Would this be a stupid thing for me to do, Upgrade to AMD X2 4400+ even if I have a P4 3.4Ghz intel...

[imported_Detoyminador]

My current system is the intel P4 3.4Ghz listed below in my signature. I know you guys have multiple systems, but what I'm thinking about doing is building a AMD system purely for gaming which will have just a monitor, mouse, keyboard & speakers connected. I'd then use my current intel P4 as a server with all devices connected to it including, pocket PC, printer, modem router, 3x imation disc stakka's and so on.

I would also multitask on the intel and do things while I game on the AMD.

I won't go FX-57 because of the price, hardware costs alot more here in Australia and I'd rather go Dual core X2.

This would be the AMD hardware I'd look at getting:

AMD ATHLON64 X2 4400+ 64-BIT CPU with ZALMAN CNPS7000B-ALCU-LED cooler
ABIT AN8-FATAL1TY SLI SKT939 NFORCE4 SLI BOARD
2x LEADTEK GEFORCE 7800GTX 256MB PCIX16 VIDEO CARDS
MEMORY (can I use the Geil memory from my P4 system below?) 2Gb would be fitted
Hard-drive's, 74Gb WD Raptor & 200Gb 7200RPM WD both SATA
FLEXIGLOW 500W POWER SUPPLY (not sure about the brand)

Am I mad thinking about doing this? as I only purchased my ATI HIS 800XT video card in February and when gaming my system can handle anything thrown at it.

 

[n7]

Meh, why not?

Seems like you have the cash, so i'd say go for it.

Two systems are always better than one

 

[imported_Detoyminador]

Originally posted by: n7
Meh, why not?

Seems like you have the cash, so i'd say go for it.

Two systems are always better than one

True, I've been using my laptop for a few days because the waterpump on my P4 has sh%t itself and havn't used it for a few days, I'm getting battlefied 2 withdrawals :-(

 

[bob4432]

for gaming no, you would be better off with a midrange san diego, 7800gtx and 2GB ram (2x1GB)

no reason to throw $$$ away when it won't benefit you

all this hype about dual cores drives me nuts as they are just basically dual processors, which have been around for so long it isn't funny.

 

[jdogg707]

It isn't mad, but I don't know if it will really be as much of a step-up as you may be looking for, especially when compared to the system you currently own. I am all for getting people to switch to AMD from Intel, but you may want to wait until Socket M2 comes out around the end of Q1 2006, simply because you have a strong enough system now to last you until that long. If you do decide to go AMD, here is what I would recommend if you are not going to overclock:

AMD Athlon 64 4400+ Processor
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
Keep current RAM as long as it is 2 x 1GB, instead of 4 x 512MB
2 x BFG 7800GTX Video Cards
Keep current sound and hard drives
I would recommend a good quality PSU for your system, and if you can put the extra cash into it, I would look at the PC Power and Cooling 510 SLI Deluxe PSU. A bit expensive, but it will last you for many upgrades to come.

Enjoy!

 

[Twsmit]

Not worth it at all. You will see an improvement, heck could be a large improvement, but its not going to justify the cost. Unless your looking to run BF2 over 1600x1200 with highest settings with AA and AF on 64 man servers smooth as butter while encoding divx and downloading off bittorrent im not sure why you need all that power.

Unless your selling your old rig and making up alot of the cost that way, im not sure what you are trying to accomplish besides wasting money.

 

[imported_Detoyminador]

Originally posted by: bob4432
for gaming no, you would be better off with a midrange san diego, 7800gtx and 2GB ram (2x1GB)

no reason to throw $$$ away when it won't benefit you

all this hype about dual cores drives me nuts as they are just basically dual processors, which have been around for so long it isn't funny.

Really??? what speed would be midrange? and single 7800gtx not SLI???

 

[Some1ne]

If the new system is really going to be used "purely for gaming", then there's not much reason to get an X2. Get an FX or other high-end single-core Athlon64. If you think you may multitask on it, or if you feel like relegating your P4 server jobs to the X2 system so that it can be a server and a gaming rig at the same time, then an X2 makes sense...but as others have pointed out, if it's only for gaming, there's not much point in the X2.

Your P4 setup is pretty good, so in any event the new system isn't going to be a huge step up...most of the improved performance will be coming from the upgraded graphics. That said, I really don't get the whole SLI thing...one 7800 GTX should be more than sufficient.

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: Detoyminador

Originally posted by: bob4432
for gaming no, you would be better off with a midrange san diego, 7800gtx and 2GB ram (2x1GB)

no reason to throw $$$ away when it won't benefit you

all this hype about dual cores drives me nuts as they are just basically dual processors, which have been around for so long it isn't funny.

Really??? what speed would be midrange? and single 7800gtx not SLI???

Midrange would be a 3700+ San Diego. And as far as the 7800GTX
Why would you need SLI when you get framerates like this with just one?

 

[imported_goku]

Ever consider overclocking your current rig? You may get the performance increase you were looking for... Yea I would seriously wait until socket M2 comes out or at least until it matures a bit because then I'm sure there will be much more of a reason to upgrade. I'm on the same boat as you though I probably have better performance with my current machine than you, I'd say you machine is fine especially because of your X800XT.

Oh and I'm sure once they make games 1. Multithreaded and 2. the ageia physics calculator becomes mainstream and incorperated into games, our current systems will see a performance boost and should be able to extend it's life some more.

 

[Some1ne]

Why socket M2? Socket 939 isn't going away for quite some time yet. There are new FX and X2 chips still planned for it and everything.

 

[imported_Detoyminador]

Originally posted by: goku2100
Ever consider overclocking your current rig? You may get the performance increase you were looking for... Yea I would seriously wait until socket M2 comes out or at least until it matures a bit because then I'm sure there will be much more of a reason to upgrade. I'm on the same boat as you though I probably have better performance with my current machine than you, I'd say you machine is fine especially because of your X800XT.

Oh and I'm sure once they make games 1. Multithreaded and 2. the ageia physics calculator becomes mainstream and incorperated into games, our current systems will see a performance boost and should be able to extend it's life some more.

I have my P4 3.4Ghz clocked at 3.7Ghz.

 

[vailr]

No need to upgrade, unless you're wanting to experiment with 64-bit Windows XP.
So, If you want to stay with Intel, maybe wait a year. Until the dual-core Pentium M based Apple x86 Macs are available, and dual-boot with: Mac OSX-x86 and MS Vista.

 

[stevty2889]

With your P4@3.7, you probably won't notice much of a differance with the AMD system. I just got my X2 4200+ on friday, so I haven't played with it too much yet, but it's definatly more responsive than the P4..but only if I am doing more than 3 things at once. Gaming wise, the AMD is slightly faster(FPS wise) but again, they are both fast enough there isn't a huge noticable differance. On the bright side, it runs a lot cooler at the same time. 50c load with stock AMD heatsink @2.475ghz, 1.45v, while the water cooled 3.4 prescott @3.82ghz still runs at 57c. Now if you are running SMP aware photo editing, video encoding type apps, the X2 has a good lead on the P4. My pentium-m @2.4ghz with the same video card(AGP version, PCIe for AMD of course), both clocked at 550/1025, both with 2x512mb of ram@DDR300 in dual channel, Pentium-M has a very slight lead in gaming, but obviously bogs down more than one CPU intensive program going at once. Overall, the X2 feels like the quickest system, but no huge noticable differance between any of them for most things.

 

[Hacp]

Don't get the X2.... Your just throwing your money away. My advice is to wait 3 years when your system becomes outdated, and then buy a whole new system that will likely be better than the 4400+ rig you are planning. A 3.4 Pentium Is no slouch.

 

[imported_Detoyminador]

Guess I'll stick with the P4 then. Thanks for the advise.

 

[yosuke188]

Upgrade and give me your rig....
No, but seriously don't waste money when you have more than decent computer already.

 

[imported_rod]

Sounds like a nice setup, although since you already have a new system, i would wait until X2 prices fall a bit.

Also, you mentioned you were in Australia. Goto: www.staticice.com.au to find the best prices of computer hardware.

RoD

 

[akshayt]

consider amd 3800 X2 mainstream

look at reviews

decide the settings you want to play at and do you want to play with aa and af

if yes especially in large res/aa/af then if you have the dough and are willing to upgrade in next 1-1.5yrs then you can upgrade
to amd X2 4400,if it doesn't have probs and if it is better
take 7800gtx sli if you have money
also consider 4gb ram

 

[Sentinel]

IMHO I wouldn't buy another system with that system already, that's nuts. Unless you really make too much money.