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Hi

I want to buy a new machine in the next days. The application where I need to be based on, in order to get a new machine, is flight simulator 2004.
My idea is to buy:
- Athlon 64 4000+ san diego
- XFX 7800 GT DDR3 256 MB SLI (in the future 2 of those and not only 1)
- asus A8N SLI nforce4 socket 939
- kingston 1024 MB DDR400

As far as I know, AMD performs better if you speak about games. Is this a good idea? Or should I go for a dual core X2 for example?

Thanks

harpsi

Add a reply

A 4000 is a very good choice for a gaming rig.
Currently there is little reason to consider dual core for that type of use.
That is not to say that the situation will always be that way, but for the near future, a single core is better.

Reply to endyen

I would rather be future proof and go with the AMD X2 dual core. All the future games will definitely utilize more RAM and more Processor activity.

Reply to WebCrawler

Hi

Thanks for the information. Since I will buy a socket 939, what I would do thinking about the future would be this:

- to buy now an athlon 64 4000+

and in the end of the year, when processors get cheaper:

- to buy an athlon FX-60 toledo, (single core of course)
- adding the second XFX 7800 GT PCI-E (SLI) DDR3 256MB

Otherwise I never need to change the board. Is this a good idea thinking about the future, let´s say for 1 or 2 years?

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

Quote :

I'm pretty sure FX-60 is only dual core.

Sorry. My mistake. You are correct. :lol:

Would you advice that one in the end of the year?

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

Quote :

You don't really need dual core, unless you do heavy multi-tasking, or you can get dual core to be future proof. AMD ownz gaming, don't even consider Intel for gaming. Intel also uses much more energy. Also, how far into the future are you saying?? Cuz a single X1900 can beat dual GTs, and it might make sense going with a single card setup, now, and in the future.

I completely agree with the AMD comment!

$AMD + $gaming = "awesome";

Reply to linux_0

Hi

The only problem I can´t solve in my configuration is that socket 939 can not use DDR2 and also can not use DDR 533. Only 400. :cry:

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

Quote :

Hi

The only problem I can´t solve in my configuration is that socket 939 can not use DDR2 and also can not use DDR 533. Only 400. :cry:

harpsi

You can use 184pin DDR500 or DDR533 on a socket 939 board. It is hard to tell if you can OC your bus enough to actually run at 500 or 533 however.

Here's the kicker though! AMD64s have an integrated memory controller which makes a big difference in performance! So even though AMD64 only officially goes up to DDR400 it can still outperform an Intel with DDR2 @667 or higher.

Besides DDR2 is not that much better and with the higher clocks come higher latencies and other issues which slow the memory back down so your net benefit is negligible or non-existent.

Reply to linux_0

And would you upgrade the system I asked before, for an athlon FX 60 in some time?

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

I think the FX-60 is too expensive, I would use a CPU that is 2, 3 or 4 steps lower.

Maybe a Dual Core Opteron 1xx socket 939 or a normal AMD64 939 single core like the 3700+ or 4000+

Reply to linux_0

I'm using the 3800+ Venice, great speed, and works greats with dreamwever, flash, and photoshop all open at once + some other smaller programs (Firefox, calc, Itunes). Fairly cheap. Right now you'll get better preformace with a single core, if you can afford a 400+ go for it. But at the end of the year then M@ should come out and then you can get DDR2 and nice features. Just something to think about. If you are commited to 939 then instead of the FX-60 get a FX-57 or somthing like that.

Reply to S7A88Y

Quote :

The FX-60 is too expensive.

The FX-60 is too expensive now, but not in the end of the year or maybe in September. The question is if you would do that in September or in the end of the year for example.

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

Then I would say buy a single core 3200+ or higher now and upgrade to an FX-60 in Sept.

A 3200+ sells for only $169 on newegg
3500+ $201
3700+ $233
3800+ $282
4000+ $334

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] rder=PRICE

Reply to linux_0

Quote :

Then I would say buy a single core 3200+ or higher now and upgrade to an FX-60 in Sept.

that´s exactly what I will do :lol:

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

Hi,

Ok. I changed one tning in my system.

- Athlon 64 4000+ san diego
- XFX 7800 GT DDR3 256 MB SLI (in the future 2 of those and not only 1)
- kingston 1024 MB DDR400

and, instead of this one:

- asus A8N SLI nforce4 socket 939

I bought this one:

- asus A8n SLI-premium nforce4 socket 939

Was this a good choice?

harpsi

Reply to harpsi

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