Is 64 worth it?

[adryan16]

Okay, I'm sure I'll get yelled at for not reading the other 30 dozen posts pertaining to this, but I thought a direct answer to my question would be better.
I built my first computer about 1 year ago, and I'm already looking at buying another. I thought I was convinced that a 64 bit processor is the way to go, (probably Athlon 64 3200), but now I've heard that they aren't all they've cracked up to be. I still obviously want to run Windows XP Pro, but I guess I don't truly understand what the conflicts will be, something about it won't be supported by the architecture? If you could straighten me out on this I'd be greatly appreciative.

By the way, I use my computer for everything from word processing, to video capture, to DVD burning, to Autodesk Inventor, to gaming, so if that makes any difference...

Thanks

 

[0roo0roo]

faster and cheaper then a comparable p4. 64bitness is bonus.

 

[w00t]

better than p4 and 32bit and games easy, than when 64bit windows comes out and drivers for it.

 

[Mik3y]

the athlon 64 doesnt run at 64 bit yet. the 64 bit will be enabled with it pairs up with a 64-bit operating system. in the 32-bit world, the athlon 64 is generally faster and is a better overall performer vs the latest P4's. like orooroo said, 64 bit is just a bonus.

 

[DGath]

Originally posted by: adryan16
Okay, I'm sure I'll get yelled at for not reading the other 30 dozen posts pertaining to this, but I thought a direct answer to my question would be better.
I built my first computer about 1 year ago, and I'm already looking at buying another. I thought I was convinced that a 64 bit processor is the way to go, (probably Athlon 64 3200), but now I've heard that they aren't all they've cracked up to be. I still obviously want to run Windows XP Pro, but I guess I don't truly understand what the conflicts will be, something about it won't be supported by the architecture? If you could straighten me out on this I'd be greatly appreciative.

By the way, I use my computer for everything from word processing, to video capture, to DVD burning, to Autodesk Inventor, to gaming, so if that makes any difference...

Thanks

Don't know who told you they weren't all they're cracked up to be or that you might have problems with XP (Home and Pro are essentially the same), but it's not true. P4's excel at multitasking & most media encoding, but that is about it. AMDs aren't bad at those things, but 64s beat out intel at every other category, especially gaming when you compare price/performance.

 

[dc5]

the 64bit is just an added bonus.

 

[adryan16]

Okay, well that does it then. Thanks a bunch guys. I guess what I was concerned about as well, was that as I reviewed the current beta version of Windows XP 64, was that there were a lot of compatabitily problems with things as simple as DVD playing, or Windows media player. I'm sure that will be remedied come the release version, but it just got me thinking. Thanks again.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
the athlon 64 doesnt run at 64 bit yet. the 64 bit will be enabled with it pairs up with a 64-bit operating system. in the 32-bit world, the athlon 64 is generally faster and is a better overall performer vs the latest P4's. like orooroo said, 64 bit is just a bonus.

Well i agree with everything but the first part. It is enabled just has only beta software to support it with the exception of Linux.

-Kevin

 

[adryan16]

Okay, that's kinda what I understood. It was enabled, but the support wasn't there simply because of the OS, and of course other software now.

 

[adryan16]

Okay, if someone more experienced than I would like to shed their opinion on the setup I'm considering, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Asus K8N-Deluxe
Athlon 64 3200
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 128 MB (Okay, I know this isn't the most powerful video card, but as of now it's the only one, with out paying more for not much more power, that has the Personal Cinema Package, which I love)
(2) Maxtor 200GB SATA 8MB cache 7200RPM
Samsung 52x24x52/16XDVD
Sony 16x Dual Layer, Dual Format DVD Burner
1024 MB Kingston PC3200 Memory

Thanks for any input!

 

[cyberknight]

Athlon 64's are 32 AND 64 bit

 

[Gamingphreek]

Its pretty bad.

For the M/B you should not bother with that. Get the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum. It is just the best 939 out there without question.

For the processor make SURE you get the Winchester core.

THe video card now DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES get a 5200 with that setup you are looking at. At least give it a Geforce 4 Ti 4200 or 4600. If you want personal cinema and stuff then just get an AIW 9600 or something but NOT the 5200 9200 9100 9000 9550 and what not.

THe harddrives, i suppose you are getting two for RAID/ Bragging rights :roll: Do not get Maxtor. Get the Seagate 7200.7 Barracuda drives. Also Western Digitals though noisy are very nice drives.

Everything else is fine until the memory. DO not get Kingston as they always have stability problems and just aren't as good as the Corsair. Get the COrsair value select dimms which are cheaper and faster.

YOu get that your computer will be much better

Athlon 64's are 32 AND 64 bit

Yeah we already said that :roll:

-Kevin

 

[adryan16]

Wow, okay. May I ask why about the video card? And as far as the hard drives are concerned, I'm getting two for mainly DVD purposes; burning, holding rips and such. The harddrives, okay, I'll go Seagate, then the price is negligible. And I will trust you on the memory, I've not had any trouble with the Kingston in my comp right now, but you're more seasoned I'm sure. I just don't understand about the video card, and I'm not exactly sure how to know whether I'm getting a Winchester core CPU? Sorry to sound dumb, but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

 

[KamiXkaze]

Value for value AMD wins. the only way Intel will compare is if they loose alot of market share(which for right now not going to happen) then they will come up with something to beat Amd.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: adryan16
Okay, well that does it then. Thanks a bunch guys. I guess what I was concerned about as well, was that as I reviewed the current beta version of Windows XP 64, was that there were a lot of compatabitily problems with things as simple as DVD playing, or Windows media player. I'm sure that will be remedied come the release version, but it just got me thinking. Thanks again.

The version of WinXP64 that you and the press have access to is v1218. The latest build is v1289 and is RC1. I'll be installing it tonight. But even the last beta build, v1260, fixed many of the glaring issues you read about. RC1 ought to be pretty damn sweet. I can't wait to get home and install it.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: adryan16
Wow, okay. May I ask why about the video card? And as far as the hard drives are concerned, I'm getting two for mainly DVD purposes; burning, holding rips and such. The harddrives, okay, I'll go Seagate, then the price is negligible. And I will trust you on the memory, I've not had any trouble with the Kingston in my comp right now, but you're more seasoned I'm sure. I just don't understand about the video card, and I'm not exactly sure how to know whether I'm getting a Winchester core CPU? Sorry to sound dumb, but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

Well seeing as everyone else is OT.

Th 6800NU has 256bit bus width as well as 12 Pixel Pipelines. It also comes equipped with 128mb of GDDR running at (Core: 425; Memory 350*2=700)

The 6600GT comes with a 128bit bus width as well as 8 Pixel Pipelines. It also comes equippied with 128mb of GDDR3 (IIRC something like 450 core; 500*2=1000memory).

As you can see the 6800NU is superior in everything but memory. That is what helps the 6600GT keep up, however when you enable AA or AF or turn up the detail the smaller data width kills performance.

As for the CPU, well just look on the specs. Does it say 90nm processing technology, or WInchester? What does it say because winchester is definately worth the extrra $.

-Kevin

 

[adryan16]

Okay, I found a Winchester CPU. And I can see what you're saying with the video cards. I really like the functionality of my nVidia card with the Personal Cinema Package, but I see that ATI offers something similar with the ALL-in-Wonder card packages. I'll keep looking, and thanks for the advice. I guess I was looking cheap as the college-kids budget keeps a tight hold on my wallet. Thanks kevin.

 

[JBDan]

To find out if the processor your getting is a Winchester core it will have BI in the product name for example: ADA3000DIK4BI
This is the AMD64 Winchester 3000+. BI meaning Winchester 90nanometer! This is printed on the actual heatspreader of the processor. GET THE WINCHESTER!

 

[adryan16]

Good bit of info, I'll keep an eye out for that in the product names. Thanks

 

[Frew]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Its pretty bad.

For the M/B you should not bother with that. Get the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum. It is just the best 939 out there without question.

For the processor make SURE you get the Winchester core.

THe video card now DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES get a 5200 with that setup you are looking at. At least give it a Geforce 4 Ti 4200 or 4600. If you want personal cinema and stuff then just get an AIW 9600 or something but NOT the 5200 9200 9100 9000 9550 and what not.

THe harddrives, i suppose you are getting two for RAID/ Bragging rights :roll: Do not get Maxtor. Get the Seagate 7200.7 Barracuda drives. Also Western Digitals though noisy are very nice drives.

Everything else is fine until the memory. DO not get Kingston as they always have stability problems and just aren't as good as the Corsair. Get the COrsair value select dimms which are cheaper and faster.

YOu get that your computer will be much better


-Kevin

The MSI board is having problems recongizing the Winchester Core CPUs. So I wouldnt recommend them.

The Video card part I agree. Seagate part I agree.

Memory.... No, Kingston is one of the best brands out there. It is as good or better than Corsair, Crucial, Mushkin, etc.

 

[coolred]

And AIW ownz personal cinema.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Personal Cinema isn't that bad anymore. It is becoming competitive. Still ATI has the name and still IMO wins this category.

-Kevin

 

[adryan16]

Originally posted by: LeadFrog

The MSI board is having problems recongizing the Winchester Core CPUs. So I wouldnt recommend them.

The Video card part I agree. Seagate part I agree.

Okay, you wouldn't recommend the MSI board, of the Winchest Core CPU's?

 

[Gamingphreek]

No with later revision it has no problem recogniszing the new cores. If so just flash the BIOS, nothing big.

Kingston is not one of the best. They make cheap RAM. What you mean is they are prominent. COrsair PWNS the kingston RAM. I have had both and the Corsair is much faster and more stable.

-Kevin

 

[biostud]

sounds like what you need is an ATi 9600 AIW