Need help with AMD proc upgrade choice

[Cr0nJ0b]

I'm looking for some advice on bang for your buck upgrades. I have a Venice 3200+ with 2GB of Corsair ValueRAM on an ASUS A8N-E motherboard. I'm thinking about upgrading the CPU to get a little more life out of the system. I plan to eventually replace the system with a C2D next year, but in the meanwhile, I need more power. I generally don't overclock, but might consider that at some point...and this system will eventually be my Linux server platform when I move to Intel. The options for my Motherboard are:

AMD Opteron 144 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron 146 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron 148 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron 150 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron 152 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron 154 (revE4) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron Dualcore 165 (revE6) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron Dualcore 170 (revE6) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron Dualcore 175 (revE6) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron Dualcore 180 (revE6) (Socket939)  
AMD Opteron Dualcore 185 (revE6) (Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ revE4(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ revE6(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4200+ revE4(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4200+ revE6(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ revE6(110W Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ revE6(89W Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4600+ revE4(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4600+ revE6(Socket939)  
Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4800+ (Socket939)  

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Nohr]

Have a look at the AnandTech Holiday CPU Shopping Guide that came out today.

 

[Wellsoul2]

I'm sort of in the same boat..I'm running an Opteron 148 (939) with a 1900XT graphics.
PCIE, 1MB DDR

The computer is used for HDTV and cable tuner, games etc.

With the 2.2GHZ single core Opteron it's fine except :

HDTV freezes when some backround app checks for updates etc. (Cable Modem)
Same with games occasionally, also sometimes I run sound apps, equalizers etc
at the same times as games or internet videos or dvds.


My question is : Would a cheap dual core AMD X2(939) cure my problems or not?
Will going with a slower 1.8GHZ X2 be better than this 2.2GHZ 1MB cache Opteron?

I just hate the stutter/freeze I get when backround apps start up.
HDTV decode takes alot of CPU.
Also I'd like to be able to record TV and be able to do other stuff.

What are your experiences if any with dual core CPU doing any of these?
Does it work? I need real world story not the hype..

Thanks for any help..

 

[Noubourne]

Opty 165 and overclock is best bang for buck.

A few weeks ago Newegg was handing out killer steppings. Got a CCBBE 0616 from there. It does 2.7Ghz at stock volts, and 2.8 with just 1.375. That's dual-prime and 3d stable.

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

Thanks, I guess I'll go for the Opteron 165 from the egg at $155...unless anyone wants to talk me out of it...

 

[Entropism]

The 170 might be easier on your motherboard. Higher multiplier and all, not sure if it's worth $30 to you.

 

[hclarkjr]

read this thread, i think it will help your decision

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

Ok, so I looked at the link and it was helpful but added too many variables. I'm not going to pay more than $200 for the chip, so that leaves me with a choice between the 165 and 170. I've got a Zalman 7700cu HSF, and I'm usually running pretty cool, so I'm sure that I can clock up without too much trouble from heat...that said, I'm not looking for anything that will force an upgrade of HSF or RAM.

So now, between the 165 and the 170? 165 is $155 nad the 170 is $186.

thanks

 

[11427]

To add more fuel, I picked up a 170 couple days ago and got 3.0GHz with the stock HS and fan and 1.41V.

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

anyone want to comment on thermal grease? I'm looking at Arctic Silver 5. I'm not going to spend a lot for any thermal compound, but I wan to make sure that I'm not picking the worst one either.

 

[m1ldslide1]

AS5= top notch. Although the difference between as5 and whatever stock compound comes on your HSF isn't earth shattering... degree or two maybe.

BTW I just bought my 175 to try to pull 8-12 more months out of my platform and I'm pretty satisfied.

 

[Captante]

Spend the extra $30 for the Opteron 170... the 10X multiplier (vs 9x on the 165) will make your life easier when overclocking.

I've stopped using AS5 & switched to AS Ceramique which works nearly as well, because I prefer to avoid using anything that conducts electricity on my expensive computer parts... true the risk is small, but so is the cooling performance gain.

 

[bahbahbooey]

holy shiiT... this is makin me want to trade in my amd 64 3000+ ocd to 2.6 ghz (got it workin finally) for an opty 170 runnin at 3.0

 

[Cr0nJ0b]

thanks for all the help guys. I'm in for an Opty 170 with AS Ceramique. All should arrive by friday...I'm hoping. You'll see me here again soon asking for n00b advice on how to OC my Asus A8N-E to get that 3.0 everyone is talking about.

 

[customcoms]

I'm also running an Opty 165 (4 weeks old) at 2.7ghz stock everything. Check sig. Haven't gone for the big push. Gotta get some work done and then install some more case cooling .