Please help a first time AMD buyer.

[Deadtrees]

I've always been an Intel guy since the days of x86 processors, but, this time,AMD sounds too good to resist. I'm planning to get a AMD processor, motherboard and memory after 2 month. The problem is that I'm such a newbie when it comes to AMD systems. I've done a baisc research and here's what I'm thinking about (as well as questions). Please drop me some recommandations for these parts as well as anything that I should know about AMD systems.

1. Athlon 64 3200+ 1MB
(What is the difference between plain Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 DTR?)

2. Mainboard
(I have no clue about AMD motherboards. What would a AMD motherboard that's as good as Asus P4P800 motherboard?)

3. RAM
(Does the ram need to be paired like Intel P4 800mhz systems?)

Once again, I have no clue about AMD systems. Please let me know if there's anything better...

 

[mauiblue]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees

Once again, I have no clue about AMD systems. Please let me know if there's anything better...

Intel 3.4 gHz Extreme Edition CPU - just kidding!

I almost went with AMD with my first self built system but decided to first go with Intel because of brand loyalty and that I was a little more familiar with Intel stuff. I just might build me another system in the future but with AMD - just to see if the grass is greener on the other side.

All the best in finding a compatible AMD system:thumbsup:

 

[imported_Computer MAn]

1.A DTR is a mobile version of the normal processor. I believe it uses less power and gives off less heat.
I would get the 512k cache version of the 3200+ as cache does not make as big if a difference on AMD as on Intel. Plus it is cheaper.

2.If you are on a tight budget I recomend this as a motherboardVNF-3. If you are a serious overclocker I recomend this board.DFI Lanparty. It is a great overclcocker board.

3.The ram does not need to be paired like on an Intel because A64's are not bandwith starved.

 

[blodhi74]

1. its 512kb cache vs 1mb and newcastle vs clawhammer core .... clawhammer = better
2. any socket 754 will work ... I beleive ASUS makes one
3. no ... RAM does not have to be paired

a cpu and the a Mobo with socket 939 is preferred

 

[Boonesmi]

its really not hard to build a killer amd system (especially if you have built an intel system in the past)

i suggest you check the anadtech main page, several recent articles that will give you a good idea on what you might want to buy

ie, you gotta decide if your going with a s754 or s939 board.
link 1
link2

 

[Deadtrees]

Originally posted by: Boonesmi
its really not hard to build a killer amd system (especially if you have built an intel system in the past)

i suggest you check the anadtech main page, several recent articles that will give you a good idea on what you might want to buy

ie, you gotta decide if your going with a s754 or s939 board.
link 1
link2

S754 vs. S939?
I guess I'll have to do some serious researches about them since I do not have a clue.
Can anyone let me know the differences between them?
If it's possible to say so, which one is better?

 

[Boonesmi]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees

Originally posted by: Boonesmi
its really not hard to build a killer amd system (especially if you have built an intel system in the past)

i suggest you check the anadtech main page, several recent articles that will give you a good idea on what you might want to buy

ie, you gotta decide if your going with a s754 or s939 board.
link 1
link2

S754 vs. S939?
I guess I'll have to do some serious researches about them since I do not have a clue.
Can anyone let me know the differences between them?
If it's possible to say so, which one is better?

they are just different platforms

socket754 cpu's will only go in a socket754 board (these are a little less expensive, but still excellent) they are also single channel (so you dont need to install the ram in pairs)

socket939 is high end, and dual channel (so need to install ram in pairs)

 

[imported_Skorpio]

what do you mean in pairs boonesmi?

Do you mean like 2 sticks of ram? Sorry newbie at comp building.

 

[Pete84]

To run dual channel ram, two dimms are needed. There is a performance increase, not huge, but large enough. Running dual channel isn't as critical with AMD64s as with P4s.
You don't have to install ram in dual channel configurations with a dual channel capable system, it is an option.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Get a 939 board with locked AGP/PCI bus if you can and the 939 3000+ with a good aftermarket heatsink and you will get to a minimum 2500 speed which is the equivalent of a FX-53. That is the way I would go anyway. The 939 is dual channel so you need two sticks for optimum performance and it has a good upgradability path (all the way to dual core)

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

Ok, so things are a little difforent on the amd side of the fence, and alot of it has to do with the integrated memory controller. the major effect of the integrated memory controller is this: ram no longer matters. if you get DDR 500 ram and compair it to DDR 400 ram, at similar timings, you are looking at a 2-5% difforence in performance. if you go from socket 939 (dual channel ram) to socket 754 (single channel ram) you are looking at a 3-5% performance drop.
so, in other owrds, buy cheap ram, and buy socket 754.

the greatest thing about the amd side of the fence is that you can cheap stuf and have it perform rather well compaired to the expensive stuf. for example, my favorite motherboard for the 754 platform is the VNF3-250 from chaintec. it is a great overclocker and can take the lowest end athlon 64 (the 2800+ model) to 2.475GHz.

the cpu's are a little confusing. for example, you can buy an athlon 64 3000 that has 1MB of cache and 1.8GHz clock speed, or you can buy an athlon 64 3000 that has 512K of cache and a 2GHz clock speed. the latter is the newcastle core, and overclocks much farther.

so to sum it up, buy the Chaintec VNF3-250, the Athlon 64 2800+, and 2 512 sticks of cheap ram.

 

[9enisP]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
Get a 939 board with locked AGP/PCI bus if you can and the 939 3000+ with a good aftermarket heatsink and you will get to a minimum 2500 speed which is the equivalent of a FX-53. That is the way I would go anyway. The 939 is dual channel so you need two sticks for optimum performance and it has a good upgradability path (all the way to dual core)

You'll never get close to 2500mhz with the 3000+ especially with just a heatsink/fan. You'll do good to get 2200mhz. Stick with the 3200+ and definitely go 939 socket. That will give you the most upgrade ability for the future and great performance now. I just purchased the A8V Deluxe motherboard and i love it. If your interested in overclocking, this board makes it too easy.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Uh no scaryclowarefun that is not exactly true. If you go to 939 250fsb dual channel you will get the equivalent boost (assuming you get low latency 250 ram and run it at 1:1. You can't compare a 250 754FSB to a 200 939fsb (I know HTT but FSB is still easier to use) Dual channel adds more than 3% on a lot (not all) applications. It all depends on what he is doing. The 939 90nm 3000+ overclocks to 2600 on AIR. That is FX-53 speed. So you get 2600 on air and dual channel. Sounds good to me. The 3000+ is 179.00 right now and the 3000 on 754 is 143.00 so you have to spend 30 more bucks (the gap will close as the 3000+ 939 comes out in heavier numbers for the 939 in the coming weeks I bet) and you can get a good AGP/PCI locked Via or Nvidia 939 board with the 3000+ for around 300.00 dollars and overclock the hell out of it and have better upgradeability. This is the root I would take because he doesn't say he is strapped so the extra 50.00 to 100.00 is worth more performance and upgradeability to me is worth it.

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

Originally posted by: 9enisP

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
Get a 939 board with locked AGP/PCI bus if you can and the 939 3000+ with a good aftermarket heatsink and you will get to a minimum 2500 speed which is the equivalent of a FX-53. That is the way I would go anyway. The 939 is dual channel so you need two sticks for optimum performance and it has a good upgradability path (all the way to dual core)

You'll never get close to 2500mhz with the 3000+ especially with just a heatsink/fan. You'll do good to get 2200mhz. Stick with the 3200+ and definitely go 939 socket. That will give you the most upgrade ability for the future and great performance now. I just purchased the A8V Deluxe motherboard and i love it. If your interested in overclocking, this board makes it too easy.

have you ever used an athlon 64 newcastle chip? i have built 4 systems and every one got to 2.5GHz withe the default heatsink and fan. (chaintec VNF3-250, athlon 64 2800+)

 

[scaryclownsarefun]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
Uh no scaryclowarefun that is not exactly true. If you go to 939 250fsb dual channel you will get the equivalent boost (assuming you get low latency 250 ram and run it at 1:1. You can't compare a 250 754FSB to a 200 939fsb (I know HTT but FSB is still easier to use) Dual channel adds more than 3% on a lot (not all) applications. It all depends on what he is doing. The 939 90nm 3000+ overclocks to 2600 on AIR. That is FX-53 speed. So you get 2600 on air and dual channel. Sounds good to me. The 3000+ is 179.00 right now and the 3000 on 754 is 143.00 so you have to spend 30 more bucks (the gap will close as the 3000+ 939 comes out in heavier numbers for the 939 in the coming weeks I bet) and you can get a good AGP/PCI locked Via or Nvidia 939 board with the 3000+ for around 300.00 dollars and overclock the hell out of it and have better upgradeability. This is the root I would take because he doesn't say he is strapped so the extra 50.00 to 100.00 is worth more performance and upgradeability to me is worth it.

I would recomend the athlon 64 2800+ $141 Retail ( i have no idea where you are getting a 3000+ for $143) and the chaintec VNF3-350 $74 (they overclock to 2.4 - 2.5GHz on stock cooling) over the $200 90nm 3000+ and $131 socked 939 motherboard any day. even if they reach 2.6GHz (which is really hard to reach with a 9x max multiplier of the 3000 chip) and have dual channel ram, you are only looking at a max of 15% speed increase. for a 53% price increase i would save my money.

 

[Deadtrees]

Thanks for all these great and helpful replies!
I'm thinking about getting the system 'scaryclownarefun' suggests, however it seems like many AMD guys are all waiting for Nforce4 boards.
Should I get a Nforce4 board?

 

[magratton]

at the top of this page, click on the Guides tab. I suggest reading the most recent three system building guides in this order:
Basic
Mid Range
Overclockers

Then read the component buyers guides.

The system builders guides are somewhat thick reading, but the component guides go quite fast and may either reinforce or update the system builder guides. They are extremely useful, and will give you a very good understanding of what to get for the first system...

Then put together a post of what you are settling on and it's intended use. Lastly, I have agreed with nearly every system-building help post by scraryclownsarefun so far this week, so I would treat him as a good resource for comments.

You are on the right track!

 

[Boonesmi]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Thanks for all these great and helpful replies!
I'm thinking about getting the system 'scaryclownarefun' suggests, however it seems like many AMD guys are all waiting for Nforce4 boards.
Should I get a Nforce4 board?

i would only wait for an nf4 board if i was wanting to use a PCIe video card

if your gonna use agp then there really isnt any advantage in the nf4

 

[Boonesmi]

a new buyers guide on the anandtech main page

they have some very good suggestions you might want to check out

http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2250