Looking at AMD again ( 2 Views )

1. Been running intel only boxes for gaming (WoW mostly) and pro-audio without issue for the last 3+ years. I've been looking at upgrading to a 3.0 Prescott and then I see the prices for AMD cpu's and MB's and think..."damn, I could have a new MB and CPU for 200 bucks."
   
   I tried AMD in the past and had nitemare after nitemare with system crashes. After much reading and research I decided the problem was with VIA chipsets. So I dumped AMD and went with Intel.
   
   My questions now are:
   
   1)Do the AMD's running at 1.8ghz really perform like a 3 gig Intel?
   
   2) Will I see a genuine performance increase in going from a Abit IS7 MB/P4 2.66 to a MSI N-force board with a Sempron 3100?
   
   3)Will my 1.5 gig of DDR ram work as well?
   
   I look forward to your response:)
   
   
   (hande, Lao People's Democratic Republic)


2. Yes, the VIA chipsets could be problematic. The best chipsets nowdays for the skt 754 Sempron/A64 are the nForce4 or T6100. Both allow nice overclocks.
   
   AMD's run more efficiently than Intels when it comes to instructions per clock cycle. That's why my Venice is called a 3000+ even though the "clock speed" is only 2.0 ghz. AMD's perform approx 1.5+ instructions per clock cycle while Intels perform 1 instruction per clock cycle. It all has to do with the internal architecture of the AMD cpu's which have an on-die memory controller instead of an off-die mem. controller like Intel cpu's use. The memory pipeline is far shorter in AMD cpu's (Intel finally recognized that shorter pipelines are better in Conroe) so therefore cache misses are corrected more quickly. That's why AMD cpu's are less affected by smaller L2 caches than Intel systems.
   
   I can't say that you will notice a difference in the 2 systems you are comparing as I have no knowledge of the Intel system's capabilities. But i'm sure if you poked around the net for some reviews you might be able to find some info that would be helpful. My initial suspicion is that the AMD will outperform the Intel setup - particularly in gaming.
   You may also want to consider the cpu I'm using if you are going to go skt 754 - the A64 3000+ Venice. But if economy is a driving factor the 3100+ Sempron is a fine choice. It is $97 vs. the 3000+ Venice's price of $116 but for the extra $$$ you get 256kb more L2 cache. 200 more mhz stock and a higher cpu multiplier (10 vs. 9) which can be helpful in overclocking.
   
   As for your ram - if it is 184 pin DDR333 or 400 it will plug right in with no problems.
   
   I would also highly consider a move to a skt 939 mobo and an A64 3000+ Venice. Newegg has 2 versions; with the older core stepping at only $117. This would be a great strarter system and would easily outperform the Intel setup IMO. Your ram would work as well, and you will have a better upgrade path (cpu wise) with socket 939. Just be aware that AMD has stated the end-of-life (EOL) for skt 939 is in the 4th quarter of this year when socket AM2 will take over the top spot. Socket 754's EOL is projected to be Q4 of 2007.
   there positives and negatives for both sockets, namely;
   Skt 939
   Pro
   Dual channel memory controllers
   Wider selection of cpu's - single and dual core (A64 FX and Opteron)
   SLI and Crossfire capabilities.
   Con
   EOL Q4 2006
   Price increases due this month
   
   Skt 754
   Pro
   Longer lifespan
   Good mobo chipsets
   Econmical cpu's (Sempron64 and A64)
   PCI-e and SLI graphics capabilities
   Con
   Older technology
   Limited upgrade path
   Single channel memory controller
   
   Just to name a few. Continue to research the options and decide what works best for you. Don't let anyone influence you one way or another, after all, you know what works best for your situation.
   
   
   (numden, Azerbaijan)


3. 1) more or less yes, but minus the hyperthreading
   
   2) leave the sempron alone. the A64 3000+ is only $20 for twice the L2 cache. i dont know if youll be able to notice the improvement, but it would be an improvement.
   
   3) yes, you can use your current ram, but being that it is PC 2100, it will severly cripple an AMD system, especailly if you go with a low cache cpu like a sempron. your ram runs at 266mhz, stock for the A64 is 400mhz.
   
   
   (çaðlar, French Southern Territories)


4. I don't know if its a sempron issue or not but since it only happened after the sempron upgrade I'll assume it is, anyways it just seems choppy in Counter-Strike Source on some levels, even though the framerate is supposedly 50+ it still feels choppy, like the strobe lights in that one level mess with me, I donno, Oblivion runs fine on it though.
   
   
   (ASLI, Tonga)


5. Looks like, based on price at a local shop I am going to get a MSI K8N NEO-V NF3-250 754 and a Semp 3400 and see what happens. Only paying 220 plus tax. Since learning of the difference in how instructions are processed I think I am taking a step up.
   
   I'll try and post my opinion in a couple days.
   
   Appreciate folks taking the time to share their thoughts.
   
   
   (AYSE, Ireland)


6. If you are going to get the Sempron64 3400+ you might as well go ahead and get the socket 754 3000+ Venice Athlon 64. They are the same price on Newegg (the Venice may be $2 cheaper actually) and you will get the full 512kb of L2 cache instead of the 256kb on the Sempron. Whay pay more for less?
   
   
   (dilara, Croatia)


7. Bought the Semp 3300 and the MSI MB. Learned quickly that win2000 server was not a good choice for OS. Downloaded the trial version of the 64-bit XP pro and WOW!!!
   
   I am very very happy. In a few months I will upgrade the ram and then get a Venice.
   
   O/C'd to 2.4ghz and CPU temp increased one whole degree C with stock air cooler. Pretty amazing!
   
   
   (meltem, Kazakhstan)


8. If you are going AMD, there is no compelling reason AT ALL to go with a single core as long as you can spend a bit more for the X2. Especially since you seem to do some pro audio stuff, if the software supports dual core, the X2 would flat out whup ass over a single core......
   
   
   (samet, Guinea-Bissau)


9. Quote:

   Originally Posted by The_Stickman Bought the Semp 3300 and the MSI MB. Learned quickly that win2000 server was not a good choice for OS. Downloaded the trial version of the 64-bit XP pro and WOW!!! I am very very happy. In a few months I will upgrade the ram and then get a Venice. O/C'd to 2.4ghz and CPU temp increased one whole degree C with stock air cooler. Pretty amazing!

   Cool, man. Post some benches when you get it all sorted out. Semprons oc well.
   
   
   (hüseyin , Solomon Islands)

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