Which processor should i buy

[mpegripper]

i have the system in my sig and want to spend about $300 on a processor. i'm debating between the a64 3200+ and the 3.2C

if i were to get the a64, i would get the k8n neo platinum mobo

i don't really play games much or overclock, just office type stuff...going online, chatting, word, downloading lots of stuff, watching tv, listening to music

which is better for me?

 

[Lazn_Work]

For "going online, chatting, word, downloading lots of stuff, watching tv, listening to music" you don't need a super powerfull processor. Either should work find, but I would get an Intel processor just to keep any possible driver hasles to a min. (and maximize reliability) Also Hyperthreading is nice if you are doing more than one thing at once.

For your needs you could save a couple hundred on the processor by getting any 800mhz FSB one (say a 2.8C) and get a better motherboard and/or more RAM with the extra money.

Better MB for more reliability, and more RAM is always better. (don't get less and a gig these days)

==>lazn

 

[mpegripper]

what's wrong with my ic7-max3 and corsair twinx pc4000 1GB?

 

[Warriorprophet]

Uhm based on your statements I have no idea why you'd need to upgrade from whats in your sig...

 

[E4g1e]

i have the system in my sig and want to spend about $300 on a processor. i'm debating between the a64 3200+ and the 3.2C

if i were to get the a64, i would get the k8n neo platinum mobo

i don't really play games much or overclock, just office type stuff...going online, chatting, word, downloading lots of stuff, watching tv, listening to music

which is better for me?

For your use, stick with your current processor. (Unless watching TV on your PC takes up a sizeable portion of your PC use - in which case, I'd upgrade to a mid-level 2.8C.)

 

[Lazn_Work]

what's wrong with my ic7-max3 and corsair twinx pc4000 1GB?

Nothing at all, I thought you were starting over making a new box from fresh.

As an upgrade a 2.8C/3.2C would be great.

==>Lazn

 

[mpegripper]

i'm for sure gonna upgrade to either an a64 3200+ or a 3.2C

i guess my question is, which gives me better performance for what i do

and also, lets assume i do a little gaming, like once a week

TIA

 

[E4g1e]

i'm for sure gonna upgrade to either an a64 3200+ or a 3.2C

i guess my question is, which gives me better performance for what i do

In this case, you'd be pretty much just wasting your money. Office-type stuff and Web surfing runs at its optimal performance on just an 800MHz processor. And neither the 3.2C nor the A64 3200+ will feel noticeably faster than your current 2.53 P4 in such apps. Couple that with a solidly lower-midrange graphics card, and you'd just be wasting $$$.

In other words, you really need to buy demanding games and a higher-end graphics card, and play those demanding games frequently, in order for either of the CPUs on your list to be worth anywhere near their going prices.

 

[Lazn_Work]

i'm for sure gonna upgrade to either an a64 3200+ or a 3.2C

i guess my question is, which gives me better performance for what i do

and also, lets assume i do a little gaming, like once a week

TIA

The straight answer is that if you only run one program at a time the a64 will be ~5% faster. (like playing a game)

But the 3.2C would be smoother/faster when running more than one thing at once (say chatting and listening to MP3's while browsing the web) because of hyperthreading. And cheaper as it will let you keep your current motherboard.

But neither one will be "significantly" faster than what you have now.

==>Lazn