754 or 939?

[MadOni0n]

My old p4 2.4 cpu got damaged (dont ask), and it was a 2-3 year old pc so i'm going for a new mobo/cpu upgrade, and i'm taking advantage of this moment and going AMD for gaming. After alot of research and reading, i've chosen the A64 2800+ & Chaintech vnfs3-250 combo (with far cry) for $209 from mwave.com. But, i'm starting to read alot of doomsday threads on anandtech about how 754 is dying, and it won't be upgradable and alot of bad comments, but then there are alot of people that say dont worry, get the 754. Basically, i dont have a gaming pc right now, so i'd have to wait 2 weeks for the new 3000+ 939 cpu's, then i'd have to pay +$11, and probably get a round1 defect chip then, i'd have to choose a new 939 mobo.. which would probably cost even more. My budget is $200 give or take 10-20 max. Is this "get the 939 asap" craze worth it? I mean, this combo is probably going to last me atleast 3 years... by then there are going to be new motherboard technologies for great prices, i'd probably get a new mobo then anyway... right?

 

[raildogg]

The 754 will not die as some have claimed, AMD said it would support the chip. But the high end right now is definately the 939. If I were you, the 939 would be my choice

 

[JackOfHearts]

I have yet to do an upgrade that doesn't require a new motherboard... If you by 939 now you'll have to get a new mobo for PCI-e and then while getting that you may as well get a new cpu.... So just get a 754 then when you get around to it move to 939. By then you'll need to whole 9 yards upgrade anyways(mobo/ram/cpu/video).

 

[JackOfHearts]

btw getting my amd64 3000(skt 754) tomorrow.

 

[MadOni0n]

about speeds, is the 3000+ worth it over the 2800+? is the performance gained worth the price? about $40.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
about speeds, is the 3000+ worth it over the 2800+? is the performance gained worth the price? about $40.

I think it's a waste of money. Get a 2800+ and OC it. I just received my Thermalrght XP-120 in the mail today...and it will work on 754 and 939 so I can keep it while I upgrade and get best possible OCs of the much cheaper slower chips.

 

[overclock]

AMD just released a new budget s939 chip. Well they're about to anyways. Monarch computer has some for pre-order.

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: overclock
AMD just released a new budget s939 chip. Well they're about to anyways. Monarch computer has some for pre-order.

and its 90nm

 

[MadOni0n]

what does the 90nm give it? how much nm do the 754's have?

 

[ntd0198]

ok, 939 i personally think is better cuz it supports dual-channel RAM, which is roughly a 10% increase in performance, only thing is the cheapest 939 CPU is the 3500, which is 365 on newegg.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: ntd0198
ok, 939 i personally think is better cuz it supports dual-channel RAM, which is roughly a 10% increase in performance, only thing is the cheapest 939 CPU is the 3500, which is 365 on newegg.

Um...you think dual channel makes the slightest difference when you're dealing with an onboard memory controller?

And cheap 939 90nm CPUs are due out in 1-2 months thereby removing the last reason to go with 754.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: ntd0198
ok, 939 i personally think is better cuz it supports dual-channel RAM, which is roughly a 10% increase in performance, only thing is the cheapest 939 CPU is the 3500, which is 365 on newegg.

heh.. theoretically perhaps. i'd like to see something which shows a "realworld" 10% increase

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: JackOfHearts
I have yet to do an upgrade that doesn't require a new motherboard... If you by 939 now you'll have to get a new mobo for PCI-e and then while getting that you may as well get a new cpu.... So just get a 754 then when you get around to it move to 939. By then you'll need to whole 9 yards upgrade anyways(mobo/ram/cpu/video).

Hey MadOnion, you know I support getting 939 from reading that other thread .. Assuming you get 939. When PCI-E comes out, within the 1st half of next year, just upgrade the mobo and you can use the same 939 cpu with it. nForce4 mobos are going to be s939.

NOTICE: ABOUT TWO DAYS TIL 939 A64 3000+!!!

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: ntd0198
ok, 939 i personally think is better cuz it supports dual-channel RAM, which is roughly a 10% increase in performance, only thing is the cheapest 939 CPU is the 3500, which is 365 on newegg.

The cheapest one now is A64 3000+ at $173.. check out the link above

 

[Zebo]

My budget is $200

Seems to me the 754 vote is already made.

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
what does the 90nm give it? how much nm do the 754's have?

90nm is the size of the die. As opposed to 130nm with preceeding cpus, the 90nm die size is smaller. The smaller the size of the die, the more transistors you can cram into the cpu. The more transistors, the higher the frequencies you are able to obtain. So you can assume that the 90nm 939 will have great overclocking potential, can't be 100% sure, but we'll have to see when people start OCing them.

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: Zebo

My budget is $200

Seems to me the 754 vote is already made.

Well hes obviously torn between 939 and 754 and he does realize that 939 would cost more, but not as much as it did before.

MadOnion, if youre budget is $210 at MOST, then you can only get the 754 combo. Youre not doomed by getting 754 as the 3700+ is by all means an extremely fast cpu... But heres some food for thought..

get 754 now, $220, upgrade to nforce4 (cpu & mobo) prob around $330 (retail cpu=$180 mobo=$150) = total spent $550

get 939 now, $310, upgrade to nforce4 (mobo) prob around $150 = total spent $460

If I get the nforce4 mobo price wrong, its all relative. So in long-run terms IMO it would be worth it to wait and save the extra $90 and spring for 939. edit: Also, the 939 combo youre looking at is a 3000+, regardless of whether its 939 or 754, its still faster than the 2800+ in the 754 combo, so you do see a performance gain for the extra money.

 

[MadOni0n]

Well, i was figuring of getting the 754 combo now. A64 2800 & Chaintech vnfs3-250 combo plus farcry from mwave.com for $209 + shipping. I wouldn't upgrade my mobo nor cpu for atleast two years, possible three. By then, the new 939 mobos would have alot more features, pci-e,etc and alot cheaper by then. By then, i could get a new combo for very cheap. The thing is anyway, that i dont have a current gaming pc or anything, i need that cpu asap. I can still possible calculate some more 939 costs, what would you guys reccomend for mobos? keep in mind that cost is important.

 

[masshass81]

Originally posted by: MadOni0n
Well, i was figuring of getting the 754 combo now. A64 2800 & Chaintech vnfs3-250 combo plus farcry from mwave.com for $209 + shipping. I wouldn't upgrade my mobo nor cpu for atleast two years, possible three. By then, the new 939 mobos would have alot more features, pci-e,etc and alot cheaper by then. By then, i could get a new combo for very cheap. The thing is anyway, that i dont have a current gaming pc or anything, i need that cpu asap. I can still possible calculate some more 939 costs, what would you guys reccomend for mobos? keep in mind that cost is important.

Whew, well good thing you came to a decision. Either way, they're both great setups. But if you need the cpu asap, just to let you know the 939 is coming out in 2 days. But I'm sure you wont be able to pull about $90 out your @ss in two days (unless youre using credit payment), so yeah 754 is good deal anyway if youre not looking to upgrade for at least 2 years. :thumbsup:

 

[MadOni0n]

masshass, you're a good guy :thumbsup:

 

[SKC]

I'm quite happy with my a64 2800+; running it with the asus k8v se. Subjectively (I don't have a 939 processor to compare) I'm very happy with both windows and gaming speeds. I got both from the fs/ft forums here for under $200 shipped.

 

[Demo24]

problem with the cheap 939's at the moment is they are ONLY OEM at the moment. I dont see a retail box. so your gonna have to pay for a heatsink/fan or you can choose to run it without and see your 173 dolla processor burn up in about 10secs

 

[masshass81]

yeah, the suggested 939 system for $310 included ~$20 for a HSF. But doesnt matter since hes gonna get the 754 anyway

 

[AnotherGuy]

Originally posted by: masshass81

Originally posted by: ntd0198
ok, 939 i personally think is better cuz it supports dual-channel RAM, which is roughly a 10% increase in performance, only thing is the cheapest 939 CPU is the 3500, which is 365 on newegg.

The cheapest one now is A64 3000+ at $173.. check out the link above

wow 939pins for $173... i think thats a revolution...
time to save some money n start shoppin!

 

[nageov3t]

how soon do you plan on upgrading again after this purchase?

if this motherboard is going to last you for awhile, go with 939.

if you're going to be upgrading again within 6-12 months, though, I'd go with 754.