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I'd go dual core for only a few bux more (3800+ x2 AM2). If you do go AM2, you'll need some DDR2-800 as well. If you're trying to salvage your old DDR Ram for your new system... it really isn't worth it.
 
enginurd said:
I'd go dual core for only a few bux more (3800+ x2 AM2). If you do go AM2, you'll need some DDR2-800 as well. If you're trying to salvage your old DDR Ram for your new system... it really isn't worth it.
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i already bought ram.. so i dont need that. they create such a hype for AM2 im sure the single core 4000+ outperforms a 3800x2
 
The hype for AM2 is just too funny. How ppl don't realize ddr2 still doesn't have lower
latency then ddr1. Sure ddr2 runs faster in mhz but in games thats a very little boost.
See what kind of performance impact going from 2/2/2/5 to 4/4/4/12 is. They
overproduced a bunch of crappy sticks of ddr2 and are selling it cheap to ppl who just
had to go to am2 now. I suggest getting am2 in 2007 when the real ddr2 modules roll around.
 
Just don't listen to this post.

Rincheese said:
The hype for AM2 is just too funny. How ppl don't realize ddr2 still doesn't have lower
latency then ddr1. Sure ddr2 runs faster in mhz but in games thats a very little boost.
See what kind of performance impact going from 2/2/2/5 to 4/4/4/12 is. They
overproduced a bunch of crappy sticks of ddr2 and are selling it cheap to ppl who just
had to go to am2 now. I suggest getting am2 in 2007 when the real ddr2 modules roll around.
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While there is no performance advantage over socket939, the main hype around AM2 and DDR2 is upgradeability. Socket939 is being phased out, as well as DDR1. Getting a dual core CPU really depends on your needs. If all you do is play WOW all day, then no, you don't need a dual core CPU. As newer games/software start to take advantage of dual core CPUs, you'll find the A64 4000+ slowing down. Nonetheless, get whatever CPU suits your needs. I do alot of multitasking, so a dual core would suit my needs better than a single core.
 
enginurd said:
While there is no performance advantage over socket939, the main hype around AM2 and DDR2 is upgradeability. Socket939 is being phased out, as well as DDR1. Getting a dual core CPU really depends on your needs. If all you do is play WOW all day, then no, you don't need a dual core CPU. As newer games/software start to take advantage of dual core CPUs, you'll find the A64 4000+ slowing down. Nonetheless, get whatever CPU suits your needs. I do alot of multitasking, so a dual core would suit my needs better than a single core.
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well what are some advantages the AM2 will have in gaming..?
 
Mercenarie said:
well what are some advantages the AM2 will have in gaming..?
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The difference in performance is small, but that's not the point. The point is that by going with DDR2 you save money in the future because you can upgrade without replacing everything.
 
Yeah, let's be honest here -- unless the OP thinks that 1gb is entirely future proof -- the issue isn't going to be the DDR2 upgradability (especially since DDR1 is already faster for most uses - unless you're benching bandwidth, you'll notice appreciably better performance with good DDR1); it's going to be the CPU/video card/MB, and the way things are going AMD is falling severely behind intel's new line in CPUs (though I'll wait to see AMD's rebuttal before I call this in favor of intel). Furthermore, with AMD and ATI's merger, you're likely to see some improvements in their MB chipsets and this will lend your new MB to obsolescence no matter which socket you use.

What I'm saying is that by the time 2gb (or even 1gb if you're not a heavy user) isn't enough, you'll want to upgrade your entire machine again. Odds are you're not going to want to salvage a current generation motherboard with a faster GPU or CPU -- it just doesn't make any sense: why keep a bottleneck to upgrade something else? In truth, you are much more likely to do full core component upgrades (such as your current one). So get the chip you want with the ram you want now, and worry about upgrades later. If you need the dual core, get a dual core. If you don't, then don't. Dual core is going to give you a longer break before you'll want to upgrade your system, and I would highly recommend it, but the decision is quite obviously yours.

Get the right amount of ram to last you until your next upgrade -- if you want this computer to last 3 years (which is a pretty common expected life for a normal user's computer) you'll probably want 2GBs if you're going to be playing games, which, judging by your graphics card, you probably are.
 
The only reason to buy Socket939 would be because you don't plan to upgrade the CPU and/or RAM, ever. Upgrading a DDR1 system in a year will probably be costly (think how expensive PC133 low density was when DDR1 became the standard; or even now, low density PC133 is still costly). Try looking for a Barton Athlon XP CPU, the best CPU for the Socket A boards... you'll pay through the nose for one if you can find one brand new, retail. My point is, I don't recommend buying anything thats on its way out since there are no disadvantages to buying the new stuff.
 
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