Opteron query

[mikeo]

Hi

If I do decide to go ahead and purchase an Opteron 180... is it still a good idea to install the "Dual Core Optimiser"? I've looked at AMD's site and while it mentions it for the normal run of the mill X2 processor, it doesn't appear to mention it when you look at the pages for the Opteron.

Must admit (even after reading loads of threads on here) what the other "dual core driver" is for? Is this connected to the "cool and Quiet" thing? and if so, if you don't have this, do you still need this driver?

Thanks folks...

PS. Socket 939.
PPS. Still agonising over whether this is a worthwhile upgrade from my single core 4000+

 

[cavemanoc]

Get one of these instead:

Won't see much of a difference in clocks (subject to luck of course) - and at that price - winner

(I still use the patch - but NOT the one that says 'not to be used if overclocking')

 

[Shimmy]

I'm in the same boat as you mate, single core 939 socket and want a cheap upgrade to X2 (also opteron).

I was wondering whether the difference in the opteron range was just the multiplier? And if so what would work best with 2gb of pc3200 ram, i.e. best clock?

 

[cavemanoc]

It is just the multi - the early opti's were 'better' clockers than the X2s, but that was never 100% fact and the newer steppings of X2s are clocking just as well as the Optis - given that the 3800s are clocking between 2.6-2.9 you can't really go wrong at that price

 

[Shimmy]

Yer I know, but I was thinking more of the cache. 512kb as opposed to 2mb, and I'm gonna be wanting to make the most of the chip in gaming - css which is cpu intensive. Or will the cache have little impact if at all?

 

[cavemanoc]

Doubt you'll notice tbh - certainly not in games.

 

[mikeo]

Get one of these instead:

Won't see much of a difference in clocks (subject to luck of course) - and at that price - winner

(I still use the patch - but NOT the one that says 'not to be used if overclocking')

Re X2 3800. I hear what you are saying but the MSI K8N SLI does not appear to have a good reputation for overclocking. Hence why I was thinking about the Opteron 180 (still available for around £100 if you shop around).

 

[Tuvoc]

I went from an X2 3800+ to an Opteron 185 recently, and was happy that I did. The last upgrade for this system, it will stay like this for years now as it gets passed down through the family. It was a nice upgrade, just 10 mins or so to do the swap. And the performance increase is certainly noticeable. At 2.6GHz and higher the AMD is pretty quick and unlikely to hold you back significantly in games. I'd say definitley go for it, you'll love the move from single core. I originally had a 1.8GHz single core Opteron in this system (AsRock 939Dual SATA2)

 

[Clairvoyant]

The opty 180 is tock @2.4 so you should with good air cooling get 3 gig.

The Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ is only 2.0 so most likely only going to get about 2.8. (not fact)

So if you can get the 180 cheap, I say go for it.

 

[lsg1r]

OK I have both an opteron 175 and x2 4200+ (same clock half the cache as 175) - rest of the system is identical on both (and I mean identical) For most things they take exactly the same time, theres a few areas where the opty is better but nothing thats more than a couple of seconds.

If I was to upgrade now I would go for the cheaper option, newer x2's will be a cooler running chip (they have a lower tdp) which may be preferable to some. My opteron is iirc a 135w and my 4200+ is an 89w, there is 5C difference at idle between the two, loads pretty much the same.

Also the 3800+ is a 2x512kb, opterons are 2x1mb same as 4400+ etc