dual core processors.....please help???

[xirokx]

1. AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-152-AM)
Price: £164.95

2. AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3800BVBOX) (CP-134-AM)
Price: £175.95

Whats the difference between no.1 and no.2 they seem the same to me?

3. AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA4400CDBOX) (CP-127-AM)

Only AMD64 technology runs today’s 32-bit and tomorrow’s 64-bit software
- AMD’s Enhanced Virus Protection for Microsoft ® Windows ® XP SP2*
- Cool'n'Quiet™ technology for a quieter computer and lower power costs
- HyperTransport™ technology and an integrated DDR memory controller for maximum performance and system efficiency
- 2.2GHz operating speed
- 1MB L2 cache

Is it true the diff between amd athlon 64 x2 dual core 3800 n 4400 are as follows:

4400 has 1.5mb extra L2 cache? Is L1 cache better than L2 or the other way round?
4400 has slightly faster operating speed at 2.2ghz as opposed to 2.0ghz that of 3800?
And processes 600mhz or ghz faster?

If you overclocked both logically speaking 4400 would out perform the 3800 is that right?
However if you overclocked the 3800 what would it be equivilant to? a 4200 perhaps? I am a n00b in the world of overclocking so just wondered?

Pound for Pound how much better is the 4400 than the 3800?

On a seperate note is it true u can over clock the x2 4200? if yes once overclocked what would it equivilant to ?

Thanks for your help most appreciated

 

[welshtom]

4400 = 1mb level 2 cache per core
3800 = 512kb level 2 cache per core


Oem = no box, 1 yr warranty
Retail = box, 3 yr warranty.

3800 = 2ghz , 10x multi (10x200)
4400 = 2.2ghz 11x multi (11x200).

you can overclock any chip.
the extra cache that the 4400 has doesnt make that much of a difference in real life.

3800 retail has been clocking very well of late . i'd get one of them for "bang for buck" performance

Tom

 

[m3csl2004]

the x2 3800 has 2 x 512kb of l2 cache, the x2 4400+ 2 x 1mb of l2 cache, at the same clock speed, the 4400 would be slightly faster

retail xomes with a heatsink and a 3 year warrenty

oem comes with 1 year warrenty and no heatsink

edit: pah beaten by a welshman

 

[dual2max]

The difference between 1 and 2 (OEM & RETAIL) is a box of bits. OEM equipment usually comes in an anti-static bag, and thats it. Retail comes in a robust box with extras. In CPU terms heatsink and fan.

As far as I know you can overclock (uprate) any EEE part.

 

[ted34]

On single core cpus an extra 512kb cache is approx equivalent to 200mhz on clock speed. Dont see why this wouldnt be the same on dual cores. As regards the o/c the 3800 could easily outperform the 4400 or vice versa, it just depends on the particular chip that you get. The 4400 would be easier to o/c as it has the higher multi so you wont have to run on such a big divider or run your memory at high fsbs to achieve same clock speed as the 3800 at same o/c. Personally id go for the 4400 to get the extra cache but as the 3800's are apparently clocking well then its a bit harder choice

 

[xirokx]

retail xomes with a heatsink and a 3 year warrenty

Is the heatsink any good or would I need something better?

4400 has 1.5mb extra L2 cache? Is L1 cache better than L2 or the other way round?

Would the x2 4200 out perform the x2 3800 when overclocked?

Thanks for all your help so far

 

[Raikiri]

Is the heatsink any good or would I need something better?

4400 has 1.5mb extra L2 cache? Is L1 cache better than L2 or the other way round?

Would the x2 4200 out perform the x2 3800 when overclocked?

Thanks for all your help so far

They do their job, bit loud mind. Arctic freezer 64 pro is a good cheap replacement.

No, the 4400+ has 2mb of cache (1 per core) which is 1mb more than the 3800 has.

The 4400+ at the same frequency would, the 4200 wouldnt.

 

[xirokx]

Is L1 cache better than L2 or the other way round?

so the x2 3800 is just as good as the x2 4200 when overclocked? or even if not both were not overclocked?

 

[Raikiri]

At stock the 4200 is faster, by 10%. When overclocked to the same speed they are just that - the same speed.

L1 cache is the same size on all of them so that is irrelevent although it may help to know that the transfer goes from RAM-->L2 Cache-->L1 Cache-->CPU, meaning the L2 cache has little effect as it can only supply data to the L1 cache at the same speed.

 

[xirokx]

would I notice the 10% when playing heavy duty games?

Bottom line is would you get a 3800 or 4200 dual core??

 

[welshtom]

I've spoken to various hardcore benching people who were getting simillar scores at the same clockspeed with 1mb and 512kb chips.

the 3800 is the way to go, esp if you buy now and get the decent stepping

 

[clv101]

would I notice the 10% when playing heavy duty games?

Bottom line is would you get a 3800 or 4200 dual core??

3800 is the way to go - you won't notice the difference in anything other than benchmarks. Graphics has a far larger impact.