AMD 3000+ vs. 3200+??

[dnhcaputo1]

I was just looking for opinions. I'm a gamer, and generally play online. I was wondering if there was a big difference between the AMD 3000+(Barton) and the 3200+(Barton) other than the price. I'm not an overclocker either. I just want to update my rig. I have a 900 now with a Radeon 8500. I was leaning towards a new motherboard/cpu/memory, and video card. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[MangoTBG]

Are you definately going with AMD? How much money do you have set aside for mobo/cpu? Is there a videocard you just have to have? Overclocking, however you are not familiar with it, is really easy as long as you give yourself time to read up on it, and ask other's for help and opinions...have you totally removed the idea of overclocking? Because it saves you money . Why pay for a 3200+ when a lot of the 2500+s can reach the same speed? Why pay for a 3.0C when the 2.4C can reach faster speeds (3.0GHz @ 1GHz FSB)?

These questions will help us, help you!

 

[DaveSimmons]

Welcome to the forums
For the $175 difference you're only getting a tiny bit more speed (100 MHz). Right now the 3200+ is just as overpriced as the P4 3.0C.

Here is the Anandtech P4 3.2 article with 3200+ but it only shows 3200+ and 2800+ not the 3000+.

Here's a TomsHardware article with 32 and 3000+ that does compare both 3000+ and 3200+.

Are you also planning to upgrade the video card? Your 8500 doesn't really benefit from a fast CPU, so you might be better buying something cheap like an XP 2500+ and a fast card like a 9800 non-pro.

 

[MangoTBG]

^He knows what he is talking about. I would suggest getting this:

Epox 8RDA+ $83
AMD Athlon 2500+ XP Retail $96
2x256MB Kingston HyperX PC3200 $124

SubTotal - $303

That should leave you a nice chunk of change for a really good videocard. However, you can spend as little as $115 for a decent card (GF4). Without knowing your budget, that is the best I can do . If you are on a tight budget, you can easily find used 2500+s and video cards in the FS/FT forums. However, the 8RDA+ would be difficult, and I'd suggest buying that new, anyways. Goodluck!


BTW: Another reason why this is a great combo is after you get a chance to read up on overclocking, you've got a BEAST to play with. Throw down $50 on a bitchin' HSF combo, and you're already ready in the ram section with the PC3200 ...Did I mention Dual Channel DDR? You'd be set with that system.

 

[dnhcaputo1]

Wow, I hadn't really thought about all of that. I definately want an AMD, I have had no problems with them so far. I have approx. $1200 to spend. I am debating over the Radeon 9500 pro and the 9800 pro 256. I am very leary of overclocking since I have never done any of that before. I can install new harware, but as to messing with overclocking i have no experience. 3.0C or 2.4C? I had read this article at http://www.gamespy.com/hardware/june03/ugm/ and it had some good pointers.
Thanks

 

[MangoTBG]

Well, with that kind of money to spend, I'd highly recommend for you to consider a P4 system. In the articles that Dave linked you to, you can see that the new Canterwood setups from Intel are just beasts out of the box. The 2.4C often competed with the higher level AMDs. I really love AMD. They have FANTASTIC systems for people that run a tighter budget. I mean, for the amount of a P4 2.4C you can have a mobo/cpu from AMD that can pack a lot of punch.

I'll come up with a rig w/ $$$$ costs in a sec...

 

[MangoTBG]

P4 2.4C Retail $173
ABIT IC7/IC7-G $130/$188
2x256MB/2x512MB Kingston HyperX PC3200 $124/$248
ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB $462

The most expensive of those totals to $1071, while the less expensive route is $889. Which leaves you $130 and $311 respectively for other parts...Other things to consider, obviously, are HDDs, Optical drives, a Case w/PSU.

You didn't list those in the original post, and those are more of things that you'd have to decide on what you want, and what you want to use from your original system, anyways. You really don't need the IC7-G and 1GB of ram, but I threw that in there for you to consider.

 

[dnhcaputo1]

As of yesterday, I was seriously considering a AMD 3200+ Barton(400mhz fsb), Asus A7N8X-Deluxe nF2 DDR400 USB 2.0, 2x512MB DDR434 (PC3200) Kingston HyperX, and Radeon 9800Pro 256. Now, after sleeping on it, and considering the new video cards that will be coming out, I'm thinking, maybe the 3000+ with the 128mb radeon 9500 or 9700. Going from my 8500 and 900Mhz I should be amazed at the difference regardless. I am going to put all of this in existing case so the spouse will not notice...lol. I have standard ATX case.

I appreciate the input

 

[MangoTBG]

...And, honestly, I'd consider if that extra 128MB of ram on the 9800pro is worth it to you. I'd give the card a little bit more longevity, but the 9800pros with 128MB are killer cards, themselves. It's ultimately up to you and your budget...

"...Would I like to update my speakers?"
"Do I want a larger HDD?"
"How nice of a case do I want?...For that matter, would I like to get a SFF case for it's 'Smallness'?"

The best we can do is show you our opinions. Ultimately, It's yours that only matters.

 

[Whitedog]

A true HardCore gamers choice would be a Pentium4 system, as "generally" the P4 out-performs AMD in most every "game" on the market.

As I'm not a "hardcore" gamer, I use AMD. Most bang for buck in general computer usage.

My .02, if you're "willing" to even consider a "very pricey" XP3200+, you really should consider a P4 instead. IF you say you're a gamer....

 

[Budmantom]

tp

 

[Budmantom]

dp

 

[MangoTBG]

You'd be really happy with the 9700pro. I wish I still had mine.

"2x512MB DDR434 (PC3200)" Where you considering the PC3200 or the PC3500? PC3200 is DDR400 and I think DDR434 is PC3500.

heheh. I like your sneakiness

 

[Budmantom]

If you decide to upgrade your video card (and you should) go with a 9800np 128mb not the 9800pro 256mb it will cost half and give you 95%ish performance.

As for the cpu go with a 2700/2800+ the difference in performance will still be huge.

Xp2800 $168
9800np $240
1 gb pc2700 $140

You will save a bundle and the increase in performance over your old rig will be BIG.

Tom

 

[MangoTBG]

"As for the cpu go with a 2700/2800+ the difference in performance will still be huge. "

Yes, I'd still suggest you go as far as getting the 2500+. Just because if you decide, down the road, in dipping your hands into overclocking, you'd be able to get FAR more preformance than any 3000+ or 3200+ at 1/3 of the cost.

 

[mrgoblin]

there shouldnt even be a debate. get a 2.4c an ic7 and be done with it. Its clearly the best processor right now and if your willing to spend that much for the 3.2, you can save money and get the good stuff. Youre not gonna update everyday so you might as well make it count. I dont think you wanna have to do this in 3 years. Mebbe you should think about longevity and if that means spending a couple hundred more, its worth it because youll spend more in the long run. However I dont see how all that plus a 256 pro would cost 1200. It doesnt cost that much. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

 

[eshtog]

any reason why you guys recommend the ic7 over the is7?

 

[MangoTBG]

The only reason why I recommended it, is because I have it and I haven't had a single problem with it. But I do see where you are going with that. Atleast the IS7 has onboard LAN .

Not to mention, sub $100.

Oh, how I hate thee !

 

[MangoTBG]

What's the difference between the IS7 and IS7-E? Just SATA?

 

[Mavrick007]

Originally posted by: MangoTBG
What's the difference between the IS7 and IS7-E? Just SATA?

It seems that the difference is not SATA, but that the IS7 has "SATA RAID", whereas the IS7-E has just SATA, and the IS7 has firewire whereas the IS7-E has none.

If I was going to make a new P4 system, I would make one with the IS7 board and a 2.4C/2.6C chip and then overclock it alot, but I decided to save myself some bones
and built a 2500+ system.

 

[MangoTBG]

If I was going to make a new P4 system, I would make one with the IS7 board and a 2.4C/2.6C chip and then overclock it alot, but I decided to save myself some bones
and built a 2500+ system.

 

[MemberSince97]

I would build whatever system your heart desires...Wait 2 months with your 8500 in it ,till the new 9900 comes out...Thats What I would do...

 

[Regs]

Why the 9800 pro 256? Just get the 128. Not even Doom 3 or HL 2 will take up 256 Megs. Even if it did, which it won't, it can just barrow off the system ram. And you plan to get 512 MB's so you are more than set.

And please don't feed this future proof crap about 256 of On-board Video ram. By the time we will need 256 Megs the Radeon 2 will be out.

 

[dnhcaputo1]

I didn't mean to open up the can of worms intel vs AMD. It's just that I play MOHO and Ghost Recon type games and know that AMD is compatable, it seems as if years ago I had problems with a pentium, and I can get more with the money I have to go AMD. I guess I'm going to consider the 9800 pro 128 and the AMD 3000XP. I want to go with 1gig of memory, should I still consider the kingston, and if so what type with AMD 3000?

 

[dnhcaputo1]

my thread die?