stay 939, or go AM2?

Hi, i'm planning to upgrade to Am2, but i'm not sure if its necessary to ugprade to it. Right now my rig is ..

Amd althon 64 , 3500+ @ 2.2ghz (venice) (with zalman cooler)
MSI K8N-NEOF mobo 939 socket
Powercolour x800xl 256mb
OCZ Extreme Gamer's edition DDR400 PC3200 RAM dual channel 2x512mB (Gold edition)
160GB Seagate HDD
16x Lg dvd writer
Coolermaster centurion 5 case with stock 350 watt psu
Samsung 19 inch monitor 8ms
Saitek Eciplise keyboard & MX510 logetich gaming mouse
Logeitch 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
Quickcam. etc etc.

Using the 939 socket. If i were to upgrade to Am2, i was wondering if the components are just fit.

CPU : AMD Althon x2 3800+ for 180$ CAD

MOBO: ASUS M2N-E, 114.99$ CAD

RAM: Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz (2 x 1024MB), for 269.99$ CAD (5-5-5-12 timings)

Alternative RAM:
Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC5400 DDR2 667MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) 219.99$ (4-4-4-12 timings)

What should i get? Should i even upgrade to am2 and use ddr2? or stick with what i got and upgrade a graphic card orosmething

Add a reply

Register or log in to remove.

Stick with what you have. AM2 offers very little if any performance increase over S939. I would only recommend upgrading if you want a X2 5000+ or FX-62 since those CPUs are only made for socket AM2.

Upgrade your GPU.

If you really want an X2 3800+ CPU then get the S939 version.

Reply to jaguarskx

stay 939. get a new graphics card of a x2 939 if u must. u wont notice a difference in the real world between AM2 and 939. benchmarks yes, real world no.

Reply to dougie_boy

Stay 939. Only Performance you will need for is in an Video Card Upgrade And overclock .Via. Rivatuner and maybe a driver and software update to the Card(s) Otherwise AM2's hav'nt shown anything In contrast to a solid 939 mobo with good DDR RAM

Reply to YO_KID37

Another yes for the 939 system. Now this time next year or around November, you might want to see whats new. AMD should have somthing new to offer by then. You don't want to have just spent big money on a new rig just months before. Hold out another year then see where this all goes....

Reply to NeonDeon

Agreed. Only go AM2 if you are building an entire system. I'd try a OC on the CPU, but watch out with the 350W PSU...

~Ibrahim~

Reply to ikjadoon

Quote :

Hi, i'm planning to upgrade to Am2, but i'm not sure if its necessary to ugprade to it. Right now my rig is ..

Amd althon 64 , 3500+ @ 2.2ghz (venice) (with zalman cooler)
MSI K8N-NEOF mobo 939 socket
Powercolour x800xl 256mb
OCZ Extreme Gamer's edition DDR400 PC3200 RAM dual channel 2x512mB (Gold edition)
160GB Seagate HDD
16x Lg dvd writer
Coolermaster centurion 5 case with stock 350 watt psu
Samsung 19 inch monitor 8ms
Saitek Eciplise keyboard & MX510 logetich gaming mouse
Logeitch 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
Quickcam. etc etc.

Using the 939 socket. If i were to upgrade to Am2, i was wondering if the components are just fit.

CPU : AMD Althon x2 3800+ for 180$ CAD

MOBO: ASUS M2N-E, 114.99$ CAD

RAM: Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz (2 x 1024MB), for 269.99$ CAD (5-5-5-12 timings)

Alternative RAM:
Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC5400 DDR2 667MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) 219.99$ (4-4-4-12 timings)

What should i get? Should i even upgrade to am2 and use ddr2? or stick with what i got and upgrade a graphic card orosmething

Just get a 4200+. i believe they still have them for 939. For all that you are spending to upgrade you could get an FX60 for a few bucks more.

f I were you I'd grab a 4400+ $250 at Newegg, a 7900GT $250 and maybe some RAM 2x512 $100.

For $600, you have a system that will last until next year when 4x4 is around.

Reply to BaronMatrix

Quote :

Hi, i'm planning to upgrade to Am2, but i'm not sure if its necessary to ugprade to it. Right now my rig is ..

Amd althon 64 , 3500+ @ 2.2ghz (venice) (with zalman cooler)
MSI K8N-NEOF mobo 939 socket
Powercolour x800xl 256mb
OCZ Extreme Gamer's edition DDR400 PC3200 RAM dual channel 2x512mB (Gold edition)
160GB Seagate HDD
16x Lg dvd writer
Coolermaster centurion 5 case with stock 350 watt psu
Samsung 19 inch monitor 8ms
Saitek Eciplise keyboard & MX510 logetich gaming mouse
Logeitch 2.1 speakers with subwoofer
Quickcam. etc etc.

Using the 939 socket. If i were to upgrade to Am2, i was wondering if the components are just fit.

CPU : AMD Althon x2 3800+ for 180$ CAD

MOBO: ASUS M2N-E, 114.99$ CAD

RAM: Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz (2 x 1024MB), for 269.99$ CAD (5-5-5-12 timings)

Alternative RAM:
Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC5400 DDR2 667MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB) 219.99$ (4-4-4-12 timings)

What should i get? Should i even upgrade to am2 and use ddr2? or stick with what i got and upgrade a graphic card orosmething

4400+ $250
7900GT $250
2x512 RAM < $100

All Newegg prices.

Reply to BaronMatrix

For now S939... AM2 will deliver K8L & 4x4 but they both a while away ...

Reply to marneus

I agree with everyone else stay s939.

Reply to T_Bone

why did amd have to change the socket type tho? I would go with am2 cause u can upgrade to higher speeds down the line.

the best amd 939 processor i think is the fx60

intels new processors use the same socket as their old ones which is a plus.

Reply to semitope

AMD uses onchip memory controllors.
When amd switched to DDR2 memory they needed a way to keep people from putting a ddr cpu in a ddr2 motherboard and vice versa. Hence the socket change.
Thats really the only change in the new amd cpus is the switch to ddr2 from ddr. There might be some other changes but nothing major.
I dont understand why people are getting so riled up about amd's new core. Its not new. Its a s939 core that supports ddr2. You cant treat it like the switch from socket A to socket 754 or socket 939.

Reply to sturm

if u buy a new comp now its a better deal to get a core 2 system, but its a lot better to jus upgrade ur 939 and stay away from the overpriced fx procs, even if u buy core 2 u should get the extreme editions, not worth the money

Reply to ryokinshin

Quote :

I dont understand why people are getting so riled up about amd's new core. Its not new. Its a s939 core that supports ddr2. You cant treat it like the switch from socket A to socket 754 or socket 939.

People had too much hope for DDR2 RAM support. They hyped themselves up, thinking that an DDR2 would blow away DDR RAM.

I recall an article from DailyTech, where AMD had publicly stated that there will be neglible increase in performance between socket AM2 and 939 of the same CPU model.

Reply to jaguarskx

Quote :

why did amd have to change the socket type tho? I would go with am2 cause u can upgrade to higher speeds down the line.

They wanted an even number of pins, numerous reviews had bashed them on such an uneven number of pins, 939.

Haha, just kidding. It is just so people don't try to put a AM2 DDR2 CPU in a 939 DDR motherboard and vice versa. I'm sure the extra pin is JUST to avoid confusion. I can't think of another reason because there is only a .1% increase of pins, which I can't imagine contributes to any performance increaes.

~Ibrahim~

Reply to ikjadoon

Quote :

Agreed. Only go AM2 if you are building an entire system. I'd try a OC on the CPU, but watch out with the 350W PSU...

~Ibrahim~

350 Watt should be fine for that system he has even with a farely major overclock. That's if it is a decent quality PSU rather than some cheapo OEM one.

Im running my rig off a 430 Watt Antec TruepowerII and its fine.

Reply to quantumsheep

Quote :

why did amd have to change the socket type tho? I would go with am2 cause u can upgrade to higher speeds down the line.

They wanted an even number of pins, numerous reviews had bashed them on such an uneven number of pins, 939.

Haha, just kidding. It is just so people don't try to put a AM2 DDR2 CPU in a 939 DDR motherboard and vice versa. I'm sure the extra pin is JUST to avoid confusion. I can't think of another reason because there is only a .1% increase of pins, which I can't imagine contributes to any performance increaes.

~Ibrahim~

Would gave been great if the pins lined up with the other 940 socket.

Reply to nategarst

Quote :

why did amd have to change the socket type tho? I would go with am2 cause u can upgrade to higher speeds down the line.

They wanted an even number of pins, numerous reviews had bashed them on such an uneven number of pins, 939.

Haha, just kidding. It is just so people don't try to put a AM2 DDR2 CPU in a 939 DDR motherboard and vice versa. I'm sure the extra pin is JUST to avoid confusion. I can't think of another reason because there is only a .1% increase of pins, which I can't imagine contributes to any performance increaes.

~Ibrahim~

Would gave been great if the pins lined up with the other 940 socket.

If only companies were that nice :-\

Reply to quantumsheep

stay 939 or go conroe

Reply to cyborg_ninja-117

Quote :

Agreed. Only go AM2 if you are building an entire system. I'd try a OC on the CPU, but watch out with the 350W PSU...

~Ibrahim~

350 Watt should be fine for that system he has even with a farely major overclock. That's if it is a decent quality PSU rather than some cheapo OEM one.

Im running my rig off a 430 Watt Antec TruepowerII and its fine.

A good-to-great quality 350W PSU should help, but it is a stock PSU from CoolerMaster...

Yeah, I wish they were that nice. Would've helped the FX-51 users and alike.

~Ibrahim~

Reply to ikjadoon

you might as well stay at 939 since amd changes its socket types like every 2 years. When youll actually need to upgrade you will end up building a new system anyway so you might as well stick with what you have until it starts to show its age.

Reply to eviltwin17

That is one thing I like about Intel. They keep on the same page with sockets, but they are horrid with FSB. 400, then 533, then 667, then 800, now 1066, and talks of 1333 for the end of the year are about. Screws with you when you try to upgrade and don't get the Gigahertz you paid for..

So AMD, in the way, doesn't seem that bad.

In FSB, 400 was there for a bit, 533 stayed longer, 667 was short, 800 took hold for quite some time, 1066 is starting to sink in, and 1333 is just around the conroe.

~Ibrahim~

Reply to ikjadoon

intel may not change sockets that often but they change chipset needed to run the newest cpu. Yea the new cpu may have the same socket and actually fit in your board but does your chipset support that cpu?
Both amd and intel have their downsides.

Reply to sturm

stay 939 & get an x2 3800+ & OC it if you want/need dual core. wait till next year to do a full upgrade

Reply to roncpem

I would just stay s939 till it is completely out of date and you need all new components to stay up to speed before you do an upgrade like that. And if you do decide to upgrade now I would definitely choose conroe.

Reply to T_Bone

guess u should go with the s939 then.

woulda been great if the processor amd made supported both ddr2 and ddr, then they wouldn't have worried about people using the wrong mobo with the am2.

Reply to semitope

Yeah, but DDR2's pins are arranged differently than DDR pins so they would have to add memory slots. Or they could just have a riser board like the Asrock..

~Ibrahim~

Reply to ikjadoon

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - stay 939, or go AM2?

Please mind

Focus On

stay 939, or go AM2?

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - stay 939, or go AM2?

Please mind