Buying a new computer
Moderators: Guru's, The Ministry
In order to get 64bit, you need a 64bit OS, the only problem is finding 64bit drivers for hardware, I didnt have much of a problem but others might.
Id go for an A64 3500 at a minimum. Allthough my 1 year old + Winchester 3200 overclocked to 2500mhz (stock 2000) is still going very strong. I reckon I could get 2600mhz out of it but I havent really pushed it.
Ill be keeping this cpu. for a while yet.
Ill be going for a 7900GT and a PCI-E mobo soon. Ill be clocking that up to GTX speeds too :dance:
Id go for an A64 3500 at a minimum. Allthough my 1 year old + Winchester 3200 overclocked to 2500mhz (stock 2000) is still going very strong. I reckon I could get 2600mhz out of it but I havent really pushed it.
Ill be keeping this cpu. for a while yet. Ill be going for a 7900GT and a PCI-E mobo soon. Ill be clocking that up to GTX speeds too :dance:
Error 482: Somebody shot the server with a 12 gauge.
Devil's advocate here.
Why 64 bit if there is as yet no operating system (except Linux and Windows Betas) for it?
How many games would benefit if there was a 64 bit OS?
And what about the new Intel Duo Core? It may not be 64 bit, but it seems to go well and does not need a massive noisy fan to cool it.
This page of the article is the conclusion:
http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q2/co ... ex.x?pg=16
mention of DUo vs Athlon 3800+
Right now, I am waiting to see how all this works out and I'll stick with my 2.4Ghz P4.
Ian
Why 64 bit if there is as yet no operating system (except Linux and Windows Betas) for it?
How many games would benefit if there was a 64 bit OS?
And what about the new Intel Duo Core? It may not be 64 bit, but it seems to go well and does not need a massive noisy fan to cool it.
This page of the article is the conclusion:
http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q2/co ... ex.x?pg=16
mention of DUo vs Athlon 3800+
Right now, I am waiting to see how all this works out and I'll stick with my 2.4Ghz P4.
Ian
There are full versions of the Windows opperating system for 64 bit, these are not BETA's and have been full versions for well over a year now, however this is not the point.
All Nigel needs to be aware of is that his new processor must support 64bit addressing. He does not need a 64 bit OS for this.
A bit of background, the only true 64 bit processors are Intel's Itanium / Itanium2, Motorola have one and IBM make one. These are designed for mainframe / midrange computing fo large enterprise systems. They have special versions of Windows / Unix / Linux
The 64bit we are talking about basically increases the addressable memory from the current maximum of 4GB on 32 bit OS's, but this will only work when a 64bit OS is used. These processors are not true 64bit processors - by a long shot.
All Nigel needs to be aware of is that his new processor must support 64bit addressing. He does not need a 64 bit OS for this.
A bit of background, the only true 64 bit processors are Intel's Itanium / Itanium2, Motorola have one and IBM make one. These are designed for mainframe / midrange computing fo large enterprise systems. They have special versions of Windows / Unix / Linux
The 64bit we are talking about basically increases the addressable memory from the current maximum of 4GB on 32 bit OS's, but this will only work when a 64bit OS is used. These processors are not true 64bit processors - by a long shot.
Ben.
Thanks Ben - shows how up to date I am on Windows :roll: . Only recently changed to XP from Win 2000.
The underlying OS is unimportant to me if all it adds is fancy graphical Explorer.
Using Linux more these days because it is free and hence can put it on my old PCs to run music/photo servers.
And looking back at Nigel's original post:
"easily upgraded" - that's the problem. Once the CPU changes to a different pin arrangement, you need a new motherboard. Which is why I am stuck with my 2.4 P4 and have a garage full of old P3 and P4 motherboards and CPUs.
Ian
The underlying OS is unimportant to me if all it adds is fancy graphical Explorer.
Using Linux more these days because it is free and hence can put it on my old PCs to run music/photo servers.
And looking back at Nigel's original post:
"easily upgraded" - that's the problem. Once the CPU changes to a different pin arrangement, you need a new motherboard. Which is why I am stuck with my 2.4 P4 and have a garage full of old P3 and P4 motherboards and CPUs.
Ian
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Hi Nigel,
Ok first of all, do you require a base unit only or base unit +monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse etc?
The flavour of the year is AMD. I've used AMD for 7 years with no problems and I see them as being superior to Intel. Intel... thats another word for my filthy list !
1/ Salad
2/ AOL
3/ Realplayer
4/ Kebab
5/ Intel
Did you get those Jetty?
Anyway, back on topic !
AMD's entire lineup is now 64bit. Their budget CPU is the Sempron with the higher end being the Athlon and Athlon X2 (Dual Core).
For now we shall concentrate on the Athlon and Athlon X2.
Both of these processors operate on what is called a Socket 939 motherboard. These boards use DDR1 memory which is fairly cheap.
However, AMD are bringing out a new socket at the end of this month called AM2. AM2 motherboards have new chipsets and use DDR2 memory. This provides a small increase in speed over Socket 939 but it also costs slightly more.
Socket 939 will eventually be phased out and AMD will concentrate on AM2. If you are thinking about the future then you really need to think about this.
If you want a PC asap then I'll spec you a Socket 939 based PC but otherwise wait and see what the AM2 prices will be like.
Ok first of all, do you require a base unit only or base unit +monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse etc?
The flavour of the year is AMD. I've used AMD for 7 years with no problems and I see them as being superior to Intel. Intel... thats another word for my filthy list !
1/ Salad
2/ AOL
3/ Realplayer
4/ Kebab
5/ Intel
Did you get those Jetty?
Anyway, back on topic !
AMD's entire lineup is now 64bit. Their budget CPU is the Sempron with the higher end being the Athlon and Athlon X2 (Dual Core).
For now we shall concentrate on the Athlon and Athlon X2.
Both of these processors operate on what is called a Socket 939 motherboard. These boards use DDR1 memory which is fairly cheap.
However, AMD are bringing out a new socket at the end of this month called AM2. AM2 motherboards have new chipsets and use DDR2 memory. This provides a small increase in speed over Socket 939 but it also costs slightly more.
Socket 939 will eventually be phased out and AMD will concentrate on AM2. If you are thinking about the future then you really need to think about this.
If you want a PC asap then I'll spec you a Socket 939 based PC but otherwise wait and see what the AM2 prices will be like.
A bird in the hand will probably sh!t on your wrist.
I suffer from paranoid amnesia. I can't remember who I don't trust.