Buying Dual Core computer! Help decide!

[salami1212]

Well, I will be buying a dual core amd cpu and im not sure which ones. I will definitely be overclocking, but I dont really want to spend a lot. Is the 3800+ good and can it be overclocked a lot? or would a 1mb cache or 2mb cache make a lot of difference then the 512 cache that comes with the 3800+
thanks

 

[ajgoodfellow]

The 3800+ is a good price and a good clocker. Bear in mind that it actually has 512KB of cache per core, giving 1MB of cache in total. The 4400+ and 4800+ have 1MB of cache per core (2MB total)

I'd also seriously consider the Opteron 165. This will perform about on par with the 3800+ at stock (slightly slower clock speed but double the cache) and it's a huge overclocker - 2.6Ghz (FX60 speeds) should be easily obtainable

 

[Ladforce]

only problem is the opteron is 60 quid more than the 3800 OEM and if your not a big overclocker the 3800 is prob a little faster at stock and cheaper.

 

[lee87]

I recently got a X2 3800+ and have it at 2.5ghz at 1.4V with the stock cooler.
If you got the oem version of the X2 3800+ and got a AC freezer 64 pro you should be able to clock it more than this.

 

[salami1212]

so which one should be better, I will be overclocking but I dont want to spend £60 more. Should I get a single core 144 and make it to around fx57 speeds or should I get a 3800+ x2 and get it to around 2.6 ghz if i can?

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Go dual core

The X2 3800+ is still a quick chip, even at stock, and when it's overclocked to 2.5/2.6Ghz it's performing like an X2 4800+

 

[paradigm]

My 3800+ (bought on thursday) is nicely sat at 2.6GHz (260x10) with the mem in 1:1 on 1.4v.

Best value processor I have bought since my old XP1600+ (when they first came out!).

 

[easyrider]

the x2 3800 is a great little chip.However in the longrun I would pay the extra for the 165.

You can add clock speed but you cant add cache.

The opty will be the better overclocker too.And the difference in outlay is not huge between the two.IMO

 

[tm1210]

Seems a few people on here are in the same boat as myself I would love to go for the Opty 170 but It's out of my budget, so it's between these two. Put it this way, if you were getting both for around the same price do you think the 165 would be the best bet? I've got a SI-120 which I'd be using with it.

 

[ajgoodfellow]

Yes

The 165 is a great clocker, better than the X2, and it features 2x1MB of L2 cache against the 2x512KB L2 cache of the X2

 

[easyrider]

Seems a few people on here are in the same boat as myself I would love to go for the Opty 170 but It's out of my budget, so it's between these two. Put it this way, if you were getting both for around the same price do you think the 165 would be the best bet? I've got a SI-120 which I'd be using with it.

yes the 165 would be the better option.