200MHz price difference

  • Thread starter Thread starter RDN
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RDN

At a computer hardware website (ZipZoomFly.com);
While checking out prices for an Athlon 64. I noticed a major price
increase for each 200MHz increment in clock speed.

AMD Athlon 64 (Venice) Socket 939 Retail w/ heat sink and fan :

3000+ 1.8GHz $139
3200+ 2.0GHz $152 <= more inclined
3500+ 2.2GHz $201
3800+ 2.4GHz $283

I don't know. I'm kind of cheap with my money.
I don't think $144 for 600MHz in clock speed difference is worth it.


If you'll remeber? I'm just upgrading from a Athlon 1700+ 1.47GHz (Abit
KR7A - 266 )

Besides, I can use the money saved to get more RAM or a larger hard drive.
 
RDN said:
3000+ 1.8GHz $139
3200+ 2.0GHz $152 <= more inclined
3500+ 2.2GHz $201
3800+ 2.4GHz $283
Click to expand...

Be careful, I didn't look at these models, but sometimes there is a cache
size increase too. That can really help some things. Also, don't forget,
on the athlon, 600MHz is more like 800MHz. (as you can see from the 3000+
to 3800+) I like my 3800+, but wish I could get the 4800+, whick I think
is slower or same speed as the 3800+, but 2 cores.

Besides, I can use the money saved to get more RAM or a larger hard
drive.
Click to expand...

More RAM is good. If you game, most people say 2G is best. Wish I had
that second gig.


--
____________________________________________
/ David Simpson \
| City of Heroes, Basic Stamp, RPGs, War Games |
| (e-mail address removed) |
| http://www.nyx.net/~dsimpson |
\____________________________________________/
 
At a computer hardware website (ZipZoomFly.com);
While checking out prices for an Athlon 64. I noticed a major price
increase for each 200MHz increment in clock speed.

AMD Athlon 64 (Venice) Socket 939 Retail w/ heat sink and fan :
$/MHz $/M
3000+ 1.8GHz $139 77.22 4.63
3200+ 2.0GHz $152 <= more inclined 76 4.75
3500+ 2.2GHz $201 91.36 5.75
3800+ 2.4GHz $283 117.92 7.44
Click to expand...

One metric you can use is $/MHz which says that the least expensive
processor is 3200.
 
all those have the same cache size as they are Venice cores. When you hit
the 3700,4000 and FX is when the cache increases(or X2) , I bought the San
Diego 3700 for the 1 meg cache.
 
David said:
Be careful, I didn't look at these models, but sometimes there is a cache
size increase too. That can really help some things. Also, don't forget,
on the athlon, 600MHz is more like 800MHz. (as you can see from the 3000+
to 3800+) I like my 3800+, but wish I could get the 4800+, whick I think
is slower or same speed as the 3800+, but 2 cores.





More RAM is good. If you game, most people say 2G is best. Wish I had
that second gig.
Click to expand...

The cpu's listed above are all Venice core devices with 512kb L2. The
newer 3700+ and 4000+ have San Diego cores with 1mb L2.

For my money, the 3200+ would be my first selection. The difference in
$$ would be invested in good CAS2 memory capable of overclocking. A 20%
overclocking (240mhz) turns that mild-mannered 2.0ghz cpu into a 2.4,
30% moves it to 2.6. There is also the added benefit of faster
operating memory so the overall result is a much faster system.

Even if the cpu doesn't like the faster speeds, the multiplier can be
lowered a little to keep the cpu stable and the clock tweaked up.
Performance will still benefit due to the faster operating memory.

If you're into pure performance, it might be beneficial to get a pair of
drives for RAID0 operation. The current WD 160gig SATA II around $80@
is a very fast drive, a pair in RAID0 makes for very quick I/O (much
faster than spending the same amount of $$ on a 72gig Raptor).
 
I never noticed the 1 MB cache on San Diego chips
Thanx for the heads up.
and
The Athlon 64 3200+ does have the best MHz bang for the buck.
 
RDN said:
At a computer hardware website (ZipZoomFly.com);
While checking out prices for an Athlon 64. I noticed a major price
increase for each 200MHz increment in clock speed.

AMD Athlon 64 (Venice) Socket 939 Retail w/ heat sink and fan :

3000+ 1.8GHz $139
3200+ 2.0GHz $152 <= more inclined
3500+ 2.2GHz $201
3800+ 2.4GHz $283

I don't know. I'm kind of cheap with my money.
I don't think $144 for 600MHz in clock speed difference is worth it.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should take a look at the Opterons.
I got mine (Opteron 144 1.8GHz) a few days ago - and it runs at 2.5GHz with
the boxed Fan.
Temperature after 6h Prime95 below 50 degree Celsius!

Jan

P.S. it has 1 meg cache.
 
David Simpson said:
Be careful, I didn't look at these models, but sometimes there is a cache
size increase too. That can really help some things. Also, don't forget,
on the athlon, 600MHz is more like 800MHz. (as you can see from the 3000+
to 3800+) I like my 3800+, but wish I could get the 4800+, whick I think
is slower or same speed as the 3800+, but 2 cores.



More RAM is good. If you game, most people say 2G is best. Wish I had
that second gig.
Click to expand...

I just stuck in 2 GB (a matched set of 1GB dims) yesterday, upgrading from
768mb. I must say, it makes a world of difference in HL2 and Farcry. I'm
running a 7800GT with a dual core 3800+.

Also, I went for the fast RAM....

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220040

Patriot is smokin' RAM for the money. Tom's Hardware gave it excellent
reviews btw. If you're a gamer, DON'T buy the value ram. Look at the speed
ratings.

-Larry
 
lets not forget though that just because you can overclock that high,
doesn't mean your overall performance will also increase that much. You'll
probably see your best benchmark scores( per megahertz ) and performance
increase at 10%-20% overclock, and the rest your just creating heat and
instability.
 
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