of L2 I would say you're going to be dealing with a difference for all practical purposes in the 3-6% range. If you bought either a 3400+ Claw or a 3200+ claw overclocked to 2.2 the difference as Anand shows would be insignificant and I would go so far as to say for the most part within the error range of such benchmarks.

Given all the numbers purchasing a 3500+ given the price premium for the CPU is just ignorant unless there is a specific application where there is some major gain from DC out of whack with the norm or having DC helps you sleep at night.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

Originally posted by: Bar81
Why don't you just go to Anand's review of the 939 CPUs which has a comprehensive full page breakdown of the gains/losses of a 939 CPU at the same speed as a 754 CPU with a full MB of cache. Then just look at the comparative reviews of Newcastle versus Clawhammer cores and check out the difference. Given that both of the CPUs you are mentioning run at 2.2Ghz and the same 512k of L2 I would say you're going to be dealing with a difference for all practical purposes in the 3-6% range. If you bought either a 3400+ Claw or a 3200+ claw overclocked to 2.2 the difference as Anand shows would be insignificant and I would go so far as to say for the most part within the error range of such benchmarks.

Given all the numbers purchasing a 3500+ given the price premium for the CPU is just ignorant unless there is a specific application where there is some major gain from DC out of whack with the norm or having DC helps you sleep at night.

agreed, look at anand's benches939 benches

also agreed on the overprice on the 939, just not worth it until the next round of price cuts unless you're loaded

 

[imported_RobJ]

I know people say that they always upgrade their mobo when they upgrade their proc, but the 939 boards will be the same in a year in terms of processors. Maybe they'll accept new graphics cards like pci-e or whatnot, but unlike in the past, these boards have some longevity to them at the moment (apparently till 2006). That means that you may save 100 dollars buying a 3400+ over a 3500+, but you are going to sink more than that into a new motherboard a year from now, where I can spend that much more on a new processor. Since i plan on upgrading next year or year and a half, the 3500 makes sense for me. If you build a completely new computer every one or two years (ie at least new mobo, proc, maybe graphics card), then certianly the more prudent choice is the 3400. But not all people are dumb to go the 939 rout right now. I won't be building a completely new desktop for at least 5 years because i'll be going into law school and getting a laptop. That's just my particular situation, but for many people, the 939 rout is not "ignorant".

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

Yeah, 939 is right on the edge of being an "easy" decision. IF the 3500+ was closer in price to the 3400+ (since its performance is so close), like maybe $320, then it would be a no-brainer IMO. At the current price, it is much more difficult to decide (which is why I'm waiting), but 939 with theh 3500+ is definitely a valid choice.

-D'oh!

 

[SonicIce]

I don't even think the performace differance between the 3000+ and the 3500+ is worth the price differance. ($214) You could buy two 3000+'s and have some money left over or buy a 3500+.