Is AM2 platform worth the jump from Socket 939?

[matthead]

I am considering upgrading to the AM2 platform but just from experience brand new platforms tend to bring many headaches. I was one of the few to jump onto the Abit Fatality mobo band wagon and to this day the board is RMA. I settled for a Socket 939 ASUS A8N5X mobo. I am now considering taking the next step and purchasing AM2 platform just so I can use 2 gb Dual Channel DDR2 PC 6400. I do love my AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego processor and I am torn apart by the decision.

specs

ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 mb
AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego proc
2 gb Geil dual channel PC 3200
EVGA Nvidia 7800 GTX KO
WD 80 gb SATA 3gb/s
WD 320 gb SATA 3gb/s

 

[MG37221]

I am considering upgrading to the AM2 platform but just from experience brand new platforms tend to bring many headaches. I was one of the few to jump onto the Abit Fatality mobo band wagon and to this day the board is RMA. I settled for a Socket 939 ASUS A8N5X mobo. I am now considering taking the next step and purchasing AM2 platform just so I can use 2 gb Dual Channel DDR2 PC 6400. I do love my AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego processor and I am torn apart by the decision.

specs

ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 mb
AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego proc
2 gb Geil dual channel PC 3200
EVGA Nvidia 7800 GTX KO
WD 80 gb SATA 3gb/s
WD 320 gb SATA 3gb/s

That's a tough call that only you can make. You've got a very nicely configured system already. Other than dual core, you're not going to experience much improvement in performance.

If you're just itching for an upgrade, consider a 4600 or a 4800 (very reasonable now as I just bought a 4800 for $320USD) or even an FX-60 if you've loads of cash burning a hole in your pocket (I seriously considered one of these). I too am invested in socket 939 but, with the 4800, will hold off until something considerably more powerful comes along for AM2. It just isn't there yet.

Your making the jump now will cost a good bit but it won't buy you much in terms of performance.

 

[matthead]

I might purchase this vid card just to have on hand

ATI 100-435801 X1900XT 512mb card

or replace my 7800 GTX KO with to keep nvidia card in case i have trouble with ATI card.

 

[MG37221]

I might purchase this vid card just to have on hand

ATI 100-435801 X1900XT 512mb card

or replace my 7800 GTX KO with to keep nvidia card in case i have trouble with ATI card.

Itching to spend money huh? That 1900XT is an awesome card from what I've read. Being a Linux user, I stay with nVidia because the drivers just work better.

 

[sailer]

In my opinion, there's no great advantage at this time to move to AM2. That may change in six months, if new chips are produced that significantly speed things up, along with advances in ram, but for now, if you have a 939 system, I'd just stick with it. There are still some 4800+ cpus to be had and they are at a good price. Even some of the FX chips are starting to look a bit more reasonable.

Next year at this time, it might be a whole new story. Who knows? but for now, I know I'm not planning any major changes.

 

[Flopmouth_Fish]

IMO, you have a nice rig, and you shouldn't upgrade anything until something dramatically better comes out. AM2 is just a socket change; the CPUs are the same as the socket 939 ones. Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

 

[sailer]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

 

[MCGTech]

I am considering upgrading to the AM2 platform but just from experience brand new platforms tend to bring many headaches. I was one of the few to jump onto the Abit Fatality mobo band wagon and to this day the board is RMA. I settled for a Socket 939 ASUS A8N5X mobo. I am now considering taking the next step and purchasing AM2 platform just so I can use 2 gb Dual Channel DDR2 PC 6400. I do love my AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego processor and I am torn apart by the decision.

specs

ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 mb
AMD 64bit 4000+ San Diego proc
2 gb Geil dual channel PC 3200
EVGA Nvidia 7800 GTX KO
WD 80 gb SATA 3gb/s
WD 320 gb SATA 3gb/s

Drop in an X2 and stand pat for another year or so.

I'm holding out for a 4x4 platform myself, assuming it will run on a single dualie.

 

[Flopmouth_Fish]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

Is 1500 points worth $500?

 

[chocobocorey]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

Is 1500 points worth $500?

exactly.. who gives about @#@# 3Dmark? invest your money into getting your pimp game better

 

[Flopmouth_Fish]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

Is 1500 points worth $500?

exactly.. who gives about @#@# 3Dmark? invest your money into getting your pimp game better

I'd spend the money on pr0n and beer.

 

[martyjs]

With your system I wouldn't bother at the moment! Rule of thumb I,ve tried to go by, is only update to double the speed. Nothing else will really show much difference.
In my case, with only a 1300 Durnon an AM2 running a X2 5000+ would make a huge differece!!
Before anyone comments, I know Conroe's are much faster, I'm commenting on the question. 8)

 

[NEO3]

The AM2 platform is a mature product since its release.
I would wait for the "4X4" mother's to come out. It's going to offer more possibilities of upgrade for you.

 

[Fox_granit]

Wait a while, you've got a good system. The only reason I changed, I went from a 2.4b Intel with 512MB 32bit 1066 Rambus to my sig. Major shift up. Granted I loved my old rig, still use it everyday, but now with dualcore I'm getting more done and I don't have to wait for Photoshop CS2.

The old system is a server now btw. gaming, web, running server 2k3. All the other computers I have are old p3s, p2s, celerons, clustered together with Fedora Core 5. They run well together and do a good job handling my music and video compiling. Its not about the age, but the best you can get out of them for the money you invest.

 

[dt]

fast answer: no upgrading to am2 is not really worth the jump. but it kind of is in a way if you want ddr2 memory.

but then you got am3 comming out next year which makes me ask myself, why the heck are they upgrading sockets when am2 just came out this year?
i think something is up with that.

also does anyone know if intel is going to change sockets any time soon?
im trying to find when they are going to change so i can see if it is best to get core 2 duo right now or just wait.

 

[jitpublisher]

No way. You will feel terrible afterwards because the upgrade won't get you any noticable performance over what you have now, really.

What do you do with your PC? If you use lots of applications at once, go for a dual core 4800. If you play only games, you won't notice much difference though, a better buy would be an upgraded video card.

You have what should be a pretty fast and solid system, no reason spending money just for a socket change, and the memory won't make that much difference for the money you'll spend doing it either.

If you are aching to do a build and change platforms, and you are not a die hard AMD fan, take a look at the Intel Core Duo (Conroe) However I'd wait for a while there as well until the CPU's are readily available, and the motherboards have a chance to mature, not worth the hassle with all the problems people seem to be having with them right now, and you pay a premium.

Give it another 6 months and see what AMD and Intel are doing, then think about it again.

 

[roncpem]

no, wait till next series

 

[sailer]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

Is 1500 points worth $500?

It was to me. Besides the 1500 points, game framerates rose considerably Oblivian looked better, and I could run more of the general eye candy stuff. But to each his own.

 

[Flopmouth_Fish]

Don't bother upgrading the video card; even the X1900 and 7900 aren't that much better than the 7800GTX.

I'll disagree with the video card change not being any better. I changed from a 7800 GTX to a X1900 XTX and got an increase of over 1500 points on the 3Dmark score. That's a big change.

Is 1500 points worth $500?

It was to me. Besides the 1500 points, game framerates rose considerably Oblivian looked better, and I could run more of the general eye candy stuff. But to each his own.

Well then I'm glad you're satisfied with your purcahse. BTW, you spelled Oblivion wrong.

 

[sailer]

Ah, bad fingers. They always do something other than what I'm thinking.

 

[Flopmouth_Fish]

Ah, bad fingers. They always do something other than what I'm thinking.

It happens to me, too. I especially hate when I'm trying to type google.com, and instead I type google.comp or google.cpom, etc.

 

[p8ntslinger676]

keep the rig you have for now and save up for a AMD 4x4 system, thats what im doing and i have almost the exact same setup as you but my stuff is overclocked