S939 Opteron VS Athlon 64 X2

[undeclared]

I notice a lot of people saying they bought dual core opterons instead of X2s.. Primarily an opteron 165 or 170 instead of a 3800..

My question is this, are the CPUs the same? Do they run the games as well?

I'm just wondering because it seems weird that it would be classified differently but people are still using them..

I'd love to see some benchmark comparison, but nobody has done any yet.

 

[ribbon13]

Repost...

Reanswer:

Opterons are the cores that past the most stringent of testing, because they are meant for servers/workstations and 24/7/365 use without failing. (This is also why they overclock so well.) The ones that fail, but still past stringent testing become the X2 4800s and FXs. The rest become regulars A64s/X2s.

The only reason the Opteron 165 is cheaper than the X2 3800+ is because it's only clocked at 1.8Ghz while the X2 3800+ is clocked at 2.0Ghz. The Opteron 170 which is clocked at 2.0GHz costs $80 more than the X2 3800+. And the Opteron 165 will reach 2.0GHz without even breaking a sweat. The X2 4400+ is the cheapest X2 with 1MB L2 cache per core, clocked at 2.2GHz and costs $200 more than the Opteron 165. Comparing the Opteron 175 to the X2 4400+ you can see that server-class quality does cost extra. A 400Mhz stable overclock should easily be obtainable on most if not all Opteron 165s. So there you go. $525 CPUs performance for $300

Dual-core Opteron 165 ($299)
1.8GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Dual-core Opteron 170 ($399)
2.0GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Althon 64 X2 3800+ ($322)
2.0GHz / 512k L2 per core

Athlon 64 X2 4400+ ($499)
2.2GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Dual-core Opteron 175 ($525)
2.2GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Other note:
Socket 939 Opterons, like all socket 939 CPUs, do not require and aren't compatible with registered memory.

 

[undeclared]

Cool... I think I'm nabbing a 170 then, because for $80 more I will get 200mhz hypothetical (bigger cache), and the same oc as an x2 3800...

 

[RichUK]

get the 165 if you have a good mobo

 

[sonoma1993]

im most likely will get the 165 and overclock it at least to 2.0 or even 2.2ghz.

 

[undeclared]

I will have a good mobo, and possible water cooling, so..

 

[Crism]

Ribbon, HUGE thanks for posting that. I've always been wondering about that lately.

Anyways, how would a 165 do for gaming compared to a 3700+ San Diego? I really don't want to do video encoding but I'll be playing games like FEAR and Quake 4 with a 7800GTX on a A8N-SLI Premium (hopefully ). Is it worth going for the 165? Theres a $75 price difference or so.

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

are they any differents regarding Opterons memory controller?

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: RichUK
get the 165 if you have a good mobo

Retail 165s are OOS or overpriced, you can't find them for $299. Some come close, but you'll have to pay a little extra if you can't wait. However I think there are still some OEMs around that are under $300, although you'll need to pick up a heatsink bringing the price back over $300.

Originally posted by: Crism
Ribbon, HUGE thanks for posting that. I've always been wondering about that lately.

Anyways, how would a 165 do for gaming compared to a 3700+ San Diego? I really don't want to do video encoding but I'll be playing games like FEAR and Quake 4 with a 7800GTX on a A8N-SLI Premium (hopefully ). Is it worth going for the 165? Theres a $75 price difference or so.

Gaming strait up without overclocking I'd go single core and either save the cash or invest it in other areas of the system such as getting a better video card or more ram.

 

[KarenMarie]

ribbon13...

thank you SOOOO much for your post! I had the same question, since I am running a 3200+ (see RIG link in sig). It has been a long time since I had to shop for a CPU and I was confused.

You post was EXCELLENT! Infomative, logical and easy to understand!

thanks!

 

[NoStateofMind]

$425 for opteron 170??? Monarch is gettin greedy!!!! punks!

 

[Zebo]

Excellent post Ribbon.


Xtwells, keep in mind ANY 175 operton reviews you see are really socket 940 275's, running single, so they a null and void when looking at new 939 opterons, they are identical in performance to 4400/4800 x2's at same speed. But they are all rev 6 which some say even perform better.. (some older X2s people complained about gameplay and AMD addressed it)

 

[BlingBlingArsch]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Repost...

Reanswer:

The ones that fail, but still past stringent testing become the X2 4800s and FXs. The rest become regulars A64s/X2s.



are u sure that AMD only produces Opterons and that they label they lower clocking models as X2? i dont think so.

 

[DRAGoNX515]

I'm stuck at a delima, should I get a 4800+ or a Opteron 175.
I plan to overclock no matter which way I go, I figure I can get 275x11 with the opteron right?
Not sure which way to go, I have the money no matter which way I go, so thx for help in advanced.

-dragonx

 

[DRAGoNX515]

It's really the 4400vs175 since the speed is the same. I want to OC it, but I also want to try and keep a 1:1 ratio with RAM and Processor bus speed and 275 (DDR550) is the highest that I will be able to go to keep that 1:1 speed. Would it matter if it wasn't 1:1, would I even notice the difference?

Thx
-dragonx

 

[Hacp]

You won't notice much difference even if it weren't 1:1. Ram divider OC is perfectly legit. I would suggest the Opteron as it is cheaper than the 4400+.

 

[DRAGoNX515]

X2 4400+ $499
Opteron 175 $525

I guess you pay for quality. The opteron's retail stock settings for the 175 are 200x11 right? So you think I'll be able to overclock a 175 better than a 4400+?

thx
-dragonx

 

[ribbon13]

The Opteron will overclock more in most situations, for reasons already stated.

And the best performance can be had by running your RAM at the lowest latencies possible.

 

[DRAGoNX515]

And the best performance can be had by running your RAM at the lowest latencies possible.

Yes that is true, but isn't it also true that DDR550 ram at 3-3-2-7 1T will beat out DDR400 2-3-2-6 1T any old day of the week?

I'm not sure how to explain it, but ddr550 at slower timings will beat out ddr400 at fastertimings right? (like above example, because that's what I could do in my computer, have the rame at 275x2 while the processor is 275x10 giving me that good 1:1 ratio)

-dragonx
P.S. I don't actually have the computer, but I will be getting it (for christmas )

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515
Yes that is true, but isn't it also true that DDR550 ram at 3-3-2-7 1T will beat out DDR400 2-3-2-6 1T any old day of the week?

I'm not sure how to explain it, but ddr550 at slower timings will beat out ddr400 at fastertimings right? (like above example, because that's what I could do in my computer, have the rame at 275x2 while the processor is 275x10 giving me that good 1:1 ratio)

Well, take a look at this, a situation where memory bandwidth needs should peak. And thats at 2-2-2-5 timings for all. I'd imagine that you are incorrect after taking into account that CAS3 is much more of a performance hit than more memory bandwidth is a performance gain.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: BlingBlingArsch

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Repost...

Reanswer:

The ones that fail, but still past stringent testing become the X2 4800s and FXs. The rest become regulars A64s/X2s.

are u sure that AMD only produces Opterons and that they label they lower clocking models as X2? i dont think so.

i'd have to agree with u blingbling, aside from that statement...ribbon is pretty much correct

 

[DRAGoNX515]

Well, take a look at this, a situation where memory bandwidth needs should peak. And thats at 2-2-2-5 timings for all. I'd imagine that you are incorrect after taking into account that CAS3 is much more of a performance hit than more memory bandwidth is a performance gain.

Well, take a look at this.

Clearly DDR550 at cas3 is faster than ddr400 at cas2.

-dragonx

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515
Well, take a look at this.

Clearly DDR550 at cas3 is faster than ddr400 at cas2.

-dragonx

I humbly stand corrected. Oh wait. I don't. Those test don't keep the CPU speed the same.

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Repost...

Reanswer:

Opterons are the cores that past the most stringent of testing, because they are meant for servers/workstations and 24/7/365 use without failing. (This is also why they overclock so well.) The ones that fail, but still past stringent testing become the X2 4800s and FXs. The rest become regulars A64s/X2s.

The only reason the Opteron 165 is cheaper than the X2 3800+ is because it's only clocked at 1.8Ghz while the X2 3800+ is clocked at 2.0Ghz. The Opteron 170 which is clocked at 2.0GHz costs $80 more than the X2 3800+. And the Opteron 165 will reach 2.0GHz without even breaking a sweat. The X2 4400+ is the cheapest X2 with 1MB L2 cache per core, clocked at 2.2GHz and costs $200 more than the Opteron 165. Comparing the Opteron 175 to the X2 4400+ you can see that server-class quality does cost extra. A 400Mhz stable overclock should easily be obtainable on most if not all Opteron 165s. So there you go. $525 CPUs performance for $300

Dual-core Opteron 165 ($299)
1.8GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Dual-core Opteron 170 ($399)
2.0GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Althon 64 X2 3800+ ($322)
2.0GHz / 512k L2 per core

Athlon 64 X2 4400+ ($499)
2.2GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Dual-core Opteron 175 ($525)
2.2GHz / 1MB L2 per core

Other note:
Socket 939 Opterons, like all socket 939 CPUs, do not require and aren't compatible with registered memory.

I dont get what that means about what you said "Socket 939 Opterons, like all socket 939 CPUs, do not require and aren't compatible with registered memory." Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Sorry not a computer geek. Nothing wrong being one, but i'm not a computer geek, wish i was so I wouldnt have to ask so many damn questions. I want to have someone build me a new computer. Right now i'm reading all kinds of reviews on which to get. Now I was leading toward x2, but I'm interested in Operton 175 dual core. So your saying it's better than x2's?:frown:

 

[tvfreakazoid]

Originally posted by: DRAGoNX515
I'm stuck at a delima, should I get a 4800+ or a Opteron 175.
I plan to overclock no matter which way I go, I figure I can get 275x11 with the opteron right?
Not sure which way to go, I have the money no matter which way I go, so thx for help in advanced.

-dragonx

Dam I'm super jealous. Out of curiosity how much is it going to cost you? CPU, mobo, memory, sata 2 hd, psu and video and sound card? I plan on getting a new pc. I do have monitor, keyboard mouse and speakers and a cool case. But i'm torn between opteron and x2.