A ? bout 64bit amds

[sasuke_kun12]

Ok i'm thinkin of gettin a socket 939 amd 3000+ and was wondering if i needed a 64 bit windows?

[Sephroth57]

firstly dont get the 939, the 754 is more widely used and 939 will be dying out soon. You dont need 64bit windows, but it does run about 30% faster than xp will on a 64bit processor

[shmokes]

I've had an AMD 64 chip for about a year.  Great chip, but MS won't sell Win XP 64 to the general public so I haven't tried it yet.  I'm trying to bit torrent a copy now.  Dumb MS.

[SirPoonga]

64bit is backwards compatible.  Well, just like moving form 16bit to 32bit (win 3.1 to win 95) they will start out making it backward compatible, but within 2 years 32bit aps probably won't run well or at all.  I have some old 16bit apps that were awesome but can't run in XP

But fo rnow, yeah, anything 32bit will run on a 64bit proc.  It really depends on the app and OS.  You might need to get a latest patch for some of your software also.   But all in all right now you won't have too many problems running 32bit stuff on 64bit procs.

[shmokes]

As long as you're using regular 32 big Windows XP Home or Pro you won't need any patches.  I don't know about the 64 bit flavor, since MS hates me.

[SirPoonga]

well, there's isn't much out for 64bit now anyway.  Even the 64bit linux is mediocre at this point.

[pointdablame]

firstly dont get the 939, the 754 is more widely used and 939 will be dying out soon. You dont need 64bit windows, but it does run about 30% faster than xp will on a 64bit processor

um.. no.  You have that backwards actually.  s754 is the older socket and will converted to a budget line over the next few months.  Already, AMD is pushing the Sempron chips on the s754 platform, and the newer, faster chips do not have  s754 version.

s939 is the newer socket and will also support the new dual core AMD64 chips.  s939 is not going anywhere in the near future... s754 however is on its way out.

If you get an AMD64, which I'd highly recommend as I love mine, DEFINITELY get a s939 board.

[SirPoonga]

Does it matter what socket you get if you get the same speed proc?

only if you plan on upgrading.  But with prices of motherboards and procs these days, and how much they change, I suggest not planning on upgrading just the processor.   So then it really doesn't matter which one you get.

I picked up an abit KV-80 and AMD 64 3200 aobut 2 months ago.  yeah, the 939s were out but I don't plan on upgrading until speed becomes an issue again.  By that time, probably in 2 years, something new and better than the 939 will be out.

But if you find a 939 in your price range go for it.  Either way it probably doesn;t matter to most people.  Only those that upgrade often.

[M3talhead]

I'm running the following in my MAME cab and to be honest, I havent come across any games in v.96 I couldnt play (with the exception of the obvious few). Its a quick little setup, but what I really like, is that its good at dishing out a heated MAME session as well as acting as a music/file server. No real hiccups yet.

MoBo MSI|VIA K8T800 PRO K8T NEO2-F   

AMD 64 |3000+ ATHLON 64   

512MB CORSAIR DDR 400mhz   







................BTW, its a 939 rig

[Sephroth57]

yeah youre right, i have no idea why i was thinking about that backwards,  i have a 939 myself lol

[pointdablame]

Does it matter what socket you get if you get the same speed proc?

only if you plan on upgrading.  But with prices of motherboards and procs these days, and how much they change, I suggest not planning on upgrading just the processor.   So then it really doesn't matter which one you get.

I picked up an abit KV-80 and AMD 64 3200 aobut 2 months ago.  yeah, the 939s were out but I don't plan on upgrading until speed becomes an issue again.  By that time, probably in 2 years, something new and better than the 939 will be out.

But if you find a 939 in your price range go for it.  Either way it probably doesn;t matter to most people.  Only those that upgrade often.

while in some cases, I would tend to agree with you.. I don't in this case.

s939 boards have a much larger memory bandwith when compared to s754.  If you are not doing anything memory intensive with your computer, then yes... the socket is probably a moot point.  However, even if you don't plan to upgrade only the processor (which I do with almost every system I have at least once), it is still worth the few extra bucks to go s939 IMHO if you plan on doing anything memory intensive.

Also, s939 officially supports dual channel memory, while I don't believe s754 does (although I may be incoorect here, my mind is fuzzy).

Basically... for the minimal price differences in most cases, I don't see why you WOULDN'T go s939.  But that's just my .02

[sasuke_kun12]

do you guys wanna know my set-up? ok here we go......

1. AMD 64 socket 939 3000+ (really a 1.8.)
2. Abit Fatal1ty A8N hopefully with the Guru clock and not SLI
3. (if i can afford it) 1 gig geil 400ddr (if not then) 512 geil 400ddr
4. Super Lan boy
5. don't know what videocard but i know that this setup has already blown my wee little budget but i can always get $$$ off my parents

[AlanS17]

Parents have any left over money for me?

[SirPoonga]

Does it matter what socket you get if you get the same speed proc?

only if you plan on upgrading.  But with prices of motherboards and procs these days, and how much they change, I suggest not planning on upgrading just the processor.   So then it really doesn't matter which one you get.

I picked up an abit KV-80 and AMD 64 3200 aobut 2 months ago.  yeah, the 939s were out but I don't plan on upgrading until speed becomes an issue again.  By that time, probably in 2 years, something new and better than the 939 will be out.

But if you find a 939 in your price range go for it.  Either way it probably doesn;t matter to most people.  Only those that upgrade often.

while in some cases, I would tend to agree with you.. I don't in this case.

s939 boards have a much larger memory bandwith when compared to s754.  If you are not doing anything memory intensive with your computer, then yes... the socket is probably a moot point.  However, even if you don't plan to upgrade only the processor (which I do with almost every system I have at least once), it is still worth the few extra bucks to go s939 IMHO if you plan on doing anything memory intensive.

Also, s939 officially supports dual channel memory, while I don't believe s754 does (although I may be incoorect here, my mind is fuzzy).

Basically... for the minimal price differences in most cases, I don't see why you WOULDN'T go s939.  But that's just my .02

I can see that.  But then it comes to the fact are you going to shell out the money for dual channel memory

[Sephroth57]

there is no "dual channel memory"  you just buy matching sticks, put them in the appropriate slots on your mobo and they run at dual channel.

[tommy]

Pointdablame, my AMD64 3200+ (754) and mobo supports dual channel memory just to get your comment corrected.

[tristan]

What model is that motherboard?

My understanding of the reason they went from 754 pins to 939 was to support the additional channel for memory. I can find no reference to any dual-channel motherboards with a socket 754 on them. Quite the opposite actually, every reference says it is not possible.

Pointdablame, my AMD64 3200+ (754) and mobo supports dual channel memory just to get your comment corrected.

[SirPoonga]

there is no "dual channel memory"  you just buy matching sticks, put them in the appropriate slots on your mobo and they run at dual channel.

Right, but you gotta by 2 sticks.  It's like the old days when you had to buy pairs.
If you want the performance then you probably will shell out the money, otherwise no.  And hte two sticks are gennerally more expensive than the one large one.  So it;s a matter of performance for price.

[tommy]

What model is that motherboard?

My understanding of the reason they went from 754 pins to 939 was to support the additional channel for memory. I can find no reference to any dual-channel motherboards with a socket 754 on them. Quite the opposite actually, every reference says it is not possible.

Pointdablame, my AMD64 3200+ (754) and mobo supports dual channel memory just to get your comment corrected.

Heres a link to my mobo, obviously read the memory section.

http://www.scorptec.com.au/index.php?prdid=00012765

[Sephroth57]

there is no "dual channel memory"

[tristan]

It doesn't appear to state anywhere that it actually will run the memory in dual-channel mode, just a generic statement that "there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR". The matrix below the statement shows no indication to dual-channel memory configuration. I would guess it got copied over because the chipset technically supports it, but that socket really does not.

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=648

Heres a link to my mobo, obviously read the memory section.

http://www.scorptec.com.au/index.php?prdid=00012765

[tommy]

It seems to me that this section says it all.

Users can install either single- or double-sided modules to meet their own needs. Please note that each DIMM can work respectively for single-channel DDR, but there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR. Memory modules can be installed in any combination as follows:

Slot Memory Module Total Memory
 
DIMM 1  Single/Double side  64MB~1GB 
DIMM 2  Single/Double side  64MB~1GB 
Maximum System Memory Supported 64MB~2GB 

DIMM 1 DIMM 2  Max. Speed
 
Single -  DDR 400 
-  Single DDR 400 
Single Single DDR 400 
Single Double  DDR 400 
Double Single DDR 400 
Double Double DDR 333 


Maybe i'm missing something.

[tristan]

As I stated, The double and single in that chart do not allude to dual-channel. That is single or double SIDED memory.

Hey, don't take my word for it, just search the Internet. By using more than one stick of memory with chips on more than one side, on a Socket 754 motherboard, you will effectively slow your memory down.


I'm really just trying to help out here...

Note the memory chart on the 939 version and how it shows what memory sizes support dual channel, it also has that same statement "there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR", but continues on to explain:

DIMM Module Combination
Install at least one DIMM module on the slots. Each DIMM slot supports up to a maximum size of 1GB. Users can install either single- or double-sided modules to meet their own needs. Please note that each DIMM can work respectively for singlechannel DDR, but there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR (Please refer to the suggested DDR population table below). Users may install memory modules of different type and density on different-channel DDR DIMMs. However, the same type and density memory modules are necessary while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may happen. Please refer to the following table for detailed dual-channel DDR. Other combination not listed below will function as single-channel DDR.

[pointdablame]

there is no "dual channel memory"  you just buy matching sticks, put them in the appropriate slots on your mobo and they run at dual channel.

True.. there is no memory that is dual channel... but your mobo chipset and socket have to support the feature to give you the benefit of more memory bandwith.

Tommy.. I checked up and did some reading, and my initial thoughts were right. Tristan hit it right on the head... you can always use "dual channel" memory as that's just a marketing ploy memory companies use to sell chips.  They test them together to guarantee they will work.

However, s754 does NOT support true dual channel memory, and thus does not benefit from the increased memory bandwith.

You can also read up online and on AMD's site about how socket 754 will not have any of the newer A64 chips, and will be the budget line socket for the future, with newer Semprons going s754 and higher end A64 and FX series chips going s939.

[tommy]

That sucks for me PDB, maybe a different mobo is in order.

[pointdablame]

That sucks for me PDB, maybe a different mobo is in order.

well, that depends on what you use the computer for.  For all intents and purposes, an everyday user, or a computer that will not be stressed, will see little performance gains from the increased memory bandwith.

If, however, you are doing very memory intensive stuff like high end gaming, photo/video editing, etc, then yeah... maybe you would be better off with the dual channel support.  I will say that my s939 system "feels" faster than my roommate's s754 system did (with the same chip model, and very similar all around specs) in some aspects, but most people wouldn't notice it.

I mostly went with s939 knowing that it would be the logical choice for future upgrades.  I agree with SirP that most people don't upgrade CPUs often... but I do.  And knowing that the faster/newer chips are going strictly to s939 was enough reason for me.

[tommy]

I use my AMD PC for PC games only , i suppose with the best AGP card combined with this processor overclocked and if i go to the limit of 2 GB ram i will have no worries no matter what i do. I also will have room for a processor upgrade if i wish.

I was saying a new mobo not only for the memory but also a PCI express card slot.