Trying to decide on a new Processor - 4800+, 185, or FX-60?

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DEredita

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
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Trying to decide on a new Processor - 4800+, 185, or FX-60?

I don't really know how to overclock, the best I can do is with the app that came with the mobo that allows me to do minor bump in speed to my AMD Athlon 64 3500+. So, I doubt I'll do much of an overclock with my next CPU.

I do a lot of multitasking, photoshop, office, a little gaming, (HD) video watching, music stuff, etc etc. I'm looking for a fast workhorse.

What would you guys suggest.

Newegg was selling the 185 for around $415 and the now sold out FX-60 at around $490.


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Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Wow, at those prices you could literally get into a C2D system, but of course you would have to deal with getting into DDR2, so you could probably get a good result by just popping in a new Dual-core proc.

Your mobo is decent for overclocking, it is quite easy to learn the basics. You could boost FSB alone and take a $200 chip within a few % of those $400-500 procs.

Look into this :

Linky!

Opty 170 DualCore for $185, free shipping

Starts @ 2Ghz, with 1mb cache per core. VERY VERY easy to take to 2.4Ghz with stock voltage and cooler, and with improved cooling, very very easy to take to 2.6Ghz. These are stable speeds.

Even without any overclocking, you will notice some massive performance improvements, mainly in multitasking. I don't think spending an extra $300 on the FX60 will really do much more for you.

Good luck :)
 
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lobbyone

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2003
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I think i've read somewhere that overclocking an Opteron 170 will be equal or slightly faster than an overclock FX-60. If I had the cash i'd get the FX-60...if not overclocking, otherwise i'd settle for something cheaper like the Opty 170 and overclock crazy! :)
 
myocardia

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
9,291
30
91
If you're willing to learn how to overclock, or just don't mind spending the money, you really can't beat an Opteron 185; it's very fast without overclocking. I'd personally buy this dual core 2.4 Ghz X2 4600, though. Of course, I'd personally just buy an E6400, if I were looking for cheap speed.
 
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hclarkjr

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,375
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i would go with the 185 since you mentioned you have no interest in overclocking. i just bought an FX-60 but i bought from here on the forums. can not go wrong though with an 185 or FX-60. the only difference is the unlocked multiplier on the FX-60.
 
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DEredita

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
349
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oh wow - I noticed the FSB is 1000 MHz compared to the FX-60's 2000 MHZ FSB - isn't there going to be a big difference there?
 
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Furen

Golden Member
Oct 21, 2004
1,567
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They're all the same. The HT link for these parts is clocked at 1GHz but since it is double data rate some people double the clock to give you the "effective clock".
 
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DEredita

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
349
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76
You lost me. So out of the box, with absolutely no overclocking or tweaking, just applying thermal paste and the stock heatsink, these two would be identical in almost every situation?
 
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DEredita

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
349
0
76
thanks - I'm really tempted to hit the checkout button :confused:

That's gonna be one nasty looking credit card bill next month (I have $2400 in dental expenses on there).
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
Learn to O/C and save yourself a couple of hundred bucks. Put that money into something to replace that antique of a video card.
 
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DEredita

Senior member
Dec 24, 2004
349
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76
I don't plan on touching the video card until the DirectX 10 cards are out for a while and drop in price. My room goes through extremes in temps - very hot in the late spring/summer and cool all winter long. I had a raptor drive fair on me after 3 months of use - so I rather keeping it clocked stock as to keep the warranty.
 
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tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
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Both run at 2.6 ghz which makes these very high performance procs.

But, remember you are also making an investment in the future as well and being able to make a simple change to get more processing power later on will extend th life of your system.

The FX-60 needs only a change in the multiplier from 13 to 14 to become a 2.8ghz proc. A 200mhz is a significant upgrade. And there is no other tweeking involed, in other words a very simple, risk free change. The Opteron 185 would require a lot more in the way of changes and would likley not ever get to 2.7,Ghz much less 2.8Ghz.

I look at it this way, the FX60 is a 2.8ghz proc (or better) vs the Operon 185 which is a 2.6 ghz proc.
 
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waxking1

Senior member
Sep 29, 2003
243
2
81
With good memory, the right motherboard, good cooling etc., how much will the FX60 overclock on air(big heatsink and fan)?
 
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tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
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Many reviews, check Google, looks like 3.1 ghz or even 3.2Ghz is attainable with Air and the right setup
 
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nyker96

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
5,630
2
81
If you are NOT overclocking 185 is your thing. If you buying new system of course I'd go with core 2 duo.
 
myocardia

myocardia

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2003
9,291
30
91
Originally posted by: tallman45
The Opteron 185 would require a lot more in the way of changes and would likley not ever get to 2.7,Ghz much less 2.8Ghz.
Click to expand...
I've yet to see an Opteron not be able to hit 2.7 Ghz, even a 1.8 Ghz 165. I realize that there have to be a few, but one that starts out at 2.6 Ghz wouldn't be one of them, I can assure you.
 
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tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
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Originally posted by: myocardia
Originally posted by: tallman45
The Opteron 185 would require a lot more in the way of changes and would likley not ever get to 2.7,Ghz much less 2.8Ghz.
Click to expand...
I've yet to see an Opteron not be able to hit 2.7 Ghz, even a 1.8 Ghz 165. I realize that there have to be a few, but one that starts out at 2.6 Ghz wouldn't be one of them, I can assure you.
Click to expand...

180 cannot that is for certain, is well noted that it is not an Overclocker, may forums mention this deficiency in the 180

 
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TanisHalfElven

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
3,512
0
76
Originally posted by: waxking1
With good memory, the right motherboard, good cooling etc., how much will the FX60 overclock on air(big heatsink and fan)?
Click to expand...

you don't need a good mobo or good mem to OC a fx-60
 
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waxking1

Senior member
Sep 29, 2003
243
2
81
Well, I already have some fairly decent parts and I usually run at 2.66Ghz with my Opteron 165. I can run stable at 2.7 but I like a little headroom just in case. Just trying to decide if the FX60 would be worth the upgrade. I'm sure I will go to a new Intel system next year after Vista is released(could be a while). My specs are below.I just copied these off my sig on DFI forum, but I'm running SLI with dual 7800GTs now clocked a bit slower.

DFI LanParty nF4 SLi-DR
Seasonic S12 600W-Antec P180
Crucial Ballistix PC4000 2x1GB@1:1 3338
XFX 7800GT(501/1250)- Arctic Cooling NV 5 (Rev. 3)
Opteron 150 CABZE @ 2.7 stock volts
Prime 95 stable
Thermalright XP120-Vantec Stealth
74 GB Raptor- WD Caviar RE2 400GB
 
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