Upgrading from 939 to AM2 for $170...worth it?

[BlueWeasel]

Current setup:
X2 3800+ @ 2.56Ghz (1.375v)
NF4 Ultra-D
1GB PC3200
x850xt

I could upgrade to a good overclocking AM2 board, Brisbane 3600+, and 2GB of DDR2 for around $250. Considering I could sell my existing X2 and board for $80 or so, the end cost would only be around $170. I plan on putting the 1GB DDR I have now into my server.

I have seen most have been able to hit around 2.8Ghz with the Brisbane chips.

Would it be worth it to upgrade for only a 300Mhz clockspeed increase if I'm lucky? Granted, my RAM would double to 2GB, but I don't really game much now.

Would you do it or just wait to upgrade? Honestly, I really have no reason to upgrade, as my current setup is fine for what I do, but I guess I'm just getting the bug to upgrade while I can still sell my 939/DDR for a decent price and DDR2 prices seem to be down.

 

[AVP]

in short no not really...simply because you said your current setup is fine...that $170 will get you a lot further, say next winter

*edit if you are worried about ram prices going up then just buy some ddr2 now, it is not going to get any cheaper.

 

[richardrds]

You can do it for a lot cheaper then $250.

The 3600+ Brisbane has been doing 3.0Ghz no pblm on the TForce 550 mobo, and the Super Talent DDR2 667 has been OCing to 800-850 Mhz (DDR2 800-850) without any problems. So for under $200 you can buy the new hardware and it should do 3.0Ghz for you. Plus the next Gen K10 Agena(quad core) and Kuma(dual core) AMD processors will run on the same AM2 mobo also!!!



$79 - $10(MIR) = $69 BIOSTAR TFORCE 550 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 550 MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138026

$69
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Brisbane 1.9GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO3600DDBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103046

$57 Supper Talent STT DDR2-667 2GB (2x1GB) CL5 S-RIGID Memory Kit
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=T6UX2GC5

 

[BlueWeasel]

Thanks for the info...seeing $200 versus $250 makes it even harder not to buy.

Unfortunately, after looking at the Biostar board in detail, I'm not sure about it. First, unless I upgrade my secondary HD to SATA, I need 2 IDE ports. Secondly, I was hoping the board had Firewire (for my DV camera), but being a entry level board, I should have figured that.

Firewire isn't a deal breaker, as a FW PCI card can be had for $10. However, is there such a thing as IDE-to-SATA adapters that are cheap and don't negatively affect performance? The IDE HD in question is 250GB and I still have plenty of space.

I'm clueless about DDR2, though. Will the SuperTalent RAM be enough to maximize the OC speeds of the Brisbane?

 

[myocardia]

That RAM should get you close to 3 Ghz, I would think. You are aware that the majority of the Brisbanes don't run the RAM 1:1, even when they're set to, aren't you? The 3600 is one of the ones that doesn't run it 1:1. And it doesn't matter which motherboard you use, it's because of the IMC. BTW, I'll give you $80 for your 3800 and Ultra-D, when you decide to get rid of them.

 

[Diogenes2]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Thanks for the info...seeing $200 versus $250 makes it even harder not to buy.

Unfortunately, after looking at the Biostar board in detail, I'm not sure about it. First, unless I upgrade my secondary HD to SATA, I need 2 IDE ports. Secondly, I was hoping the board had Firewire (for my DV camera), but being a entry level board, I should have figured that.

Firewire isn't a deal breaker, as a FW PCI card can be had for $10. However, is there such a thing as IDE-to-SATA adapters that are cheap and don't negatively affect performance? The IDE HD in question is 250GB and I still have plenty of space.

I'm clueless about DDR2, though. Will the SuperTalent RAM be enough to maximize the OC speeds of the Brisbane?

This DFI combo for $128 has firewire and 2 IDE connectors..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136015

I think I've seen a couple of reviews that had this board at 300HT or better, so that should give you pretty good OC headroom for the 3600..

I think the earlier 3g projection for the 3600 was a bit optimistic.

 

[Zstream]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
Current setup:
X2 3800+ @ 2.56Ghz (1.375v)
NF4 Ultra-D
1GB PC3200
x850xt

I could upgrade to a good overclocking AM2 board, Brisbane 3600+, and 2GB of DDR2 for around $250. Considering I could sell my existing X2 and board for $80 or so, the end cost would only be around $170. I plan on putting the 1GB DDR I have now into my server.

I have seen most have been able to hit around 2.8Ghz with the Brisbane chips.

Would it be worth it to upgrade for only a 300Mhz clockspeed increase if I'm lucky? Granted, my RAM would double to 2GB, but I don't really game much now.

Would you do it or just wait to upgrade? Honestly, I really have no reason to upgrade, as my current setup is fine for what I do, but I guess I'm just getting the bug to upgrade while I can still sell my 939/DDR for a decent price and DDR2 prices seem to be down.

Please wait on upgrading. You have a great setup, the video card needs upgrading before you think about the cpu.

This is how I would do it, sell your x850xt. After you sell your XT buy a cheap 7900gs which will hold you over. In three months sell all your stuff for say 300$.

Buy a AM2+ or cheap p35 mobo, then get your 2gb of ddr2 with a quad core cpu.