Which AMD Athlon 3700+ San Diego do I get?

[trexmgd]

I don't see anything different other than the mode number and the voltage on the later says 1.35/1.4 while the former only says 1.35. Both are boxed/retail and new. One is $96 and the other is $102. Weird huh?

Any differences between these things? Which is better if so?

I have enough spare equipment laying around to build a whole computer, except a CPU and Video Card, so I'm thinking the old 3700 brings great bang for the buck and I may throw in a 7600 GS for value as well.

Here is a link to the product compare page I pulled up :Da Egg

 

[Netopia]

ADA3700CFBOX VS ADA3700BNBOX

That is the stepping. Go with the new one. I've already had a couple friends get this version and even though they aren't really overclockers (the people, not the chips) they have both gotten them to 2.4GHz. That's not a huge overclock, but we're talking about people who didn't even know what overclocking was!

From what I understand, the CF version is a Toledo Core (dual core) with one of the cores disabled. Supposed to run cooler because of having more surface area to dissipate heat. The newer core is also why it's rated at .05 fewer volts.

Joe

 

[knightc2]

The CF one has the newer E6 stepping vs E4 for the BN processor. Some have stated that the older BN cpu might be a better overclocker while the E6 model might be better at dealing with 4 memory sticks.

 

[Netopia]

Wow... I did not know those facts!

Joe

 

[Mucker]

Good price here, especially if using an aftermarket cooler: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-3700CF

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: knightc2
The CF one has the newer E6 stepping vs E4 for the BN processor. Some have stated that the older BN cpu might be a better overclocker while the E6 model might be better at dealing with 4 memory sticks.

The E6 steppings are the only ones able to handle 4 sticks of RAM, but whether or not there is any difference in their overclockability, I'm not sure. I do know that almost all of the other Toledo cores overclock very well.

 

[Netopia]

Originally posted by: Mucker
Good price here, especially if using an aftermarket cooler: http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-3700CF

That's not a good price, that's a GREAT price!

Joe

 

[Zap]

Wow it IS a great price. I got mine a couple of weeks ago for $104 and only put it to use yesterday.

Don't forget to use Froogle referrals to drop the price a bit more.

instant discount

 

[Netopia]

Zap,

Where can one go to learn about how Froogle referrals work for discounts?

Joe

 

[trexmgd]

Darn it, looks like I missed the deal you guys linked to.

Anyway, thanks for all the info - Looks like it's 4 sticks vs 2 sticks and eas, but lower OC than a harder, but higher OC.

I'll throw out a "me too" on the Froogle referal thing - don't know anything about it.

 

[smallzfsu]

ANybody thnking about the fact that a dual core toledo turns into a single core "San Diego" because the second core is faulty (or not up to standard) DOes that not sit well with anyone but me? AMI paranoid? Ive also heard back and for _alot_ about E4 stepping is better OCer, or that this staatement is just a myth. Ugh.... stupid AMD. (but I love em, sure beats the intel alt.)

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: smallzfsu
ANybody thnking about the fact that a dual core toledo turns into a single core "San Diego" because the second core is faulty (or not up to standard) DOes that not sit well with anyone but me? AMI paranoid? Ive also heard back and for _alot_ about E4 stepping is better OCer, or that this staatement is just a myth. Ugh.... stupid AMD. (but I love em, sure beats the intel alt.)

Don't worry about it. Sure it is a failed dual core CPU but that is just because one of those cores is defective in some way. The other core is fine so nothing to worry about. It is smart of AMD to do that actually because they aren't wasting anything, why throw away a dual-core CPU if only one core is bad?

Oh and welcome to AT :beer:

Dang that CPU for $78... I bought mine for $212 5 months ago, ouch that hurts. I knew the price would drop as time went on but not by that much...

 

[bongsteen]

i got the CF 3700+ it does 2.6ghz with four sticks of 512m ram and 2.8 with two sticks. hope this help.

 

[CCityInstaller]

I purchased the CF stepping a few days ago from NewEgg, along with the new Asrrock 939 VSTA, for my parents. It runs @ 2.65Ghz @ 1.4V without a problem. I cannot go any higher due to a Bios limitation on the Vcore.

 

[lopri]

Although the CF is a more recent stepping, I'd get the BN. Isn't single-core Opteron also BN?