Radeon 9800--CPU Upgrade ?

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 01:38 AM

I want to get a Radeon 9800 Pro, but judging from the reviews i'm going to be CPU limited. I realized this even when the 9700 Pro came out, but i decided to skip that generation and go to the next. I'm wondering what I should do CPU-wise. Should I upgrade, and if so to what processor? I'm not looking to spend a whole lot of money, as i'm trying to save it for the 9800, but i would like to get the best bang for the buck. Thanks for your help.

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 01:46 AM

Without a doubt, CPU.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 01:48 AM

Any ideas what kind?

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 01:50 AM

Athlon XP 2100+ rev. B.

EDIT: Here's a link. 93$ shipped.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 01:51 AM

Rev.B??

EDIT: I just checked that, Pricewatch is quoting at $83 shipped. Good idea with that vendor?

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dom
Athlon XP 2100+ rev. B.

EDIT: Here's a link. 93$ shipped.

Just incase you didn't notice, I edited my last post and included a link.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 02:04 AM

Yes, I noticed it...*finds this conversation very amusing

*

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 02:05 AM

Hehe.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 02:09 AM

So what is Revison B? What was "revised"

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Data1232
So what is Revison B? What was "revised"

Not sure exactly, but it's a much better OC'er. It runs at 1.73Ghz and can easily hit 2.2Ghz (on an nForce2 board, not to sure about yours).

But, between a 9800Pro and a CPU, you should get a CPU. For the price you can't go worng, and you can always upgrade you motherboard too, which would be less than the 9800Pro.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 02:21 AM

True...but i don't plan on buying the 9800 right away. 400 buck isn't in my budget to part with....i'll probably get a little later, after it's come out retail, and matured on the market. As for OC, i really don't bother...i'm a PC nut, but OC never interested me. But at the speed the 2100+ runs at, will there be noticeable effect on my computer, and will it be a nice pair with a 9800? *now i must go sleep...the caffiene is gone...nooo*

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 02:23 AM

To both questions - Yes!

Louie6666 · Mar 8, 2003, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Data1232
True...but i don't plan on buying the 9800 right away. 400 buck isn't in my budget to part with....i'll probably get a little later, after it's come out retail, and matured on the market. As for OC, i really don't bother...i'm a PC nut, but OC never interested me. But at the speed the 2100+ runs at, will there be noticeable effect on my computer, and will it be a nice pair with a 9800? *now i must go sleep...the caffiene is gone...nooo*

yep big difference, 1gig extra mhz, you'll be sat there going weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 09:44 PM

I was on pricewatch.com, and i saw a 2200+ going for about $90. Sound good, or should i stick with the 2100+?

EDIT: Wait, no, forget it, resellerratings.com said it was a crappy site...oh well.

Data1232 · Mar 8, 2003, 10:02 PM

Okay, after some more searching I came up with this from ABS Computer Technologies Inc. This is what their description is:

AMD ATHLON XP 2100+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - OEM 2100+/ 1.736GHz, . The AMD Athlon XP processor with QuantiSpeed architecture powers the next generation in computing platforms, delivering extra performance for cutting-edge applications and an extra-ordinary computing experience.world's highest overall performing PC processor.
Specifications:
CPU: 1.736 GHz
Type: 2100 XP
Cache: 256K
Core: Palomino
BUS: 266MHz
Socket A (PGA) OEM (Processor Only) ,Part#:AX2100DMT3C (ITEM#ABS19103328)0

What confuses me, is the Palomino listing...I'm not real up to date on this, so is this something old, or is it okay to buy. Right now they're out of stock, but if in a little bit they restock this one, i'll probably buy from them. If not, straight to newegg.com.

P.S. What will this kind of CPU upgrade effect games like Morrowind?

Dom · Mar 8, 2003, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Data1232
Okay, after some more searching I came up with this from ABS Computer Technologies Inc. This is what their description is:

AMD ATHLON XP 2100+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - OEM 2100+/ 1.736GHz, . The AMD Athlon XP processor with QuantiSpeed architecture powers the next generation in computing platforms, delivering extra performance for cutting-edge applications and an extra-ordinary computing experience.world's highest overall performing PC processor.
Specifications:
CPU: 1.736 GHz
Type: 2100 XP
Cache: 256K
Core: Palomino
BUS: 266MHz
Socket A (PGA) OEM (Processor Only) ,Part#:AX2100DMT3C (ITEM#ABS19103328)0

What confuses me, is the Palomino listing...I'm not real up to date on this, so is this something old, or is it okay to buy. Right now they're out of stock, but if in a little bit they restock this one, i'll probably buy from them. If not, straight to newegg.com.

P.S. What will this kind of CPU upgrade effect games like Morrowind?

Don't buy that CPU - Palomino's suck. Buy the 2100+ T-bred rev.B from NewEgg.com, I doub't you'll find it cheaper, plus NewEgg's shipping is super-fast.

This CPU will increase almost every aspect of your system - including gaming w/ Morrowind.

toddsmack2k · Mar 9, 2003, 09:23 AM

Listen to em they are telling ya right man

You will definetly notice a great increase in performance

***Zardon*** · Mar 9, 2003, 10:25 AM

if you can afford one, get a 2400XP+, great CPU, will hit 2.2ghz easy, 2700+ speeds. and it really will let the 9700 and 9800 shine.

personally I feel anything less will not be giving you much room for the future.

Data1232 · Mar 9, 2003, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zardon
if you can afford one, get a 2400XP+, great CPU, will hit 2.2ghz easy, 2700+ speeds. and it really will let the 9700 and 9800 shine.

personally I feel anything less will not be giving you much room for the future.

Yeah, it looks nice, but then again, it's a little high. Do you think by summer, that the prices on it will come down a little further?

Dom · Mar 9, 2003, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zardon
if you can afford one, get a 2400XP+, great CPU, will hit 2.2ghz easy, 2700+ speeds. and it really will let the 9700 and 9800 shine.

personally I feel anything less will not be giving you much room for the future.

The 2100+ rev.B can hit 2.2Ghz too!

Data1232 · Mar 9, 2003, 01:28 PM

Data1232 · Mar 11, 2003, 11:41 PM

Well, i think i'm going to go with Zardon's recommendation. I'll probably take the 2400+ if the prices come down a little further in the summer, if not, i'll probably go with the 2200+ unless anyone has any plausible objections. Thanks for your input!

Matth · Mar 12, 2003, 10:09 AM

If your motherboard supports it, and you hold fire on the CPU upgrade, the BARTON core is arriving.

The most notable Barton feature is the 512k secondary cache - though there are other improvements.

I seem to recall hearing there was a 2500+ Barton that was not too badly priced - in comparison to the extortionate figure for a 3000+ version.

PS. BARTON is 333FSB, so is restricted to KT333/KT400/Nforce 2 and any other 333FSB capable chipsets!

Data1232 · Mar 12, 2003, 07:16 PM

I'll definetely consider that. Do you know when AMD is going to release them? I'm not buying till summer anyways, and even that's around August or so.

Dom · Mar 12, 2003, 07:24 PM

Barton's are already out.

~~WyreTheWolf~~ · Mar 12, 2003, 08:09 PM

Barton 2500+ should be interesting... fairly inexpensive, and double the L2 cache. The should overlock fairly well ... they appear to based on the T-bred core, just double the amount of L2 cache. . . . . . Should be interesting.

Dom · Mar 12, 2003, 08:13 PM

I was gonna get the 2500+, but I went with better RAM instead.

Data1232 · Mar 12, 2003, 09:18 PM

Really? Anyone have links? *For the Barton's*