CPU speeds...

[Mini-Me]

Hi there!
:)

I want to upgrade my AsRock socket A board to a new AMD socket 754 board.

I am probably gonna buy the MSI K8N Neo3-F mainboard, and an AMD Sempron 64-bit 2600+, model # SDA2600AI02BX @ 1.6GHz(Palermo core)

What I am trying to find out, is if this will be better then the current setup which uses the aforementioned socket-A AMD Athlon XP 3000+(2.1GHz)

Now, there is a frequency difference of 1GHz or so between these two CPU's, but I am kinda thinking that the Sempron 64, being a newer processor, might actually be around the same or slightly better.

I want to upgrade, without spending a huge amount of cash - that is reserved for the video-editing PC discussed in another thread.

I would love some opinions.

Saph - please feel free to chime in at this point!!!
;)

[hockey man]

Here (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html) is a link to an interactive CPU guide over at THG. Plugg in both of those CPUs and then select what program you want to see it do and bamo! It is a great tool . . .check it out. Opps.. . .it does not go all the way back and include all those old CPUs. . .so your waiting of Saphalline here. . .

[saphalline]

AMD has already done the work for you. 2600+ vs 3000+. These are the numbers that AMD gives to these CPU's, and as you can see the newer Sempron64 still lags behind the old AthlonXP. Not a surprise, really, considering that the AthlonXP 3000+ was once AMD's top dog, and the Sempron64 2600+ is one of AMD's cheapo CPU's now.

The Sempron64 does use the newer microarchitecture, however, and does support 64-bit code, so it's not a total loser here. And the fact that it uses a newer socket implies better upgradability and more modern features on the mobo, like native SATA which the AthlonXP can't boast. This gets into my general upgrading guidelines of picking newer platforms and ignoring pure CPU performance. Sure the AthlonXP 3000+ will perform better for most tasks, but I'd still prefer a Sempron64 2600+ right now. The old AthlonXP on Socket A hasn't been a recommended AMD platform for well over a year now, and that makes it dead in my book. Besides, cost/performance ratios for the Sempron64's is through the roof! And you can't tell me that this new system is going to cost you anywhere near what that AthlonXP system cost you! You'd have to spend the same amount of cash on both in order to get a modern system to crush your old AthlonXP, so if this is going to be done for the least cost possible, don't worry about pure performance.

[Mini-Me]

OK, Thanks guys - I checked the chart.

Saph: You're right in a few respects here - when I built the ORIGINAL AthlonXP 3000+ machine(on the old problem-child MSI KM4M board which would not talk to AGP 8x cards), the CPU cost about $400 at the time, and the Sempron I am looking at is only a quarter that price - however, I may simply add a few more bucks, and get the next CPU up from the bottom-of-the-line one...

I think I'll take your advise here, and not worry too much about comparing the raw speed of the CPU, rather the fact that I am upgrading to a newer, more upgradable standard.

Thanks.
:)

If anyone else wishes to comment, please feel free to do so - "Knowledge is power"...
;)

[hockey man]

One advantage that you will have is with PCIe uprages. Right now graphics cards are the most important piece for games.

[Mini-Me]

Yeah, thanks Hockey Man - you're right.
The MSI board I have ordered(just now) has 4x SATA ports(150's), 2x IDE 133's, 3x PCI etc...

...so it gives me the ability to tinker with SATA drives + PCI-e too for very little cost.

This board still uses standard DDR RAM, which means I can recycle the old RAM from the old board without having to buy the newer DDR2(better RAM, I know, but trying to save a few bucks on the GP machine here!)
:)

[hockey man]

Don't let the term "budget" CPU scare you. Those babies are pretty sweet bang for the $$. Yah, newer technology is always fun!

[saphalline]

DDR2 isn't necessarily better performing than DDR. But it is cheaper to produce, consumes less power, and is scalable in both speed and capacity. It will be the RAM type that lets us break the 4GB barrier (as if we really need to break it :p).