Stepping up from Socket A. What is the minumum CPU I need to tell difference?

[gentlejax]

I am going from NF7 /XP2100 Thorobred/ PC2100 socket A combo to a Socket 754 combo.

I dont needbest but I am getting a decent board to OC like a DFI maybe. I have 1 gig of PC3200 that will run decent.

there are so many chip out now and I have not been in touch obviously.

I want to get a noticeable improvement from one setup to the other instead ofthe tiny improvements I always got when I replaced a cpu for one that was a little faster.

there are so many cpus now that i cant tell what to buy. dont want to buy just based on clock speed if that doesnt mean everything.

i just read an article and now more dumb than ever.

when I say Iwant to tell a difference I mean enough to know right off the bat without having to OCthe chip andtweak the crap out of the board


I want to go socket 754 since I am limited onfunds for this upgrade. I am looking at DFI ,EPOX or MSI NF3 chipset board.

I just cant keep the various chips straight. Overclocking is not the point here. I will run it at stock most of the time....unless someone convinces me different

 

[gentlejax]

OK....I maygo ahead and get 939 instead but it is optional depending on cost.

I am trying to keep using my Radeon9500 and my Antec True Power 430 along with my HD and PC3200.

I amlooking to replace mobo, cpu, HS and thats about it

 

[Markfw]

MSI NEO2-platinum, and a Venice 3200 OC'ed. People say the ASrock mobo, but it OC's like crap (no vcore support for crap.)

 

[leigh6]

Dont really want to overclock? Want to just get something that is very fast and a BIG improvement. Just get the following and call it a day.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=45&threadid=1748895&enterthread=y

You probably can get around $70.00 for your cpu/mobo combo that you have.

Your whole upgrade would cost you $80.00!!!! And this is a massive upgrade.

 

[Canterwood]

Well, Asrock Dual SataII motherboard is a great board to get.

Its cheap, reliable, stable, socket 939, dual core capable and the best thing is it offers BOTH AGP and PCI-Express.
That means you can keep your current AGP card and upgrade to PCI-E graphics in the future.

It will offer moderate overclock's but nothing as extreme as a DFI or MSI would offer.

Add a 3500+ venice or even a nice dual core 3800+ and you've got a decent machine with future upgradeability.

 

[RobsTV]

Originally posted by: leigh6
Dont really want to overclock? Want to just get something that is very fast and a BIG improvement. Just get the following and call it a day.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=45&threadid=1748895&enterthread=y

You probably can get around $70.00 for your cpu/mobo combo that you have.

Your whole upgrade would cost you $80.00!!!! And this is a massive upgrade.

Socket A is not that bad.

Here going from Socket A to 939 Opteron 146, and there is zero difference seen or felt in 90% of the things I run. Gaming, maybe 10% difference. HDTV, NO Difference, and that was the thing I was wanting. Tested with both Sasem OTA HDTV card and Twinhan 1020a DVB-S card. The upgrade was pointless. Heck, in the upgrade I also went from ATi 9700 Pro AGP to ATi x800 PCIe (yes this did help gaming up to 400%, but again no help for most other things, and not related to socket A to A64 upgrade).

However, Socket A was maxed out with video.
So while the change from socket A to A64 did not help now, future expansion is available.

Look at all benchmarks at various websites.
Socket A to A64 only helps 10% to 20%, and is nothing close to a "massive upgrade".
In many cases, you can get the same 10% to 20% increase simply by overclocking socket A.

 

[gentlejax]

after reading around I definitely want to stay with 754 just so I can still use some of my current stuff.

I am trying to get a DFI lan party board from another forum right now.

My problem is Idont know a Venice from a Winchester ...etc .etc...

I dont want to buy a processor thats more than I need but I dontreally want the lowest version either like a Sempron.

whats with all the versions? I do want 512mb L2 at least.

then again, I dont really know what I want , just want to moveup.


I am also looking at the MSI board
thanks so far

 

[gentlejax]

Robs TV-
I understand completely. I am hesitant to make a move without help that is why I am here. I started with just a memory upgrade and then started OC'ing my XP2100. Right now its at 1.9 no problem but I have hadit a while and want to get something newer that I dont have to run hard...

Its time I think. BUT the onlyl thing I do anymore on the machine is surf and make music,dvd copies and watch DVD's.

Its not a gaming machine at all

I say I dont want a Sempron but then again I only say that because of the difference in the old days of the DURON.

I am out of the loop

 

[leigh6]

An A64 3400 running at 2.4 ghz with memory running at pc3200 is a massive upgrade to an xp 2100 at 1.7 ghz with a 266 fsb amd memory running at pc2100.

 

[gentlejax]

Well the XP2100 is running @ 1.9 right now and I put the 1g PC3200 in the board also

Thing is there was really no difference in the system when I pulled out the PC2100 and put in the PC3200 and added 512mb.

I want more performance but I dont want to strain the parts

 

[Mogadon]

I don't understand your logic, why do you have to go with 754 to reuse some of your present hardware.

Mark, the first guy to reply to your thread, has already given you a 939 board and corresponding CPU with which you can use your present video card and RAM, it also happens to be the best overclocking 939 board with an AGP slot there is.

He also mentioned the ASRock board which is 939 and features an AGP and PCIE slot, good for future upgradeability although isn't as good an overclocker.

 

[gentlejax]

I got so much going on in my head at the moment so excuse me if I missed the part about the NEO2 having an AGP slot...Most of them dont ...

If I go 754 it will most likely be cheaper than 939

understand that logic....

I dont want the ASROCK board , thanks

so far only bebefit Isee in 939 vs 754 is dual channel mode which according to some of these reviews I have read today dont exactly mean it will be outright faster. The DFI board is pretty fast for a 754 according to the tests. I am trying to get one ofthem now from someone. If that falls thru then I am going to check on the MSI boards.

thanks again

 

[Canterwood]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
He also mentioned the ASRock board which is 939 and features an AGP and PCIE slot, good for future upgradeability although isn't as good an overclocker.

As did I in more detail, but it seems he doesn't want to listen.

 

[n7]

For OCing, i'm gonna agree with Mark.

MSI Neo2 Platinum & Venice 3000+ OCed FTW!

If you cannot find the MSI (it's been discontinued ), the AsRock is okay, but not so great for OCing.

 

[gentlejax]

Hey guys dont have to be rude...I am listening..

I dont know anything about the ASROCK board other than it sounds like an 80's hair band.

If I get some info on it then I might change my mind. I am trying to step up but I am not going to go crazy about it as fast as computer parts depreciate it doesnt make sense.

not to mention Christmas is here so I am trying to do this cheap.

Right now I am trying to get a DFI board . if you knew what the details were then you would understand . Till I hear from the guy then ASROCK will have to waite.


nothing wrong with my hearing guys

thanks

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: gentlejax
Hey guys dont have to be rude...I am listening..

I dont know anything about the ASROCK board other than it sounds like an 80's hair band.

If I get some info on it then I might change my mind. I am trying to step up but I am not going to go crazy about it as fast as computer parts depreciate it doesnt make sense.

not to mention Christmas is here so I am trying to do this cheap.

Right now I am trying to get a DFI board . if you knew what the details were then you would understand . Till I hear from the guy then ASROCK will have to waite.


nothing wrong with my hearing guys

thanks

ASROCK is Asus' value brand. Personally, I would go for a epox 9NDA3J, thats what I have, and they're pretty cheap and they OC excellently for the price. Get a 3000+ and a OC it to 2.4+. I don't know if you unlocked the extra pipes on the 9500, but if you haven't thats a good idea.

And for the naysayers that state that A64 doesn't offer a boost in performance, I dunno what you guys are doing, but going from a mobile barton at 2.4 to a clawhammer at 2.2, I saw a BIG performance. and my jump from the clawhammer to the winchester was pretty good too. winchester to manchester (X2) was very good for multitasking. I don't lag, ever.

 

[leigh6]

Originally posted by: gentlejax
Well the XP2100 is running @ 1.9 right now and I put the 1g PC3200 in the board also

Thing is there was really no difference in the system when I pulled out the PC2100 and put in the PC3200 and added 512mb.

I want more performance but I dont want to strain the parts

You could put pc10000 memory in it and it will not perform any better. The memory will run at the speed of the FSB which is 266 so the pc3200 is going to be running at pc2100 speeds (with probably better timings). If you are running it at 1.9ghz then your fsb is probably at 145 so your memory is running at 290ghz. When you had the pc2100 in there your memory was running 266ghz if it was at stock. Not a big difference.

 

[gentlejax]

I know that the memory is or was running @ 266fsb

when I said the system didnt improve any I was talking about the jump from 512mb to 1gig. I expected it to do things a little faster with the extra memory

I am not a total newb. I dont frequent this board much until yesterday. doesnt mean I know nothing about the computer.

thanks

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: gentlejax
Hey guys dont have to be rude...I am listening..

I dont know anything about the ASROCK board other than it sounds like an 80's hair band.

If I get some info on it then I might change my mind. I am trying to step up but I am not going to go crazy about it as fast as computer parts depreciate it doesnt make sense.

not to mention Christmas is here so I am trying to do this cheap.

Right now I am trying to get a DFI board . if you knew what the details were then you would understand . Till I hear from the guy then ASROCK will have to waite.


nothing wrong with my hearing guys

thanks

<---- Is running the Asrock board in question.

The board runs stable, fast, and perfectly quiet due to no active cooling. It goes up to 270HTT on mine, allowing me to get my cpu to the 2.43GHz it is running at. I had no problems what so ever with anything. It runs well with pci, agp, and pcie video cards, as I have tried it with all three. Solid as a rock, no crashes, does not produce too much heat, runs cool in general. Support for all video cards and 939 processors available is a huge plus.

Bottome line: This is one of the best boards I have ever used. Don't want to take my word for it? Take a professional's:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2524

 

[leigh6]

I give up.

 

[gentlejax]

thanks for the link on the ASROCK

I read it. I will decide when I get word on the other board.


thanks
Mike