Opteron 148 or Athlon x2 3800?

[cr0ssfire]

Like the title says, I've got two processors available to put in my new system once I've got everything assembled and I'm having a hard time choosing which one to stick with. For reference, here's what the rest of my system is looking like:

Cooler Master Ammo 533
Enermax Noisetaker 485
[CPU] w/Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro
Biostar Tforce4SLI
1gb (2 x 512) Crucial Ballistix
250gb WD2500KS
XFX 7800 GT
X-fi Xtrememusic

I'm really more of a gamer and I usually don't tend to multitask on the computer, but people seem to say that games in the future will take advantage of dual core technology (but of course nobody can say exactly when it'll become mainstream). On the other hand, it sounds like setting the affinities for programs might get to be very tiresome - and at most, with a Dual Core processor I might be able to run a virus scan in the background while I play a game or listen to some music while I burn a CD. The Opteron, of course, would probably be more overclockable and might run a bit more smoothly since it has a larger cache. It's also meant to run in intensive environments, which is a measure of added security (if you can call it that) that I like.

I guess it boils down to this - go with a single higher quality processor or two lower quality processors? Keep in mind that THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS, so please don't tell me to buy a dual-core Opteron or whatever.

 

[Tweakin]

While it is true that currently games do not take advantage of the second processor, it is likely that they will in the near future. I have an Opty 146 and a X2 3800, and while both are really great processors, If I had to get rid of one I would let the Opty go. Both of my systems are close in hardware specs, and even though my Opty runs at 2.8 my X2 at 2.6 is much snappier to everyone in my household. Gaming seems about the same in HL2, FarCry, COD and the such.

The bottom line is that I would suggest, no recommend the X2 if for no other reason then to be future proof.

 

[saltedeggman]

dual core is the way to go... the price of x2 and opteron is very acceptable in my perspective ($300ish)

 

[robertk2012]

Sell them and get a 165 .........Just joking. I would go with the 3800 if it was me. you get a much bigger boost on dual core games than you get from a faster core on non dual core aware games.

 

[Avalon]

If you're paying $275 for an Opteron 148, what's another $10-$25 to go dual core? Overclock the 3800+ to 2.4-2.5, and you're set. Your video card wil be your most important piece regarding gaming performance.

 

[Ranulf]

Originally posted by: Avalon
If you're paying $275 for an Opteron 148, what's another $10-$25 to go dual core? Overclock the 3800+ to 2.4-2.5, and you're set. Your video card wil be your most important piece regarding gaming performance.

Its more like $40 more for the 3800 X2 these days.

 

[cr0ssfire]

Actually, with the 25% off Dell coupon I used the 3800 x2 came to about $248. Pretty good price, huh? I decided to go with it over the Opteron. It's best that I use a processor that's "officially" supported by my motherboard, anyway, in case something goes wrong with the mild (~2.4GHz) overclock I intend to give it. And now I've got an Opty to sell..

It'd be nice if I had an Opteron 165 instead, but again there's the fact that Opterons aren't "officially" supported and I don't really think that the L2 cache would make much of a difference.

 

[robertk2012]

Youll be happy with the 3800

 

[MBrown]

165 or 170 opty.