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billege · 06-15-2004, 10:27 AM

I'm building a box for my wife, budget $500 approx. Only need box hardware.

I'm stuck on choosing the proc though. I know I want an athlon, but there are some difficult choices to make. I know that socket 939 will be the AMD standard for a while, but right now it's brand new and very pricey, so I guess that's out.

I'm looking at these three options, and I'm stuck:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Clawhammer (1mb L2) 2.0Ghz for $270.

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Newcastle (512k L2) 1.8Ghz for $173.

AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton (512k L2) 2.16 Ghz for $146.

Now, the 3000+ is running a slightly higher clock than the 3200+ 64, but the speed rating AMD gives is higher. Is the 64 really quicker? Quicker enough to be worth $124 more? Is the 2800+ Athlon 64 actually slower than an Athlon XP with a higher speed rating? Suck if it is. I don't have any 64 bit software, so I need speed for the cash.

I really want to keep the upgrade path open as long as possible, so the idea of an Athlon 64 seems to me like a better choice, over the Athlon XP. Or, is AMD going to move quick enough with the socket 939 chips that I might as well go cheap now on an XP, and upgrade to the 939 when the time comes, two-three years from now. OR, will there be good socket 754 Athlon 64s around then?

I dunno. But I can't choose the mobo until I get the proc figured out.

Hmmm......

06-15-2004, 10:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	Problem choosing Athlon for box build. I'm building a box for my wife, budget $500 approx. Only need box hardware. I'm stuck on choosing the proc though. I know I want an athlon, but there are some difficult choices to make. I know that socket 939 will be the AMD standard for a while, but right now it's brand new and very pricey, so I guess that's out. I'm looking at these three options, and I'm stuck: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Clawhammer (1mb L2) 2.0Ghz for $270. AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Newcastle (512k L2) 1.8Ghz for $173. AMD Athlon XP 3000+ Barton (512k L2) 2.16 Ghz for $146. Now, the 3000+ is running a slightly higher clock than the 3200+ 64, but the speed rating AMD gives is higher. Is the 64 really quicker? Quicker enough to be worth $124 more? Is the 2800+ Athlon 64 actually slower than an Athlon XP with a higher speed rating? Suck if it is. I don't have any 64 bit software, so I need speed for the cash. I really want to keep the upgrade path open as long as possible, so the idea of an Athlon 64 seems to me like a better choice, over the Athlon XP. Or, is AMD going to move quick enough with the socket 939 chips that I might as well go cheap now on an XP, and upgrade to the 939 when the time comes, two-three years from now. OR, will there be good socket 754 Athlon 64s around then? I dunno. But I can't choose the mobo until I get the proc figured out. Hmmm...... __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."