Am2 dual core

[PeteLucky7]

Hi

I recently bought a new system and went AM2 (hey, was on a budget) and stuck a £25 sempron in there (a really tight budget) however, have a few more quid knocking about. I'm thinking about dual core as it's probably more future proof. I can buy a 4000x2 for around £130 and a 4200x2 for around the same. Is the extra cache on the 4000 worth losing the extra clockspeed of the 4200 for? If I have a budget of around £140 - 150 what would be the best to go for?

 

[mikeymike]

get the one with the extra cache, then overclock it to faster than the 4200

 

[easyrider]

you can always add more clock speed.

But you can never add more cache.

 

[PeteLucky7]

yeah but wouldn't the higher multiplier (i think) for the 4200 mean I can get it higher again? Say I could get the 4000 to around 2.5, then I could possibly get the 4200 to around 2.8ish.

Wouldn't 2.5 vs 2.8 negate the extra cache for general usage (a bit of everything, gaming, multi tasking office applications etc)

 

[InvaderGIR]

Well considering that AMD have basicaly scrapped the 1MB cache chips (apart from the 5200+) I'd say go for the 4200+, as 1MB cache chips will be very hard to find. You don't need the extra cache that is being put on the chips (hence AMD removing the 1MB's from the production line), for current apps 512mbx2 cache is fine.

Be aware that with overclocking these chips you can't reach all that much better than the stock speeds. I can only get a 10%-12.5% overclock on my 4600+ (AM2 X2), 10% is the best stable clock I can get, but 12.5% is the max I can overclock it and keep it stable.

InvG

 

[PaulProteus]

Someone on this forum (or it could've been in a review) has recently mentioned that AMD have scraped the 1 Mb cache due to the price cut they have made to fight the excellent C2D chips. Obviously the X2 1Mb are more expensive to make and on top of that the benefits of having the extra (apart from video encoding) is difficult to be seen as they have the memory controller integrated in the chip.

 

[InvaderGIR]

Someone on this forum (or it could've been in a review) has recently mentioned that AMD have scraped the 1 Mb cache .

AMD have basicaly scrapped the 1MB cache chips (apart from the 5200+)

Also if you look in the shops, nobody has 1MB cache versions, just 512MB, unless it's a 5200+.

InvG

 

[PaulProteus]

Also if you look in the shops, nobody has 1MB cache versions, just 512MB, unless it's a 5200+.

InvG

I have not lied, have I

But 5200 are a bit pricey. AMD are currently not match for Intel (apart from the server area).

Cheers,
Jordan

 

[InvaderGIR]

Yeah, the 5200+ are far too pricey...infact most of AMD's chips are far too pricey due to the cost and performance of Intel's C2Ds.

Obviously the OP can't afford to buy a new motherboard and CPU, so the best option is to get a 4200+ X2 AM2 chip.

The other option is try to flog the AM2 setup after waiting a bit for some more money and then buying a C2D setup, providing more power for less money overall.

InvG