Venice or San Diego?

[AthlonPowers]

I'm looking to upgrade my current system (Athlon XP-M 2600+@2300, Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe, ATI X800XL) to something that feels significantly faster and would appreciate any recommendations. I'm not initally looking to overclock, as I will be putting the machine to serious computation where accurate results are important. So far I was thinking of the Athlon64 3800+ with San Diego core and 1MB cache as I've had great experiences with Opteron 248 machines at work, but if anyone has a good discussion of 512KB vs 1MB cache, then I'm listening

I'm currently thinking about putting this in either an Asus A8V Deluxe or MSI Neo2 Platinum (I have an AGP card, I also posted in Motherboards).
I'll also need a good but quiet heatsink/fan combo unless the retail unit will be good enough at stock speeds.

Any other recommendations?

Thanks...

 

[MegaWorks]

Why not 1MB.

For the motherboard well if your going with the VIA K8T800 Pro get the ABIT AV8 insted of the ASUS A8V, I hear lots of problems with the A8V. For nForce 3 the MSI is one of the best.

 

[Hacp]

If you are not overclocking, get the 3800+ which is a venice core. Depends on how much you are willing to spend though.

 

[Bona Fide]

Well he overclocked his last machine, so I figure he'll be doing that again.

Go for the Venice...the extra L2 cache gives you two things:

1. 3-5% increase in performance (1-2fps in most games)
2. Bragging rights that you have a "true" FX-series CPU (if you OC)

 

[Hacp]

He said no inital overclocking so I don't know. All I know is that if your overclocking, the 3700+ San diego is the better value. But if your not, then the higher clock speed matters most.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
Well he overclocked his last machine, so I figure he'll be doing that again.

Go for the Venice...the extra L2 cache gives you two things:

1. 3-5% increase in performance (1-2fps in most games)
2. Bragging rights that you have a "true" FX-series CPU (if you OC)

Venice = 512 KB.
San Diego = 1 MB.

 

[Bona Fide]

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
Well he overclocked his last machine, so I figure he'll be doing that again.

Go for the Venice...the extra L2 cache gives you two things:

1. 3-5% increase in performance (1-2fps in most games)
2. Bragging rights that you have a "true" FX-series CPU (if you OC)

Venice = 512 KB.
San Diego = 1 MB.

I know that. That's why I'm suggesting the Venice.

 

[Hard Ball]

If your choice is between the 3700+ and the 3800+, and are planning on OC, then get the venice. While 1MB cache is nice, but also it could be an impedence to overclocking, and the higher multiplier for the 3800+ certainly doesn't hurt either.

 

[Vegitto]

Originally posted by: Bona Fide

Originally posted by: Vegitto

Originally posted by: Bona Fide
Well he overclocked his last machine, so I figure he'll be doing that again.

Go for the Venice...the extra L2 cache gives you two things:

1. 3-5% increase in performance (1-2fps in most games)
2. Bragging rights that you have a "true" FX-series CPU (if you OC)

Venice = 512 KB.
San Diego = 1 MB.

I know that. That's why I'm suggesting the Venice.

Sorry, I assumed that you meant that he should get the San Diego for the reasons you gave. Turns out, assuming makes an ass out of you and me, and some guy named Ming.

 

[AthlonPowers]

Bona Fide is partially right... I gently overclocked my current XP-M, but it's still running at the minimum voltage the motherboard will allow (1.575v, which I know is not the orig 1.45v!). I'd be looking at similar things for whichever chip I buy.

I'm not looking for big overclocks, in fact, I'd probably run it at stock for the 90% of the time I'm not gaming (I was once told, true or otherwise, that overclocking can result in incorrect results), so I'm looking for the best performer most of the time - which is why I'm thinking of the 3700+/1MB cache chip. I'm more interested in stability and good, silent cooling for what I've got. I've had my XP-M running at 2600, but the voltage required to keep it up there made me queezy

Also, in another thread I saw some 3dMark03 results for an overclocked 3200+ Venice that weren't a huge step above my Mobile@2300.... (double checking) am I looking to waste my money on a new board+cpu or should I just save my green and be happy with my XP-M?

 

[imported_meatball]

The 3700+ will get you to 2.8 with no sweat. I recently purchased one, and was making the same decision between it and the 3800+. I plan to get it running at 2.8 and then call it a day.

 

[510kut]

haha i'm also making a decision between the venice and san diego... except the 3000+ or 3700+ do I wanna go for the extra cache and higher multplier or the nice and cheap 3000+

 

[nealh]

is the SD worth the extra cost$$$ ..get lower cost Venice 3000/3200 overclock as far as you ca n..save the $$$ and in 3-4mo go buy a dual core processor for alower price and use the money saved on the SD to help...thats what I am doing

I will never see 1-5% differences..in anything but that is me ....or used saved money to get better ram for tighter timings within reason, or better case, bigger hdd..etc

 

[Lithan]

Originally posted by: Hard Ball
If your choice is between the 3700+ and the 3800+, and are planning on OC, then get the venice. While 1MB cache is nice, but also it could be an impedence to overclocking, and the higher multiplier for the 3800+ certainly doesn't hurt either.

Damn man, people are nuts. You don't need more than an 11 multi. Hell I think over 10 is overkill. 3700+ vs 3800+ obvious choice is 3700+.

 

[Bona Fide]

Seriously. Just get a Venice and be done with it. You will not notice, at ALL, the extra "benefits" of a 1mb L2. Like you're gonna keep track of a 1-2fps increase in most games.

Athlon 64 3500+ Venice - 11x multi - $267
Athlon 64 3200+ Venice - 10x multi - $190
Athlon 64 3000+ Venice - 9x multi - $146

Pick only one of those 3, whichever fits your price range.

 

[imported_Woody]

A couple of suggestions:

If you are keeping your AGP card consider a new ULI based motherboard (they should be released soon we hope) since it allows you to use your AGP card at full speed and have the PCIe upgrade option available without getting a new motherboard.

Also, if you are running some kind of number crunching application that will tie up your system for extended periods of time consider a dual core CPU so you can continue to use your computer for other tasks without impeding the running app.

 

[SGtheArtist]

Go with the cheapest (Venice 3000+) & overclock it (or not).

 

[AthlonPowers]

Thanks for the info, folks. So it sounds like I should just buy a 3200+ and be done with it.

The next challenge, is how do I keep this baby adequately and silently cooled? Everyone seems to mention the XP90 round here, but what about putting the Panaflo 2100rpm (27dba) fan on it? Will this still give me adequate cooling to get up to 3700+ speeds?

 

[nealh]

I use on a A64winny 3200@2550 1.58/1.6v..XP90/Vantec Stealth....very quiet...love this combo

I will have a new 3200 venice this week with this Panaflo..but 27dba vs 20dba on Stealth...wanted to give the noise a try becasue of better cfm...but I hate noise so I a msure Iwill end up selling the panaflo...and if necessary takes less on the o/c

 

[SGtheArtist]

If you are not overclocking then I'd simply go with the stock HSF from the retail chip. It will cool the CPU & will probably be quiet enough for most people.