is a last 939 upgrade worth?

[Mvx15n]

Hi,

Hi mi current computer is a athlon 64 3200+ on a gigabyte GA-K8N-SLI with 1,5GB of Memory and a 8800Gts 320MB mainly used for Gaming BF2 at 1024x768 (waiting for Christmas for a new 19" LCD screen).

With the low prices for the Opteron 165 and Athlon 64 X2 4200+ both around 90$, I was wondering if it is worth to get one of theese and keep the system one more year (so ddr3 is reasonably priced) or wait only 6 months before getting into the Q6600?

If I'm planning only moderate overclocking (the 8800 already produces way too much heat it is the foxconn overclocked version) and with the last postings about the not so good stepings in the 165 which one is better choice the x2 or the opteron?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Cybercraig]

They are both good CPU's. If you get the 165 you are stuck with a 9 multiplier while the 4200 has 11. If you go Opteron at this point get a better one. The 170's are still cheap and O/C easily. You will get slightly better resale with an OPTY. However, my last build for someone was a 4200+ and he loves it even at it's stock speed. So, unless you are going to spend the dough for a better OPTY get the 4200+. ;-)

 

[tirefire]

Your system is great, except for the processor, which is by no means bad.

If the only intensive thing you do on that machine is gaming, get the CPU with the highest clock speed / most cache. Multi-threading in games is only just becoming common; if you're only going to have the system for another year or so, a single-core will be just fine. I'd go for the 4000+ myself, it's only $60 on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103037

 

[ethel]

Definitely keep your setup and upgrade the chip only. As Cybercraig says, the 170 is the better option cos of the 10x multiplier. Although the 165 is always going to get up to 2.5GHz unless you are really unlucky.

It's a slight gamble, so if you're not into that go for the safe option of an X2 and get the highest clocked one you can afford.

 

[hergieburbur]

I think everyone else hit it on the nose. I have a 170 and it does pretty nicely. Not a bad holdover chip at this point.

 

[shadowmaster625]

Socket 939 memory bandwidth is fine.

As is the HTT and pciE speeds.

The only place you really lose is the cpu. An X2 4200 is about the highest you can go for a reasonable price. You might get better gaming performance from the highest clocked single core you can find. But the best you are going to get is about a 30% improvement in single threaded gaming performance. Not sure that's worth $150 for ya. You could spend even more on a good overclockable opty but like you said that's a lot of heat and a lot of money too!

 

[Onus]

I think you'll see a bigger apparent performance boost from going to ANY dual-core over a single-core. That's because background tasks like virus scanners have another place to go. I wouldn't buy another single-core at any price or speed.
Before you install the new CPU, d/l AMD's dual-core driver from their web site.
If you're re-using an aftermarket HSF, don't forget some new thermal compound. Clean off the old stuff with 91% alcohol and put a new layer on. The stock HSF with a new CPU will have some already applied.

 

[HyperBladeST]

I have a friend who bought a 175 2 weeks ago and he's very happy with it. But can tell which one is the best price/perf between 165/170/175/180 sorry.

+ They are easier to find than S939 X2

 

[Mvx15n]

Hi thanks for the answers.

I forgot to considera detail that is that for my mohterboard (GigaByte GA-K8N-SLI) there are no Vista Drivers. Will this block me the Possibility to Install Vista after SP1 is released? Will the generic drivers from Nvidia nForce4/nForce 500 series AMD work? Has anybody installed Vista With This motherboard?

About availability, Newegg has the optys 165 at 95.5$ the 170 at 119.99$ and the x2 4200 at 89.00 al with Free Shipping.

I believe these will not last more than a couple of months in the price lists, 939 is dissapearing quickly...

Thank you again for your help.

 

[ethel]

I forgot to considera detail that is that for my mohterboard (GigaByte GA-K8N-SLI) there are no Vista Drivers. Will this block me the Possibility to Install Vista after SP1 is released? Will the generic drivers from Nvidia nForce4/nForce 500 series AMD work? Has anybody installed Vista With This motherboard?

I've got a GA-K8NF-9 and Vista works no sweat. I didn't install any nVidia drivers.

 

[pat]

Vista will install and run fine on it anyway. Got it installed on an Asus A8N-SLI, which has same chipset.

 

[PizzaFTW]

eWiz has an OEM 4200 X2 for $83.86 w/ free shipping.

Athlon 4200 X2
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-42CD

And, here's a 3800 X2 just for good measure. $71.07
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-3800CD

Keep in mind that both of these are OEM versions and do not come with heat sinks.

EDIT: Also, keep in mind that the return policies may be different, since these are OEM's.

 

[Mvx15n]

Then the only remaining question is at base speed (max 5% overclock) and forgetting about resale value, is the 170 worth the 30% price difference over the x2 4200? do you have any link comparing performance?

Thank you again.

 

[doglips]

Last I checked Newegg and Zipzoom are out of stock on the 170's

 

[MU_Engineer]

Definitely keep your setup and upgrade the chip only. As Cybercraig says, the 170 is the better option cos of the 10x multiplier. Although the 165 is always going to get up to 2.5GHz unless you are really unlucky.

It's a slight gamble, so if you're not into that go for the safe option of an X2 and get the highest clocked one you can afford.

The X2 4200+ can reach 2.5 GHz very easily. Many can do it without even a Vcore bump. I've heard of many 4200+s getting to 2.7, 2.8 GHz. Opty 165s generally get up to 2.5-2.6 GHz unless you want to really kill them, then they can reach 2.8-3.0 GHz.

 

[bryan1995]

mvx15n yhpm

 

[Thanatos421]

I don't understand how people keep saying that the Optys run hot. I have a 185 at 3.0ghz and it idles at 29c and max load hits about 50ish. Not too hot by any means. Optys are great procs and overclock well. However, don't get the 185, get the 170 or 175 and you'll prolly hit 2.8/3.0 with a good cooler. The stock cooler is nice, but a good aftermarket cooler will really put it over the top.

 

[ethel]

I don't understand how people keep saying that the Optys run hot

Some Opterons do run hot. I have a 165@2.7GHz and it idles at 38C, 60-65C load. Still a great chip, though.

 

[ryokinshin]

buy a hsf that will go on am2 and 939 so u can keep the same one. oh and zalman ftw

 

[jitpublisher]

I went from a 3200+ to an X2-4600+ about a year ago when I caught one on sale for $150. It was a solid upgrade, and I am very happy with it. Been running for about 8 months now at 2.8ghz on stock air/artic silver with my DFI lanparty. Idles at around 38c and under full load will get to about 55c is as hot as I ever seen it. It is stable, sometimes I run for a week or more without rebooting. Games, internet, office apps, Photoshop, it just keeps going.
Go for a new dual core to get plenty more life out of your socket 939 board. You won't be disappointed.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

I have an opty 185, no oc, and it runs at 38 idle 62ish maxxed. I went from a 3700, have seen nice gaming increases. Multitasking is easy, and lets me do what I want to do. Opty's run hot, but dual core is a must.