Athlonxp 2500+ Vs 2800 Athlon64

elitebearelitebear Join Date: 2002-05-29 Member: 696Members
edited October 2004 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">a bit of a dilemma</div> i apologize for making one of these "this vs that" threads, but i got an itch that i just have to settle

im purchasing a system and have got 2 different choices

2500+ athlonxp with 1 gig of ddr400 value ram

OR

2800+ athlon64 with 512mb of ddr400 corsair xms ram

now, right off the bat, which do you think would perform better in games such as halflife 2? of course the amd64 is a much better processor than the 2500+ xp (<a href='http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2149&p=7' target='_blank'>clicky</a>) but the ram complicates things a bit

Comments

  • ElderwyrmElderwyrm Join Date: 2003-04-07 Member: 15296Members
    Athlon 64.


    You can always get more ram.
  • R_A_CR_A_C Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16273Members
    dude, ram's relatively cheap and can always be upgraded later, without the same hassle of a new proccessor/mobo. GET THE 64!
  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-Elderwyrm+Oct 5 2004, 04:03 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Elderwyrm @ Oct 5 2004, 04:03 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Athlon 64.


    You can always get more ram. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ^^^^^
    Another thing you might consider is the pin connection on your processor. (Apologies if you know this already) The AMD64 +2800 uses a 754-pin connection. This is all well and good, but the 754 pins are being replaced with a better 939 pin configuration. You might have to replace your motherboard if you wish to upgrade to a 939-pin processor in the future (unless yo get a mobo that supports both).

    If you are willing to spend a little more, a 939 pin processor (the AMD64 +3500 would be the cheapest) could offer you much greater upgrade flexibility in the future.
  • BeastBeast Armonkyi Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15731Members, Constellation
    If you didn't allready know, 64bit processors need dedicated motherboards for them somewhat, and they also come with hardcoded DRM (which is a bad thing).
    Also worth noting, the 2500XP, with adequate cooling, can be easily be turned into a 3200XP with a bios tweak or two <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Which, incidentally, is exactly what I have done for my current machine. And it is running fine <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->. Coolermaster Aero 7+ for teh win! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

    Sooo.. yeah o.o
  • SupernornSupernorn Best. Picture. Ever. Made. Ever. Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7608Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Beast+Oct 5 2004, 11:27 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Beast @ Oct 5 2004, 11:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Also worth noting, the 2500XP, with adequate cooling, can be easily be turned into a 3200XP with a bios tweak or two <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Which, incidentally, is exactly what I have done for my current machine. And it is running fine <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I must get you to tell me how to do that with my AMD Athlon XP 2600+ barton.... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • CommunistWithAGunCommunistWithAGun Local Propaganda Guy Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15953Members
    Uh, have good cooling, up the voltage a notch and keep increasing the FSB little by little untill you get to the point where games will crash then go down a little bit and leave it.
  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    Athlon 64

    I have an Athlon 64 3000+.

    This thing flies.

    If overclocking is not your thing and quick solutions like adding more RAM later makes more sence to you go with the Athlon 64.

    And as far as upgradability on the Socket 754 goes, you can get up to an Athlon 64 3700+. Which will more than able to stand up toe to toe with an Athlon 64 FX processor.

    And as far as PCI-Express being introduced to the socket 939 soon. The 8x AGP slot has not been pushed to it's limit just yet so you won't notice a big performance increase between 8x AGP and 16x PCI-Express.
  • elitebearelitebear Join Date: 2002-05-29 Member: 696Members
    alright...thanks for the info guys

    ive got another question. if i start off with ddr400 corsair xms ram, would it be okay to combine it with value ram later, just as long as its ddr400? i dont want to buy another stick of xms ram...too expensive
  • BeastBeast Armonkyi Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15731Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-elitebear+Oct 5 2004, 11:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (elitebear @ Oct 5 2004, 11:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> alright...thanks for the info guys

    ive got another question. if i start off with ddr400 corsair xms ram, would it be okay to combine it with value ram later, just as long as its ddr400? i dont want to buy another stick of xms ram...too expensive <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    should be fine. Even though its DDR 400 ram, if you intend to use a 2500 processor, you will need to set the memory speed to 333 or it will crash your computer randomly.
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    Beast, any decent motherboard will automatically run the ram at the speed of the processor, so theres no need to worry about overspeeded ram causing crashing.

    get the ddr400, and the "value" or "awesome" level is irrelevant. "xms" imparts slight bonuses to efficiency, in the range of 5 - 9% better.

    get the ddr400, and the highest pincount processor you can. 939 is the best for LONG term upgradability, but those processors are wickedly expensive right now. (the <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=19-103-499&ATT=Processors&CMP=OTC-P12ice5can' target='_blank'>lowest</a> and the <a href='http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?DEPA=0&description=19-103-500&ATT=Processors&CMP=OTC-P12ice5can' target='_blank'>Second Lowest</a>)

    socket 754 is not quite as good, and theyre gonna stop making new 754 chips next year, but that still gives you lots of time for upgradability. (i mean stop making new models, theyll still make the 3700+ and whatnot) so the limited life is not a big issue. due to the huge price difference, 754 might be the way to go.

    if youre on a budget, the xp 2500-m, socketA, clocks to the 3200, giving you great speed (notuber-super-duper great, like the 939 or 754, just plain old great) for around 95$
  • DarkDudeDarkDude Join Date: 2003-08-06 Member: 19088Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-CommunistWithAGun+Oct 5 2004, 05:36 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CommunistWithAGun @ Oct 5 2004, 05:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Uh, have good cooling, up the voltage a notch and keep increasing the FSB little by little untill you get to the point where games will crash then go down a little bit and leave it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you increase the clock multiplier rather than the FSB for an AMD chip?
  • SandrockSandrock Join Date: 2002-12-16 Member: 10905Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    You can do both. The new AMD chip are multiplier locked (except for mobile chips) so FSB overclocking is the only way. But on older chips, you can up the FSB and change the multiplier.
  • HellbillyHellbilly A whole title out of pity... Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 3931Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    The XP2500+ you talk about that is easy to overclock, is it the 2500 Barton core?

    I'm thinking of upgrading this 1800+ that i have now, instead of getting a whole new system. I'm gonna wait until next year before i go AMD64.
  • BeastBeast Armonkyi Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15731Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Hellbilly+Oct 6 2004, 12:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hellbilly @ Oct 6 2004, 12:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The XP2500+ you talk about that is easy to overclock, is it the 2500 Barton core?

    I'm thinking of upgrading this 1800+ that i have now, instead of getting a whole new system. I'm gonna wait until next year before i go AMD64. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes o.o

    64bit = Hardware DRM included = BAD.
    If DRM get's enabled, everyone with a 64bit chip will have serious problems. Imagine not being able to use mp3's because they are not "digitally authenticated".
    If you think I am joking check out what Microsoft is planning for their latest OS.
  • Browser_ICEBrowser_ICE Join Date: 2002-11-04 Member: 6944Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Beast+Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Beast @ Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 64bit = Hardware DRM included = BAD.
    If DRM get's enabled, everyone with a 64bit chip will have serious problems. Imagine not being able to use mp3's because they are not "digitally authenticated".
    If you think I am joking check out what Microsoft is planning for their latest OS. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I admit I haven't followed the AMD64 developement so I know very little about them. Reading this thread makes me wonder about them, especialy about the DRM thingy.

    What is the DRM thing and what does it do ?

    I have an AMD 2000+ XP and I am thinking about upgrading my CPU but the thing is, there aren't any plain Athlon chips in stores now. Only Semprons and ADM64 and I know very little about both. So I will surely have to upgrade my motherboard and memory when I'll upgrade my CPU.
  • EvenFlowEvenFlow Join Date: 2002-12-18 Member: 11046Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Browser [ICE]+Oct 6 2004, 02:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Browser [ICE] @ Oct 6 2004, 02:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Beast+Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Beast @ Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> 64bit = Hardware DRM included = BAD.
    If DRM get's enabled, everyone with a 64bit chip will have serious problems. Imagine not being able to use mp3's because they are not "digitally authenticated".
    If you think I am joking check out what Microsoft is planning for their latest OS. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I admit I haven't followed the AMD64 developement so I know very little about them. Reading this thread makes me wonder about them, especialy about the DRM thingy.

    What is the DRM thing and what does it do ?

    I have an AMD 2000+ XP and I am thinking about upgrading my CPU but the thing is, there aren't any plain Athlon chips in stores now. Only Semprons and ADM64 and I know very little about both. So I will surely have to upgrade my motherboard and memory when I'll upgrade my CPU. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Depends on your motherboard, I also have a 2000+ and my mobo supports up to a 3000+, I was also considering the A64 route but am going to put it on hold and just get myself a 3000+ for now until PCI-E becomes more common place.
  • ZelZel Join Date: 2003-01-27 Member: 12861Members
    many new chips support the built in DRM, its called gigital rights management, and they sell it as that it's going to prevent unauthorized access o your computer. supposed to help stop viruses/spyware. there is some fear that it will be used to stop 'unauthorized' mp3 use. but by whose authority?

    you have nothing to worry about unless you get an OS with this feature forcibly activated. the hardware can't do it on its own. you have nothing to worry about.
  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Beast+Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Beast @ Oct 6 2004, 06:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Hellbilly+Oct 6 2004, 12:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hellbilly @ Oct 6 2004, 12:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The XP2500+ you talk about that is easy to overclock, is it the 2500 Barton core?

    I'm thinking of upgrading this 1800+ that i have now, instead of getting a whole new system. I'm gonna wait until next year before i go AMD64. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yes o.o

    64bit = Hardware DRM included = BAD.
    If DRM get's enabled, everyone with a 64bit chip will have serious problems. Imagine not being able to use mp3's because they are not "digitally authenticated".
    If you think I am joking check out what Microsoft is planning for their latest OS. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    See it's funny how you are saying DRM is bad and stealing music or other form of software or media is good.

    In any case this is like Microsoft's claim that SP2 will enhance 64-Bit Processors (AMD Only) virus protection. Now to me that's pretty much a pile of bull.

    That how I see DRM.

    Like Zel said without the software the hardware will not act on it's own. Thinking the processor alone without the proper software will stop you from using you're mp3s that's completly stupid.

    Like I said before go with the AMD Athlon 64, read my reason in my first post.
  • elitebearelitebear Join Date: 2002-05-29 Member: 696Members
    would running an a64 with a generic case power supply be bad?
  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-elitebear+Oct 6 2004, 04:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (elitebear @ Oct 6 2004, 04:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> would running an a64 with a generic case power supply be bad? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not really, unless the PSU can't provide enough power. How many watts does it generate?
  • TheFrostmourneTheFrostmourne Join Date: 2004-09-14 Member: 31708Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dragon_Mech+Oct 6 2004, 06:55 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Oct 6 2004, 06:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-elitebear+Oct 6 2004, 04:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (elitebear @ Oct 6 2004, 04:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> would running an a64 with a generic case power supply be bad? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Not really, unless the PSU can't provide enough power. How many watts does it generate? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, but if you're going to want head rooms for extra cd drives and a high end video card I'd go for a 350-450 Watt power supply.
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