warm - Opteron 180 at the egg for $115+ s/h

[Laztlain]

Link

 

[child of wonder]

Still a decent CPU by today's standards, especially if overclocked.

 

[onelove]

wow, goodbye 939 x2s

 

[alkemyst]

I went 4000+ to an Opt 165 running 2750...

If you are going to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and the heatsink fan to overclock it would be cheaper to pick up a C2D motherboard/CPU/Mem combo.

If you are just going to buy the Opteron and drop it in, it's a bargain for the power you get.

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I went 4000+ to an Opt 165 running 2750...

If you are going to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and the heatsink fan to overclock it would be cheaper to pick up a C2D motherboard/CPU/Mem combo.

If you are just going to buy the Opteron and drop it in, it's a bargain for the power you get.

I've been debating this issue of upgrading the CPUs in 2 socket 939 PCs (non AM2) while the CPUs are still around OR waiting until I really need to upgrade, and doing a swap-out of the mobo, cpu and RAM. It would be convenient to just replace the CPUs, but another thing to consider...video card standards are changing which means my old 939 systems won't have as much video processing power for gamers as newer setups (i.e., PCI-E version 2.0, PCI-E with 32x bandwidth [maybe part of V2.0], etc.).

If the price was low enough...guess I'd pick up a couple CPUs.

 

[alkemyst]

my 939 board can take whatever is out there now as far as video cards go and probably stay pretty current through another couple years as far as playablilty goes.

 

[Captante]

OOS

 

[HumblePie]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I went 4000+ to an Opt 165 running 2750...

If you are going to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and the heatsink fan to overclock it would be cheaper to pick up a C2D motherboard/CPU/Mem combo.

If you are just going to buy the Opteron and drop it in, it's a bargain for the power you get.

not really. If you go the "cheaper" Intel part route to make the cost the same, you are going to get roughly the same performance. If you go the more expensive route, then you'll get more performance. A good Intel setup, considered "standard" by most tech geeks today, would be either a Q6600 or e8400 + either a good x38 or 780i board + 4GB of ram. That's going to run you closer to $500. An AMD X2 setup with a $100 proc, $50 mobo, and $80-$100 on memory is still cheaper.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Wow. The dual core Opteron prices finally dropped. I didn't think it would happen.

<Edit> Cancel that. That price is only for a batch of OEM Opteron 180s that they had. Sure they went very quickly. The other dual core Opterons are still pricey.

 

[Burrich]

Originally posted by: HumblePie

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I went 4000+ to an Opt 165 running 2750...

If you are going to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and the heatsink fan to overclock it would be cheaper to pick up a C2D motherboard/CPU/Mem combo.

If you are just going to buy the Opteron and drop it in, it's a bargain for the power you get.

not really. If you go the "cheaper" Intel part route to make the cost the same, you are going to get roughly the same performance. If you go the more expensive route, then you'll get more performance. A good Intel setup, considered "standard" by most tech geeks today, would be either a Q6600 or e8400 + either a good x38 or 780i board + 4GB of ram. That's going to run you closer to $500. An AMD X2 setup with a $100 proc, $50 mobo, and $80-$100 on memory is still cheaper.

I picked up an E8400 when they were $200. That combined with that 4GB OCZ SLI Ram ($60? AR), and a Gigabyte P35 board ($80) = $340 for a good setup. I'm still a bit on the fence about using 4GB, since I went with XP Pro 64-bit to use all 4 Gigs.

I'm in the same boat as the OP, I've got a 939 in one of my machines at home in a DFI board. It's a great setup, but is aged. Maybe I'll get a new graphics card and hold out until the next chip release.

 

[Laztlain]

That's what I did. ChiefValue had (maybe still has) the 8800GT 512mb for $183.98 shipped so I couldn't pass that up! The problem is, my mobo is the Asus Crossfire mobo so I can't run SLI on my setup... but I was sick of 8 FPS playing Crysis! And I waited too long to pull the trigger on this Opty 180 and now they are OOS. I am sure I can find a used Opty 165 or 170 on the FS/FT forum for ~$70.... that will breathe new life into my system for a year or two I hope.

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: HumblePie

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I went 4000+ to an Opt 165 running 2750...

If you are going to upgrade to 2GB of RAM and the heatsink fan to overclock it would be cheaper to pick up a C2D motherboard/CPU/Mem combo.

If you are just going to buy the Opteron and drop it in, it's a bargain for the power you get.

not really. If you go the "cheaper" Intel part route to make the cost the same, you are going to get roughly the same performance. If you go the more expensive route, then you'll get more performance. A good Intel setup, considered "standard" by most tech geeks today, would be either a Q6600 or e8400 + either a good x38 or 780i board + 4GB of ram. That's going to run you closer to $500. An AMD X2 setup with a $100 proc, $50 mobo, and $80-$100 on memory is still cheaper.

Rather than spend ~$100-$120 for AMD cpu upgrade on a 939 set-up, 1 could buy a boxed Intel 2140 or 2180 Core2Dual CPU (~$80) and OC it to ~2.8GHz (easy enough from all I've read, unless 1 gets really unlucky and gets a crappy cpu); 2 GBs (1 stick) of RAM ($35) and an Abit IP-35e mobo (~$70). And for less than an additional $85 over the price of a 939 CPU upgrade, 1 would have a much faster and newer PC.

The only thing I don't like about the above, are the "spare parts" lying around collecting dust. I suppose 1 could sell the parts for a few bucks, but they wouldn't fetch much (~$50-$75?).

 

[manavi]

Is a E2xxx C2D @ 2.8GHz really a much faster PC than a Opteron 180? Would 1 tell much of a difference by 1's seat of the pants when using the 2 different PC's?

If 1 were using an Opteron 180 and was considering an upgrade to an E2xxx C2D, would it be a worthwhile upgrade?

Not trying to be sarcastic at all (except maybe the "1" thing). I really don't know if there's a big difference in real-life applications, or which types of applications would provide a noticeable difference.

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: manavi
Is a E2xxx C2D @ 2.8GHz really a much faster PC than a Opteron 180? Would 1 tell much of a difference by 1's seat of the pants when using the 2 different PC's?

If 1 were using an Opteron 180 and was considering an upgrade to an E2xxx C2D, would it be a worthwhile upgrade?

Not trying to be sarcastic at all (except maybe the "1" thing). I really don't know if there's a big difference in real-life applications, or which types of applications would provide a noticeable difference.

To keep with the "3rd party" reference...if Manavi wants to know for sure, Manavi can look for benchmarks with Opteron and Core2Duo CPUs

Okay, enough with the levity...PC hardware is SERIOUS business

From what I've read a month or 2 ago, every Core2Duo CPU (from the 2140 on up) OC'd at 3.0GHz (or more) is faster than every AMD CPU (save the 4-core proc). Now, my reference to an OC of 2.8 GHz for a 2140/2180 CPU is just to be on the safe side. I've also read that "just about" everyone (at least those that post their results) who has tried to OC a 2140/2180 proc was able to pretty much reach 2.9 or 3.0 GHz on air with little or no bumps in voltage. As always with OC'ing...ymmv.

 

[trevor0323]

If any of you guys want to get rid of your skt 939 board for cheap I will take it. I need one for a Opty 144 and old DDR I have laying around. PM me if you have one

 

[medbiker]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
Wow. The dual core Opteron prices finally dropped. I didn't think it would happen.

<Edit> Cancel that. That price is only for a batch of OEM Opteron 180s that they had. Sure they went very quickly. The other dual core Opterons are still pricey.

They're back in stock, still $115.

I just finished OC'ing a 2.2 4200 64x2, P95 stable>12h running at 2800Ghz, or I'd get this.
I'm not going the Intel route when I upgrade, I'll wait until AMD's next decent chip (fingers crossed).
Intel pissed me off when they undercut the prices for the third world computer initiative, making that nonprofit unable to get it's bulk pricing and meet it's price goals. Basically, Intel and AMD both donated a bunch of money to the guy who wanted to provide ultra cheap ($200) computers to third world countries so they could learn to compete, yadda yadda. Then intel realized they could make a tiny profit by offering $400 slightly better computers, enough of the countries who had signed on with the charity initiative (I forget the guys name, but he's an engineering prof at harvard, also on the board that's supposed to keep rupert murdoch from foxing up the wall street journal that he just bought Edit: his name is Negroponte) switched that the charity couldn't get the bulk pricing it needed. really low and lame, considering how little profit they made in stealing the charity's idea and pretty well screwing them and the countries/school districts that couldn't afford more than $200. Pretty much don't care how much better/cheaper intel is right now, I can wait a year or two before I have to sell out. Barret's an Ahole.

 

[BrokenVisage]

back in stock again

 

[beastyben1]

still back in stock.

Add the combo for a 1gb stick of Patriot ddr400 for another $15.99
or the 1gb stick of A-Data ddr400 for $16.99

 

[MrC4]

Out of stock again........

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: manavi
Is a E2xxx C2D @ 2.8GHz really a much faster PC than a Opteron 180? Would 1 tell much of a difference by 1's seat of the pants when using the 2 different PC's?

If 1 were using an Opteron 180 and was considering an upgrade to an E2xxx C2D, would it be a worthwhile upgrade?

Not trying to be sarcastic at all (except maybe the "1" thing). I really don't know if there's a big difference in real-life applications, or which types of applications would provide a noticeable difference.

in a nutshell no. i am running a 2160 @ 3.0GHz and after i got the ddr2 ram on the crazy rebates and picked up a skt775 m/b, i came out very good. but, in the seat of the pants you can't tell the difference between it and a 939 @ ~2.5GHz or so. the only reason i did it was for a certain program i use that uses cpu more than anything and there was enough of a benefit for me to upgrade, but if i didn't use that program, i wouldn't have gone back to intel atm over a 939.

i still have a 939 x2 as my htpc and i am sure it will last me a long, long time. can play 720p x264 movie no problem using the nvidia 6150 onboard gpu. since my home lcd is a 720p, i am good in that area for a long time too.

fwiw, yes the current intels are faster, but there are not a whole lot of areas where on feels the difference. encoding, yes, certain programs yes, but for an all around machine the difference is usually pretty small if at all noticeable.

in all honesty, i haven't "felt" much of a difference since my p4 2.8c unless i use the certain programs i talk about above as i still game @ 1280x1024 and my x1800xt still takes care of that.

 

[nyker96]

I read not too long ago a dude did the same upgrade, sold the 939 mb/CPU/2gb-RAM for like 90 total. then bought 2gb DDR2/IP35-E/E2140 for about 45+75+75=200 bucks. So forked out 110 for the upgrade, OCed the rig to 3Ghz. All set. Oh, I think if you running 3ghz better get a nicer HSF to go with this setup. Also considering how energy efficient C2Ds are, you'd probably save some money over the years.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: nyker96
Also considering how energy efficient C2Ds are, you'd probably save some money over the years.

this really shouldn't be a buying decision - seems intel and amd get their W #s differently - check out system 1 and system 5, both using the EA380W psu here. i too thought there would be more of a difference...

 

[pclstyle]

great proc but mobos are so cheap now the only reason i'd stick with a 939 setup was if i didn't want to go through the hassle of a reformat/reinstall with a new c2d/quad board. $115 2.4 dual vs $199 2.4 quad (q6600) + much larger cache, it's tough to justify.

Drop this baby to $80 and i'd call it a steal.

 

[abre]

bump - back in stock

 

[Budarow]

It's OOS now, but Zipzoomfly.com "just had" the Opteron 165 (dual core, 939, NON-AM2, at 1.8 GHz but is generally OC'able to ~2.4-2.6 GHz from what I've read) for ~$98 shipped ($90 plus shipping which for me was $8 ground). They've had it in and out of stock for the last 2 weeks at this price.

It actually went OOS while I was trying to link to it.

I debated picking 1 up but will opt for a C2D/mobo/DDR2 Ram upgrade in a few months instead.

So if you're looking to upgrade a 939 setup to dual-core, and don't mind OC'ing, keep an eye out for the 165 at ZZF since it's ~$22 cheaper than the 180 at NE.