Input regarding next CPU. Opteron 148/175.

croc_croc_ New
edited December 2005 in Hardware
I'm torn between the two.

I can pick up an OEM 175 for $475 shipped or an OEM 148 for around $200-220.

I like the idea of dual core, and I would love to try it out.

From what I have read across 3 different forums, the 148's will OC higher than the 175 (the one I'm looking at is week 41).

I know for everyday use and multitasking the dual core will be beneficial, but for gaming ... how soon will games be utilizing more than one core/cpu? Will the 175's dual cores make that much of a difference in overall system speed?

I wish I could just sit down somewhere and mess with them both.

I already plan on getting a DFI SLI-DR Expert and currently own some decent TCCD (Corsair TwinX 4400C25).

So is the $200 more for the 175 worth it? I just want your guys opinions. I'm not looking for you to make the decision for me.

Any input is appreciated!

Comments

  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited December 2005
    I had pretty good luck with my 148 so far :thumbup

    http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39733

    Dual-core has many benefits, but at this point, I decided to go single core because of the lower cost and higher performance (until more threaded applications emerge).. I upgrade at least once per year now anyhow, so for me it's not a big deal. If you are the type to keep your hardware for extended periods of time, I'd suggest a dual-core.

    If you are going to OC these badboys, make sure you have an aftermarket HSF. They get really hot, especially some of the E4 single cores.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I think you'd have more fun with the 148 personally. Save your money for a better chipset. my $.02
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    A singlecore at 2.8 ghz gets beaten in most modern games by a dualcore at 2.65 or so.
    Ad the benefits that you can have your antivirus, spykillers, folding and whatnot and game at the same time with no penaltys whatsoever with dualcore. If you want the best bang for the buck cpu today, it's the 3800+ X2 cpu.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I ask again how well do these Opterons run games?
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    A singlecore opteron run games precisely like a San Diego at the same clock since the opterons are....San Diego. A dualcore runs the same game 10% faster on the games that supports dualcore. Even 3dmark05 gives a healthy boost. Dualcore at 2.6 gets a better score than a singlecore at 2.8. It scales even more at higher clocks.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    hmm intresting! IM almost guessing because it is a Opteron! as it can task a bit better because of the Cache levels!

    Would the Opteron 170 be better than the 3800 X2?
    Opteron Link!
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103586
    3800 X2 Link!
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562

    Specs:

    3800 X2
    64 bit Support: Yes
    Cooling Device: Heatsink and Fan
    Hyper-Transport Support: Yes
    L1 Cache: 64KB+64KB
    L2 Cache: 2 x 512KB
    Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
    Operating Frequency: 2.0GHz
    Process Type: 90 nm
    Series: Athlon 64 X2
    Voltage: 1.35-1.4V


    Opteron 170
    64 bit Support: Yes
    Cooling Device: Heatsink and Fan
    Hyper-Transport Support: Yes
    L1 Cache: 64KB+64KB
    L2 Cache: 2MB
    Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
    Operating Frequency: 2.0GHz
    Process Type: 90 nm
    Series: Opteron
    Voltage: 1.3 V/1.35 V

    so the Opteron looks to stack up better with 512Kb more per core of Cache, and it runs at a tad bit lower voltage... and from the sounds of it it OC's better than the 3800 X2

    3800 X2 cost $327.00
    Opteron 170 cost $440.00

    I would say the cost difference is better just for the cache!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    hmm intresting! IM almost guessing because it is a Opteron! as it can task a bit better! than a regular single core!

    In 64-bit, i would agree. In this case, it's simply the dual cores. Games that takes 100% cpu power definitely gain with dualcore, opteron or not.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    read comparision above!
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited December 2005
    csimon wrote:
    I think you'd have more fun with the 148 personally. Save your money for a better chipset. my $.02

    Well I'm buying the new DFI NF4 Expert no matter what, so it really just comes down to the processor.

    I took a look at the 3800+ X2, looks promising but I still wonder how well they overclock.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    My buddy runs a 3800 X2 it clocks well but, i think the 170's wil clock better and with the cache ratings it might be worth it to drop the extra cash! no pun intended!
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    My buddy runs a 3800 X2 it clocks well but, i think the 170's wil clock better and with the cache ratings it might be worth it to drop the extra cash! no pun intended!

    I know for certain that the 170's will fold better clock for clock! The extra cache does seem to make a difference.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    well my main concern is gaming! if these are all people say they are cracked up to be they might just outperform a 4800 X2! I'm tempted to buy one just to find out. if so it is a cheaper alternative with the same Cache rankings... even if you go the 175 or the 180! it is stil cheaper than the 4800 X2
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I wonder what Opteron single core is better than the Athlon 64 4000+ witht he higher cache levels I am wondering now! I all excited about these chips and I don;t knwo why!
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    I wonder what Opteron single core is better than the Athlon 64 4000+ witht he higher cache levels I am wondering now! I all excited about these chips and I don;t knwo why!

    my guess is that the best 939 opteron single core is the 152 at 2.6ghz 1mb cache. The 150 should be equal to the a64 4000+ and a much better price than the 152.

    A good article from techreport on the opterons ...http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/opteron-x75/index.x?pg=1

    "One Opteron 175 performs slightly better than a pair of Opteron 248s running at the same clock speed, and it does so while consuming less power than a single-core Opteron 152."
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited December 2005
    csimon wrote:
    my guess is that the best 939 opteron single core is the 152 at 2.6ghz 1mb cache. The 150 should be equal to the a64 4000+ and a much better price than the 152.

    A good article from techreport on the opterons ...http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/opteron-x75/index.x?pg=1

    There is actually a 154 as well at 2.8GHz. Wish I had one of those.. :D
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    so what proc in the AMD Athlon series would a Opteron 170 compare to?
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    so what proc in the AMD Athlon series would a Opteron 170 compare to?
    there is no 2ghz 2mb x2 that I am aware of ...so the closest would be the 4400 x2 which is on par with the 175. The only difference between the 170 and 175 is 200mhz.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    well the 4800+ X2 is a 2.4Ghz with 2mb Cache, but form what I hear I can OC the 170 Proc to 2.4GHz without an issue! would it perform on the same level as the 4800+ or would it be better?
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    read comparision above!
    It isn't easy when you edit your post after i have posted :rolleyes:

    The 3800 runs cooler than the 170 even if it uses a little more vcore.
    Can you get the Opteron 170? Is it in stock? Amd is removing them from the retailers.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I have a few places where I can pick one up at! I also am looking at the 175!
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Can you pick up the 170 for $440, i'd go with that. 175 only gives you a 11 multiplier, but probably the same stepping.
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I found it for 426.00 at my retailer! so does the 170 give you a 12X multiplier? or is it 11 also
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    I found it for 426.00 at my retailer! so does the 170 give you a 12X multiplier? or is it 11 also

    10 ...

    165 = 9 x 200 = 1800
    170 = 10 x 200 = 2000
    175 = 11 x 200 = 2200
    180 = 12 x 200 = 2400
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I see makes better since! so would it be better to get a X2 than as they are open to 12X? or with the opteron still give ampel results va the X2 ?
  • croc_croc_ New
    edited December 2005
    I have read about people only getting 2.5GHz out of their 3800+, but then again I have read about people getting 2.8+GHz ... but on average it looks like the dual core opterons OC a bit higher. I don't know if it is worth the extra $100 though.

    Most likely I will end up getting the 3800+ X2 and the DFI SLI-DR.

    I just picked up a BFG 7800 GTX OC for $400 :D
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    I bought a 4400 X2 along with a FX-55 again! I decided to skip the opteron this round. I am not much of an OC'er! and until I see some Opterons showing impressive scores at 3dmark I will watch them from the side lines.
  • lemonlimelemonlime Canada Member
    edited December 2005
    Sledgehammer70 wrote:
    I bought a 4400 X2 along with a FX-55 again! I decided to skip the opteron this round. I am not much of an OC'er! and until I see some Opterons showing impressive scores at 3dmark I will watch them from the side lines.

    You've sure got an awesome arsenal of AMD proc's sledge :thumbsup:
  • Sledgehammer70Sledgehammer70 California Icrontian
    edited December 2005
    If I could afford more I would buy more! but everyone has there limits!
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