Looking for a CPU??
 

It has got to the point that my AMD 1900+ is a little slow due to the programs of today that I run, so here is my questions:

Pentium or AMD? no I am not a hard core gamer
How big a difference is it between 512KB and 1meg and 2meg L2 cache?
I also am wondering if it is worth it to go 64bit or not.

I know the MB makes a big difference also but since I am not into overclocking, just how big a difference will it make as to the MB?

Just for your info, no I ain't made out of money either so I am looking for the best for the dollars or second best.

I have looked at the 2 below:
Intel
640 / 3.2Ghz 2Meg Cache Socket 775 800MHz

AMD
Athlon 64 3500+ 512KB Cache 2000MHz


Thanks
Dudelive

Well, I would have to say the AMD Chip would be faster just because of the FSB. However, if you are going to be doing Video Editing or MP3 editing I would go with either the Intel 640 or 630 model. It just depends on what you are going to be doing with it. If you are going to play games online with your Son then you need an AMD chip (as it is alot faster than the intel equal in benchmarks) So to recap:

1. Video Editing and Sound Editing = Intell Chipd
2. 3d Rendering, Photoshop Work = Intel
3. Gaming = AMD w/ decent Video Card
4. Overall Speed In Apps = Amd
5. Best Value for the money = Intel


So If you want to save a little money go right now for the amd chip. But I would wait till around Sept. or October because if AMD just cut prices by up to 25%, then I dont think Intel would be to far behind. If you wait, intel may cut prices and then you could get a really good chip for something other than gaming. I'm not saying Intel P4's can't do decent gaming, Its just well, i dont know, but I have never read of a P4 nowadays being used as a gaming machine, they are used as a beast to edit movies and songs etc....

So in my humble opinion I would go with the......ummm just wait till October right before christmas maybe around THanksgiving (tigerdirect has a thanksgiving sale!)!!!


~PCT

I just bought a p4 3.0 prescott chip, it has the 1 meg of cache. I am using it in a p4p800 e deluxe mother board. It is the socket 478. I am fairly impressed with it so far. I have 2 gigs of corsair XMS memory and an oc 6800 ultra nividia graffics card. I like the set up..
When I upgrade next I am going to go with socket 939. I want to get a 64 bit chip and have sli capability.

I do some video editing and play some games and I am impressed with my setup.

I think Jarod hit on something, alot of people think 1 GB of memory is enough, when you think about it, alot of games require 512mb, and if you are a power user then 1gb of ram can be a real bottleneck! I would say get the following

AMD 3500, with an ASUS board (i'm an asus fan)
and couple that with 2GB of ram and at least a 6600GT nvidia card, that card will play games and with that processor and ram amount you would be hard pressed to over work it. Plus unlike the older prescotts, which were better known as the PressHott. because of how hot they got, the AMD 64 bit chips have the feature where it doesn't use all of the CPU power when its now being used, in order to cool it down, its called Cool -n- Quite. YOu could probably build that for around I'd say 550$, and if you need a case a simple 40$ one will do fine as long as it has room for 2 fans :)


Edit: I say get the asus because I have one and have had it for a while now, and it has NEVER even hickuped! :) I would go with the 939 socket also, dont get the sempron or socket 754 ANYTHING (espec. the amd 64 3400 @ tigerdirect) they didn't have it until they cut the prices of the 3500 by 22%, and now its just a rip off because the chip has been discontinued, so dont get that as you would be shooting yourself in the foot (or stepping on your ding ding) by updating to something that isn't really being supported anymore :(