P4 3.4 or AMD 64 3000+?

[Grits]

Ive got a P4 2.8 with a 533 FSB (yeah I know 533 FSB, its a looong story). I am looking at upgrading to a P4 3.4 or I can get an AMD 64 3000+ and a 939 motherboard for about the same price. Since Intel 478 sockets are on the way out, and AMD 939 is on the way in, for the same price  would I smart to get the AMD? Would a P4 3.4 be more or less horsepower than an AMD 64 3000+?

[Octavius]

If 3.4s and 3000+'s are the same price nowadays, then overall I say your best bet is to go with AMD.  Later on you'll be able to throw a faster CPU inside the socket 939 should you want to.

I have a 3000+ currently and it gets the job done great.  Gaming will benefit with the AMD64.

In the end it's up to you, but I think the AMD route offers a little more breathing room for the future (CPU upgrade, 64bit software, etc).  Just make sure you've got 1gig of DDR400 to go with it and it will really shine.

[Grits]

Cool. I've already got 1gig of DDR400, so I guess I'll go with the AMD 64.

[Slash27]

AMD all the way buddy:aok

[richard_rd]

Make sure you go with a socket 939 Athlon 64.

You may want to consider the 3000+ Winchester core (90nm). It is by far the best Bang for the buck for Athlon 64's. It comes stock at 1.8GHz HTT but can easilly overclock to 2.4-2.6GHz putting it on par with a 4000+ (Old FX53) and the new FX55's.

The 3000+ Winchester reaches the same overclocks as the 3500+ Winchester can overclock. Following is a nice review on the new 3000+/3200+/3500+ Winchester core CPU's that shows overclocking potential also.

You can get a retail 3000+ w/HSF for around $175, pair that with an ABIT AV8 mobo for $110 and you have a great stock setup that has the best overclocking potential out there.


http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipset...doc.aspx?i=2242