CPU Upgrade MaDnEsS!?

[sincraft]

Ok, maybe it is madness, excuse me for starting new threads - I apologize, but I am OCD with a touch of ADD, and yes even a bit DOH - so...enlighten and amuse me (and possibly others looking for straight-forward answers to questions like mine)

This processory is only $111 bux
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103537

for a few bucks more at $157 (with new e6 stepping)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103572

BUT for only a few bucks more at $206 (only e4 and e3 available at same prices but the e4 COMES WITH a free Age of Empires III game...I'm intersted in that and probably would have purchased it at 49.99 to play online)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103603

That said, is the last worth it because of the faster speed kinda making the chip upgrade from the 3200 free due to the 'freebee' game?

I've seen some also mention this chip because of the 1mb cache...(San Diego) how does it compare to the venice?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103539

Thanks guys..again.

S

 

[jaguarskx]

I will tell you something that is going to blow mind. You might even want to lock yourself in a padded room.

All the processors you listed will become obsolete very soon. AMD is releasing socket AM2 next month for the same line of processors. If you want to future proof your PC for the next couple of years you should consider socket AM2. It will use DDR2 RAM as opposed to DDR RAM used by all AMD CPUs right now.

For all practical purposes there is no difference between San Diego and Venice.

If you intend to overclock then you'll probably want the 3200+, the 3000+ is also a good overclocker too.

If you really want AOE III for free then by all means buy the 3500+. Since the 3200+ and a copy of AOE III will cost almost the same.

 

[mdd1963]

"I've seen some also mention this chip because of the 1mb cache...(San Diego) how does it compare to the venice?
"

The same 2.2 GHz clock speed as the 3500+, but with 1 mb L2 cache...a little faster in some applications, similar performance in games. (I'd opt for the 3500+, most don't consider the extra 512k cache to be worth $50-$60 more...