XP1700 or Barton 2500?

[GTI337]

Currently have a Tbird 1Ghz. I'm about to order an Abit NF7-S, 512MB Buffalo PC3200 memory, and a Thermalright SK7 HS. Only problem is, I can't decide which CPU to purchase! Candidates include:

1 - XP1700 JIUHB DLT3C from Excaliburpc for $63
2 - XP1700 from newegg fro $50 and take my chances on stepping
3 - Barton 2500 from Newegg for $83.

What does everyone think, keeping in mind that saving money is always nice? How much difference does the extra cache in the Barton make at the same clock speed as a Tbred? And will this be worthwhile/noticable upgrade from the Tbird? I do quite a bit of sound editing and moderate gaming.

 

[bjc112]

Barton.

Although i have 1700+@ 2.4ghz...

Even a Barton at 2.2-2.3 will out perform my 2.4ghz..

 

[BaboonGuy]

barton, definetly. for 83 bucks at newegg, its a steal -- especially since most people are getting the new AQXEA 0324 steppings that can hit 2.2 GHz ($450 Barton 3200+ performance) at default voltage.

 

[GTI337]

Okay, so if I get the Barton, since it's retail, should I bother picking up the Thermalright SK7 and a fan or just stick with the stock HSF?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: GTI337
Okay, so if I get the Barton, since it's retail, should I bother picking up the Thermalright SK7 and a fan or just stick with the stock HSF?

Get the SK-7 and a big, but slow 80mm fan. It'll move enough air to cool it while not sounding like one of the Blue Angels. Also, maybe I suggest you offset the fan... so that part of it hangs off the edge of the heatsink and blows on the northbridge, and the other side blows directly into the middle of the heatsink where the greatest concentration of heat is.
(I vote for the XP2500 too)

 

[rocketbubba]

I recently narrowed my choices down to the same ones you did. I chose the Barton 2500+ from Newegg to replace my Tbird 1.4. As I didn't intend to OC, the Barton seemed the best way to go. And, yes, I saw a noticable difference. Good luck.