AMD 3500 upgrade... expectations???

[SKT]

I wasn't really sure where to post this question. Although it's a hardware question its not a technical issue :hide:

Anyway........

I am upgarding from a AMD 2000+ to a AMD64 3500 plus going from the Epox 8RGA+ to the Abit AN8 Ultra mobo.
My main issue at the moment using the current 2000+ is that when the total force on the battlefield exceeds more than about 100 units I experience considerable lag, not unplayable but anoying. I really can't have a descent game vs. Orks full stop. I already run the game at pretty much all low gfx & fx and my crusty 9000 Pro is holding it's own..... I think :buddies:


Can someone give me some idea of the instant improvements I expect to see when playing DoW with the new cpu and mobo???

I am not sure exactly how the 32bit to 64bit change is going to be seen. I have an understanding that the cpu is going to be capable of recieving twice as many instructions... ????

I do know that the 3500 is going to be shit hot. I pushed my 2000+ from stock 1286 MHz out to 1738 MHz with almost total stability. I hope to squeeze some serious muscle outa the 3500.

Any comments on OCing the AMD64 3500 would be most welcome.

Cheers


SKT

[Worf]

Moving to Tech Sub.

[Druidika]

The Athlon XP 2000+ has a stock speed of 1666 MHz (133 * 12,5), so you didn't overclock your old CPU that much. Anyhow, when you get the Athlon 64, make sure it's one with a 'Venice' core. The Venice core has SSE3, which means that the performance in some applications and games is better. It also uses less power and thus produces less heat than the other Athlon 64 cores. From what I hear, the overclockability is very good.

That being said, I doubt that the CPU is the bottleneck in your current system, because I have the same CPU and I can play DoW just fine. However, I'm using a Radeon 9800 Pro, which is a lot faster than your card. If you want to upgrade your system, I'd also look at a new graphics card, because the Radeon 9000 would slow down your new CPU considerably.

[SKT]

Yep.... my bad.... 1637MHz

And yeah, the 9000 is holding me back, but I'd stillexpect to see some improvements in general number crunching wouldn't I?

[Moe]

'Yes, definitely. You won't profit from the 64bit that much, but the clock speed is higher, and 1MB L2 cache tends to speed up things as well.

[TBS]

You'll see some improvement but I think you would have seen a greater improvement from a new graphics card...and you will need to make that upgrade before you can play DoW on high settings flawlessly.

[Alexvrb]

I wouldn't put together a new rig that has poor balance. A socket 939 3000+ is a heck of a lot cheaper, and it would be more than enough. IIRC, none of the 3500+ cores come with 1MB L2 cache, so you don't lose anything but clock speed. It also gives you a decent upgrade path if you get a solid mainboard and PSU (future dual core upgrade).

The price difference between this and the 3500+ might well be enough to get you a new graphics card. Maybe if you threw in another $20-40. Nothing outrageous, but even an X700 Pro or 6600GT would be a far cry from the 9000 Pro. The 6600GT is generally the faster of the two, while the X700 Pro often comes pretty affordably equipped with 256MB, for the texture freaks out there.

You're also going to need a decent chunk of decent memory. As long as it is DDR400, reliable, and has OK timings you're set. Gains from faster memory are impractical unless you have the absolute best everywhere else, dual 7800 GTXs, etc. Well, on a 939 platform anyway. Dual channel and integrated memory controller minimalize the impact.

[Moe]

Heh, Alex is right - the 3500s come with only 512kB L2 cache....

I have a 3000+ and a 6600GT, and I can run every game at 1280x1024 with high details, with a few exceptions (*cough*battlefield2*cough*)

[SKT]

Just a follow up.....

New rig specs

Abit AN8-Ultra
Corsair Twinx 512DDR (matched pair 1gig)
AMD64 3500
x600 XT

Plus (due to the mobo having a few subtle red LEDs and a pair of green 7segs onboard) I threw in a case window plus a pair of SilenX 120mm 14dB fans, an intake in the window and a blow hole on top. Went from surf/idle of 45-48 degrees C to 35-38 degrees C. Never breaks 50 degrees C after a DoW battle.
And round silver IDE cables for airfolw and a touch of class

Overall, the system performance is IMO pretty darn good, althought the AN8-Ultra has a few USB issues causing system hangs here and there but I seem to have sorted it now.

For DoW it is excellent. I can enjoy all the beautiful banners and badges made by hard working community members. Loving the look of the game now aswell as the game play itself.

Its nice when a few bad guys sneak into my unguarded base then I release a few AMs and a Dread to deal with them. Looks fantastic. Thats the real beauty of this game. When its just no challenge anymore (I am far from that), just enjoy the view.