Originally posted by Kev367th
True MOSQ but 754 is a dead end regarding future releases. E.g. 'Dual core" CPUs will only be available for s939 and s940.
The recent release of Athlon 64 (s939) 3000 is a good entry level cpu.
True, but in my experience with upgrading systems since my first 286 based system, you will need a new mobo at the same time. In other words, at the point a 754 based system is obsolete, so will be any current 939 system. If the 939 is still around at that point, you will want a new mobo to take advantage of the latest ram type and speeds; FSB speeds, PCI Express, and on and on.
So I still say the 754 is a far better value. IF you buy a 939 today and expect to simply upgrade with a faster 939 processor in a couple of years, you will be unhappy, because in two years you'll want faster RAM, FSB, and PCI Express too. So you'll end up buying a new mobo/cpu/ram/vid card anyway.
Might as well save the $ now and put em in the piggy bank for that full upgrade in 2 years.
As far as DVD burning with the Hyper Thread Technology, that's an example of real life software that gives Intel an advantage.
However what happens when DVD and graphics software comes out in 64 bit? Will AMD smoke the 32 bit Intel systems? I don't know. We use SUN Solaris 64 RISC systems here at our internet company and they are great. But I'm not saying to buy the Athlon for 64 bit computing because by the time 64 bit apps are commonplace at the Windows office/home level, you will be looking at a new system anyway. It's just an added benefit that in a couple of years when you will build that new super fast gaming rig that you'll still be able to use your old (today's) system in the 64 bit Windows environment.
NUTTZ as far as reliabilty, that's not really an issue. AMDs are just as reliable as Intel. Even more so if you are considering the Intel Prescott cpus, because they run so hot. Even SUN is offering AMD based x86 instruction set servers now. SUN's reputation is based on reliabilty, so I would have no qualms about the reliability of AMD processors.
IMHO the AMD Athlon 64 754 systems are the price/performance leader for at least the next 6 months in the gaming world.