Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

[Q-Tex]

Hi Ebody!

Looking to upgrade my rig over the next few months, was looking for some advice before i jump in with both feet.

My Power Supply and Graphics card aren't a problem but am unsure what to do about my CPU.

With AMD not manufaturing S939 CPU's anymore it would appear that AM2 is the way forward. Ideally i would like a platform that would be upgradable.

The way i see it at the moment a 2.6GHZ FX-60 is as high as i can go on a Socket 939, and they are still pricey. A 4800+ 2.4 X2 Dual Core is substantially cheaper but is it a vast improvement over my 3800 2.4 Venice?

Really not sure what to do for the best!

Is it time to upgrade to AM2?

All help and opinions appreciated

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

Hmmm...if I had the system you have right now, I'd probably wait just a little (maybe 6-8 months) and see where the chips fall. With both AMD and Intel set to release quad-core processors, you might snag quite the deal on a shiny mid-end Core2 Duo e6300/e6600 (or the AMD equivalent...if AMD ever releases such an animal :) ).

Also DDR2 memory is ridiculously expensive right now, with the MFG's and DIY'ers snapping up every stick of 800/1066 available.

As a side note, are you overclocking your x850xt? I find that I can really push my x800xt AIW (rock-stable up to 540/1120) with an aftermarket cooling kit.

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

I'd say no, it's not worth upgrading to a new am2 setup. If you were to go with a new core 2 duo machine, it would be a faster boost, but an expensive one too.

[AlexIsUber]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

just get e6600 C2D...u can overclock it to almost x6800 speeds with no pain.

[Q-Tex]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

K Thanks for the feedback guys!

Quad core! OMG when will it end lol!

To be honest i don't have suitable cooling at the moment to try and overclock so that is definately worth considering and will know doubt be substatially cheaper as well.

Should keep me busy for the next few months.

Thanks again

[RocketChild]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

Like everyone said, it would be a waste of money to take the plunge right now. There could be a shift in the market in 6 months, because Vista will make some waves and as you noted, 939 is out the door and DDR2 is expensive for the speed.

Hold out and see what OCZ will have on the table 6 months from now. Besides, the newer motherboards with Vista will allow for greater RAM capacities...so see how that pans out.

[Nadokings]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

AM2 is comin in , 939 sockets are going out.
I dont even think they make processors for the 939 socket any more.
the AM2 uses DDR2 memory and the 939 uses slower.
(go with am2)

[RocketChild]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

I still have not found out if AM2 has resolved the dual channel issue that 939s were plagued with.

[scrogathon]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

mines work great.

[Mad Ad]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

A definate no. AM2 bought little more to the table than a change to DDR2 and with onboard memory controllers on the newer processors the impact is much reduced (2% avg 7% max) then of course there is AM3 with DDR3 support coming sometime next year - wait till you really need to update your CPU and see whats happening then.

[RocketChild]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

I have not heard of the AM3...because I heard that it could be just a minor chipset change to allow for DDR3.

Also, AMD just released their Quad-core.

[Nadokings]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

A definate no. AM2 bought little more to the table than a change to DDR2 and with onboard memory controllers on the newer processors the impact is much reduced (2% avg 7% max) then of course there is AM3 with DDR3 support coming sometime next year - wait till you really need to update your CPU and see whats happening then.

*
thats a funny post, where did you cut and paste from?
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The AM2 using DDR2 memory, than a AM3 using DDR3 memory?
what happened to the AM1!!!!
ahh!
Ya 939 sockets have dual channel what exactly do you mean you have a probleM?

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

I have not heard of the AM3...because I heard that it could be just a minor chipset change to allow for DDR3.

Also, AMD just released their Quad-core.

Correctm am3 will support ddr3 ram, but the real funny part is this:

Am3 processors will work in am2 mobos. They support ddr2, and will fit in existing motherboards. Am2 procs won't fit in am3 mobos, however, because the am3 procs will be keyed differently.

[Mad Ad]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

*
thats a funny post, where did you cut and paste from?

Thats a funny thing to say, I just typed it- try googling, you wont find anthing like it lol - its the only post like that in existence.

[RocketChild]

Re: Socket 939 to AM2 Worth upgrading!

*

Ya 939 sockets have dual channel what exactly do you mean you have a probleM?

Sorry, forgot to follow up on this.

When you are running four sticks of memory, the RAM looses speed. So, in my current machine I am running a 939 with DDR500 OCZ in two slots. Now if I were to bump the same type of memory up to all four slots, I would no longer be able to run at the 500 speed. It would downgrade to something sick like 333 or 266. But, you still can run Dual-Channel, just not at optimal speed. It sucks for over-clocking.

It is a well known problem and I am wondering if AMD corrected the issue with the AM2. I have not heard anything definitive.