3500+ to 3800+ X2

[dave164]

Im now really really tempted to buy a dual core x2 3800+ for £265 and sell my 3500+ for £150 ish...

What do you guys recon? Is it worth it? I do a bit of multitasking and when i do i get annoyed i cant do anything else, such as copying a DVD... and i would love to be able to do this

Also what is the overclocking results for the X2 3800+ ?


TIA

[[timko]]

Also what is the overclocking results for the X2 3800+ ?

Not really possible to answer since almost less than zero people have one and those that do haven't/can't* post results just yet.


* apparently due to NDA some seem to think.


Anyway, I'm guess you saw the 3800 X2 at Tekheads yes?

[Ugly n Grey]

Alt tabbing or anything else on a dual core is smoother, faster and works well because you are not contending for resources with a game or what have you. It's like trying to carry a fridge with your buddy and not wanting to put it down to get the door open and then his twin brother shows up.....nice....

I have a 4200 and it OC's well to 2.85 Ghz, not bad, but they need excellent cooling to take the volts, they pump out enormous heat over 1.5 volts....

I'd switch in a hearbeat and my 3000 venny oc's out of the box to 2.7 on stock air and I still think the 4200 is the better deal. I'd have bought a 3800 is they were available and removed the heat spreader for a sweat OC in a heartbeat. I can't see them OCing less than 25% on average based on results of all other chips, though it is harder to OC a x2 because you are gambling on two cores and the OCing gods aren't always nice to us guys.

[cantankerous]

Alt tabbing or anything else on a dual core is smoother, faster and works well because you are not contending for resources with a game or what have you. It's like trying to carry a fridge with your buddy and not wanting to put it down to get the door open and then his twin brother shows up.....nice....

I have a 4200 and it OC's well to 2.85 Ghz, not bad, but they need excellent cooling to take the volts, they pump out enormous heat over 1.5 volts....

I'd switch in a hearbeat and my 3000 venny oc's out of the box to 2.7 on stock air and I still think the 4200 is the better deal. I'd have bought a 3800 is they were available and removed the heat spreader for a sweat OC in a heartbeat. I can't see them OCing less than 25% on average based on results of all other chips, though it is harder to OC a x2 because you are gambling on two cores and the OCing gods aren't always nice to us guys.

Your last point is the ONLY reason I'm afraid to jump to X2. For the price the risks of getting one dodgy core are great. From almost every reading on the X2 I have found most have 1 core do really well and the other really poor making it quite hard to find a middle point that both cores will play happy with. I find with dual cores you have twice the probability of a system crash, hang or BSOD due to two cores being able to act up instead of just one. This almost makes it hard to find which core is acting up as besides setting affinity for each core when priming etc, under general usage im sure windows will alot what is being done on each processor in its own way.

[KoolDrew]

If you feel you multitask enough to benefit from one I would go for it.

[Kabouter]

Alt tabbing or anything else on a dual core is smoother, faster and works well because you are not contending for resources with a game or what have you. It's like trying to carry a fridge with your buddy and not wanting to put it down to get the door open and then his twin brother shows up.....nice....

I have a 4200 and it OC's well to 2.85 Ghz, not bad, but they need excellent cooling to take the volts, they pump out enormous heat over 1.5 volts....

I'd switch in a hearbeat and my 3000 venny oc's out of the box to 2.7 on stock air and I still think the 4200 is the better deal. I'd have bought a 3800 is they were available and removed the heat spreader for a sweat OC in a heartbeat. I can't see them OCing less than 25% on average based on results of all other chips, though it is harder to OC a x2 because you are gambling on two cores and the OCing gods aren't always nice to us guys.

Mmmh about the OCing thing, what volts are safe to use for a 4200+ cooled by a XP-90 + 60CFM fan /w good airflow (and an extra fan on both the RAM and PWM IC area). Not too sure what is safe so haven't OC'd (even undervolted it to 1.25V, v. cool (and still stable) proc now :P)

And ontopic: Get an X2, you'll never wanna go back to single core, it's great

[Ugly n Grey]

I went to 1.47 v and I am able to keep the temp peak under 52c with the IHS intact using a 7700 Cu. In theory nothing beyond stock is "safe". But safe is not why we are here is it?

[KoolDrew]

I wouldn't go above 1.6v.

[Kabouter]

I went to 1.47 v and I am able to keep the temp peak under 52c with the IHS intact using a 7700 Cu. In theory nothing beyond stock is "safe". But safe is not why we are here is it?

Well sure :P. But still, I'd rather not fry a 480 euro processor by running it at too high volts :P

And I'll prolly keep it at 1.45V or lower then