HELP AMD XP OR AMD 64??

[ASTRO]

Hi,

I'm from Belgium and new in this forum.

I intend to build a game computer for FS 2004.
I would appreciate some advise concerning the processor.

I've made up my mind and the cpu will be an AMD.

My first idea was to go for a AMD XP 3200 ( 400 FSB)with the Asus A78N-E DELUXE motherboard.
And this with the ATI 9800 PRO and 1024 MB DDR 400 RAM and 400 watts of power supply.

But I have an hesitation about going for an AMD 64 3200 instead of the AMD XP 3200( with an other motherboard and registered memory)

Witch one is better?
If it's the AMD 64 is it worth the money in terms of frame rate?

Thanks,

Didier

[aigean]

the athlon64 chips are much better than the XP chips. if you look at the benchmarks, the athlon64 3200+ will absolutely SMOKE the XP 3200+ in 32-bit games and applications.

however, if you are looking at athlon64, you may want to consider a 939 socket mobo, as the 754 mobo (the only mobo which currently supports the athlon 64 3200+), is going to get more or less ignored by AMD in the future in terms of faster processors.

since the 3500+ is the cheapest chip ($500 USD) you can currently get in socket 939, I'd wait a month or two until the price comes down, or until AMD releases cheaper chips for socket 939 (which should be soon).

so i guess it really matters on if you plan on keeping the same mobo and upgrading the CPU in the future. if so, you need 939. if you don't want to have the option of upgrading the CPU, 754 mobo and the athlon64 3200+ i think is a pretty good bargain perfomance/cost wise.

i dont own an athlon64 yet but ive just done a lot of research, im hoping to build one in a month or two.

[Vike]

Welcome to the forum, Didier :)

Aigean is asolutely right, the 3200xp is great value for money and the spec you're looking at is exactly what my machine is right now, right down to the motherboard.

If you've got the cash, then the 64 is the chip to go for but you're going to get stung as they're right at the bleading edge in terms of price. Anything you buy now will be much cheaper in three months time.

One thing that I can say with absolute confidence; there's never a right time to buy! Something better is always on the horizon and you always end up "settling" for second best. x(

Cheers,
Vike

[flyinggraham]

One thing, remember that at the moment no OS or games support 64bit technology. Therefore the processor will be running mostly at 32 bit because that is what the games and OS send its data at, therefore you wil only use 50% of the total processing capability of the processor.

Personally i would say get the XP version, then wait for 64 bit to improve and the technology to be implemented properly and by the time FS2006 comes out you will be able to get a 10Ghz Athlon128 :) LOL!

Graham Harvey

[ASTRO]

Thank for your replies.


After some thoughts I've decieded to go for an AMD 64 3400 (2,2 ghz)
with a K8VSE motherboard, 1024 Corsair RAM, ATI RADEON 9800 PRO,
RAPTOR 76 gb fast hard drive 10.000 rpm.

Like some of you said in a couple of months there is to be something better......but there will always be something new on the horizon.


I hope the system i've chosen will get the game run at a decent fps.
I hope at least 18 fps. That's wat I want to get and if I must push left some slidders to get it , I will do so. For mee less than 18fps makes the game not so enjoyable.

Best regards,

DJ