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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Groomerdriver on March 30, 2007, 03:34:40 PM
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Please help me my friends!
Is the Athlon 64 that much better than a Sempron? Still looking for a 3rd home PC and one I found has the Sempron. Most PC's that I've been looking at with AMD's have had the Athlon 64.
Your opinions please!!
Thanks!
Jim
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This comparison chart may be a bit more detailed than you're looking for, but it will help you sort out the features of the various chips. Click on "View all products":
http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/Default.aspx
Also, if you haven't already done so, browse through the AMD website for additional information:
http://www.amd.com
Personally, I have no preference between AMD and Intel. Both are good products. Your choice there. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a computer with an AMD chip.
To generalize...
If your computing needs lean toward just web browsing, email, word processing, and some photo editing and music downloading, go with the Sempron. It provides good performance, and is cost effective. (If you use Linux, add 1 gig of RAM, and you have a fine box indeed. :))
If, in addition to what's listed above, you're into gaming, video downloading, and more "advanced" tasks with a computer, you might look at the Athlon family of processors.
Is the Athlon 64 that much better than a Sempron?
To answer your question directly, no, both are fine. One's not "better" than the other, there are just different expectations from each family of processors.
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Hard to top orangecrate's post but just to add that The Sempron is AMD's value line of processors much like intel's Celeron line. Having said that its still a good chip. the current semprons are 64-bit but all semprons are single core where Athlons come in both dual and single core versions.
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Please help me my friends!
Is the Athlon 64 that much better than a Sempron? Still looking for a 3rd home PC and one I found has the Sempron. Most PC's that I've been looking at with AMD's have had the Athlon 64.
Your opinions please!!
Thanks!
Jim
You will have to be more specific than that . You see there are many different Sempron versions out there and not all offer the same performance. Eg. you have Semprons based on the old athlon xp core , semprons based on the athlon 64 core , semprons with 128kb l2 cache(i advise against those) semprons with 256 kb l2 cache etc.
I would advise to go with the athlon 64 since they are so cheap these days. But if you can add a little extra money go with an amd x2 series or if you can squeeze out a little more Intel's e4xxx and e6xxx series are the best cpu's money can buy these days.
But like OrangeCrate said it really all comes down to what you will be using that machine for.
If you can give us some links to the configurations you are interested in we can analyze them together and help you decide.
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AMD Sempron is equal to Barton core CPU (AthlonXP).
AMD Sempron 754 is the same as Athlon 64 for socket S754 except it has no x64 support.
AMD Athlon 64 for S754 and S939 are full featured Athlons from Athlon64 series.
AMD Athlon X2 is a dual core Athlon 64 CPU
AMD Athlon FX is an enthusiast class CPU, basically the same as Athlon 64, just with extra L2 cache and insane speeds.
AMD Opteron is a server/workstation CPU
Either way i'd go with Athlon64 or X2. Actually today i'd go only with X2. There are S939 models but you'll need AM2 socket mobo for these. If you have budget, go with Core 2 Duo/Quad or just wait for AMD's Barcelona core ;D Dual core rox if you like speed when compressing/decompressing files, rendering 3D scenes or just want to use your PC normally when performing extremelly intensive tasks. Just asign the program to second core and PC will remain as responsive as when it's idling.
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@Rejzor: Very well said my fellow countryman but you forgot about the AM2 Sempron's which differ from the s754 Sempron's only in that they now feature a dual channel memory ddr 2 controller(the old ones only worked in single channel mode) and of course a new socket. :)
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Yes, that too, but DualChannel has little to no effect on Athlons :( Intel chips always showed bigger gains with DC enabled...
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How true!
Lucky for me i am on Intel now and plan on keeping it that way for awhile. I just like the core duo so much ... ;D
Here's a review for one of those AM2 Semprons if anyone is interested ... http://www.pcstats.com/artvnl.cfm?articleID=2004 (http://www.pcstats.com/artvnl.cfm?articleID=2004)
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Hehe, C2D E4300 here ;D To bad my overclock already stopped at only 2,4GHz :( Not sure whether it's CPU or mobo problem... Still it's one hell of a CPU even at 2,4GHz. Somewhere on the E6600 level minus 4MB cache of course. Athlons X2 are cheaper but when you look at the fact that even X2 5000+ is barelly keeping up with just E4300/E6300 it just makes no sense in using it.
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Hehe, C2D E4300 here ;D To bad my overclock already stopped at only 2,4GHz :( Not sure whether it's CPU or mobo problem... Still it's one hell of a CPU even at 2,4GHz. Somewhere on the E6600 level minus 4MB cache of course. Athlons X2 are cheaper but when you look at the fact that even X2 5000+ is barelly keeping up with just E4300/E6300 it just makes no sense in using it.
I am also using the e4300 and i have to say i am really happy with it ! :)
(http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/961/cpuzbx9.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
I know this cpu can OC to 3ghz easily but unfortunately this is the most i could squeeze out of my mobo(asrock 4coredual-vsta). No problem though as the performance is stunningly good at this frequency. ;)
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Its very good considering the core voltage level shown on CPU-Z if your MB could up the core voltage it might go further but you then need to look at your heatsink and fan and monitor temps, but they are low to start with.
The E4300 is really rated as a great value good overclocking option.
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I tried mine at 1,55 volts with no luck. Just won't go any higher than 2,4GHz (1066MHz QDR FSB).
Cooler is so effective i can run it completelly passive.
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THis is some intense stuff folks!!! I'm only looking for a 3rd PC for the house. Mild gaming, CD burning, watching DVD's (not much), MS Office Programs and surfing. Do want a larger HD to store photos, and this PC will become the "parents" PC, and the one I'm on now (1.5 P4, 512mb, 128mb Radeon 9500 card, 200gig Seagte HD) get's handed down to the young kids room.
Need to spend <USD300 to my choices are limited.
Keep the comments coming!! I really enjoy reading the replies!!!
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Well, in that case, Athlon 64 3200+/3400+/3500+ should do it. You can also check Athlon X2 4200+ if you want budget dual core CPU.
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Well, in that case, Athlon 64 3200+/3400+/3500+ should do it. You can also check Athlon X2 4200+ if you want budget dual core CPU.
So far I've had a hard time finding the above for under USD300. If they come up, they go FAST!!
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Well having a budget is a great start point and only those on the first 4 on the first page of the above link apply. Based on your requirements which aren't to demanding, the mild gaming is probably the main factor that requires processor and graphics power and if you aren't going to be trying the latest games that require v-powerful graphics.
All of them have integrated graphics which aren't particularly powerful and they will also eat into your RAM as some of that is allocated to graphics. Adding extra RAM at purchase costs little ($29.99 for an extra 512MB) and would improve overall performance.
The first system appears to offer good value and allows for extra RAM and possibly stretch to a better external VGA graphics card. However, none of the systems mentioned come with a monitor. You could pick up a very cheap CTR one or possibly a small TFT.
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@DavidR: This cpu shouldn't require an increase in voltage with speeds below or up to 2.8-3.0ghz ;) It's the asrock mobo that's holding me back , usually these mobos can go up to around 290 fsb. That's if you're lucky as some people reported they can't even go over 270. Mine hits the wall at 297 BTW. Here's a review of the mobo:
http://www.pro-clockers.com/review.php?id=207 (http://www.pro-clockers.com/review.php?id=207)
And these are my full load temps after torturing both cores with Orthos for a couple hours(cooler Zalman CNPS9500 AT (http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/view.asp?idx=193&code=009)):
(http://img451.imageshack.us/img451/3789/coretempfh3.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
@Groomerdriver: I guess this one (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2772907&CatId=2659) falls in your category but it's a pretty weak machine so it won't be exactly good for gaming. It's fine for normal usage though. What games do you play BTW?
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Thanks, those Temps are good, especially after load testing, my poor old over-clocked AMD XP-M is at 39-40c at the moment, but I have my CPU fan dialled right down at 1650 rpm for the quiet. I have been an ardent AMD fan for many years, feeling the Intel were really over priced and hotter than Hades compared to AMD.
Now the Core 2 Duo has turned that on its head and the heat is on AMD so to speak, whilst they are a little more expensive than many of the AMD x2 CPUs it isn't that much, but the value for money is aspect is hard to beat (low power, low temps, good performance and OC potential). AMD really have to pull their socks up if they are not to be totally left behind, I hope this doesn't happen as CPU prices would I fear creep higher with a lack of competition, not good for us the consumer.
It will be a while before I upgrade my system, not being a gamer of video editor, etc. I can wait and see how the future develops.
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...I'm only looking for a 3rd PC for the house...
...look at some of the boxes I'm looking at, check this link:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/openbox/openbox_slc.asp?CatId=6&category=Desktop%20Computers
Need to spend <USD300 to my choices are limited.
All the technical jargon and advice aside, for your limited needs, and budget target, any of those would be O.K. (All of those boxes are better than the six year old HP 512n I have.)
Take David's advice, and bump the RAM to 1 Gig when you can. As he said, RAM is cheap, and the benefit is great. If you ever need additional storage, external hard drives are cheap too.
Thanks for the link, I've bookmarked it for future reference.
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...The first system appears to offer good value and allows for extra RAM and possibly stretch to a better external VGA graphics card...
Agreed. In fact, I may buy one of those myself - the price is definitely right, and the hardware setup is Linux friendly.
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...The first system appears to offer good value and allows for extra RAM and possibly stretch to a better external VGA graphics card...
Agreed. In fact, I may buy one of those myself - the price is definitely right, and the hardware setup is Linux friendly.
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Did one of you guys buy that $229 system??!!!!! :-\ :'(
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Did one of you guys buy that $229 system??!!!!! :-\ :'(
Not me, is it gone?
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Did one of you guys buy that $229 system??!!!!! :-\ :'(
Not me, is it gone?
yes.... :'(
THey'll have more...I just have to be patient. The thing I dont want to do is be penny wise and dollar foolish, so I'm trying to find out as much as I can b4 I buy. Tiger is a good place to buy stuff....my employers and I have been buying stuff from them for years and have never had a problem.
FYI - Ultra brand memory (supposed to be one of the better choices) is on sale (ends tonite). 512 DDR 3200 for $30 after rebate. Was going to buy this if I would have bought a PC.
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yes.... :'(
Rats. That really was a good buy. I'll watch too, and PM you if I see them again. Do the same for me...
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If you are to use this computer for viewing dvds as stated above, I would stay away from older graphics such as the GeForce4 Mx (2 on that link had this) as that is now very old and will decrease dvd viewing pleasure. I had one of those cards about 5 years ago and in it's time, it was ok. But, I would not want to use it these days ... especially with dvds and other video applications.
Just my 2 cents worth. :)
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If you are to use this computer for viewing dvds as stated above, I would stay away from older graphics such as the GeForce4 Mx (2 on that link had this) as that is now very old and will decrease dvd viewing pleasure. I had one of those cards about 5 years ago and in it's time, it was ok. But, I would not want to use it these days ... especially with dvds and other video applications.
Just my 2 cents worth. :)
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What about a GeForce 6100?
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What about a GeForce 6100?
It doesn't specify exactly which chip set it has, but this might be helpful:
NVIDIA® GeForce 6100 / nForce 430
The brand new NVIDIA® GeForce 6100 / nForce 430 MCP (Media and Communications Processor) features CineFX™ 3.0 Engine. This unique combination of MCP creates a single motherboard featuring a world-class DX9, Shader Model 3.0 GPU for faster and smoother game-play, a high quality video processing engine for advance quality of video and DVD playback.
If you decide to get it, I wouldn't wait too long... ;)
Edit:
Just saw your PM, and responded - Thanks.
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What about a GeForce 6100?
Better than a geforce 4mx no doubt there ... ;)
Review: http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2539 (http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2539)