Socket A 3200+ vs Athlon64 3200+?

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: Sunbird
Get a "AMD Sempron 2600+ 333FSB (1.833GHz) Socket A with 256K Exclusive L2 cache, 130 Nanometer Technology".

Then overclock that by putting it on a 400FSB, should give you a XP 3200, but with 256KB cache, which would make a difference, but not that much.

A socket A Sempron 2600+ would be under $100, right?

$124 for a 2600 actually. Not worth it IMO. Might as well have the extra cache.

One and a half weeks ago 3200+ was worth $340 australian, obviously being flushed out of the channel now and I think is pretty good value all things considered (thought AMD kept prices on these way too high for too long IMO...)

EDIT: Sempron lineup:
Sempron 2400+ Boxed Skt A 256k 333FSB $ 105
Sempron 2500+ Boxed Skt A 256k 333FSB $ 112
Sempron 2600+ Boxed Skt A 256k 333FSB $ 124
Sempron 2800+ Boxed Skt A 256k 333FSB $ 139

Note the only thing at $100 australian pricepoint is what I already have. Not considering Semprons seriously anyhow. Would like 512K L2 cache at least.

 

[Sunbird]

Yeah, thats bit high for a 2600+ (A first time that the something is cheaper here in South Africa than it is in the US).

I have a 3000+ (2.16GHz) that I take up to 2420MHz (memory running at 185 MHz), its quite snappy and faster than the stock 3200+. So you could maybe try that.

But I think you'r wise in saving your money up for the dual cores, that what I'm doing.

 

[Gstanfor]

Well, I now have the 3200+ and it has proved to be a very nice upgrade indeed so far. has very noticeably lifted performance overall.

I am currently running it with my old 1 gig of PC2100 memory.

The motherboard manual (ASUS A7N8x Deluxe Rev 2.0 - pages 1, 13, 14) says up to 3 gig total memory can be installed on the motherboard, however SISoft Sandra reports my mothrboard can only support 1.5 gig of memory total.

Which is accurate (I am assuming the motherboard manual, but have seen the 1.5 gig total memory claim elsewhere)?

I have 2 gig of PC3200 on its way (2x 1 gig modules) to me at the moment, and I'd like to max out the memory if possible (can't see where this is a bad investment given the good support PC3200 is likely to have for quite some time to come, even when I do upgrade to A64 in the future).

 

[MBrown]

Dont get an XP. Get a 939 64. Its the obvious choice.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: cbehnken
Mobile chips are NOT unlocked anymore. They haven't been for over a year. Only way to overclock is by changing the FSB.

FUD! Mobile XP-Ms Bartons must have unlocked multipliers at least from default and down to 5-6x in order for PowerNow! to work, and being as my Barton-M 2200+ 35w is less than a year old and@15x167 right now I'll say it again, FUD!

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: MBrown
Dont get an XP. Get a 939 64. Its the obvious choice.

Thanks for the reply. However I already have the XP3200+

I disagree that Socket 939 is an obvious choice for everyone. It isn't necessarily obvious for those with quality nForce2 boards (as opposed to older generation Socket A boards with less performance potential) or those with tight upgrade budgets. I fit into both categories.

Anyway, enough of that, as said the processor is bought and installed. I would however appreciate feedback on my ram queries (it's Kingston valueram and very cheap + sensible investment so no budget worries there)

 

[Quentin]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: cbehnken
Mobile chips are NOT unlocked anymore. They haven't been for over a year. Only way to overclock is by changing the FSB.

FUD! Mobile XP-Ms Bartons must have unlocked multipliers at least from default and down to 5-6x in order for PowerNow! to work, and being as my Barton-M 2200+ 35w is less than a year old and@15x167 right now I'll say it again, FUD!

DAPUNISHER is right! XP mobiles are unlocked. I have four and can set the multiplier to what I want. The last one was manufactured in January 2005 and the earliest was made in the spring of 2004 so nothing has changed. I'm surprised anyone at this late date would say they are locked. Anyway, cbehnken is misinformed.

 

[Quentin]

Gstanfor, I have Kingston PC3200 ValueRAM (2x512MB) in each of the four systems below. No problems at all. But I will warn you there are numerous reports that the A7N8X has problems with this RAM at 200/400MHz. Kingston does not officially support the A7N8X at DDR400 speed with this RAM. You might want to investigate this.

It concerns me but my systems are stable. I do use 2.5-3-3-11 manual settings, though, and I bet that helps a lot. (Instead of 3-3-3-8.)

At XP3200+ speed (or slightly overclocked) I find these Socket A systems to be smooth and fast - fine for what I do. I won't upgrade for at least a year. Good luck with yours!

 

[Gstanfor]

That is interesting information.

I have a friend with an oc'd (he's more adventurous than me) mobile Athlon using a 200 mhz FSB with Kingston Valueram and he has had no trouble in the A7N8x.

also my sister uses KVR on an A7N8x with a 2800+ (but not 200 mhz FSB). No trouble there either.

On the other hand I know someone else with rev 1.04 A7N8x and KVR - that board has always been troublesome.

I wonder if it comes down to the board revision and possibly BIOS version (everyone, me included is using the Rev 2.0 board except for the last guy).

 

[Gogar]

Hey.. seriously.. Athlon-XP (external memory controller) is history Just look at the HL2&DOOM3 CPU benchmarks http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/doom3cpu_08020430812/3452.png The Athlon-XP is trailing behind while the A64's are standing strong at the top. Do yourself a favour and get a nice socket 939 board and a 3000+/3200+ venice core A64. It's not THAT expensive is it? And think of how easily it will be to upgrade to dual core

 

[Quentin]

Originally posted by: Gogar
Hey.. seriously.. Athlon-XP (external memory controller) is history Just look at the HL2&DOOM3 CPU benchmarks http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/doom3cpu_08020430812/3452.png The Athlon-XP is trailing behind while the A64's are standing strong at the top. Do yourself a favour and get a nice socket 939 board and a 3000+/3200+ venice core A64. It's not THAT expensive is it? And think of how easily it will be to upgrade to dual core

Well I'm glad you're happy but that doesn't mean that's the answer for every application. It would be insane for me to dump four systems that easily do the job when I can continue using them and pick my right time to go A64. I'm not quite ready to say Socket A is history. I bought these systems in 2003 and with fresh life blown in them with XP3200+ (XP3400+ actually) performance, they will get me to 2007.

Benchmarks are artificial, I'm happy with real world performance. And I want to be able to choose between Socket 939 or M2 when I'm ready.

 

[Quentin]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
That is interesting information.

I have a friend with an oc'd (he's more adventurous than me) mobile Athlon using a 200 mhz FSB with Kingston Valueram and he has had no trouble in the A7N8x.

also my sister uses KVR on an A7N8x with a 2800+ (but not 200 mhz FSB). No trouble there either.

On the other hand I know someone else with rev 1.04 A7N8x and KVR - that board has always been troublesome.

I wonder if it comes down to the board revision and possibly BIOS version (everyone, me included is using the Rev 2.0 board except for the last guy).

Yes, there have been dozens of reports of this problem with the A7N8X 2.0 and A7N8X-E. Kingston doesn't support the -E revision either at DDR400 speed. ASUS recommends exchanging the Kingston ValueRAM and crossing your fingers that you get different DIP chips on the new modules (very hit or miss of course).

The Trats modded BIOSes do help and I do use them (mainly because they give better XP-M support than stock ASUS ver. 1008 - or 1013 for my A7N8X-Es)

 

[Gogar]

I still have an Athlon-XP system too :'( lol

 

[Gstanfor]

Well, the memory has arrived and installed without incident.

I'm happy to say that the Kingston ValuRam and my ASUS A7N8X Deluxe V2.0 seem to like each other - running the cpu set to aggresive timing in the BIOS.

I don't put a lot of weight behind 3dmarks personally, I think the programs are pretty demos and that's pretty much it, but, 3dmark01 is useful for tracking your system over time. here is a snapshot of how my system has evolved since I started upgrading it.

10105 - XP2400+, 1 gig PC2100, GF-FX 5900 XT (4x AA, 4x AF)
12860 - XP2400+, 1 gig PC2100, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 4x AF)
14135 - XP3200+, 1 gig PC2100, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 16x AF)
16086 - XP3200+, 2 gig PC3200, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 16x AF)

Not too shabby at all for a socket a system where everything but the video card runs at stock speed and the system is wonderfully cool and quiet also (the video card is clocked at just over Ultra speeds 410/1100 which it handles with the greatest of ease).

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
I think the big problem is not the rating system - it is that the XP 3200+ was a BS rating. Its performance was basically no different from the 3000+ (except in limited circumstances). I think they should've refrained from launching it - but I understand that microcircuitry is a business, and they needed revenue.

And when comparing the XP 3000+ it was more of a rating geared towards the 533 FSB chips on the Intel side.

I think the 3000+ and 3200+ were a little sketchy on the ratings.


The A64 is quite a bit faster, and even more comparable to the 800FSB chips as well. ( Rating wise )

 

[Quentin]

Glad to hear it's working well, Gstanfor! I didn't mean to scare you off KVR400, just inform you of Kingston's and ASUS' official stances on the combo.

Anyway KVR400 works for 7 out of 7 nForce2 Ultra 400 systems we mentioned here. It is understandable that an older non-Ultra chipset would have trouble with DDR400.

Enjoy your nice upgrade.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor
Well, the memory has arrived and installed without incident.

I'm happy to say that the Kingston ValuRam and my ASUS A7N8X Deluxe V2.0 seem to like each other - running the cpu set to aggresive timing in the BIOS.

I don't put a lot of weight behind 3dmarks personally, I think the programs are pretty demos and that's pretty much it, but, 3dmark01 is useful for tracking your system over time. here is a snapshot of how my system has evolved since I started upgrading it.

10105 - XP2400+, 1 gig PC2100, GF-FX 5900 XT (4x AA, 4x AF)
12860 - XP2400+, 1 gig PC2100, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 4x AF)
14135 - XP3200+, 1 gig PC2100, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 16x AF)
16086 - XP3200+, 2 gig PC3200, GF6 6800 GT (4x AA, 16x AF)

Not too shabby at all for a socket a system where everything but the video card runs at stock speed and the system is wonderfully cool and quiet also (the video card is clocked at just over Ultra speeds 410/1100 which it handles with the greatest of ease).

eh. Those are a little low actually. My bro with a 9800pro at 450/400, m barton at 2.2 runs in the 19k range.

Sig machine runs low 24ks. Thats the power of the CPU.

 

[Gstanfor]

You do realise that those scores are with AA/AF enabled?

I can score in the 19K range too - with plain jane rendering - but that's not how I play my games, so it's a bit of a farsical figure IMO.

EDIT: here you go 19427 3D Marks

 

[Shenkoa]

3200+ 64 duh

 

[Valkerie]

Athlon 64 would be faster than the Athlon XP. They both cost about the same anyway.

Go with the socket 754, or the 939.

 

[Markfw]

I would get the Chaintech S1689 939 pin motherboard for $69, keep your PC2100 (yes it will work with a divider, I am running that now while I wait for my RMA to come back), and then get a 3000+ or 3200+ (whichever you can afford).

The reason for the chaintech board is so you can also use your AGP card. The nfirce4 boards are all PCI express I think.