Whats the best single core AM2 for overclogking ?

[Mjvyxyn]

I'm looking for the absolute best single core AM2 cpu for overclocking, any ideas on what one would be the king ? Please provide some sort of linkage so I can have something solid to base my decision off of.

 

[Arkaign]

Ok, I'll bite.

*WHY* would you be buying a single-core AM2 proc? They're very close in price to the dual-cores, and the overclocking range is really close no matter which way you go. With all the dual-core advantages, I just don't understand your question. Unless you are on a shoestring budget.

There are three choices anyway ..

Sempron, for extra cheap, and you'll probably see the single largest mhz boost over stock here. But with the wimpy cache, the performance penalty is unacceptable for most enthusiasts/overclockers.

A64 3500

A64 3800

These are pretty fast procs, and if you just game and not much else, they're decent enough. The 3500 will reach the same end speeds as the 3800, as both are orleans cores. 2.6 is expected on ok air cooling, and up to 3ghz on high-end air or cheap watercooling.

good luck and do look into dual-cores

 

[Brunnis]

Do you want exact stepping info, or what? The 3500+ and 3800+ should, as said, overclock similarly. I have a 3500+ on socket AM2 and it does 2.8GHz on 1.525V with an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro. It's hardly a great overclocker, but it's definitely not that bad either.

 

[Zap]

I got my Sempron 2800+ to around 2.6GHz mostly stable. That's good bang for buck on a $40 CPU.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Well, I think if budget is limit, take Sempron 2800+, with a good mobo, it can OC to 2.7Gz or 3G with a good thermal solution. If money is a small problem, take X2 3600+ best price/performace, it is only behind X2 3800+ form 2-5%. If you have more 200 bucks, take Core 2 Duo like 6300, it can OC like crazy, but mobo for OC is expensive. I think X2 3600+ is the best for performace/price, we can use the remain money for more RAM or Vid card, the system will be more balance than only use for CPU or mobo.

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

*WHY* would you be buying a single-core AM2 proc? They're very close in price to the dual-cores, and the overclocking range is really close no matter which way you go. With all the dual-core advantages, I just don't understand your question. Unless you are on a shoestring budget.

I made the choice to go with a single core AM2 3800+. Why? Because in the UK, it was £79, while a dual-core X2 3800+ was £112, that's quite a big difference to me, considering that there are still many apps/games that aren't multi-threaded. In fact, I saw enough threads of some people still having weird problems with dualcore patches not working, and issues with older games (which I'd still like to play), that I got completely turned off by it. At the moment, a good single core solution overclocked would be a nice lower-end choice IMO. I simply don't run enough apps at the same time to really hurt the processor.

And the future-proof argument doesn't work with me either, as a dualcore processor with two slow cores could still end up struggling when things really take off in multi-processor usage. When something like 8 fast cores are the norm in about 3-4 years, that'll be the point I'll move on, but for now I could happily make a single core processor last until then. Only running at stock at the moment, and it's more than fast enough.

 

[Mjvyxyn]

It's not a budget thing but I'd like to get 3ghz or more for 3DMark05 purposes. 512k or 1mb L2 is a must, no semperons. I won't be using liquid cooling so the CPU must be able to do 3ghz off of air and from what I've seen in single core vs dual core on the 939's is the single cores clocked higher off of air. Currently I have a 4400x2 and it won't go past 2.6ghz with air and I updated the bios on my K9N Sli Platinum.

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
It's not a budget thing but I'd like to get 3ghz or more for 3DMark05 purposes. 512k or 1mb L2 is a must, no semperons. I won't be using liquid cooling so the CPU must be able to do 3ghz off of air and from what I've seen in single core vs dual core on the 939's is the single cores clocked higher off of air. Currently I have a 4400x2 and it won't go past 2.6ghz with air and I updated the bios on my K9N Sli Platinum.

If you have a 4400+ at 2.6Ghz (which is a 5200+ basically) then I would under no circumstances go to a single core CPU just for 3D Mark 05, dualcore is bound to be much better for future games, and the one you have is more than fast enough for current games.

 

[Mjvyxyn]

Yeah, but I wanna get 13k on 3Dmark05 and with my 4400X2 I'm only getting 12.2k with my 8800GTS. So my question remains the same. What is the best Single core AM2 cpu for overclocking, I want at least 512k L2 so no semperons and I'd like 3ghz off of air. If anyone knows of a stepping on a single core CPU that can do this please share the wealth and let me know.

 

[A554SS1N]

Remember that 512kb cache doesn't scale as well as 1mb cache, so if, for example, the 3700+ with 1mb cache @2.2Ghz ran as fast in games as a 3800+ @2.4Ghz and 512kb cache, then you're 2.6Ghz with 1mb cache is probably as good as a 2.9Ghz 512kb cache core anyway, and so trying to overclock a 512kb single core processor a bit over 3.0Ghz isn't going to make up the gap in 3D Mark 05. Unfortunately as it's AM2, there are no 1mb cache single core processors. The only other way is getting a 5200+ X2 that runs at 2.6Ghz anyway, and overclock that to 2.9Ghz ish (like what a guy did in another thread on here).

 

[Mjvyxyn]

Yeah but I'm not plopping down any more on another X2 and 2.8 - 3ghz on a single core with 512k L2 would prob whooop 2.6 with 1mb L2. My other thought is trading my crap out for a good 939 setup and getting an opty 170 and a gb of OCZ Platinum EL PC4800 which is starting to look mighty tempting.

 

[lyssword]

umm, 3dmark 05 is dual-core optimized, you won't get better performance with single core

 

[A554SS1N]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
Yeah but I'm not plopping down any more on another X2 and 2.8 - 3ghz on a single core with 512k L2 would prob whooop 2.6 with 1mb L2. My other thought is trading my crap out for a good 939 setup and getting an opty 170 and a gb of OCZ Platinum EL PC4800 which is starting to look mighty tempting.

No, 2.8-3.0Ghz on a single core with 512kb cache wouldn't "whoop" your 2.6Ghz with 1mb cache, it'd be not much different at all. Stay with what you have is my only advice... and get this crazy idea about downgrading to single core out of your head. I'm sayig this for the good of you, otherwise you might end up disappointed.... I hope you realise that.

 

[Mjvyxyn]

So do you guys think I should just drop my AM2 mobo/cpu and get a 939 Opty 170 and Sli-DR then ? I want that dang 13k+ 3dMark05 score that I know damn well this 8800GTS can do.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
So do you guys think I should just drop my AM2 mobo/cpu and get a 939 Opty 170 and Sli-DR then ? I want that dang 13k+ 3dMark05 score that I know damn well this 8800GTS can do.

Why the hell would you do that? You do realize that it won't make a whit of difference in real games, right? Also, you aren't terribly likely to get 3Ghz on air with any of the dual-core socket 939 chips. It's possible, but most people at least need water or phase to hit those speeds.

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
So do you guys think I should just drop my AM2 mobo/cpu and get a 939 Opty 170 and Sli-DR then ? I want that dang 13k+ 3dMark05 score that I know damn well this 8800GTS can do.

What exactly will you gain if your score hits 13,000? Happiness? Satisfaction? Another 0.5 FPS? I just don't understand why you spend an extra cent for that score? I could understand if you wanted to oc some more to try to reach that score (at least this way what you have to gain is a sense of achievement), but spending extra money for those 800 points is plain stupid.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: avi85

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
So do you guys think I should just drop my AM2 mobo/cpu and get a 939 Opty 170 and Sli-DR then ? I want that dang 13k+ 3dMark05 score that I know damn well this 8800GTS can do.

What exactly will you gain if your score hits 13,000? Happiness? Satisfaction? Another 0.5 FPS? I just don't understand why you spend an extra cent for that score? I could understand if you wanted to oc some more to try to reach that score (at least this way what you have to gain is a sense of achievement), but spending extra money for those 800 points is plain stupid.

If you're up for a platform change, why on god's green earth would you go for s939?

Get P965 or wait for 650i possibly. A well overclocked 6300 will be faster than anything you can do with AMD at this point.

Meh

 

[Mjvyxyn]

Cause I'm an INTEL hater : )

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
Cause I'm an INTEL hater : )

Well that makes perfect sense

In that case, look into phase .. you're gonna need some hella Mhz to get what you want.

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: MJVyxyn
Cause I'm an INTEL hater : )

Intel currently offers more bang for the buck than AMD, I assure you that AMD isn't gonna do you any special favors just cause you're a loyal fan, go for the better performing platform if you've gotta buy a new system.