AMD XP questions

[tantone]

I just found out my motherboard will support the new XP2000+ processor with the latest BIOS revision. I currently have a 1.33GHz. Am I to understand that the 2000 doesn't run at 2GHz?

Will someone explain this to me. Also, I am running XP Professional with 256MB RAM. What does this processor offer XP users that warrant the XP in the title?

Thanks.

[d_b420]

The XP processors use a performance equivalent rating, the 2000+ means that you can expect the same performace as a 2GHz Intel. In most apps the AMD is faster even thoght it has a slower clock.

[dangerbob]

(new) XP chips use 'palomino' core. Run cooler (about 20%) than TBird. Can be used in dual processor boards. A 2000+ runs at 1.67. The confusion is AMD marketing to reflect real world speed as compared to Intel designs. AMD chips do more work per clock cycle. A little misleading but seems to be working for them. If you have 1.33 working good for you I'd consider spending money on other part of system for increased perfomance (like video card). 1.33 TBird is still a fine and fast chip.

[dangerbob]

I just reread your post. I'd get another stick of 256 memory. MS OS XP will take advantage of this for greater speed dif. than going to marginal faster CPU.

[gibsinep]

I wouldnt upgrade unless their is somthing that you have that will not run because if processor.

With game requirments today, you would get a bigger jump in speed if you added more RAM or bought a real nice video card.

Or you can always spen that much money on another HD.

You can never have to much HD space

[Beeblequix]

"The XP processors use a performance equivalent rating, the 2000+ means that you can expect the same performace as a 2GHz Intel."

This is note quite true. AMD has never said that the performance rating is comparing their chip against Intel's. They compare the 2000+ and other XP's against Thunderbirds, which in most cases are faster anyway than P4's. Here is a link to Anand's site:
<http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1543>
Whether or not you agree with what he says regarding the 'clearly bridging the gap' thing between the P4 and T-bird, AMD's official position is that they base the Performance Rating thing completely on their own cpus. Also, these PR's are actually quite conservative when compared to a P4, so thinking on this, it makes it more clear that they are comparing against their own older T-birds.

The XP nomenclature is also a play on the 'XP' from Micro$oft. For M$, the XP stands for eXPerience, where the XP in AMD's line stands for eXtraPerformance, owing to the new quantispeed architecture.

I've had my new AthlonXP 1700+ based system for a week, and I can honestly say that IT ROCKS!!! But I was going from an old PIII667 based system, so the upgrade for me would easily be more noticeable than for you.

The upgrade advice listed above is sound. What do you do with your system which would warrant a new cpu?

B.Quix

[tantone]

Actually, I don't do anything that would require that kind of processor speed.

I've decided to go for the video card upgrade instead. I'm using a Voodoo 5 5500 AGP on Windows XP and the driver support just isn't there anymore. All of the problems I've had can be traced back to the video card drivers. Looks like I'll have to start playing UT in Direct3D.

I've got an open thread in the video card section already about recommendations, but since it kind off pertains to this thread, do y'all have any suggestions? I was looking at the VisionTek Geforce3 ti200.

Thanks!

[gibsinep]

Yea the Geforce ti 200 is a very nice card.

I would reccomend it.

[HorsinAround]

I'd have to agree with the consensus here, go for the ram and video card. Ram is cheap and the results of going up to 512mb are noticeable. Buy good ram, Corsair, Mushkin, etc. The Geforce 3 ti200 is a sweet card. Vision Tek and PNY offer lifetime warranties, added plus. Look into system tweaks, update drivers, patches and you should be flying!

[Jauron]

Originally posted by tantone
Actually, I don't do anything that would require that kind of processor speed.

I've decided to go for the video card upgrade instead. I'm using a Voodoo 5 5500 AGP on Windows XP and the driver support just isn't there anymore. All of the problems I've had can be traced back to the video card drivers. Looks like I'll have to start playing UT in Direct3D.

I've got an open thread in the video card section already about recommendations, but since it kind off pertains to this thread, do y'all have any suggestions? I was looking at the VisionTek Geforce3 ti200.

Thanks!

Had the same card, just upgraded my system and decided to ditch the old Voodoo 5 5500. Drivers were becoming a pain.
I got the PNY Geforce 3 ti 200 on my Xp1800 Abit Kr7A mobo.
I gotta tell you, the graphics never looked so good. I didn't expect a big difference but there is. I can turn anygame on to it's highest setting and my video card just laughs at it. ;)

I would highly recomend that card, newegg has it for 150 and like 5 shipping. That site is awesome too, bought almost everything there and 2 days shipping.

Ok enough comercials, get it you won't be sorry.

[tantone]

After reading some reviews--especially AnandTech's--I went for the Gainward Geforce3 ti200. All in all, I really don't think you could tell which was which just by playing a game. Only benchmarks set them aside.

I may not be a big overclocker, but this card appears to like it; and who am I to keep the card from it's destiny? Overclocked, I can get ti500 speeds at a ti200 price.

[Beeblequix]

Yeah that Gainward is k001. I had to choose between that card and the MSI g3ti200. I chose the latter because the MSI had a dvd & game bundle whereas the gainward didn't have anything, and for the same price. Mistake? Ah, who knows.

The Gainward memory is usually engineering samples, something that ticks off other manufacturers because it's hard for them to compete with it. I did read an article on anand's site(?) that demonstrated the different g3's and which one benefits more from overclocking. For whatever reason, the Gainward in that group had the best overclocking as far as how fast the memory chips and core could get, but didn't benefit as much from oc'ing than other manufacturers. Sorry, don't have time to find the article. Maybe another day.


B.Quix