Processor Opinion

[twarner]

Hello All,

So next month (to make a long story short) I'll be swapping some parts with a family member and I'll be getting a replacement CPU. I currently have a 3500+ which I like alot. My question is this though, I am planning to go either with the 4000+ Rev E or the FX-55. I know both around pretty pricey, but I'm curious which one will serve me better for a high end gaming rig as well as for various uses of graphics and photo editing.

I'm willing to shell out the money for a FX-55 but also I'm willing to not shell out that much for a 4000+ if I will get the same performance. So that is why I thought I would pose the question here and see if anyone could offer some insight.

Thanks for any help!

Terry

 

[TheStu]

Is the family member getting the 3500? if so ok... but if not why dont you overclock that beast to the moon?

 

[twarner]

My family member is getting the 3500+ so I'm looking to get one of those 2 processors. I won't be over clocking though. I don't trust myself over clocking

 

[Duvie]

The 4000+ is 519 dollars on pricewatch....

The FX55 is 806 dollars.....

Both are not worth it....The l2 cahe differnec of the 4000+ at the same 2.4ghz as the venice 3800+ makes it not worth it. The venice has improved memory controller for handling 4 dimms and has SSE3 which may come into more play later...

Look at review...

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/athlon64-venice_8.html

The FX55 and its 200mhz does not deliver enough to even be worth it. Are you that hard up for 200-400 more mhz??? I would say get the 3800+ venice and slp it into a DFI NF4 ultra board and see if you can get 2.7-2.8ghz out of it stock with a small OC and be happiest of them all....Money saved can buy a top of the line ATI or Nvidia gaming card which will help your gaming performnace far greater then cpu increase of 200-400mhz now...


Edit: I see you said Rev E on the 4000+...I am sorry I didn't see a price on that one yet though again it will come down to the L2 cahce and when in the heck it actually delivers...all the rest of the scores will be minimal and not worth the 140 dollars....Gaming card speed will trump any of this....

 

[twarner]

hmm, so the difference in the L2 cache you say won't make much difference at all. That was half the reason I was looking at those 2 processors. If that be the case though, I will have to look at the 3800+

 

[Duvie]

Read the review above at xbitlabs and see if it is in the apps you will enjoy....Then ask yourself if the moeny saved can improve you video card situation...

 

[twarner]

Well my video card isn't in bad shape at all. I have a BFG 6800GT. So I'm not worried about that. The review on that 3800 is real nice though.

 

[Leper Messiah]

with the GT, you should be fine with a 3500+ really, OCing is not that hard...

 

[Phlargo]

I couldn't help but enjoy the title: "Which would be the better value (not counting on price)"
Value = performace v. price

Given this, you are probably golden with a A64-3000. You are likely to most bang for your buck. If you want to spend more, sounds like the new Venice 3700 could be a winner if the 1 meg of cache really pays off.

 

[Duvie]

(corrected below)...the fact is the L2 cache is a joke an not worth the 200 PR points AMD is trying to pass off...strating to look like marketing of the past with the Bartons....

Edit: the 3700+ is a 2.4ghz part but sckt 754 and single cahnnel memory controller...It is 2.4ghz so it is probably a screamin price but that leaves a person going with sckt 754 and not leavikng the door open to SLI (which is NF4U boards and sckt 939 only) and possibly upgrade to dual core Athlon 64x2 chips later....

They should call them like same speed grade as other pcu and then add an EC for extended cache or something. The pr artings are just getting more and more confusing in this area spanning over 4 cores and revisions....

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: twarner
Well my video card isn't in bad shape at all. I have a BFG 6800GT. So I'm not worried about that. The review on that 3800 is real nice though.

Well if money is no option....Tghen get the 3800+ an SLI board and another BFG card and that can be done almost with the money saved from not getting an FX55....that again well deliver far more gaming performance....In the other apps you just need pure cpu speed and just OC to get waht you acceptably want...YOu obviously dont hang onto them very long....

 

[twarner]

Well I'm only doing this to help out my sister. If this wasn't the case then I would be hanging on to what I have. Thank you though guys for all the input. I think I will take Duvie's suggestion and go with the 3800. Thanks once again for the help.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: twarner
Well I'm only doing this to help out my sister. If this wasn't the case then I would be hanging on to what I have. Thank you though guys for all the input. I think I will take Duvie's suggestion and go with the 3800. Thanks once again for the help.

Been there done that!!!

 

[twarner]

hehehe, She is getting married in September. So money is tight for her. So I'm helping her out with some parts as kind of a wedding gift. So once again thanks Duvie! Thanks also for that review, opened my eyes to a few things

 

[superkdogg]

Originally posted by: twarner
Well my video card isn't in bad shape at all. I have a BFG 6800GT. So I'm not worried about that. The review on that 3800 is real nice though.

Try to find a CPU comparison where a 6800GT or ultra is used for the benchmarking in games. You'll find that your current CPU gives good performance within ~10% or better in almost all games. I'm only stating this in case you are expecting a major improvement, because in actuality this is a costly, relatively minor upgrade.