Should I go with the XP3000 Barton or the Sempron 3000 Barton as an upgrade from current XP2200? I'm sure there isn't one correct awnser, just looking for input.

Computer being used as HTPC and I might be playing some games here and there (not an overly big gamer...yet :)

On paper they look identical.

XP3000/333 $111 and Sempron 3000/333 $101 (Newegg.com)

Also would I see any difference in upgrading to DDR400 with the processor upgrade? Would I see any upgrade going with 2GB versus 1GB?

Current set up:
Soyo KT400 MB (up to FSB333 and PC3200 with Bios update)
1GB (512X2) PC2700 Mushkin (One level Black stick and one level Blue stick)
Zalman 7000B cooler
XP2200 (running at 1.97)(140X14)
Radeon 8500 128MB
Hauppauge 150X2
SB Audigy
Lan Li case (tons of fans)

Or should I just steal the XP2600 out of my wife's computer, OC the snot out of it, upgrade my Ram, and put my XP200 and Ram in her's?

It's just an email/web computer.

The AXP 3000+/333FSB is based on the Barton core, meaning it has 512k L2 cache. It runs at 2167MHz (13 x 166MHz).

The Sempron 3000+ is also based on the Barton core but runs at 2000Mhz (12 x166MHz).

So for the extra $10, you're gaining 167Mhz.

There are 3 different versions of the AXP 2600+...2 based on the TBred core (one @ 2133MHz/266FSB & one @ 2083MHz/333FSB), & one based on the Barton core (1917MHz/333FSB)

Personally, I think it's a waste of money. Why not just overclock the AXP2200+? I see you have PC2700 RAM & it appears you have an unlocked multiplier, so why are you clocked at 14 x 140MHz? Is the CPU running at 140MHz & RAM at 166MHz? If so, you're system's outta whack. I'd have the FSB up to somewhere between 175-185MHz, with the CPU:DRAM running 1:1. PC2700 will easily handle 175MHz & "should" handle 185MHz.

Here's a few suggestions:

1925Mhz @ 11 x 175MHz, RAM @ 175MHz

1980MHz @ 11 x 180MHz, RAM @ 180MHz

1942.5MHz @ 10.5 x 185MHz, RAM @ 185MHz

You may or may not need to increase the vcore to stablize at these settings...if you don't have that option available, you'd have to stay a little more conservative on the overall CPU speed, but keep the FSB as high as possible. Maybe 1850MHz (10 x 185MHz). The higher FSB speed (185 vs 140) should make up for the lower clock speed (1850 vs 1960)

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8.5 x 200MHz
768MB PC3200 2.5-3-3-7
Asus A9550GE/TD 128MB
WinME/WinXP Pro

I have the FSB set to 133 on both the CPU and the RAM. I set the multiplier to 14X because at 15X it wouldn't boot. From there I bumped up the FSB 1MHz at time till it was no longer stable. So at 14X and FSB of 140 on both the RAM and CPU with 1.80V it's reporting a clock speed of 1.97MHz or there about.
I have the memory CAS set down to 2, memory voltage @ 2.6, and AGP voltage @ 1.6, with misc. other Bios tweaks here and there. It seems to be very stable now and ton faster than it was at all factory settings. But anything past this I have a hard time getting it to boot into windows.
Temps are around 43/45 idle/load with an on CPU die temp of about 55 to 57. I haven't installed the Zalman yet, but hopefully that will bring the temps down more and give me a little more room.
I guess I'm confused about how I should be OCing. So the idea is to turn down the multipler and turn up the FSB, is that correct?
You seem like you know what your doing. So any advice is appreciated. My bios is infinetly adjustable.

Soyo KT400 Dragon Ultra Black
Ultra X-Connect 500W
XP2200+@1.97@1.80V
Zalman 7000B
Mushkin PC2700 1GB512x2
Radeon 8500 128MB
Hauppauge PVR150x2
SB Audigy

IMO, you should never overclock via the multiplier. FSB is where you'll see the biggest performance gains. The advantage of an unlocked multi is that you can lower it, then raise the FSB even higher, while still maintaining a reasonable CPU speed.

Also, you should always strive to run the CPU & RAM at the same bus speed. There's nothing to be gained by having one running faster than the other.

If you have the option to change the FSB in increments, change the multi, & adjust the vcore, RAM voltage & RAM timings, you're in business. Can you lock the PCI/AGP at their defaults of 33/66MHz? If not, the max safe FSB would be 188MHz...beyond that, the PCI/AGP go too far outta spec. I suggest you loosen up on the RAM timings while overclocking...save that for last. Shoot for both the CPU & RAM at 185MHz FSB. Temporarily keep the multiplier setting low, say 9.5x or even 9x...that way, you can experiment with the FSB without over-overclocking the CPU. Once you get the CPU & RAM running stably at 185MHz, you can try bumping up the multi 0.5x at a time. Be prepared to increase the vcore & keep an eye on your temps. Once you're satisfied with your handiwork, stress test your system using TOAST & Stress Prime 2004 (or Prime95). Run TOAST 20-30 min to max your temps...if it remains stable (doesn't lock up or reboot), move on to Stress Prime 2004. Run Stress Prime for at least one complete series...some like to run it for several hours, others run it overnite. If it doesn't lock up on you, your system "should" handle anything else you throw at it. If it does lock, yo'll have to re-evaluate your settings & decide whether to back off a little bit, or whether to bump up the voltage a little

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=867

http://sp2004.fre3.com/download.htm

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8.5 x 200MHz
768MB PC3200 2.5-3-3-7
Asus A9550GE/TD 128MB
WinME/WinXP Pro

Thanks for all the advice. Very clear and consice. Do you know how many hours I've spent on the internet searching for what you just told me? Lots! Either I don't know how to search or no one else has been able to explain it so clearly.

I'm not sure which processor is in my wife's computer. It's a refurbed e-machine that I bought her for piddling around the internet.

Say it is one with a FSB of 166(333) as opposed to my 133(266), or say I did get the XP3000 just cause I got money to burn, would I notice a gain by going with PC3200?

Would I notice a difference going with PC3200 on my present set up?

I need more DDR for my wife's machine so I was gonna by some anyway (it only has 256MB).

Is 1GB plenty?

Would I even notice any thing with 2GB or is it just overkill?

I figured that at some point I will upgrade to the 64 somewhere down the road and since the PC3200 is compatable with the 64, and since DDR is so cheap right now, I figured if I was gonna drop the coin I might as well make it so it's usefull down the road.

Thanks again for all your help.

Soyo SY-KT400 Dragon
Ultra X-Connect 500W
2200+
Zalman 7000B
1GB512x2PC2700 2-3-3-7
Radeon 8500 128MB
Hauppauge PVR150x2
SB Audigy
XP Home SP2

With your current machine I really doubt
you will gain anything. with an asychronous
CPU to RAM clock your system the two need
to wait on each other which slows you down.
With noe step up you usually loose more
than you gain from the higher ram speed. If
you can run your system at 133MHz CPU and
200(400)MHz Ram you have to test if it
really brings a little more speed or not.

I think for internet and so on your XP2200+
would be more than fast enough. Change the
two and OC the XP3000+ on your system and
you should gain something together with
PC3200 Ram as you would be able to run it
1:1 with the OCed CPU.

2GB of Ram would be just a waste of money
unless you do a lot of video editing and
things like that.
About using the PC3200 for an Athlon64
system later the question is how much later
because sooner or later even AMD will
switch to DDR2 or DDR3 and then you have
your PC3200 Ram that will no longer fit.
Another thing is that the bulid in Ram
controller of the athlon64 has an issue
with using 4 double sided ram modules in
dual channel mode (socket 939). It's a bit
slow for 8 Ram lines so it automatically
clocks down to 333MHz instead of 400MHz.
The way around is using single sided
modules.
This issue is definately true for the
winchester cores but I don't know about the
newer ones because I read they also have an
improved Ram controller. Now I don't know
if the Venice core and so on still have
that issue or not!