AMD 64 Configuration

Discussion in 'Computer Science & Culture' started by Xevious, Apr 13, 2005.

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  1. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    I'm going to be building a new PC in the next few months since I gave up my current machine to my parents, particularly for my dads business use. I've settled on the AMD 64 platform (of course) but AMD seems to not be sure what socket they are going to be useing long-term.

    I would prefer an AMD Opteron platform. I know they are socket 940, but isn't socket 940 going to be phased out? Socket 939 was released almost a year ago, but it doesn't seem like a lot of chips are being made for it, and Socket 762 is supposed to be phased out.

    So what is the deal right now?
     
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  3. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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  5. Aborted_Fetus Bored Registered Senior Member

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    I really do not like AMD anymore. They used to be a better bargain than Intel, but not anymore. They run much hotter than Intel chips, and they fry VERY easily. My roommate works at a computer repair shop, and they stopped building AMD systems for customers. A surprisingly high number of brand new chips came DOA from the distributer. Intel seems to be pulling ahead in the CPU market in my opinion.

    Check out the Intel 6xx line of CPUs. Up to 3.8GHz I believe, 2Mb cache, 64-bit. Not badly priced either. Personally though, I would wait 'til later this year when the new dual core CPUs hit the market. They seem pretty promising.
     
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  7. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    I've had too many bad experiences with Intel in the past. That and it was AMD, not Intel which created and optimized the x86-64 standard. I would just as soon get the technology from the people who came up with it, just as many prefer Intel because they were the founders of the original x86. Not that Intel sucks... not saying that, but I would just as soon stay clear of them for other reasons.

    I am looking more twards Opteron rather than Athlon FX. Believe it or not, earlier Opterons and socket 940 boards can be found on Ebay for cheaper than most Athlon FX and even Semptron processors found in retail shops. What I'm worried about is the future viability of socket 940. Some such as tomshardware.com have said 940 is going to be discontinued. Yet, AMD continues to develop Opteron processors for this socket and this socket alone.
     
  8. Neildo Gone Registered Senior Member

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    Go for socket 939, that'll give you the best path towards upgrading, it's the socket they're working with the most.

    Huh? Say what? AMD chips are the coolest with their 90nm size -- Intel's are the ones always at least 10C hotter.

    Rofl, no way. The only way Intel is able to even keep up with AMD is due to their shady marketing, that's it. I doubt your roomate went from AMD to Intel due to problems with the cpus but rather the underhanded price gouging Intel has been doing lately that they're in court for especially in Japan. The new extreme editions still fall behind the AMD FX series. For an Intel chip to be on par with the FX series, you gotta OC them all the way up to around 5 Ghz, heh. Intel is finally doing the smart move by working on the structure of the cpu rather than going for full on ghz speed like AMD has been doing, but I highly doubt they'll ever catch up. Intel used to be king a few years ago, and it's their name that's only keeping them in business. Here's something you outta find amusing:

    (AMD Wins Best CPU Manufacturer at party sponsored by Intel)

    http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=22504

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    - N
     
  9. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    I have the FX 939 socket AMD with 3 gigs of RAM on a ASUS A8V MOBO and it hasn't ever run over 98 degrees F. I can assure you it is a very strong and reliable processor that will handle the upcoming 64 bit platform but Intel doesn't have that capability as yet to my knowledge so you'll pay less for Intel but won't use it when the new 64 bit is out.
     
  10. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    Socket 939 Has a Good Lifespan Ahead – AMD.
    AMD’s Current Infrastructure to be Used for Years

    Category: CPU

    by Anton Shilov

    [ 01/27/2005 | 10:50 PM ]


    While Advanced Micro Devices is reportedly preparing a new socket for 2006 introduction, the company’s current 939-pin infrastructure is likely to live a long life, the company says. But it is unclear how long processors in current form-factor continue to evolve.

    “We strive to provide our customers with a stable computing platform for as long as possible. Current AMD64 sockets will serve our customers well into the future. Eventually, technology takes strides that require revisiting the way components interact within a PC to improve performance, stability and value,” an AMD spokesperson told X-bit labs.

    On Wednesday X-bit labs reported about the Socket M2 that is set to be introduced across the range of AMD desktop microprocessors, including performance, mainstream and value chips, in the first half of 2006. The chips that will be intended for the Socket M2 infrastructure are currently known under Windsor, Orleans and Manila code-names. Thermal and other specifications for the Socket M2 products are unknown, but it is known that all of such central processing units are to be produced using 90nm silicon-on-insulator fabrication process.

    When chipmakers introduce new sockets, they usually cease evolution of previous-generation infrastructure: after a new socket emerges, the maximum older can get is one or two fast processors. Usually AMD moves previous-generation sockets into entry-level markets and then broadens family of low-cost AMD Sempron processors for the infrastructure.

    “Socket 754 is mature and with that maturity come value-priced mainboards that are perfect to serve AMD Sempron’s market for quite a while. Socket 939 is young and virile with a long life ahead of it,” the spokesperson added.

    “Certainly AMD is always planning and designing for future products. But current sockets have good life ahead of them… We can’t give specific lifespans because customer demand is a huge factor in determining how long we support a socket,” the official concluded.

    In mid-2005 Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro Devices is projected by unofficial sources to introduce AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 processor for Socket 939 infrastructure. In future AMD may also release dual-core chips for 939-pin infrastructure.
     
  11. Closet Philosopher Off to Laurentian University Registered Senior Member

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    I'm building a computer too. I've done a lot of research and socket 939 AMD 64-bit CPUs seem to be your best bet for the future. I repair computers and I upgrade computers for people. AMD and Intel are about even in stability. It's not just the CPU though, it's the entire configuration of the computer.

    Since there is already a thread about building computers, I have a couple of questions:

    How do you set up a liquid cooling system? I will likely ovweclock my CPU and I will get a nice cooling system to go with it. Does the waterblock for the CPU just lock on directly on top of the CPU? Would I need a heatsink?

    I want a high performance computer that can upgrade well. Should I just go wth a Radeon x800 (ot x850) video card or get an nVidia 6800-based video card that will support SLI (and a MoBo that can too) so that when it comes time to upgrade my GPU, I can just pop in a second card?


    I still don't know if AMD 64-bit computing is worth it because all applications still run in 32-bit. When applications are 64-bit capable, will I just have to intall and run or will I have to configure my system to allow it to run in 64-bit.

    If there is no use for a 64 bit CPU then I might just go with an Athlon XP until it's worth it to upgrade.

    Anyway, go with a good Athlon CPU, it is stable and it doesn't run too hot unless you overclock it. The retail box fan would work fine.
     
  12. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    964
    Will AMD develop Opterons for 939? I do a lot of intensive video and audio editing and would prefer dual processor setups.
     
  13. Closet Philosopher Off to Laurentian University Registered Senior Member

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    It's possible. You will have to wait a while though.
     
  14. Xerxes asdfghjkl Valued Senior Member

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    You're much better off going with something older. Processors are sooooo overatted and by the time you can milk it, the price will have depreciated.

    spend the money on more ram. it will last a lot longer and be forwards compatible
     
  15. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    You must have a MO BO to handle more ram and a processor that can handle it as well. Wouldn't be a good idea to get more ram without a processor that can handle it.




    Dual-core chips: Makers gung-ho, resellers clueless
    Talk Back?

    Dual-core chips: Makers gung-ho, resellers clueless Siddharth Mukund, May 15, 2005




    CPU majors Intel and AMD, who have thus far regarded speed to be a major criterion for pushing the sales of their chips, have made amends in their sales pitch. Better performance is the order of the day!

    As a result, the IT market is abuzz about the dual-core CPUs, the latest offering in the CPU industry. The new chips are touted to be the most significant change in CPU design since 386. Dual core promises to boost the performance of servers, desktops and notebooks.

    That dual-core CPUs will triumph is inevitable, according to industry analysts. As per Gartner estimates, by 2007, most serve and desktop CPUs will be based on dual-core designs.

    Both Intel and AMD introduced dual-core CPUs in April 2005. But it was more of a paper launch, with products expected to be available only by May-end.

    However, is Indian market ready or even aware of dual-core technology? Most of the channel partners that CRN contacted said that they had not received any official information about dual-core from either Intel or AMD.

    "There is no awareness or buzz about dual-core processors amongst the public. A few months ago, Intel did send an official release of its launch. AMD has had no communication whatsoever," said Narendra Khandelwal, partner, The Superiors, Jaipur.

    Sanjay Gaglani of Hybrid Technologies, Chennai, was in fact, dismissive about the move to shift to dual-core enabled CPUs. "Both Intel and AMD have failed to improve performance of their single-core CPUs. As an easy way out, they have resorted to dual-core," he said.

    The original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) were tight-lipped over the dual-core offerings as well.

    Despite the rampant ignorance, AMD and Intel are going full throttle in pushing dual-core products. Giving details about Intel?s dual-core strategy, Sandeep Aurora, Channel Business Manager, Intel India said, "Dual core is very significant for us. By the end of 2006, we expect dual-core CPUs to cross 70 percent in the desktops and mobile Pentium family and over 85 percent in the servers market. As far as the digital home, PC enthusiast and digital office segments go, it looks bullish."

    As a part of their awareness strategy, Intel has chalked out training plans. "We will start with training sessions for our partners to enable them to educate the customers about its benefits. We are also finalizing end-customer promotion to help the channels to communicate the advantages of the technology," Aurora added.

    AMD is also gearing up with its dual-core strategy. Mukund Ramaratnam, director, Business Development, AMD India, said, "Though we don?t have any specific programs, we will showcase our dual offerings through our existing awareness and marketing programs about 64-bit."

    Pointing out confusions over software license policies, Ramaratnam said, "Customers are confused about licensing of the dual core. AMD encourages software providers to consider dual cores as a single processor for licensing. This will minimize any disruption to software licensing costs, like Microsoft," he added.
     
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