X2 3800+ or X2 4200+

[pontifex]

Should I go Athlon 64 X2 3800+ for $135 total or go with the 4200+ for $199 total?

I have a Athlon 64 3700+ single core right now.

 

[DaveSimmons]

For gaming, the 3800+ would be slower than your 3700+ in most older games since it's around a 3200+ for games without significant dual-core optimizations.

For general use the 3800+ is fine.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For gaming, the 3800+ would be slower than your 3700+ in most older games since it's around a 3200+ for games without significant dual-core optimizations.

For general use the 3800+ is fine.

so maybe i should just stick to my 3700+ then?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yep, in the HardOCP CPU scaling articles last year it looked like your 3700+ is good enough for at least a 7900GT.

Oblivion is the only game I've seen that gains much from dual-core, but to max it out you need an 8800GTX and core 2 E6700 anyway.

 

[nismotigerwvu]

But also keep in mind that x2 3800's overclock extremely well, so with a decent cooler it could be a very nice move

 

[Zebo]

Neither one is a good value compared to this.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-4400CD

you get full 2MB cache and it's clocked at 2.2Ghz same as more expensive 4200+

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Zebo
Neither one is a good value compared to this.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-4400CD

you get full 2MB cache and it's clocked at 2.2Ghz same as more expensive 4200+

So should I get that or just stick with single core for now? I do play games on my pc but lately i've been getting annoyed with other stuff that seems to lock up the pc or make it run slow when i'm doing other stuff.
but i'd need a cpu fan for it. or could i use my current fan?
if not, what would you recommend (something inexpensive)?

 

[Zebo]

You go dual core you can't go back to single core. It's annoying the slight pauses and delays....

But for strictly Gaming it's unessesary currently IMO.


What's your current fan? If it's that cheap AMD stock all aluminum one with that thin fan they made for single cores, no, you will need another HSF..like Artic cooler 64 for $24..

 

[palindrome]

cache me if you can

 

[NaOH]

Clocked my 3800x2 to 2.4ghz using the stock cooler. Currently have a xp90 to keep it cooler and it runs without a hitch. All my games run fine too so I would probably go for dual core if you do a lot of photo, video and engineering work.