I was wondering which would be a better buy. the 3500+ Venice or the 3700+ San Diego. The only difference is $23 more for the 3700+ and the 3700+ has 1MB L2 cache instead of 512KB. I've heard the Venice has one of the best overclocking abilities. Also whats the difference between the 1.35V/1.4V and the 1.35V version? which one is better in that case?

Zo

I'm probably speaking for almost everybody in computing.net; the 3700+ is the best buy between those two. It's also a great overclocker. I can get mine easily at 2.6ghz with no voltage increase, but right know I have it at 2.8ghz at 1.525v (1.4v default). Temps don't go above 51ºc at full load even though I have stock cooling and it's overclocked. It's even summer in my country and my room is freaking hot. However if you overclock remember getting a good o/cing mobo.

Free

it depends...

stock speed the 3700+ is better from a larger cache size but Venice core A64s make better overclocking processor if you want to do that...

the .5v in the printed vcore wont make a differance...

if you go with a Venice, get the 3200+, not the 3500+...otherwise, get the 3700+ San Diego

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so why does newegg have 2 versions of the 3200+ venice with the only difference being one is 1.35V/1.4V and the other being 1.4V. They r the same price as well.

Zo

sorry mistake in the last post. there r two versions of both the 3200+ and the 3500+. they r a 1.35V and a 1.35V/1.4V.WHats the real diffence?

Zo

Also between the 1.35V 3200+ and the 1.35V/1.4V 3200+ theres a $15 gap. which makes no sense to me. the 1.35V is 15 more expensive.

Zo

You're not paying attention to the model numbers. Take the 3500+ CPUs for instance...one is ADA3500BPBOX, the other is ADA3500CGBOX. The BP uses E3 stepping, the CG uses E4 stepping.

Basically, "Stepping" is the same as "revision". When a CPU is 1st introduced, it's usually given a revision number (or stepping) of A0. If a "minor" change or improvement is made to the core, the new stepping would be called A1...if a "major" change is made to the core, it would called B0...& so on. So E4 would be a newer revision that E3.

You can find that info here:

http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/

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yes but it probably is not such a differance that it is worth spending the extra fifteen dollars, IMHO

why do you suggest a 3200+ Venice instead of 3500+, jam? faster the better, unless the 3200+ has a larger cache or higher FSB or something that i dont know of...

older technology is the s--- - keep it running

Yea, I suggest the 3200+ over the 3500+. Basically, they are the exact same CPU...the only difference is the default multiplier setting (10x vs 11x). And since the OP plans on overclocking anyway, why spend $40 for an extra 200MHz (2.0GHz vs 2.2GHz)? That minor clock speed difference will be more than made up for when overclocking & the $40 savings can be invested elsewhere

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thanks for the input guys. very informative.

Zo

yeah i guess your right i just thought the higher the stock speed the higher speed you can get by overclocking...

but what you say makes more sense

older technology is the s---; keep it running

Now why a guy with a P4 2.6 GHz OC@3.0 /1 GB RAM DDR400 is upgrading to another single core setup is beyond me. I know it's NOT because he needs to.

Trying to get a couple more bench points or FPS ?

Leadtek sucks BIG TIME

actually Saber has a point why are you doing this your current setup is okay as is, except maybe another 1gb PC3200 (DDR400) stick and a good graphics card (6800GT 256mb is good)

whhat are you doing this for??

just curious...

older technology is the s---; keep it running

simply for the hell of it. want a mobo with PCI Express and decided that id like to give AMD a try since i dont know of any mobos with PCI Express that would support a P4 Northwood. I mean unless there is one i might as well just upgrade my mobo and graphics card. id like to play games like FEAR which just plain suck on my current system unless set to low graphics.

Zo

newer graphics cards dont even come in AGP anymore. so i would have to upgrade my mobo. the question of is my upgrade worth is something ive questioned as well. but my current config is sort of at a dead end in terms of upgradability cause i have no PCI Express and a P4 Northwood mobo. a 9600XT has trouble playing newer games even when overclocked.

Zo

"newer graphics cards dont even come in AGP anymore"

Haven't you heard of the 6800GS AGP. BTW, Nvidia is also launching the 7800GS within the next couple of weeks.

Leadtek sucks BIG TIME

is the 6800GS worth it? and i heard the 7800GS is only PCI Express. Lowest i can find for a 6800GS is 209. Maybe ill just go for that. is that what u guys would recommend instead of a full upgrade? i dont mean to look like an idiot i just come to these forums for advice. perhaps my jump to this up grade is a bit too pricey.

Zo

If you are going to pull the trigger now, the 6800GS is your best pick.

Leadtek sucks BIG TIME

alright thanks. might as well go for that. im sure the pc will last for a year if not more in terms of games. although i cant seem to find a review for the 6800GS AGP version. at least i know the 6800GS is a big jump from the 9600XT.

Zo

what will become of the old machine, or whats left of it?

and FEAR sucks probably because of your graphics card as 3.0ghz and 1gb PC3200 is enough to run it decently without a problem...

older technology is the s---; keep it running

All old parts i have end up on ebay. ive decided on just updating my graphics card to the 6800GS.

Zo

better plan.

actually if you are interested in water cooling you could get more speed form the current CPU, if you want...

older technology is the s---; keep it running

right now the only thing holding me back is my RAM and i dont want to lower my CPU Freq. to DRAM Freq. ratio. I just recently bought heat spreaders for the memory to get it above 231MHz(which is the current freq. of both the CPU(times 13) and mem).So basically my memory is running great at 231(DDR462). Whats really getting me is that its value RAM and has lived this long without heat spreaders.

Zo

that is pretty good overclocking for value RAM

LOL

older technology is the s---; keep it running