MERGED - What Processor

I'm going to be getting a new processor in about 4 weeks time, and I was wondering what YOU think I should get.

The main things I want is:

High speed in distributed projects, such as ClimatePredicion.net
Overall system performance

I was going to get the Athlon XP 3200+, but loads of places have ran out of stock and are removing it from there lists since AMD arn't making them any more. So I was thinking of getting the Sempron 3000+, which has a 512KB L2 cache.

What do you think? (may not be able to get the Athlon XP in the 4 weeks if loads of sites keep running out, such as Ebuyer no longer have the 3200+ retail package, only the 3000+ retail package).

Thanks again.

[Nemesis]

Sounds like you don't have much choice ... I'd go for the new one.

[jarrvo]

the xp2500+ mobile barton is the best buy.
http://www.cpucitystore.co.uk/catalo...roducts_id=392

its totally unlocked and will over clock to 2.2ghz -2.7ghz on air.

Sorry but I'm not an overclocker. If I overclock my system, the work units on climateprediction are more prone to fail.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Scott

Sorry but I'm not an overclocker. If I overclock my system, the work units on climateprediction are more prone to fail.

Not on an Athlon Mobile they won't, they run no hotter and fail no more than equivalent processors running at stock, you should probably do some research before writing it off. Failing that, get the XP 3200, I wouldn't bother with the Sempron.

Originally Posted by Bifta

Not on an Athlon Mobile they won't, they run no hotter and fail no more than equivalent processors running at stock, you should probably do some research before writing it off.

Err, it's actually said by the ClimatePrediction team, any one who overclocks any processor who runs the project, the WU's will more than likely fail more than one that isn't overclocked.

Would the Athlon XP 3200 run at 400FSB though? As I'm getting 2X 512MB Kingston PC2700 memory next week off a friend of mine, and I thought 400/333 isn't really good for performance.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Scott

Would the Athlon XP 3200 run at 400FSB though? As I'm getting 2X 512MB Kingston PC2700 memory next week off a friend of mine, and I thought 400/333 isn't really good for performance.

You'll barely notice the difference in performance from 333 to 400mhz.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Scott

Err, it's actually said by the ClimatePrediction team, any one who overclocks any processor who runs the project, the WU's will more than likely fail more than one that isn't overclocked.

People can run SuperPI for day's on end with overclocked Mobile processors and that is far more processor intensive than any other app. I've come across. Unless BOINC has some kind of anti-cheat bits in it.

[TheBlueRaja]

Originally Posted by Scott

Err, it's actually said by the ClimatePrediction team, any one who overclocks any processor who runs the project, the WU's will more than likely fail more than one that isn't overclocked.

As in monkeys that over clock to high and make thier systems unstable...

[Paulie]

http://www.envizage.com/env/

Look here XP3200 ....6 retail in stock

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Paulie

http://www.envizage.com/env/

Look here XP3200 ....6 retail in stock

I can't see any 3200's (other than Athlon 64's) on there.

Plenty here though

http://www.pcnextday.co.uk/product_d...ef_site=kelkoo

About the same prices as the ones on Ebuyer.

Don't know why Ebuyer stopped selling the retail versions.

Hmm, the Sempron is only just slightly slower than the Athlon, and is about £30 cheaper (and it's retail aswell).

http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-239-1.htm

Athlon XP 2500, and Sempron 2500 (with 256KB Cache) benchmark. The Sempron is only just slightly slower because of the smaller cache size, but the Sempron 3000+ Retail on Ebuyer has a 512KB L2 cache, so basically will be the same speed just £30 cheaper.

[Aragorn]

Don't know if this will influence you, but Athlon XP is officially going now : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11...lls_athlon_xp/

HTH