AMD - what's the difference between AM2 and Socket 939

jem16

I must admit that in the last 10 years, I have only upgraded by buying a whole new system as usually when I get around to thinking about a better processor the motherboard can't cope anyway!

Perhaps I'm better saving myself £80.

Kilty_2

Poppycat wrote:

I am looking at a barebones system for a server to replace my ageing p4 1.5 willamette.

I thought about getting a am2 but tbh for what I want server for mainly as a fileserver, surfing net etc, i am looking at amd 939 by the time it needs upgrading it will be a few years usage out of it.

The main pc I want upgrading is for games and am looking at a Intel Crusoe system but as they hard to source at mo and the lack of ide connections on the motherboards I may wait a little longer

Mmmmm P4 Williamette

My desktop runs a 2.0 Williamette, with PC133 SDRAM.

Starting to show its age though

Bert_Anderson

Lord_Chris wrote:

he asked which is better socket 939 or AM2.. what he is using his computer for is irrelevant since he has clearly narrowed his options down to an amd, and most likely a dual core... he never asked about processors, so we dont need to know what hes using it for

What he is using the PC for is actually the MOST relevant aspect at the end of the day.

The real life performance differences will probably be a moot point to be honest though.

Read here for an in depth review of the two options:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2738&p=4

jpe20

I would at the moment wait 2wks for the E6600 Conroe chip to come out. This offers superior performance albeit at a price. Consider also that with the "Conroe" chips that the motherboards tend to be more expensive, so try not to be sidetracked by the Bang Per Buck of the CPU only.

Performance wise the difference between AM2 and 939 is minimal as the only advantages of AM2 over 939 are as follows:
(1) DDR2 memory support ... this is irrelevant as the DDR2 memory available at the moment have poor latency. Ie they take more clock cycles to read the same block of data. Low latency memory is better but it is damm expensive. 2GB CL3 memory will set you back 350quid or so!!!!!! Generally affordable memory is around CL5 at 160quid(guesstimate!!!??) for 2GB whilst DDR1 memory
is slightly cheaper at more or less half the latency.

(2) Virtualisation ---- new thing for AM2 which I can see no real benefit for the average user.

(3) A new socket and hence some degree of future proofing.

I personally went for AM2 (unluckly I bought the motherboard a month ago and being forced to wait for the price drop of the 3800x2 CPU!! saved me 111quid!). I went AM2 over socket939 purely because of my intention to upgrade the CPU in 18mths or so. Tonight I just purchased my 3800x2 AM2 chip from dabs for a 100quid.

So I would say that in hindsight u should go for 939 unless u plan to upgrade over the next 18mths. If u go the 939 route then try and get a 4400x2 or 4800x2 chip as they have 1MB cache for each core (2MB). The extra cache is worth 200MHz extra.

If money is not much of a concern then go the Intel route as they are the star performers at the moment (see forums at overclockers.co.uk, toms hardware and extreme systems etc). Though always add the motherboard costs in your bang to the buck calculation.

Anyhow I hope I made some sense!!!! .... I often ramble on after a few beers!!!! lol

HTH
Jules

jpe20

PoppyCat .... tbh I think IDE connectors on motherboards are slowly being phased out!!! I discovered this to my horror when I purchased my new motherboard. I think alot of the new motherboards may start(or already are) offering only one IDE connection. This is being done in favour of SATA(1or2) connections. [I purchased 2IDE drives by mistake for my new system!!!!! .... now got myself 2 Seagate 7200.10 320GB SATA 2 drives... I'll use the IDE ones as backup!].

Poppycat I would take advantage of the cheap 939 prices on CPUs and motherboards at the moment if you plan on using it as a Server. Leave it too long and you will be forced either to "ebay" or "AM2". That is provided you "need" a new system for a server!!!!

Afterall a bargain is something you don't really "need" at a price you can afford as the saying goes!!!!

Jules

jem16

jpe20 wrote:

I would at the moment wait 2wks for the E6600 Conroe chip to come out. This offers superior performance albeit at a price. Consider also that with the "Conroe" chips that the motherboards tend to be more expensive, so try not to be sidetracked by the Bang Per Buck of the CPU only.

This is the problem. I've read that the E6600 is vastly superior but I'm not sure that I want to spend an extra £100 for the processor and around an extra £50 for the board.

So I would say that in hindsight u should go for 939 unless u plan to upgrade over the next 18mths. If u go the 939 route then try and get a 4400x2 or 4800x2 chip as they have 1MB cache for each core (2MB). The extra cache is worth 200MHz extra.

Those are the two processors that AMD are stopping?

Anyhow I hope I made some sense!!!! .... I often ramble on after a few beers!!!! lol

HTH
Jules

No quite clear thanks.

I'm going to have a word with my local PC shop which I've done a lot of business with over the last 10 years. I know I'll get good advice there and be able to make a good judgement between value and performance.

wolfman

Soemthing like the E6300 is probably fine for most people. You can pick one up for £130ish.

I might wait for the E6400 as it's predicted to offer the best bang for your buck.

Another problem is finding a motherboard. There are a few about but expect to pay from £130-170 for one. Plus they're not in adundance.

I would really like an Intel Core myself, but when I could get an Asus A8N SLi SE for £66, and an AMD Dual Core 4200+ for £130, it's a difficult decision to make.

Poppycat

Thats true but the problem is with legacy products and that sata cd/dvd drives are not easy to come by, well there isnt much choice at mo, although I am sure in months to come it will improve.

I am not bothered about a am2 processor I just need a faster pc for file server and sufing the net and other applications not games.

I would like a quiet system though as its in the living room.

jpe20 wrote:

PoppyCat .... tbh I think IDE connectors on motherboards are slowly being phased out!!! I discovered this to my horror when I purchased my new motherboard. I think alot of the new motherboards may start(or already are) offering only one IDE connection. This is being done in favour of SATA(1or2) connections. [I purchased 2IDE drives by mistake for my new system!!!!! .... now got myself 2 Seagate 7200.10 320GB SATA 2 drives... I'll use the IDE ones as backup!].

Poppycat I would take advantage of the cheap 939 prices on CPUs and motherboards at the moment if you plan on using it as a Server. Leave it too long and you will be forced either to "ebay" or "AM2". That is provided you "need" a new system for a server!!!!

Afterall a bargain is something you don't really "need" at a price you can afford as the saying goes!!!!

Jules

Kilty_2

Poppycat wrote:

I would like a quiet system though as its in the living room.

Consider the Pentium-M and an ATX Pentium-M motherboard.

As quiet as they come, if you get a decent PSU because they are made for laptops

Will cost you £200 for a CPU and motherboard though, at the least.

jem16

wolfman wrote:

Soemthing like the E6300 is probably fine for most people. You can pick one up for £130ish.

I might wait for the E6400 as it's predicted to offer the best bang for your buck.

I heard that it's the E6300 and E6600 that offer the best value for money.

Another problem is finding a motherboard. There are a few about but expect to pay from £130-170 for one. Plus they're not in adundance.

I would really like an Intel Core myself, but when I could get an Asus A8N SLi SE for £66, and an AMD Dual Core 4200+ for £130, it's a difficult decision to make.

Same problem here. Still I'll wait until tomorrow and see what my local experts can come up with for me.