AMD CPU guide

[Kev367th]

As there has been a lot of requests for info on Athlon 64 CPU's, here goes.

Athlon 64 series CPU's - no front side bus as memory controller on CPU. Only 32/64 bit CPU at present.
Memory required DDR400 CAS2 (also see FX53)
Available in socket 754, 939 and 940 versions.

Socket 754 - AMD 64
                     2800 up to 3700 speeds available.
                     Either 1mb or 512kb L2 cache available.
                     Single channel memory controller only.
                     Will be phased out.

Socket 939 - AMD 64
                     Currently only 3500 and 3800 available.
                     512kb L2 cache only.
                     Dual channel memory controller (needs 2 x DDR400).
                     The present and forseeable future socket config.

Socket 939 -  FX53
                     Flagship AMD64 CPU for gaming.
                     1mb L2 cache.
                     Dual channel memory controller. Faster than
                           DDR400 can be used if planning to overclock.
                           But use the fastest available at the DDR rating.

Socket 940 - AKA Opteron, FX51 and FX53 (S940 version)
                    Opteron for servers only really.
                    All socket 940 CPU's require slower more expensive
                    registered memory.

[Edbert]

I bought the FX53 Kev, largely on your recommendation but also after reading anandtech. So if it doesn't work out I'll be hunting you!



Here's what I got:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=126482

Any 939 based water coolers out there yet? And what is the 'correct' name of the special power supply I need?

ATX-?

[Kev367th]

Watercooling I am unsure of, but Thermaltake and a few other manufacture water cooling kits.
The x800 is the only thing I am unsure of, personally I would have gone with an nVidia 6800.
I am assuming you got 2 x 500mb DDR 400 and not 1 x 1gb. You require the 2 sticks to use the dual channel memory option.
Guarentee you one thing, you'll be running those games you mentioned without a problem.
Power supply is ATX you are correct. You are probably looking at aorund a 450W one.

[Edbert]

Originally posted by Kev367th
Watercooling I am unsure of, but Thermaltake and a few other manufacture water cooling kits.
The x800 is the only thing I am unsure of, personally I would have gone with an nVidia 6800.
I am assuming you got 2 x 500mb DDR 400 and not 1 x 1gb. You require the 2 sticks to use the dual channel memory option.
Guarentee you one thing, you'll be running those games you mentioned without a problem.
Power supply is ATX you are correct. You are probably looking at aorund a 450W one.

I did get 2@512 sticks. The XT version of the X800 won a lot of benchmarks, plus I got it for $100 lower than pricewatch by looking at slickdeals.net

The Power supply fits an ATX chassis, but there's a different kind of plug for main board power, just a different pin-out I think. Plus it has more than one power lead, I'll ask the guy at the counter of my local retailer.

[Kev367th]

Keep me posted.