Building new comp, Which processor?

[Marty2003]

Hello All,

I'm planning on building a new computer soon and I'm having trouble choosing between 2 processors. I'm either going for a LGA775 Pentium 4 3.0 GHz or a Socket 939 Athlon64 3000+ as these two are in my target price range. They will be paired with an ASUS P5GD1, or a ASUS A8V-E Deluxe respectively. This computer will be used for just about everything, not just encoding.


I personally prefer Intel, but I'm wondering if I should go for an Athlon so when Windows XP 64-bit somes out I'll be ready for it. There are rumors that Intel's socket 775 processors might be capable of unlocking 64-bit just like hyperthreading was locked on early prescott chips, but I doubt that will happen.

I'm pretty sure the 3.0 GHz outperforms the 3000+ but I haven't seen any benchmarks comparing these two chips directly. I also like Intel's Hyperthreading technology.

Another factor is overclockability, I'm pretty sure I can get better results with the Pentium than with the Athlon.

The two motherboards also have their Pro's and con's If I go with the Intel I'll have more 2 more PATA channels and 2 more SATA channels so I can connect more drives in the future. The Intel board also has a better built-in surround sound codec supposedly.
The AMD board will have Firewire, which right now I don't use, and on-board Wi-fi G which I don't currently use, but I might in the future. This board also has some "performance enhancing technologies" but I'm not quite sure how useful they will be. There are also probably a few more things the AMD board is better at but they slip my mind right now.

The 939 Socket is supposedly supposed to last a while so I might be able to upgrade to a better processor in the future, while the socket 775 is supposed to be a "temporary" socket which won't last long, so when the next Intel processor comes out it will be on a new socket, although there will be a 64-bit chip on the 775 socket.

So keeping all this in mind, should I go with better performance now, or go with a 64-bit chip which will probably get me better performance in the future and will possibly be cheaper to upgrade in the future.

Any and all comments are welcome, and please don't let this turn in to and Intel vs. AMD flame war.

[bazooka]

I can't tell you what to do, but I would go with the Athlon64.

When WindowsXp goes 64 bit later this year, you will be ready.

The P4 doesn't have 64 bit capability.

[reboot]

Another vote for the Athlon.
Even the beta XP64 runs nicely on it (my test machine) with the same mobo you're chosing.

[Soopafresh]

I Vote Athlon 64 as well. The chip runs very cool, cooler than the P4. The sucker is FAST. You'll be amazed. Even if you don't go to XP64 , the proc is a screamer on XP32. But it already sounds like your mind is made up. I was "Intel all the way" up until a few months ago when I built an Athlon 64 3200 machine at work as well as a P4 3Ghz and couldn't believe what a powerful machine the Athlon was. I was absolutely convinced the P4 would beat it. I was wrong.

But hey, don't believe me. I'm just some guy out in cyberspace dishing out free advice. And you know what they say about Opinions...

[redwudz]

I like the AMD 64 CPU. I just put together a Gigabyte K8NXP-9 with a AMD 64 3200+ CPU and I really like it.

Nforce4 MBs are out now from most of the major manufactures and I would go for one of those over a VIA MB, IMO.

They use the newer PCI-E setup instead of AGP for video. Probably the way of the future for video cards. If you are into gaming, there are SLI MBs that can use two video cards and are incredible for high end graphics.

In AMD 64 939 pin CPUs, go for the Winchester version of the CPU. These have the 90nm features instead of 130nm. I got a AMD 64 XP3200+ from Newegg for $225US. A lot better value than the Intel chips, again, IMO.

Runs very cool and very quick.

[Marty2003]

Thanks for all the comments. I'm leaning towards the Athlon64 now. I'm purchasing my parts from www.oemexpress.com and I am going for a Radeon X600Pro PCI-Express vid card. I'm not a hardcore gamer so I don't really need SLI. I also don't like VIA motherboards, but it's the only I can get for a decent price that has PCIe, DDR1 and socket 939.

[waheed]

I would also go with the Athlon64. Going for a nforce4 and pci-e is a smart choice, it would future proof your PC for some years.

Athlon64 Processors are pretty fast and you will notice its full potential once 64 operating system and software are out.

[reboot]

Drop the X600, and get a good AGP card pleeeeeeze!

[waheed]

Drop the X600, and get a good AGP card pleeeeeeze!

i dont think a good AGP card will work on a PCI-E motherboard

[bazooka]

If you want to be set for the future you will get a PCI-Express videocard.

AGP is on the way into oblivion.

[redwudz]

VIA's OK in the higher end chipsets like the K8T800, but I don't regret the extra $$ for the Nforce4 chipset. Big improvement over the Nforce3 MBs.

In the XP64 CPUs, check carefully if it's a 90nm CPU (Winchester). Some suppliers don't alwys make it clear which model they are selling.

[Grant_H]

I also read somewere (I believe it was anandtech) that you can OC the hell out of the 90nm winchester

[gastorgrab]

This is all good news to me. I just ordered Athlon 64 3500 (Winchester) to put in EPoX 9NDA3+.

Yes, i went with nForce3. I'm trying to save a little money by reusing my old peripheral cards. (ya gotta draw the line somewhere)

[mattyboy]

Get an Intel. 3.4GHZ socket 775

[Marty2003]

I'm trying to keep the price at around CAN$750 for Mobo, Processor, Vidcard, RAM, and Case.

3.4GHz Pentium 4 would blow my budget.

I'm not trying to go top of the line, and I'm not THAT into games. It looks like I'm going for the Athlon. Probably the 3000+ S939 Winchester, I'll try to go faster if budget allows. I'll stick with the A8V-E Deluxe mobo, since I'll probably be making use of the Wi-Fi since I'll now have two comps in the house when I build this one. There's that and I don't really see a need personally for SLI. The X600Pro 256MB is the best bang for the buck as far as I'm concerned. I'll probably add to that 2x256MB of Kingston RAM and thow in the HDD, DVD-RW, Tuner from my current PC.

Thanks for the help.

[mattyboy]

at least get the X700 card.

[AlinaVastag84]

I`ve assambled computers both with ATHLON64-3000+ and Pentium4-3000Mhz and I am voting for ATHLON64. All the testing I made with Windoze XP-SP2Final in order to compare those 2 platforms were in favour of the ATHLON 3000+(excepting one encoding in avi that was enhanced for Intel probably). But I heard there is a XVID codec for movies developed especialy for 64BIT Windoze (I don`t have it yet). I have also Windoze 64Bit (beta) and it`s working VERY VERY nice (problems with finding drivers) but you can`t make any test with it on Pentium since no 64BIT Pentium is on market yet.

[rallynavvie]

LGAs are all Precott aren't they? If so then I'd recommend the A64. I'll have nothing to do with Prescotts. Now if you were looking at a Northwood I may lean toward that, but for everyday use you'll probably find the A64 to perform better.

[vitualis]

I agree with the general sentiment.

Athlon 64 vs P4 Prescott?

Athlon 64 system for sure.

Regards.

[mattyboy]

I'm surprised at all the AMD votes here. No one likes Intel CPUs anymore?

[bazooka]

I'm surprised at all the AMD votes here. No one likes Intel CPUs anymore?

We are talking about future compatibility.

Windows is going 64-bit later this year and the currect crop of P4's do not have 64bit capability, where the athlon64's do.

[vitualis]

Not just that.

Athlon64 processors are really very very good at 32-bit instructions as well.

Compared to the P4 Prescott, on equivalent (PR) rating, the performance is near equivalent (better on some things and worse in others). Where the P4 Prescott does better is particularly in MPEG-4 encoding.

However, the P4 Prescott is beset with problems with overheating and can even clock down on the standard cooler (i.e., it is overheating). The Athlon64 does not have this problem.

Not to mention, that A64 is cheaper.

At this point in time if you are choosing between a P4 Prescott and Athlon64, the A64 should be the clear winner.

Regards.

[AlinaVastag84]

Why don`t mention the price ? Is it a tabu problem ? Or the overheat problems of the Pentium ? When bilding a new computer we must look in the future (at least near future). I can see future on an ATHLON 64 platform. Can you see any future in Pentium present platform ?

[koinhelgo]

Check out this link for a review of the Athlon64 and how it compares with Intel P's- it says it's generally better than a p4 3.2. Also overclocking info
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/athlon64-3000.html

This article convince me to go for the Athlon rather than the P4 and I haven't been disapointed with speed of pc.
Regards

[rallynavvie]

AMD really hit the nail on the head with the 64-bit thing didn't they. I hope their marketing department got better pay raises than the R&D guys

I think that before we get a true 64-bit native Windows OS the market will have an inundation of 64-bit native processors. I don't think even the current A64 will work with that new OS as it may require system board architecture that will require you to buy a newer A64 with a different socket design. But we'll have to wait and see. In the meanwhile, base your decisions on what this PC will do now. 32-bit computing isn't going anywhere for a while.

[vitualis]

Don't get the Athlon64 because of 64-bit computing on the x86 platform.

Get the Athlon64 because of its stellar 32-bit performance NOW.

Regards.

[studtrooper]

I don't think even the current A64 will work with that new OS as it may require system board architecture that will require you to buy a newer A64 with a different socket design.

That doesn't make sense to me. The closest thing to a consumer 64-Bit OS would be the upcomming Longhorn (I hear A64 works perfectly with some 64-bit distros of Linux too). Surely AMD and MS worked out some sort of deal to make it all work out in the wash, otherwise the A64 is being sold on false pretenses...

Another vote for the A64 platform though!

[rallynavvie]

Not entirely false, they are still 64-bit capable processors after all, aren't they? Until the final product of a 64-bit Windows is out we won't know.

But again, for this thread the A64 is going to be better overall than a Prescott P4.

[vitualis]

The A64 works with the 64bit edition of Windows XP AND the 64-bit distros of Linux.

When the Windows XP 64-bit edition goes gold, the A64 will almost certainly run it.

Regards.

[Marty2003]

Just to update everyone, I've purchased everything (except the case and PSU which I have to wait till Monday to pick-up).
I've gone with the AMD64 3000+ S939 thanks to all you guys' useful input. I cant wait to test out this baby once the case arrives.

and "reboot" If you're still checking out this thread, I was just noticed the ASUS A8V-E DLX motherboard has a 24-pin power supply connector, but the ASUS site says it's a 20-pin connector. I just wanted to know if you had a 20-pin PSU connected to it. I've read on some sites that it's possible to connect a 20-pin PSU to a 24-pin mobo, but I just want to make sure so I don't fry my new mobo after plugging it in.