Athlon 64 or Opteron???

[G-Man]

Was planing on getting an amd athlon64 3,700+ SD for my new rig, bit a freind of mine that works at aol stated that all they use now are opterons due to being better performers. My question is this: What is the basic differance between the two, and yes i am planning on Overclocking, though my real goal is to build a great gaming maching under 1,400. I noticed that they come both dual and single core. Are these opterons disigned for specific purposes? and given that want a gaming rig, should I research as an option?

 

[jokersgrin]

Opty vs reg A64

Opty's are basicly made for workstations and servers, so their testing is more stringent than a reg A64 for the amount of punishment their going to take. The differance's between the 3700 and opty 1xx series is just that the way their tested for the enviroment in which they where made to serve, all opty's have the larger cache not so for A64 which very. And the opteron proc's are cut from the best parts of the waffer.
Currently I run 2 opty's a 165 and 170, both are dual core's OC to 2.6 ( yes both) 2.6 is as far as i can take the 165 on air without heat and stability issues. 170 I could get to possibley to 2.9 but its on a liquid cooled system so it really depends on the chip. Overall I'm pleased with the chips performance. Xbit labs has a review on the 165 dullie, which a a monster OC'ed ( basicly I have almost the equivelent a fx-60 out of the 165) I can better with the 170. Anyway if you are going to OC go for the opty, A64 3700 is a good proc and OC's well but I think that the Opty's do a better job.
939 series=1xx= single or duille ( reg ram ddr1 400 to 600) I use OCZ pc 500
940 series=2xx ( ecc ram required )

 

[admiral25]

I have a opteron 165 dual core running @ 2.6ghz with stock voltage(1.3 volts) and the new cpu cooler. Also I have gotten it upto 2.8ghz on air with 1.45 volts prime95 stable on both cores for 24 hours. I run it @ 2.6ghz 24/7 its not really that much difference from 2.6 and 2.8 ghz (plus with less voltage it runs cooler 31c no load 44c with both cores @ 100%)