Ready to make the switch

[jimmyj68]

Ever since building my first computer in 1987, i've always gone with intel cpus and system chips. I'm getting ready for my next upgrade and I've about decided to go AMD.

Here's my question - now I have a prescott 3.2 running on an intel D865PERL mobo. To score a worthwhile upgrade in speed and power, what should I go for with AMD? First off, SLI does not interest me. I'm runnning an NVIDIA 5900XT now and will probably go for a 6600GT (?) in my next system - PCIe I think though I think some AMD chipsets don't do PCIe - is that right? What's my next move in AMD CPU, chipset (I'm kinda against VIA) and motherboard?

 

[CalvinHobbes]

If you want to go with AMD, NForce4 would be a good place to start. Even a socket 939 NForce3 would be okay.

What's your price range?

You could go with one of the new Venice A64 chips or wait for the dual core A64 to come out.

 

[Promethply]

If your current system is the 3.2GHz Prescott, it'll be best if you wait for the dual-cored Athlon64 before building your AMD system,

or you can get a decent NF4 (nVidia chipset) board, such as the ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe mobo, and mate it to the cheapest Athlon64 CPU, such as the Socket 939 3000+,

and upgrade to dual core CPU once they're available.

 

[MatrixVPR]

Good luck man! I was in the same boat about 6 months ago. I really like the AMD processors. It was weird at first but I like both companies now equally.

 

[jimmyj68]

Thanks, CalvinHobbes, Promethply, Matrix VPR. One thing I know for sure at the moment is i need to get up to speed on what's out there. I'd heard about dual core Pentiums (more heat) but not AMD. Frankly, I have ignored AMD all these many years (except for the bad stuff like crumbling processor chips if your fan heatsink isn't installed carefully - vaporizing chips if your fan/heatsink wasn't making proper contact with the cpu chip etc.). I'm gonna have to hit the books so to speak.

C Hobbes; I usually upgrade about every 18 months with the systems and technology that is just being overshadowed by the latest greatest whatever- so i save for the 18 months and figure I can spend a grand on upgeade if needed. I usually get by on less because I don't need much more than a motherboard, CPU, and memory if a change is required. This time I'm looking to move away from my Sonata to either a P-160 or thermaltake Sunami (bad word).

p.s. on another note - had a best buddy in the Air Force when stationed in England in 1956-58 named Calvin Hobbes. At least I seem to remember his first name as calvin or something like that. Always referred to him by his last name. On the remote chance that you may be he - do you remember Jim Johnson from the radio shop for our venerable
F-86D squadron the 513th?

 

[WA261]

Best bet. MSI K8N Neo plat 2 and a Venice 3500. You will stomp about any intel around.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: jimmyj68
Thanks, CalvinHobbes, Promethply, Matrix VPR. One thing I know for sure at the moment is i need to get up to speed on what's out there. I'd heard about dual core Pentiums (more heat) but not AMD. Frankly, I have ignored AMD all these many years (except for the bad stuff like crumbling processor chips if your fan heatsink isn't installed carefully - vaporizing chips if your fan/heatsink wasn't making proper contact with the cpu chip etc.). I'm gonna have to hit the books so to speak.

Fortunately for you, both of these issues have been long-solved. The crumbling cores was at its worst with the initial Thunderbird Athlons (ie AMD's return to a socket format from a slot format) and the CPU overheating with no HSF problems were a motherboard/CPU problem that have been solved at least as recently as Nforce2 and Socket 478 Athlon XP's.

On any new Athlon64 chip, these are nonissues.