Worthwhile upgrading to A64?

[[-Stash-]]

Is it worth upgrading my current motherboard (Infinity Ultra NF2) and CPU (XP-M 2500+ at 2.5GHz) to a 2800+ A64 S754 and DFI Infinity NF3 board? I'm looking to improve my in game performance in BFV, CSS and pretty much everything. Oh and a 6800GT is already enroute.

I've got a near silent watercooling loop and would like to keep it that way, but I wonder if I'll see much increase in performance changing just the motherboard and CPU. I've got 2*512 Crucial Ballistix PC3200 atm and would rather not change it.

What do you guys think?

[Gogeta]

You wont be able to OC as well on 754 with 2x512 sticks as you would be able to on 939. So if you are planning on keeping your RAM and expect a decent OC, go with 939. Those Winchesters are smokin' too...you should get at least 2.5GHz with your watercooling.

I'll leave the question about the difference in performance to somebody with more AMD education.

[[-Stash-]]

Thanks for that info That last bit is the real crux though. Cos if I'm only going to see 10-20% I don't think I can afford the money. I've just never been able to find any info comparing an overclocked XP-M with an overclocked A64!

[Holst]

With the 6800GT you might not notice a huge difference in games, as that alone will give high FPS even with the detail turned up. You cant tell the difference between 100fps and 150..

That said, its made a huge difference to me and my 9800pro.

With an XP some games were starting to struggle, but the A64 has given me quite a big increase in FPS in most games and a huge leap in 3dmark2001 score.

Unless your XP setup struggles with some games I would leave your system as it is for the time being. The 6800gt should provide all the performance increase you need.

[WildKard]

As for the mentioning the ram, it should run fine on the DFI board, it clocks well with even 2x 512mb sticks(the only s754 board that does)

I had an athlon XP @ 3ghz on phase change, and now I am on an A64 @ 2.6ghz on air, and the A64 smokes it left right and center, it takes the AXP and laughs at it!

In games like CS Source on large servers, I noticed during the beta, the Athlon XP would struggle to do the physics at times and my framerate would drop to 30fps in heavy fights(with an x800xt PE!) but the A64 handles it with ease, It is definately worth the upgrade, the AthlonXP will just bottleneck that powerful videocard big time

[[-Stash-]]

Ye I had noticed that CSS can chug in certain maps (Office for example) when someone chucks a grenade, but I figured that was more a server issue as everyone was complaining at the time.

Just wondering if I should spend £120 to get a 2800+ S754 and a second hand DFI board to go with it. Hmm, decisions, decisions. Don't suppose anyone has any examples of the performance difference? Or is it just a feel thing?

Thanks for all the input guys, really appreciated.

[WildKard]

Well, at 2.5ghz 200fsb on my axp, I got 22 3dmarks, at 2.4ghz(newcastle) 200fsb, I get 27000

in doom3 I get about 30fps higher in the timedemo at non videocard limited resolution(1024 and lower) I used to get 68fps timedemo at every setting up until 1600x1200 when it finally dropped on the XP, on the A64 I get 102fps @ 1024, 87fps at 1280 and 63fps @ 1600 so the cpu actually SCALES in doom now

for general computer use its very fast and zippy, close to a p4 with hyper threading but...not quite...still it multitasks superior to an athlon xp

In the end it is of course up to you, but if youve got the money, I would definately recommend going for it, if you pick up a 3000+ NC and a DFI, you could probably get 2.6ghz out of it on air as most NC will hit that, and youll be flying high for quite a while

[Catalan]

Just wait for the newer s939 boards to come out before you upgrade.

[twiggy]

I just upgraded from a 2.5ghz xp-m to a 3400+ and a pos an50r(it was givin to me). Alls I can say is wow. Im also running 2x512mb sticks no probs.

[[-Stash-]]

Well I've got some KHX PC3000 1G/K2 to flog, so if that gets enough for a new CPU/Mobo I may well invest in an A64. I've heard those new .90s clock to 2.6 mostly with reasonable cooling.

Much as I'd love to get PCIe, I don't think I cba to wait for it, besides, I made a vow to myself to never go with 1st gen stuff ever again. So I think I may wait for the 2nd Gen PCIe chipsets to come out before I jump on that bandwagon.