Athlon64s939 vs P4LGA775 Upgrade

[Rikaelus]

I'm torn and need advice and opinions.
I have an AthlonXP that just flaked out and I can't isolate if the problem is with the MB or CPU, so am willing to take the plunge and upgrade. Unfortunately I only have a budget of about $500 and would like the upgrade to set me up for the future -- since the industry is in flux with the introduction of PCIe. To nag at me further, and to keep in mind, my current video card is an antique ATI8500AiW AGP.

The decision I've come to:
1. Athlon64 3500+ s939 + Asus A8V Deluxe + fan = $520 (plus free Far Cry)
2. Pentium4 520 LGA775 + Asus P5GD1 + fan + Abit RX600 vid = $520

I like AMD over Intel, so lean towards option 1. Option 1, while not giving me PCIe and no new video card yet, it should set me up for eventual support of Athlon64 PCIe, which I understand will use the 939 socket. I get the feeling that that will greatly outdo the Pentium when it releases, so might be worth the wait. Plus a free $50 game never hurts.

Option 2 would give me PCIe now, but it will become increasingly hard to favor AMD with future upgrades. It would start me down a different path. I'll also get a new video card with this one, but I think my patience can hold out for a little longer. Just no Doom 3 or HL2 for a while.

Thoughts?

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Rikaelus on 08/27/04 04:48 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[El_Jefe_77]

here's the info:
775 is a gimic right now that allows you to use PCI express. pci express is also a gimic in that the same board like say, an x800 pci express, goes the same speed as an agp x800 version. so, 775 is nothing yet. It can run the new sp2 security hardware checkbit thing, but so can amd64.

the only comparison is that the amd64, the 3500+ 939 chip runs A WHOLE LOT FREAKIN faster and is ready for windows 64 bit or linux64 bit....


so there you go. you can go slower or faster for the same amount of money!

Intel 775 wut a deel !!
(sarcasm)
its nothing with the 925xe board that is supposedly running 1066 fsb, the 939 chip on a MSI board runs 1000 fsb already!
(you wont be utilizing it however, if you do not get ddr500 ram or have super great 2 2 2 ram on the older pc (doubtful) and oc it up a bit)


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by el_jefe_77 on 08/27/04 07:23 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Rikaelus]

Thanks for the info. Yeah I know the PCIe video cards are really just converted AGP, but that will change in the next generation. Like I said, I'm just trying to set myself up for the coming generations so mostly want a CPU that will last changes in motherboards.

I'm definately leaning towards the A64... just need some reinforcement in that decision.

 

[jammydodger]

The power of PCIe will not be realised for at least a year I dont think. Graphics cards just dont need that kind of bandwidth at the moment, the performance gains when moving from agp 4x to agp 8x are tiny.

The new p4 boards also support DDR2 (which AMD wont be supporting for a while) but DDR2 is overpriced and underperforming if you ask me.
NCQ is also supported by the ICH6 southbridge but apparently a 16mb buffer makes more of a difference than NCQ.

Basically the Athlon64 or FX would be the way to go, esspecially if you want to play games. By the time graphics cards need PCIe and DDR becomes mainstream (and performs better) your system will be too out of date to take advantage of them.

 

[El_Jefe_77]

well consider this:
the fastest card on the market is an AGP 6800ultra 256.

This card would work for 2 years, blowing away whatever you give it.

775 socket isnt even truly out yet. intel says it is, but no its not, its the prototype-not-yet-made 925x, the real one is a 925xe. That e will enable the usage of a 1066 bus or much higher. reports of nearing 1600 mhz FSB on the new board thats comming out fall/winter. so, i wouldnt bother going all that yet, especially all that pricetage for no difference in performance.

an investment right now is this: get that vid card if you have the cash. Get a 939 socket board that has 1000 fsb on it. wait on the chip to fall? i duno if it will, the 3500+ seems like its stuck for almost 2 months at same price.

im waiting too!

 

[Rikaelus]

Well I'd love to wait and save till PCIe comes for the A64, but alas my lack of main computer right now doesn't allow for too much patience.

I ordered my parts today. Got the 3500+ s939 w/ an MSI 1000fsb/nForce3 board. Was surprised not to find too many 939 nForce3 boards...