Opinion on Santa Ana core AM2 Opties?

Liquid3D · Nov 1, 2006

I want to "upgrade?" from an AM2 3800X2 capable of 3.0GHz + to an Opteron 1212 or 1216 for AM2. Why? because I've been under the impression the Opteron's are simply better silicon then the desktop 3800 X2's? Sure if I had an AM2 5200 X2 or something this decision would be differerent, however; just a week ago at the Egg the Santa Ana 1212 was $350 (these are all Retail I'm speaking of) then three days ago at Newegg the Santa Ana 1212 went up to $370 then it dropped to $209 yesterday? At ZZF the 1212's remained at $350 shipped.

Prices have been jumping around like a three legged dog in a flea scratching contest? Either someone at Newegg is smoking the stickiest neon-green-bud you ever stuck to a wall, or something is amiss in Opteron land. If that don't beat all an OEM 1212 is $219 while the Retail 1212 is $209

For 1216 OEM's are more too? What's uP?
Retail 1216 $331

OEM 1216 $359

back to the question I need the experience here to aid me in this decision. For me $331 is a lot and may be better spent towards a new G80 card when they come out and I can keep a chip that OC's beyond 3.0GHz as it stands? After all the 2.4GHz gives me a higher divider, BUT that may be it's OC limit?

FeuerFrei · Nov 1, 2006

You better go with the Gfx upgrade, AM2 is not worth the hassle imho plus it is not likely to OC better

AlabamaCajun · Nov 1, 2006

I have a feeling that the Egg thought AMD was going to drop prices on the AM2 optys along with the SktFs. Then they corrected the price.

Personally, I like the 1214 where it starts at 2.2 meaning less push on the MOBO but it you have a premium mobo then the 1212 is on spot in retail (put the piped stock cooler on a single core). Both chips will hit ceilings at roughly the same CPU speed, it comes down to how much you want to push.

"I need to go check my old NewEgg boxes for something Neon-Green"

speed bump · Nov 2, 2006

Yeah AMD had a sceduled price cut on Oct 30 for opterons.

If you feel like spending alittle now I would say go with a 1210 and save your money for a 65nm CPU since they are *supposedly* coming out this quarter.

Also get your opties at Monarch for slightly cheaper.
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc...en=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=AMDOPAM21K

Also the Opterons are binned like FXs so that is why they are desirable and tend to overclock very well.

Personally I'm glad I dont have enough $$$ on hand to be buying one right now or I would have a 1210 to tell you all about.

Finally I'm not sure that you will get to much more overclock *maybe* 200-400mhz if you get somewhat lucky but I think 90nm is stretched as far as it can go for AMD.

nikhsub1 · Nov 2, 2006

AC3421 see my PM. If you don't cut it out you are gone.

I've cleaned the garbage, now carry on.

Sorin · Nov 2, 2006

If you are already hitting 3GHz+ (and with a 3800+, that's got to be taking a nice HTT speed), I'd say count your blessings and keep your chip.

I went from a 2.9GHz single core (3700+ San Diego) to a 4400+ that was from a known, documented good stepping, but that wouldn't clock for beans over stock speed. Now I have an Opteron 170 that is stable, but very hot, at 2.5GHz, but won't clock passed that worth a damn. And it's also from a known and documented good stepping that does 2.8-3GHz. I'm still in denial and refuse to accept that I just happened to get 2 bunk chips in a row. So I'm just going to stay in LA LA Land and believe it's something else in my hardware.

You, however, already have a 3GHz dual core - that rocks. It's not broke, don't fix it!

I would lie, cheat, steal and murder for your chip, regardless of the whole Opteron/Athlon thing.

MadMan007 · Nov 2, 2006

I agree, it sounds like you already have a very choice CPU and an Opteron would probably be a waste of money.

Molester · Nov 2, 2006

keep the 3800+

Liquid3D · Nov 2, 2006

nikhsub1 said:
AC3421 see my PM. If you don't cut it out you are gone.

I've cleaned the garbage, now carry on.

I apologize you've had to edit any of my posts, I should not have placed you in that position. I also apologize to the forum and to AC3421 for reacting to his comment. It's better sometimes just to let things go.

I also want to thank everyone for their help, but as I'm an idiot savant (maybe leave out the savant part) I went and ordered it scared it was too good to be true? Now look at me how do I feel now? I can exchange the chip for refund in 7-days, perhaps I should test it and see how it performs? but then I'd be contributing to all those "Open Boxes" at Newegg?

I guess I was thinking of the single core Optie days, oh that was nice. A much simpler time when the most complicated thing that could happen was when you found out your Optie was a binned down FX.

I wonder if I can stop the order, if it's not been shipped yet?

nikhsub1 · Nov 2, 2006

Liquid3D it's all good. I'd offer help, but I'm in the Intel club...

Liquid3D · Nov 2, 2006

I have a Conroe 6400 that flies, does 400FSB on default Vcore but is limited on my Asus P5W DH to 430FSB, yet I wonder if it even needs more Vcore or if it;'s the NB. I have to use the low memory divider with Super Talent DDRII-1000 and Crucial Ballistix DDRII-1000. Same is happening on my Asus M2N32-SLI rig where memory seems to be holding back the CPU?

Have you heard of this?

MadMan007 · Nov 2, 2006

Liquid3D said:
I wonder if I can stop the order, if it's not been shipped yet?

You can cancel it through the website or by phone if it hasn't shipped.

Super Nade · Nov 3, 2006

Interesting. If I were to predict a trend, I'd pick the S939 trend. When 939 Opty's first came out, they clocked better than the Venice and SD cores. However, in case of the X2 v/s Opteron, things evened out between them pretty quickly.

splat · Nov 3, 2006

don't cancel. we need some santa ana data. thanks for being the guinea pig.

AlabamaCajun · Nov 3, 2006

Liquid3D said:
I have a Conroe 6400 that flies, does 400FSB on default Vcore but is limited on my Asus P5W DH to 430FSB, yet I wonder if it even needs more Vcore or if it;'s the NB. I have to use the low memory divider with Super Talent DDRII-1000 and Crucial Ballistix DDRII-1000. Same is happening on my Asus M2N32-SLI rig where memory seems to be holding back the CPU?

Have you heard of this?

I think you will find that the memory will not hold back that chip. You should see bandwidth in the 8000-9000 range. You will have to play with memory timing a little more but you may find those DIMMs pulling some nice numbers.

If you are going with the 1212 running on 400 memory divider, then the numbers may look like this.

@htt 270, CPU will hit 2700 / 5 = 540 * 2 = DDR2-1080 (400 divider)
@htt 280, CPU will hit 2800 / 5 = 560 * 2 = DDR2-1120 (400 divider)
@htt 280, CPU will hit 2800 / 6 = 466 * 2 = DDR2-932 (333 divider)

For the 1214
@htt 255, CPU will hit 2802 / 5 = 560 * 2 = DDR2-1080 (400 divider)

For the 1216
@htt 234, CPU will hit 2808 / 6 = 468 * 2 = DDR2-936 (400 divider)

Your board timing may vary but this will give you some idea where to shoot for!

AaronR · Nov 3, 2006

1218 OC, in chinese

Liquid3D · Nov 8, 2006

AlabamaCajun said:
I think you will find that the memory will not hold back that chip. You should see bandwidth in the 8000-9000 range. You will have to play with memory timing a little more but you may find those DIMMs pulling some nice numbers.

If you are going with the 1212 running on 400 memory divider, then the numbers may look like this.

@htt 270, CPU will hit 2700 / 5 = 540 * 2 = DDR2-1080 (400 divider)
@htt 280, CPU will hit 2800 / 5 = 560 * 2 = DDR2-1120 (400 divider)
@htt 280, CPU will hit 2800 / 6 = 466 * 2 = DDR2-932 (333 divider)

For the 1214
@htt 255, CPU will hit 2802 / 5 = 560 * 2 = DDR2-1080 (400 divider)

For the 1216
@htt 234, CPU will hit 2808 / 6 = 468 * 2 = DDR2-936 (400 divider)

Your board timing may vary but this will give you some idea where to shoot for!

The M2N32-SLi deosn't seem to accept Opteron processors? It's not on the CPU list at Asus and while the system will almost POst it just sits at the screen which shows the Asus logo and "Press Del to enter BIOS"

fordsierra4x4 · Nov 8, 2006

Retail 1212 here is £163, or $308

Cant find them here easily either.

AlabamaCajun · Nov 8, 2006

Did you reset the bios before swapping chips? You should to avoid problems.

AlabamaCajun · Nov 8, 2006

AaronR said:
1218 OC, in chinese

English version right here on our boards!

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=484970

Opinion on Santa Ana core AM2 Opties?

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