Socket 754 Advice Needed

[Salvador]

I'm looking to buy either a 3000+ Venice core socket 754 or a 3200+ Winchester. Both are the same price. I heard that the Venice core is more overclockable and has some support for 4 DIMM's of RAM.

I'm using an ECS nForce3-A motherboard and I'm not completely sure of the overclocking capability because I've been running a Sempron at stock speeds. I'd like to try overclocking though if the board would permit it.

Given my situation, which cpu would you get?

 

[o1die]

I'd go for the cheaper of the 2. Newegg and computer geeks have sold out of socket 754 athlons. They must be getting scarce. Newegg may have a few listed tonight when they post their open box returns, if you're interested. I wouldn't pay over $40 for either one.

 

[Salvador]

Originally posted by: o1die
I'd go for the cheaper of the 2. Newegg and computer geeks have sold out of socket 754 athlons. They must be getting scarce. Newegg may have a few listed tonight when they post their open box returns, if you're interested. I wouldn't pay over $40 for either one.

The problem is that they are both the same price and both under $40 shipped used. I'm buying used btw. I can't find any new at this point. I check open box at Newegg, but these chips haven't been sold as a retail version lately. Only the Semprons. Most of them have been OEM.

Which would you rather have for the same price? A 3200+ Winchester or a 3000+ Venice? Is there really that much difference in stock speeds between the two if I don't OC?

 

[o1die]

I'd go for the venice 3200. Newegg got them in stock tonight (open box) for $31.40 plus shipping. Better hurry. The venice cores normally overclock a little better.

 

[covert24]

get the venice. better stability, better steping, higher overclock potential.

 

[Salvador]

Originally posted by: o1die
I'd go for the venice 3200. Newegg got them in stock tonight (open box) for $31.40 plus shipping. Better hurry. The venice cores normally overclock a little better.

I saw that. I'm a bit worried about that though because I just read a horror story about newegg open box cpus.

 

[o1die]

I would recommend newegg open box over anything used, especially on ebay. Newegg has always taken care of any problems I've had. If in doubt, place an rma as soon as you receive it, in case you have any problems. Rma's expire in 15 to 30 days if you don't use them.

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

I would take the 3200+ Winchester just because the multiplier is already locked at a higer number (probably from a 7x to 8x). If that is true with the multiplier (don't remember what my is), you can then play with FSB speed to get the best overclock.

With my 939 3000+ (I believe Winchester) I am sitting just over 2400Mhz (with 1800 being default) and that is on the std. H/F combo.

 

[f4phantom2500]

find out if the sellers know how well the chips oc. if so get the one that oc's higher. if neither of them oc well i'd look elsewhere. if they don't know how well they oc go with the venice. i know someone with that chip and he had it running at 2.4ghz without changing anything else.

toxicrage, idk what you're talking about on the multi, the 754 3000 venice is a 2ghz chip, which would make it 10x200. also it looks like there isn't a 754 winchester chip...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...roprocessors#Athlon_64

you sure it's not a newcastle or something?

anyway, if i didn't know the overclocking potentials and i trusted the sellers, and if the price is good, id go with the venice just because it's newer and will most likely overclock well.

EDIT:

oh and 754 only supports single channel memory, and i think that still applies to 754 venices since they're 754. although the memory controller is integrated into the chip...but i thought 754 only supported single channel...hey can anyone confirm whether the 754 venices are single or dual channel memory?

in either case, good luck finding a 754 board with 4 memory DIMMs.

 

[Bradtechonline]

I would defiantly buy the Venice core. I just upgraded from my Socket 754 setup that I had for about 2 1/2 years. I sold my Clawhammer 3700+, and it still went for $114.50 all these years later. That Venice core should be able to OC pretty high IIRC.

Ebay isn't a real bad option. I know I've sold a lot of stuff on it, and people have been very happy with the experiences. Just read peoples review history. I would prefer newegg over Ebay but the difference isn't night and day. There are responsible sellers on ebay like myself.

All Socket 754 CPU's will only support Single Channel Memory from what I recall regardless if it's Venice, or ClawHammer

 

[Stumps]

I'd go with the venice...they seem to have more head room for overclocking, I was able to get my old 3000+ up to 2.87ghz at 1.5v it ran flawlessly for over a year until I upgraded to my current rig...no it it doing duties as my file server and still going strong at 2.87ghz.