 |
Sharky Extreme : Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
|
 |
 - Most Active Threads - Technical Support - CPUs & Overclocking  RSS feed Sitemap |
 |
Monthly Value Gaming System Buyer's Guide |
July Value Gaming PC Buyer's Guide - Page 2By Vince Freeman July 16, 2003ProcessorsAMD CPU: Athlon XP 2500+ (1.83 GHz) Barton OEM
Current Cost: $90 The Athlon XP portion has been upgraded consistently in previous guides, and this month is no exception. AMD continues to move prices down, and the Athlon XP 2500+ Barton is simply too good a deal to pass up. It includes the upgraded 512K of L2 cache of all Barton models, and although its actual 1.83 GHz core speed is lower than the Athlon XP 2400+ featured in our last guide, the overall performance is higher. The best part of the deal is the fact that overclocking results have been just short of amazing with the Athlon XP 2500+. Many have achieved Athlon XP 2800+ speeds or higher, and with a relatively low 1.83 GHz default speed, there is a lot of overclocking headroom for AMD's newest value CPU. High performance, 512K of L2 cache, and serious overclocking potential are all highlights of the Athlon XP 2500+, and make it a solid pick for the AMD value side. An interesting footnote is that due to the Athlon XP 2500+ featuring the Barton core, going this route can have advantages over choosing the Athlon XP 2600+ or 2700+ (which use the standard 256K Thoroughbred core), especially if you want to jack the clock rate up a bit. There are both OEM and retail versions available, but we recommend the OEM model, not only to save a few dollars but also to choose a more powerful, 3rd-party cooling solution.
Current Cost: $156
Right up until our last guide, the Pentium 4-1.8A GHz had been a staple for the Intel system. Thankfully, we were able to upgrade to the Pentium 4-2.4 GHz last time out, but as with the 1.8A, this may remain here for some time to come. This model supports the 533 MHz front-side bus, and at least for the time being, the Pentium 4-2.4C (800 MHz) is just a bit out of reach. Overall performance at only 2.4 GHz is not that different and our budget and overall system configuration is more tuned towards a 533 MHz processor anyway. The Intel Pentium 4-2.4 GHz offers a lot of value at the mid-range level, and the Pentium 4-2.4 GHz is potentially the best Intel deal right now. It also includes all the Northwood enhancements (upgraded 512K cache) and not only gives super performance at 2.4 GHz, but can easily overclock higher.
In terms of the Retail vs. OEM argument, we're sticking with the Retail version, as not only do you get a nearly-free heatsink-fan and full 3-year Intel warranty, but also receive a sealed, totally untested CPU. The entry-level Pentium 4 models are priced a bit higher than corresponding AMD CPUs, so it's going to be a tight squeeze. Even so, fitting the powerful and overclockable Pentium 4-2.4 GHz into our value system configuration is more than worth the effort.
Current Cost: $19
The Athlon XP 2500+ actually runs cooler than the processor it replaces, and at 1.83 GHz, the default retail cooling would more than suffice. We've got the extra money for something a bit more substantial, so we'll look at sticking with a 3rd-party solution. We're not talking about serious cash, so sticking to the best value is still important. The ThermalTake Volcano 9 is an upgraded version of the popular Volcano 7, with much the same features, but in a more streamlined and user-friendly design. The heatsink portion is an aluminum-copper core hybrid, and allows for maximum heat exchange between the CPU and the copper core, while making use of the excellent heat dissipation properties of aluminum. This also allows the Volcano 9 to fit our budget, as high-end copper models are a bit out of our league. According to the Thermaltake website, this model is rated up to the (as yet unannounced) Athlon XP 3400+, thus giving additional overclocking headroom in case it's needed. The ThermalTake Volcano 9 features an upgraded SmartFan II cooling system, which includes an external temperature sensor (mounted to the CPU core) & fan speed control. The sensor monitors core temperatures and controls fan speeds, which run as low as 1300 RPM (20.55 CFM) at 20 degrees C or as high as 4800 RPM (75.7 CFM) at 55 degrees C. This helps keep core temperatures down, but also minimizes fan noise, especially in well-cooled systems where ambient temperatures are low. These CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) ratings are much higher than the old Volcano 7, and provide a more robust CPU cooling solution. It also looks great, and includes a 3-prong clip for added stability.
Current Cost: $0 The retail Pentium 4 processors are a great deal, include a heatsink-fan, and are in most cases, priced only a few bucks higher than the cooler-less OEM models. We chose the retail Pentium 4-2.4 GHz and recommend sticking with the bundled, retail cooler, especially as we need to fit this CPU into our $1K budget. Even at 2.4 GHz, the Northwood core doesn't put a huge strain on the CPU cooling system, and the exact same retail heatsink-fan unit is actually hefty enough to handle even their higher-end 2.8 GHz models. This translates into stable operation at standard clock speeds, and safe overclocking to higher core speed levels.
Overall value is another great reason to spend a bit more for the retail processor, as it nets you a stock cooler and the package price is lower than buying an OEM Pentium 4 and then purchasing a retail heatsink-fan. A nice side-benefit to the Intel retail cooler is its incredibly quiet operation, and inside a sealed case, the ambient noise levels of the Intel cooling fan can be close to unnoticeable.
|
Comment and Contribute
