which processor should i get?

[natebizzle]

im ready to order a new computer, and im not much a tech person, so i dont really know which amd 64 processor to get... i was lookin at the 4000+, but would that be best? also, are all amd 64 4000+'s venice processors? if anyone could help me, id be extremely grateful. thanks---

[[XC] leviathan18]

3700 4000 are san diegos 1mb cache venice core has just 512kb

what is going to be the use for the pc so we can know which one is better 4 you

by the way WELCOME TO XS :party: :toast:

[stardust]

Have you looked into the AMD64X2?

Look here (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1447065&Sku=CP2-A64-4400%20E&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&CMP=OTC-PRICEGRABBER)

[[XC] leviathan18]

we dont know for what is he going to use the cpu so you can point him towards a x2 maybe he just want to play games and for that task a 3700 is just more than enough

[stardust]

He asked for the best so I was providing him with some similar solutions that he may not have seen before. You're right, 3700+ would be more than satisfactory for gaming. I am personally going for an overclocked 3200+ system soon.

[CNCL]

If you have the extra money to burn, get the new FX-55. If you are a bit short for that, SD 4000+/3700+ is a great choice. X2 isn't due for a while so I wouldn't suggest getting it now unless you are that much of an enthusiast.

[Daveb2012]

X2 IMO is a server CPU..

[ferrari_freak]

Only for now. Games will soon start using both cores. AMD already said that they were going to stop making single core FX's soon and start making dual core FX's. It's just a matter of time before the uses of X2 come into the mainstream, or at least enthusiasts. I would recommend this: 3700+ San Diego, it's not worth the extra money to go 4000+. If you have the money then the FX-55 is good. X2 is coming out in a few weeks. It's very expensive, but if you have the money for it, then it will be the best long term, future proof solution.

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

[popeye]

I have on tom's hardware list that 3700 Venice comes in 1MB cache as well as San Diego... Is this wrong?

[CNCL]

Venice is carrying 512kb, while SD has an extra 512kb. So yeah, I think it's wrong.

[popeye]

This is the ultimate AMD cpu chart. There is just one error, The 3700 Venice is 512K L2 cache, not 1024K.

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041221/images/cpu_table_amd_big.gif

As you can see the Athlon 3700 SD is the min. 939 socket with a 1MB cache.
It's a big price jump from 3700 to 4000 so if you're willing to go that far you may as well go a bit further. FX53, FX55, X2.... :banana:

[CNCL]

Hmm, thw won't let you link their image. Nonetheless, I don't recall a venice 3700+ though.

[ferrari_freak]

This is the ultimate AMD cpu chart. There is just one error, The 3700 Venice is 512K L2 cache, not 1024K.

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041221/images/cpu_table_amd_big.gif

As you can see the Athlon 3700 SD is the min. 939 socket with a 1MB cache.
It's a big price jump from 3700 to 4000 so if you're willing to go that far you may as well go a bit further. FX53, FX55, X2.... :banana:

But isn't the 3500+ the one that has the same speed as the 3700+ but has 512K L2 cache? They both run at 2.2GHz but the 3500+ has 512K L2 cache while the 3700+ has 1024K L2 cache so they can't make a 3700+ do that becuase the spot is already taken :confused: .

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

[natebizzle]

thanks everyone for the responses!! sorry, i have been really busy lately so i didn't get around to checking these forums. i'm just entering college actually, and i am looking into graphic design. this computer will probably be more for computer games than anything else, but i dont know if the g-design aspect may change what type of processor i buy at all? the chip i was looking at was a 512 cache.... honestly, i dont know what the cache is:) yeah... any help or advice would be welcome... would the 4000+ or the 3700+ be better for this? yeah-- anything more than these are out of my price range....

o, one more question. would amd's be the best for this also? i looked a little at intels, but i was told amd would be better. again, any tips or suggestions are appreciated. thanks~~~

[natebizzle]

o... these are the specs at the comp i'm looking at---

-amd athlon 64 4000+ 64 bit socket 939 512 mb cache (unless someone on here suggests otherwise)
-2 gb pc 3200 ddr400 RAM (2x1gb)
-ati radeon x800 PRO 256 mb ddr pci express
-400 gb ibm/hitachi 7200 rpm sata 150 8m cache hard drive
-sound blaster audigy-2 zs platinum retal box
-thermaltake tsunami va3000dba black 600w case
-razor diamondback plasma edition mouse
-several dvd/ cd drives
-logitech z5500 5.1 speakers
-bose quietcomfort 2 noise-cancelling headphones
-viewsonic vp171b-2 black 17" 8ms lcd monitor


... i think that's it.

[CNCL]

amd athlon 64 4000+ 64 bit socket 939 512 mb cache (unless someone on here suggests otherwise)
You mean 512kb cache :)

[ferrari_freak]

The 4000+ has 1mb cache, not 512kb cache. Plus you would be better with a bit more money and get the X800XL. Other than that its awesome. Loving your speakers dude! :banana: Good luck.

Edit: Oh ya, and another thing, there isn't any difference in sound quality between the Audigy 2 ZS an the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum except for all that useless drive bay thingy. You would be better off getting the normal 2 ZS and you would save a bit of money.

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

[CNCL]

Oh yeah, if you are talking about SDs, then it's 1mb

[natebizzle]

yeah, i meant 512 kb cache... i'm ordering it off magicmicro.com, or something like that, and they dont have the option for the 4800+... i would have liked to put my own system together, but i'm afraid i'll forget something, or that ill buy something that isn't compatible with something else... so yeah...

o, and thanks ferrari_freak for the advice on the sound card, that'll save me a few bucks:)

[ferrari_freak]

No prob. I have read reviews that say that even the Audigy 4 Pro has no difference from the Audigy 2 ZS, lol, so you weren't as off as I was when I was when getting started. Thank goodness I didn't buy my parts, I only thought about buying them with the Audigy 4 Pro in mind. Anyways, good luck!

Usama aka Ferrari Freak

[natebizzle]

k so i made a few changes in what i'm getting... if anyone who knows what they're doing could tell me if this stuff is compatible with everything else on the list, that'd be great. im worried most that i'm gonna get a piece that wont go with the rest of the system, or that slows the rest down---

-amd athlon 64 4000+ san diego
-dfi lanparty ut nf4 ultra-d socket 939 nvidia nforce 4 ultra atx
-lian li PC-65b black atx mid tower case
-several dvd/cd drives (not really concerned about these)
-ocz 1 gb (2x512mb) 184 pin ddr sdram ddr 500 pc4000 (on the specs for the motherboard, it said that the memory was ddr 400 (pc 3200) ... does that mean that that is the lowest, or would this still be compatible with the RAM i want??)
-2x samsung 160gb 7200 rpm sata II hard drives
-ocz atx 520w power supply
-sound blaster audigy2 zs
-Thermalright XP-120 AMD Athlon 64/Opteron/Intel 478 Heatsink
-ATI (Sapphire) Radeon X850 XT 256MB
-Panaflo 120mm Ultra Quiet Fan


k. i think that's it. o, another thing i'm not really familiar with is the cooling systems... are the things i have there good enough? or more? or less? or what...? o, is a network card included on the board, or should i get one of those also? obviously, any help you can offer is needed. *sigh* :( one of these days i'm gonna figure out how to do this on my own... until then tho~~~ :confused:

[ferrari_freak]

Most of that stuff should work. The RAM timings PC-3200 DDR-400 is just what is recommended. Your RAM will show its uses in OCing. If you're not going to OC then PC-3200 is perfect. About the network card, I was wondering that also, but I found out that you don't need it. It's built into the mobo. One thing that might be a problem is your cooler. I haven't used either that mobo nor that cooler, but it is said that people sometimes have problems fitting an XP-120. How about going for the XP-90C? It's smaller and gives about 1 degree C better temperatures than the XP-120. Good luck :toast:

Usama aka Ferrari Freak