Socket 939 A64 Dual core - all gone?

PaulProteus · 18 Nov 2006 at 17:28

I have found on a competitor's site one left over AMD A64 4800 Toledo just below £ 200 including postage. Unfortunately the CPU has been obviosly used in a system (in fact built this morning).

The question I have is whether I should go ahead and still buy it at a price "as new" or should I negotiate a discount? Before I placed my order I was advised that they have had one unopened box, whence I did the order. The guy came back to me afterwards with the whole story.

Any advise?

On a different topic, but still relevant to making decision, would I see a significant improvement from AMD 3500 Winchester to 4800 Toledo? I do some video editing, my son plays games, some photoshop.

Thanks!

Jordan

jm240 · 20 Nov 2006 at 02:26

I must say though I am quite hacked off that AMD have stopped production of the X2 939's. It was all about 9 months ago I bought mine and now I see it's already becoming old news and they have stopped producing them!

I am now in full belief the hardware market is one big rip off, it has to be said.

So what now if I want to upgrade my CPU? I need to buy a whole new mobo and rig.

I also have to point out that my P4 1.8ghz performed just as good as my x2 does, I think x2 is a waste of time as you still need to wait for multiple apps to do its thing, it definately isn't that great and tbh its the same as single core.

Cyber-Mav · 20 Nov 2006 at 03:13

danswan said:
Been looking for 3 days now!!

your not looking hard enough, iv found 4 suppliers so far with them in stock and selling at very good prices.

danswan · 20 Nov 2006 at 08:51

Cyber-Mav said:
your not looking hard enough, iv found 4 suppliers so far with them in stock and selling at very good prices.

There are a few places still advertising X2s as in stock but try giving them a ring and it isn't necessarily the case. I actually ordered from one e-tailer who had 'over 200' in stock, only to be told they were all out when it came to picking.

This was the case last week anyway, I haven't tried since as I ordered an opty 170 (due to be shipped on wednesday)

PaulProteus · 20 Nov 2006 at 15:48

Hi Guys

What is the difference between dual core Opty and AMD A62 X2 4800 for example (given they both have 2x1 Mb cache)?

I am wondering as I have not yet heard from the guy (although my payment went through) whether an Opty would not be e better option.

Thanks!

Jordan

Hades · 20 Nov 2006 at 16:39

PaulProteus said:
Hi Guys

What is the difference between dual core Opty and AMD A62 X2 4800 for example (given they both have 2x1 Mb cache)?

I am wondering as I have not yet heard from the guy (although my payment went through) whether an Opty would not be e better option.

Thanks!

Jordan

There is no difference. They should be the same if the cache and speed are the same.

Big.Wayne · 20 Nov 2006 at 17:39

Hades said:
There is no difference. They should be the same if the cache and speed are the same.

well I guess there must be 'some' difference?

Whether its a big difference or not is another matter

Hades · 20 Nov 2006 at 21:04

Big.Wayne said:
well I guess there must be 'some' difference?

Whether its a big difference or not is another matter

From the AMD website:

Q: What are the differences between the AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processors?
A: The upcoming AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 processors are designed for different markets. For the server/workstation market, the AMD Opteron processor will undergo more stringent validation and reliability testing. Another difference will be in the number of HyperTransport links embedded on the chip. The AMD Athlon 64 processor will contain one HyperTransport link offering 6.4 GB/s data transfer while the AMD Opteron processor will offer three links. The processors will also contain different amounts of cache.

However, I'm not sure if this refers to both the s940 and s939 Opterons. It refers to the "upcoming" Opterons and they started life only on s940. I'm pretty sure it does not apply to s939 as it was just a rbranding exercise. But I'm happy to be corrected if anyone really knows. The HT is to access memory and I'm guessing that in the case of s940 it speeds up concurrent access when there are multiple CPU's (not cores). s939 does not support multiple CPU's so more than one HT isn't going to do anything.

...but I'm happy to be corrected as that's pretty much an assumption.

EDIT: One other difference though is that allOpterons have 1mb cache per core wheras only someA64 X2's have 1mb and most have 512mb depending on the core.

PaulProteus · 20 Nov 2006 at 22:05

I've just found this one. I know it is rather old but it answers part of the question (the one about AMD A64 X2 at least).

http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/amdx2/x2_2.htm

I have been told that my X2 4800 Toledo should be with me tomorrow morning.

Should I expect any problems for moving from 3500 Winnie to this one? My motherboard is ASUS A8N Sli Deluxe.

I am going to check the forums but if anyone knows of the top of their heads about a link, which I could follow I will highly appreciate that.

Cheers,
Jordan

Big.Wayne · 21 Nov 2006 at 00:34

Should be as simple as removing your mono-core, installing new multi-core (inc paste and HSF) then just booting into Windows. Probably wouldn't do any harm to pop into the BIOS to say hello

PaulProteus · 21 Nov 2006 at 06:06

Thanks BigWayne

I will definitely "stop and say Hello" just out of politeness

I was wondering whether all these driver upgrades are necessary or is it Windows XP that takes care of it.

Cheers,
Jordan

danswan · 29 Nov 2006 at 20:55

danswan said:
This was the case last week anyway, I haven't tried since as I ordered an opty 170 (due to be shipped on wednesday)

Well my Opty 170 never arrived, I'm currently awaiting stock, I've been assured that they will be getting some stock in. Now AFAIK all socket 939s are out of production, so where is the stock going to come from??

I really don't know what to do now

Uriel · 29 Nov 2006 at 21:42

PaulProteus said:
You should be able to get your money back I guess.

Have you looked at ****? There were several X2 4800 sold a couple of days ago. Some of them brand new.

Auction sites are classed as competitors mate. Best not to mention them arount these parts.

PaulProteus · 29 Nov 2006 at 21:50

Uriel said:
Auction sites are classed as competitors mate. Best not to mention them arount these parts.

Thanks! I thought as OCUK do not sell 4800 Skt 939 anymore (they ran out of stock) I decided that it is "safe"

. I have seen people mentioning this site, but from now on I will know better

.

Cheers,
Jordan

danswan · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:47

I have looked on the auction site that shall not be mentioned, I had stumped up £130 for the Opteron 170 and theres one at that price with 2 days to go!

I can indeed get my money back from the other place, but at the moment I'm bombarding them with emails - I would be interested to know if this is classed as a reasonable grievance:

-Monday 13th November. 9.28pm - My wife makes the original order, in
plenty time I feel for my birthday on Friday 17th

-Tuesday 14th November. 10.11am - I receive an invoice status update with
no mention of any shortage

-Wednesday 15th November, 8.17pm - I receive an email stating the delay
due to stock levels, together with the estimated lead date of the
following Wednesday 22nd November.

-Thursday 23rd November, 9.30am. After checking my inbox for notification
of a despatch time etc, I find nothing. On checking the retailers website I see
the Opteron 170s are still out of stock. No communication from them though.

I understand stock problems, and that these are very hard to get hold of (if they can at all), but what bothers me is that I ordered in good faith when it was advertised as in stock. If I had then been told they hadn't got any, and didn't know when they would get them I could have looked elsewhere - at that time other sites did have (limited) stock. But I took the estimated lead date to mean that they would be getting more in. And now I have no word on if they will ever have any again, and I doubt very much if they will.

The company in question are a large concern, and I went with them after reading many good things about their customer service. Not impressed at the moment though. :mad:

DrMekon · 29 Nov 2006 at 22:52

Just got my Opty165, which including tax and additional charges cost me about £150 from the states, but a great stepping...!!

Hitting 2700 with stock 1.35v, but having a few probs hitting 2800 even with 1.4v... still, its cheaper than the x2 4800, and not a bad clocker!!!!!

Deleted User 234324 · 30 Nov 2006 at 00:40

I've been considering the jump to dual core for a while now, i originally intended to get an opteron 165 but opted to stick with single core instead and went for a 146. Now the time for dual core is here for sure as many games are starting to support it.

Thing is now there no where to be found (939's) so my original intentions of getting a 939 dual core cpu have changed and im gonna go for either intel c2d or amd k8l q1/07 as it would mean a total upgrade anyway so might as well wait for some competition.

danswan · 30 Nov 2006 at 10:30

danswan said:
I can indeed get my money back from the other place, but at the moment I'm bombarding them with emails - I would be interested to know if this is classed as a reasonable grievance:

-Monday 13th November. 9.28pm - My wife makes the original order, in
plenty time I feel for my birthday on Friday 17th

-Tuesday 14th November. 10.11am - I receive an invoice status update with
no mention of any shortage

-Wednesday 15th November, 8.17pm - I receive an email stating the delay
due to stock levels, together with the estimated lead date of the
following Wednesday 22nd November.

-Thursday 23rd November, 9.30am. After checking my inbox for notification
of a despatch time etc, I find nothing. On checking the retailers website I see
the Opteron 170s are still out of stock. No communication from them though.

I understand stock problems, and that these are very hard to get hold of (if they can at all), but what bothers me is that I ordered in good faith when it was advertised as in stock. If I had then been told they hadn't got any, and didn't know when they would get them I could have looked elsewhere - at that time other sites did have (limited) stock. But I took the estimated lead date to mean that they would be getting more in. And now I have no word on if they will ever have any again, and I doubt very much if they will.

The company in question are a large concern, and I went with them after reading many good things about their customer service. Not impressed at the moment though.

Anyone have an opinion as to whether I am within my rights to feel aggrieved with this???

z0mbi3 · 30 Nov 2006 at 10:40

I just got my hands on a second hand x2 4400 ccbwe 0543 for £75. Is this a good stepping compared to my Opteron 146 that does 3ghz and beyond?

Uriel said:
Auction sites are classed as competitors mate. Best not to mention them arount these parts.

Says who?

PaulProteus · 30 Nov 2006 at 11:06

danswan said:
Anyone have an opinion as to whether I am within my rights to feel aggrieved with this???

I did not think that you needed anyone to tell you that, but yes, you have pretty good reason to be angry with them.

Are you still waiting for their stock to get loaded?