Which proc?

[prop329]

Hey there. I'm gonna hopefully be building a computer in a couple months, and i'm most likely going to be using the X2 4400, but i keep hearing about the new M2. Keep in mind i'll be kinda on a budget since i'm in college, but i was wondering, what would you guys choose.
I'm hoping to start purchasing the parts in November, or around Christmas, and i'm also gonna wait to start building till i can get the 2405FPW for cheap.

So should i wait for M2 and how long will that be or should i just stick with an X2?
Is the M2 gonna be a really ground breaking proc to wait for, or something small?

thank you

 

[CheesePoofs]

I would go for the X2 4400 right now in s939 form. The X2's are not bandwidth starved, so the extra bandwidth of the DDR2 won't help it much.

 

[Gamingphreek]

X2 Right now!

M2 isn't due out until late Q1 early Q2 next year. And even then, we dont really have any concrete information on it.

-Kevin

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
X2 Right now!

M2 isn't due out until late Q1 early Q2 next year. And even then, we dont really have any concrete information on it.

-Kevin

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
X2 Right now!

M2 isn't due out until late Q1 early Q2 next year. And even then, we dont really have any concrete information on it.

-Kevin

Agreed.

The good thing is that with a s939 X2, you might just be able to skip DDR2 entirely, or at least not have to go with it till it's actually offering better performance & is really cheap.

 

[sluthy]

I'm looking at a new comp sometime in the next few months as well, was thinking of getting 939 with a cheaper single core (3500-3800+ range), then upgrading to X2 when dropping prices allow. Was all good until I found out about M2 just now (like Chris from Family Guy - "WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME!!!?!?!" lol). So will they continue making 939 procs when M2 debuts? I mean, will the 939 X2s still be around long enough to GET cheap? Will getting 939 now significantly futureproof me (i.e. save me buying a new MB for at least 5 years)?

 

[INM8]

Even when M2 is officially released, it'll probably take a while for the products themselves to make their ways onto store shelves. As with the release of most of platforms, the first mobo revisions normally have all sorts of problems anyway. Really, if you wanted a M2 system, you'd only realisticly get it Mid year 2006, maybe a bit earler if AMD are ahead of schedule. If you do get your hands on one then, all the parts will carry a price premium anyway . Look at it like this, if you get an s939 system now, you win, if you get it even when M2 is just released, you win again because S939 parts will get major price cuts along the line, because S939 would become AMD's new "value" line. (not because it lacks performance, simply because theres something newer they have to market.

I wouldnt worry about your S939 system going out of date too quick anyway, as we've seen, AMD support their older platforms for a lot longer than intel does. Look at S754 and S462, they only stopped making the K7 cpus for S462 earlier this yeat, hell, if i went out and looked, id still find them for sale in a few stores. K7 has been around since the P3 days, so its pretty awsome that you can still (possibly, i dunno about the USA, only AUS) gets parts for it, although i dunno why you would :roll: .

Anyway, my point is that either way, if you get a S939 system, and a nice X2 to go with it, you wont be dissapointed, and it wont be un-upgradeable in a years time. The upcoming release of the socket M2 will play to your advantage, because it'll push S939 prices down, which is good for you since your on a budget

 

[anandtechrocks]

I totally agree with INM8. Get a socket 939 and be happy now instead of waiting several months for M2 to shape up. About the 4400+, I would personally go with the 3800+ X2 instead. According to most people they overclock to very similar frequencies and the extra cache is negligable (atleast from my experience with a SD and a Vience), and you'll save quite a bit of money which is very important to college students

 

[sluthy]

Here are some prices from one of the Australian price scanners (StaticIce):

3500+ - $320
3800+ - $470 (Venice)
4000+ - $540 (San Diego - better or worse?)
3800+ X2 - $510
4000+ X2 - $715...?
4200+ X2 - $700
4400+ X2 - $800
4600+ X2 - $1020
4800+ X2 - $1300

Obviously the X2s are overpriced right now,so what's the best bang-for-buck A64 right now? Does overclocking void warranty?

 

[INM8]

Yep, overclocking voids your warranty. Really, the x2's arnt that expensiv when looking at the whole scheme of things. If you where gonna go for an A64, the only one that would be THAT much cheaper is the 3500+ for $320. Other than that, there is just $40 different between 3800+ A64 and the 3800+ X2. The way i see it is, if you are mad about gaming and plan to play games, games and not much else, get the 4000+, other than that, get the 3800+ X2. Its nice and fast anyway, and if you need more speed in the future, and your feeling adventurous...iv heard it doesnt take much effort to get the x2 3800+ to 4400+ speeds.

Besides, the x2's will hold their resale value much better than an A64.

 

[forumposter32]

I'd hate to recommend an X2 to someone on a budget. Seems cruel to me. I bet you by the time Vista comes out, you'll want to change at least a couple of things about your machine. Why not wait? We'll probably know more next summer anyway.

 

[the Chase]

From what I've read the M2 socket may well be a transitional socket just like socket 754 was. I guess the server chips have a 1207? pin socket and have the pci-e integrated onto the CPU. Im not sure what that will do for video performance but I can just see AMD saying-WOW- we have to get that on our desktop chips and VIOLA- new socket like 754 to 939.

I'm going 939 now and skipping M2 and DDR2 for socket XYZ9 and DDR3.