Worth it to move from OC'd AMD Athlon64 2.4Ghz to Athlon X2?

[GundamF91]

Right now I have the top of class Socket 754 running Venice Athlon64 2.2Ghz, oc'd to 2.4Ghz on air. Everything's working well, but I'm wondering how much more performance I can get by going to Socket AM2 dualcore X2 4800+ or higher?

The problem with socket 754 is that it cannot do dual core, and it is single channel. Mainly I need speed for playing PC games. 2.4Ghz is more than enough for Office applications and internet. I'm also topped out with my Socket 754 motherboard's AGP slot with the ATi x1650 card. So right now I've hit the limit in terms of using existing parts. SupremeCommander runs pretty well with details tuned down. Is the DDR2 and dual core going to make much difference for games?

If I upgrade, I'm looking at dualcore X2 with Socket AM2 and also with PCI-e card, but that means I need new mobo, CPU, memory and also Gfx card. That's pretty much a complete upgrade. That's why I'm not sure if this is a good time do this yet. Also upgrade to C2D or C2Q is pretty much out of my budget at this time. Would I be better off just wait til next year?

 

[Katmandu]

Originally posted by: GundamF91
Is the DDR2 and dual core going to make much difference for games?

If the game is programmed to run Dual core then yes. If it is NOT then no.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Katmandu

Originally posted by: GundamF91
Is the DDR2 and dual core going to make much difference for games?

If the game is programmed to run Dual core then yes. If it is NOT then no.

I agree, if you're playing new games, which are pretty much all optimized to some extent for dual-cores, then you'll see a considerable difference. With older games (not including Quake 4), you'll see zero difference. Also, the X1650 is not the top of the line AGP card, not even close.

In ascending order, you have the 7600GT, the 7800GS, the X1950GT, the 7900GS, the X1950 Pro, and the baddest AGP card ever, the X1950XT. BTW, unless you've got the worst overclocking motherboard ever, that Venice 3400 shouldn't have any problems at all doing 2.6-2.7 Ghz.

 

[Pyrokinetic]

Upgrading won't hurt, but don't expect miracles. I recently upgraded to my signature rig from an overclocked socket 939 San Diego 3700+. My 939 was clocked at 2.77Ghz, so my new dual-core rig (2.8Ghz) runs about the same performance on games. What is really nice -- and why I upgraded -- is that now when my security suite initiates a scan while I am playing a game, it no longer interferes or disrupts my game. So very, very nice.

The AMD K8 cores were never bandwidth starved with DDR in the first place, so DDR2 only provides a very minor performance boost.

I did not wait because I found a really great deal on my motherboard, and bought the cheapest X2 chip to tide me over until the new K10 AM2/AM2+ processors are released sometime next year.

 

[j0j081]

I have a socket 754 venice also. I have a 3400+ I'm guessing yours is the 3200 though because mine runs at 2.4 ghz stock. I have it OCd a bit but this mobo doesn't support increasing the vcore enough for anything past 2.6 ghz. It gets really unstable over that unless I am doing something else wrong.

I have a 7800gs moderately overclocked and I can run pretty much all the latest games at either 1680x1050 or 1280x1024 at either medium or high settings with the exception of really demanding ones like UT3 and higher. Depending on what you want to play getting a 7800gs or higher should be a nice upgrade to hold you over until you can afford to do a complete overhaul.

 

[JWade]

i had a northwood 3ghz, went to a a pentium D 820 and saw a difference in using windows, then went to an E6600 and saw an even bigger difference. I would suggest you get the dual core am2, pci-e vid card and ddr2 memory. you wont be dissapointed

 

[WildHorse]

Wait a few months, new generation coming out.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: scott
Wait a few months, new generation coming out.

Yup, wait at least 2 weeks to check the situation with Phenom and socket AM2 motherboard support. No point in upgrading to a new AM2 board and finding out it won't work with Phenom processors (for future upgrades so you don't get stuck again like you are now) I think the launch is supposed to be the 12th or something.

 

[jjmIII]

Also upgrade to C2D or C2Q is pretty much out of my budget at this time.

I don't understand. The DDR2 is the same, and so are mobo's really. You can get a cheap Conroe 775 Celeron, or even a dual-core e2140/60/80.

It just seams like 775 has soo much more future than am2.

 

[GundamF91]

Thank you for the advice. First of all, it is a 3200+, runs native at 200x11=2.2Ghz. I managed to get the memory to 218mhz to make 218x11=2.4Ghz. I'm pretty sure CPU can go up more since it's running real cool around 40c even underload. Also I have Mushkin DDR400 that's running tight DDR timing at 218mhz at 2-3-3-6. The problem I believe is the motherboard, it is ECS so it's pretty cheap and doesn't have PCI or AGP divider. If I go 220mhz on the whole thing, which makes the HTT run at 220x4=880mhz, this makes AGP unstable and blank out my display.

The problem is that I really don't want to invest anymore into this dead-end rig. If I buy better motherboard, I have to get Socket 754 to use the CPU. If I get rid of CPU to go AM2, then I wouldnt' be able to use the DDR ram. Also if I upgrade, I would want to have PCI-e slot for future expansion. So basically if I upgrade anything on this rig, I wont' be able to use it for a future expansion.

It does look like I should tough it out until DDR3 becomes prevalent and see what Penryn and Phenom can do. May be by then DDR2/AM2 will drop in price enough.

 

[nyker96]

I think get a Intel core 2 is better for games.

 

[GundamF91]

I had always thought that Athlon were better architecture for 3D games, and Core2 were better for video and other memory intensive work?

 

[myocardia]

Nope, the Core2's are faster at everything, including games, as long as you aren't gaming at a really high resoution, using max graphics, AA, etc: link.

 

[GundamF91]

I see... I haven't had Intel since days of Pentium II. I'll have to give C2D a better look then. Is the Penryn that much better, or should I wait for a while longer?

 

[SickBeast]

If you're going to get a new motherboard, definately consider an intel 2140 with a cheap motherboard that overclocks well. You should be able to get a good motherboard, CPU, and 2GB of RAM for under $200.

The A64 is obsolete at this point.

Are there no dual-cores for S754?

I went from a single core Opteron 144 to a dual core Opteron 165, and the upgrade was nice. I notice the difference most in Windows, although I could swear that my games are smoother now and load up a little quicker too.

 

[magreen]

OP, since you're not afraid to overclock, C2D makes much more sense than AM2. Do what SickBeast said. And DDR2 is dirt cheap. 2GB ddr2-800 a-data @newegg is $35 after rebate right now. Get that and the abit budget OC board and you're set.

 

[mouthwash]

Originally posted by: GundamF91
Thank you for the advice. First of all, it is a 3200+, runs native at 200x11=2.2Ghz. I managed to get the memory to 218mhz to make 218x11=2.4Ghz. I'm pretty sure CPU can go up more since it's running real cool around 40c even underload. Also I have Mushkin DDR400 that's running tight DDR timing at 218mhz at 2-3-3-6. The problem I believe is the motherboard, it is ECS so it's pretty cheap and doesn't have PCI or AGP divider. If I go 220mhz on the whole thing, which makes the HTT run at 220x4=880mhz, this makes AGP unstable and blank out my display.

The problem is that I really don't want to invest anymore into this dead-end rig. If I buy better motherboard, I have to get Socket 754 to use the CPU. If I get rid of CPU to go AM2, then I wouldnt' be able to use the DDR ram. Also if I upgrade, I would want to have PCI-e slot for future expansion. So basically if I upgrade anything on this rig, I wont' be able to use it for a future expansion.

It does look like I should tough it out until DDR3 becomes prevalent and see what Penryn and Phenom can do. May be by then DDR2/AM2 will drop in price enough.

i would suggestion go for it

i just upgraded my wife's s754 3.0 to 4.8x2 AM2. My wife isnt a hardcore gamer, she just uses the comp for internet surfing, watching tv/movies and playing sims2 occasionally, and she told me she felt a huge performance boost in everything. Single channel on s754 really hold back the performance.

still you can wait for a little longer for the new cpu to come out and like you said, the price might drop, but usually the older cpu will be removed pretty fast off the market once the new ones came out. (correct me if i am wrong)

kind regards,
mouthwash