[Golbez]

I'm just getting into overclocking and have had minimal experience with it. I was planning on getting a 754 3100+ semp and a dfi nf3 board but lately I've been reading up about the various clock settings the barton 2600+ mobile has been getting. A64 3000+ from what I've seen runs much hotter and hardly even beats a oc'd 2600+(with current games). I plan on using a custom dangerden wc kit. Should I go mobile barton for the cheaper yet greater oc'ability or check out the 3100+ semp since it comes on newer 754 boards with nf3 and eventually nf4. I don't really want to go 64bit yet as by the time drivers,windows xp 64bit and games come out I'll want to upgrade anyway. Thats why a Mobile Barton is looking even sweeter. Cheap cpu+mobo so if I do mess up 50-80 bucks here or there wont kill me. The only things I will be buying in this upgrade is cpu+mobo+memory. Everything else I have already have(AGP vid, hd etc).

I can spend anywhere between 400-600 dollars on just those parts. But obviously I'd like to keep it cheap incase something goes wrong and I have to buy a new cpu. I also plan on playing WoW when it comes out. Anyone play beta on a oc'd mobile barton?

Thanks

[deception``]

Your best bet is to wait for s939 90nm cpu's to show up more in the market. Additionally, I'd wait for better s939 motherboards (NF3/NF4) to come about as well. If you can sit tight on your current system for just a while longer this will represent the best future-proof upgrade you can make. Mobile Barton's posses extraordinary value especially when overclocked, but as time draws low end s939 Winchesters are currently being labeled as the next overclocking behemoths of the K8 platform. Just relax for now and take this waiting period to further research your upcoming options. I guaruntee that within the next few months that s939 systems will only become more and more attractive and slightly more affordable.

deception``

[David]

If you plan to upgrade in the near future anyway, then a 2500M or 2600M Barton should give you a good OC in the 2.4 to 2.5GHz region, with luck, good RAM and good cooling.

Sempron would allow you to move on up to the 754 platform (not sure how long lived it will be though) so you can pop an A64 in later. Not sure how the Semprons are doing performance wise.

A64 would mean you are the most up to date - although in some applications an overclocked Barton may edge it out.

[Mdogs444]

To me, this isnt really even a question. For 400-600, you can do some damage.

CPU: Athlon 64 3000+ NC - $163 @ newegg
Mobo: DFI Lanparty UT 250gb - $127 @ newegg
Memory: pqi Turbo series (512mbx2) - $171 @ newegg

Total: $471

EDIT: And an OC'ed Barton will never edge out an A64. I think all would agree.

[Twister1234]

hm,a64 is the way to go...its either cheap(relative) atm...but for a quick update(lets say 1 year+-) an amd mobile should do fine-if you can still get one.
easiest way is abit nf-7 s+mobile 2500 or 2600 and 2x512 Mb ram(i use bh-5 dont know whats actually good buyable ram...)
all together about 80+100+240=420 Euro.
240 Euro is the ram-perhaps you could go cheaper there-but the newer a64 boards are still on ddr-and not on ddr2-so perhaps its worth keeping it-time will tell...

[Golbez]

Wasn't considering A64 before because of the near performance identity of oc'd mobiles, but waiting for 939 and nf4 would be the smartest choice. Processors aren't really headed in that many directions atm and it seems that in gamming, gpus are what's currently holding systems back from getting top end performance out of the latest games realeased. The reason I did want to hold off though on a64 is ddr2. The current cpu aren't compatible with it and it will require a new socket/pin configuration anyway.(almost positive). So why waste my money on a 939 pin now when eventually ddr2 is going to be realeased and i'm going to have to upgrade to a new socket anyway?

[Buhammot]

The slight differences that nf4 are to bring out, aside from pci-x arent all that great to me. Just wondering, is your XP processor runnin over 2.7ghz? on air? Thats what it takes according to sandra benches to equal an ok overclock with a a64, mine was runnin at 2.4ghz at the time at stock voltage. I prolly could hit 2.6ghz with my setup IF i had better cooling, but 2.5 is still within my limits.

As far as these 90mm cpu's aside from a huge price jump just for a lil cooler, tid bit (maybe) less voltage, and dual channel memory, I cant see paying that much, IF you want to factor in prices.