Best bang for the buck...which X2 to pick up?

[BaldAvenger]

(Ok, ok I know...posts like this pop up entirely too much! But I HAD to ask...)

I am looking at upgrading my AMD processor due to the recent AMD price cuts. The fact that I have too much invested in my current 939 box cuts out looking at Conroe. What I want to know is which X2 cpu will offer the best choice on performance -vs- price. I am currently running an AMD 64 3500+ on an ASUS A8N32-Sli mobo with G. Skill DDR500 ram and an Nvidia 7800gtx card. I do overclock to some extent (though not to the extremes that I see on these forums :Q). I do some work with Adobe Premiere Pro, photoshop, Illustrator, among others. So, should I just go for the best processor I can afford or should I take the OC route, or...some combination therof? I know that ultimately this is MY choice, but I would like some suggestions, recommendations, opinions, etc. And oh yeah, thanks for your time and reccomendations.

 

[Plester]

mwave is selling the x2 3800 for $153 - 10x multi is plenty for that nice board you have, lots of options for overclocking. the higher multi chips are only of value if you need the higher multi because you have a weak mobo (not that that is justification, since you could just buy the cheaper chip and a good mobo for the same price as the expensive chip) or you don't overclock. as far as overclockability there is no advantage to the faster chips. the best steppings all top out at the same place regardless of their speed rating.

 

[acegazda]

the best bang for buck would probably be the x2 3800+ but the 4800+ is supposed to be $250 isn't it? That's a pretty good deal as well. But like plester said, you can oc well so go with the former.

 

[DannyLove]

hehe, I am in a similar situation. I'm going for the X2 939 socket cpu's right now and I'm looking at the 4200+.
The 4400+ x2 939 has a higher cache but from what I've been reading it nothing noticable, so I think I'll try the 4200+ instead and save some money.

So far, mwave has been the cheapest on the 4200+, which is 188.49, but has limited availablity.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/ViewProducts...2&updepts=CPU&DNAME=Processors+%2D+CPU

 

[Philippart]

i bought an X2 4600+ today

 

[imported_Sincity]

Same boat here. X2 3800 or X2 4600 with the 12x multiplier. Choices.......

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: Sincity
Same boat here. X2 3800 or X2 4600 with the 12x multiplier. Choices.......

I'm having the same dilemma, although I think I'm gonna go middle of the road with the 4200+
since my crappy board only has fsb up to 250 i'll still be able to reach around 2600 or maybe even 2750 with some luck...

 

[BaldAvenger]

Thanks for the info, guys. I am thinking on getting the 4200 or 4600 and maybe playing with the OC a little bit. I mainly want something that speeds up my present box and keeps me in the game until the quad cores debut later this or next year. Then, if I see a big enough jump in performance, I might look at upgrading the rig...

 

[WaTaGuMp]

If you look at the AT review for the Conroe it shows the 4600 being about as equal as the E6300 in SOME tests, thats the chip I plan on getting myself.

 

[John]

The 3800+ @ $160 has to be the best bang for the buck. Most seem to be running 2.5-2.7GHz with less than 1.45v.

 

[ObscureCaucasian]

I just ordered a 4600 myself off zzf.

Now we play the waiting game......

 

[erikistired]

now i gotta revisit that whole "is a 3800+ x2 better for gaming than my current 3700+" thing again. or heck, even the 4200+ x2 for those prices.

 

[nyker96]

yes 3800/4200/4600 whatever, all cheap as my rug.

 

[River Side]

those of you running a > 3500+ CPU how specifically do you find your system 'slow' CPU wise??

 

[Pederv]

Picked up a 4800 X2 for under $300, well if you don't include shipping.

 

[LW07]

I'll probably order an X2 4200+ for christmas, but I might consider the 4600+. It's to replace my 3500+. I want my PC to be more snappy.

Just one thing, why does newegg keep raising the prices on the 4200+? It's now up to $220 on newegg.

 

[Furen]

Originally posted by: River Side
those of you running a > 3500+ CPU how specifically do you find your system 'slow' CPU wise??

It doesn't have an X2 sticker on it?

 

[BaldAvenger]

Yep, the prices keep rising, but I suppose people are still buying or the prices would at least stay steady. I hope the 4600 doesn't get too high before tomorrow morning so I can pick one up for my workstation... and, more importantly, my home rig. Hopefully this supply and demand crap will slow down a bit.

 

[LW07]

Originally posted by: BaldAvenger
Yep, the prices keep rising, but I suppose people are still buying or the prices would at least stay steady. I hope the 4600 doesn't get too high before tomorrow morning so I can pick one up for my workstation... and, more importantly, my home rig. Hopefully this supply and demand crap will slow down a bit.

Yeah, it probably will after the first 2-3 weeks after almost everyone has gotten their Athlon X2. I can't say for sure, though.

I just hope they have some pretty sweet deals on those X2s at around Christmas!

 

[Parasitic]

How well would the 4400+ X2 overclock compared to the 4200+ X2?

 

[akshayt]

get a 1900xt instead of all this.
+ get x2 3800 or up depending upon budget left or get dual core opteron 165 or up which may be better if oced enough.

 

[MDD1]

Well i know you asked for AMD but i say get a Conroe EE6600 as it performs better than the FX-62 in 80% of things (espeically gaming) and it has a 4mb cache so it will be more future proof for less than half the price of an FX-62. If you cannot afford to spend that type of cash then i would get an EE6300 as it is generally better than a X2 4200 in performance and cost.
If you really want an AMD then just get a X2 3800 then upgrade to Conroe when you can afford too

 

[BaldAvenger]

Yeah, I thought about the Conroe route, but it is too much of an investent to pick up the new mobo and memory right now, especially as both companies are planning on having quad cores at least demoed by the end of the year. I already have the 939 system base, so its a much cheaper upgrade for me right now. I would hate to pick up the Conroe just to have another cpu set eclipse it at the end of the year. I think I will skip the conroe, at least for the time being.

 

[5t3v0]

I just this week decided to upgrade my overclocked single core Opteron to an X2 on the back of the price cuts and had a similar dilema. I have the G.Skill DDR500 RAM same as the OP and have always wanted to get the max out of them by running 1:1 on 250MHz or more (I know dividers dont hurt performance much but underclocking seems wrong to me). Unfortunately my sticks dont overclock for sh1t so to run a proc at only 250MHz needs a higher muiltiplier to get a decent overclock. Based on this requirement I went for the 4200+ with the x11 multiplier which if I could get the full 250MHz would give 2.75GHz. This is might be optimistic on an X2 but no harm in trying. The 4200+was only £25 more than the 3800+ and I get more options for overclocking, certainaly more than with the x9 multi on the Opty 144. Hopefully it arrives tomorrow.

 

[akugami]

If you plan to overclock and like me you have already invested in S939 (mobo + RAM), just go with an X2 3800+. If you're not planning to overclock and was considering a more expensive dual core CPU. I'd actually look towards selling the mobo & RAM and going Conroe.

As for myself, X2 3800+ ordered and on it's way. Will be overclocking it and if I get 2.5ghz or higher I'll be happy. It'll scream compared to my single core Venice at 2.4ghz for video encoding and a pretty good bang for the buck.