Hi, I'm planning on upgrading my CPU, I currently run a 1.6GHz Duron on a Asus A7V8X-X motherboard. I'm looking at either AMD Athlon 3000 Barton or then Sempron 3000. Which of these is better?? I'll use my computer mainly for audio production. Thanks!!

ATHLON due to L2, though you would need to change the memory to PC2700/3200 if currently you have PC2100. A Sempron64 + 754 Mobo + PC3200 Memory is not much more expensive.......

The new Sempron 3000+ has the same cache as Athlon 3000. Here's the Sempron: http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/details.aspx?opn=SDA3000DUT4D So they both have L1 128kb / L2 512kb. Right? Now, are they sort of equal now or which is better? Is Sempron better for the future, i.e. more compliant with other new stuff later..?

The AMD Athlon XP 3000+ and Sempron 3000+ are both the same Barton chip and they both have the same L2 512kb Cache. So whichever one you get, you are getting the same exact chip, the only diff is the name. The Sempron from 3000+ down are basicly the Athlon XP chips. Semprons didn't start to really evole on their own until the 3100+ that was set on the 754 socket.

Actually, the 3000+ Sempron is an Athlon XP 2800+ Barton. Hopefully you have at least PC2700 RAM, preferably PC3200...PC2100 is gonna hold your system back. There are two versions of the Athlon XP 3000+...one runs at 166MHz (333FSB), the other runs at 200MHz (400FSB). If the AXP you're looking at is the 400FSB version, go for it...if it's the 333FSB version, get whichever is cheaper, the 167MHz difference in clock speed probably won't be noticed & you could always bump up the FSB to make up for the difference. ASUS A7N8X-X Athlon XP 1800+ 8.5 x 200MHz 1024MB PC3200 2.5-3-3-7 Asus A9550GE/TD 128MB WinME/WinXP Pro SP2

Don't get the 333 FSB model. Get the 400. JMO since I just bought the 333 variety. I'm not impressed at all. If you're going to stay in the cheaper price range, go get a mobo with at least n force 2 chip set and an AMD mobile 2600. That is the best you can do! YOYO

YOYO has a point go mobile processor if you can they are better overclockers.