Need Quick upgrade advice

[fustercluck]

I want to buy a new CPU/Mobo as soon as possible, as my current CPU/Mobo (in sig) isn't working. I'll probably purchase something tonight from either newegg or zipzoomfly. Though i haven't paid much attention to computer hardware in the last year or so, so i really could use some help. Did some research last night and more today, here's what i'm considering getting:

ASrock 939 Mobo Was recommended to me somewhere else, i need an AGP mobo. I was told it "Also has opportunity of a future PCI-E upgrade" as well. Little worried though since it's so cheap, and motherboards are usually double that price, why's it so cheap? It looks like it got good reviews from most people.

Also looking at an AMD Opteron...i guess they are pretty new and overclock well? I'm not sure which one to get exactly though, will probably to spend around $230 or lower. Also, i was curious as to why most of the Opterons are 0.13 µm and not 90 nm? Does it matter much? Think it would be a fairly good upgrade going from an A64 3000+ Newcastle?

Help me Anandtech, you're my only hope! I need all the info i can get, and the sooner the better.

 

[Finns14]

if your gunna spend $230 on a cpu search around and you might be able to get a X2 for that much

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the reply. An X2 for $230? Eh, i dunno. That doesn't seem likely, i haven't looked around much though. What's so hot about dual cores anyway? I heard they're not any better for gaming.

Any other advice? Gotta be a lot of computer gurus around here.

 

[ribbon13]

The ASrock board is a decent respectable board. Review

Opteron 165 all the way for any sort of overclocker.

 

[Skyhanger]

If you're gaming on a custom linux shell that runs nothing else that is...

Most likely you're gonna have AIM open, that peice of bloatware called Windows, possibly some music and a few webpages if you browse between matches...
What happens is your most intensive program, (your game) will run on one core alone while everything else will be dumped onto the other core, to my knowledge... This will improve your gaming performance. Also is the fact the X2 3800+ is pretty much able to clock up to 2.4GHz always from the stock 2.0. One thing I regret was buying a 3700+ 2 months ago right before ppl started getting X2 en masse and good reviews started coming out...

About the mobos, the ASrock pretty decent. Any board over $100 is a ripoff.

I've recently also heard that the 939 Opterons are mad OCers. They are identical to the San Diego core, priced like a Venice, and has the stability of a standard Opteron.
They are pretty much San Diegos binned for stability and memory controller performance, then downclocked and sold.

 

[drifter106]

Probably the best thing to do is go to the cpu section and do a search....I can tell you right now a large majority of people here will suggest the x2 3800. If that doesn't suit your fancy get a san deigo 3700. If it was me I would go to the cpu section and get as much info as I could and then make a decision. If $230 was my max at this time, I would try to save a little and get the x2 3800. I've seen to much data and to many testimonials about the x2.

After searching and forming your own opinion, you'll know why the dual cores are "SO HOT".

 

[Skyhanger]

On another note, anyone want to trade a slightly used 3700+ for a 3800 X2?

 

[fustercluck]

Hey, people are replying...amazing!

Still have many questions, but would like to order within an hour 1/2...that probably won't happen though . Anyways, let's see if i can get some more info...

I read dual core chips have probably running older games or console ports (like GTA San Andreas), like they run them too fast or something like that. Any truth to that? The X2s are quite expensive, and i can't imagine them being worth the money, I think it'd just be another big computer hardware disappointment for me.

Still wondering why Opterons have 0.13 µm and not 90nm. Also, i couldn't find an Opteron 165.

So all of the Opterons are good overclockers? I've had horrible luck with overclocking in the past, so anything mediocre in terms of overclocking would be great.

I'll probably get that Mobo and some kind of Opteron (no idea which yet though), will still consider the X2 though i suppose, but it doesn't look like what i want, don't even think it'd work with the ASrock mobo. I would also like this upgrade to be noticeable, at least a little performance increase and games and such, i know i probably won't get any at all, but that wouldn't be so bad either, mainly i just want to get back to using my Computer.

 

[ribbon13]

There have been problems with some games, and dual-core, but most can be fixed with updated CPU drivers, and a windows hotfix.

ALL socket 939 opterons are 90nm. You can't use socket 940 Opterons. Opteron 165

Opterons are cream of the crop. Overclocking has been very good.

The Asrock board is very popular. This might put your mind at ease

 

[fustercluck]

Ok, thanks for the info.

I'm down for an Opteron and an ASrock board, just need to find where to buy them. Unfortunately Opteron's seem to be kinda rare. Newegg only has "Sledgehammer" Opterons, it would seem. ZipZoomFly has some Opterons, but not many 939. I'll just have to keep looking around i suppose. I keep seeing Opterons having 0.13 micron though, are you sure all 939 Opterons are 90nm?

Also, is there a Motherboard similar to the ASrock for AMD X2 chips?

Edit (again!): Ok, so i'm currently considering getting this mobo and this X2 chip - How's that look...like a good combo? The price is ok. Anything i should know about those products though? I know the X2 is OEM, I'm not too worried about that. No idea if that mobo is any good, got good reviews at newegg though. Definitely thinking about getting these now, someone just say "GO!" and i'll do it - Well, not really, but i would love any additional info/advice

 

[xit2nowhere]

Don't get that mobo. Alot of people complain about the quality of Gigabyte mobos. Bad quality and bad customer support.

 

[fustercluck]

Aw, but it's the only cheap AGP mobo that supports AMD X2s, at least the only one i can find.

You sure it's not worth the 60 bucks?

Thanks for the opinion.

 

[xit2nowhere]

AsRock on newegg also supports x2 and Asrock is the lower division hardware manufacturer from Asus.

 

[xit2nowhere]

Wait till more people come here. Maybe they had better luck with Gigabyte mobos than me.

 

[fustercluck]

Huh? Are you sure? I didn't think the ASrock supported X2. It doesn't say it does in the specs here at newegg, or am i looking at the wrong one? I'm all for getting the ASrock, but I don't think that one supports X2 chips.

Also I'm still curious about dual core chips having issues with older PC games. I play older games kinda often on my computer.

 

[xit2nowhere]

Asrock uses new ULi chipset 1695, gigabyte uses 1689.

Let me get you a link to a discussion about Asrock. Well worthy reading it

AsRock discussion

 

[fustercluck]

Ah, so it's not dual core CPU compatibile out of the box, but with a bios or driver update it can be? Is that it? Something like that? *keeps reading Asrock discussion*

Thanks for the link

Edit: ah frack, just my luck, the 3800 X2 OEMs went out of stock at newegg , or maybe they were always out of stock and i didn't notice.

 

[xit2nowhere]

If I'm not mistaken, the current gen of mobos can support x2 via bios update.

 

[fustercluck]

****** ****** ****** ****** ******...wait, can i say ******?

Ah well. I'm out of options now that the OEM x2 went out of stock. I gave it my best shot though, looks like i'll just have to RMA my current crap and wait for it.

 

[xit2nowhere]

Don't rush man, better check stuff before hand than have a headache later on. :beer:

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Finns14
if your gunna spend $230 on a cpu search around and you might be able to get a X2 for that much

unless its used, and i wouldn't buy a used cpu, the x2 3800 is 334 on newegg i believe. athlon 64 3700+ was $232 i think. thats what i just got.

 

[Skyhanger]

Search with a price engine. The 3800+ X2 is selling for $322 shipped from Chiefvalue or ZipZoomFly. As for mobos, I would say 95% of all 939 mobos support X2 with a bios update. This includes nVidia and Uli based chips I believe. Don't forget to get that dual core update for windows...

 

[fustercluck]

I can't imagine paying $322 for an X2 and have it be a bang for the buck kind of deal, i just don't think it'd be worth $322. Even getting the OEM X2 for $292 or whatver it is was stretching it pretty far out. I'm really bummed out now, looks like it will be a while before my computer is up and running. Unless there's another good price on a CPU out there. I'm still interested in the Opterons, i just can't find them anywhere - Is it true that the sock 939 optys are all 90nm?

 

[Finns14]

Ok I realize that I was little exagerated with the price but I know that you can get an X2 for $300 so shop around a little and maybe wait for black friday sales

 

[xit2nowhere]

Hey jacktackle,
I've just got that Asrock mobo, and right there on pcb it says Dual Core CPU.