whats the best socket?

[mcnairgunz09]

i see there is alot of differnt socket types i also notice that there are alot of options for socket type A i was wondering whats the differnce between them? and whats the best one?

 

[Leonidas]

well mostly the type of processor that can be used in it, socket A supports myriad processors from old sub-1ghz processors up to the athlon XP 3200+ at 2.2ghz... socket 939 and 754 support the new AMD64 chips, which can run 64-bit applications, they also use hypertransport/on-die memory controllers. if you decide to go 64-bit the general consensus is to go for socket 939, however i would suggest if you are into technological stuff to go for a socket A system for the time being... there is a socket A chip that is extremely overclockable called the xp-m, if you dont know what overclocking is just ask. any other questions?

 

[Labtech]

The best socket for amd is s939 and for Intel is 775

 

[Smauler]

The socket 754 will often outperform socket 939 equivalents. For example, a socket 754 3400+ will be around as quick as a 939 3500+. However, 754 will not have the "future-proof-ness" of 754, it's older, and 939 is AMD's design of choice. It's only a little more expensive too, and if you want to go for top spec processors, you've got to go 939.

 

[PP Mguire]

how can you figure it will outperform its 939 equivalent? You have to have registered ram(i believe) and it dosent support DC DDR! So how can a 754 system w/ standard DDR Outperform a 939 system w/ DC?

 

[Labtech]

What does DC stands for?

 

[PP Mguire]

Dual Channel DDR

 

[mcnairgunz09]

look like ive made a bit of a mess here heh im putting together a budget gaming system im using a dell l866 so any way i go will be a HUGE upgrade. so the 939 is the way to go? im fine with the price it was only a couple more dollars then the 754. what do u think?

 

[Smauler]

Wait for the PCI-Express SLI motherboards to come out. They're pretty expensive, but offer huge future upgradability, and great onboard features (Dual GB LAN, RAID, etc). You can make a simple system out of them now, and plonk bits in later as needs be.

 

[PP Mguire]

most mobos have those options already. i kow my MSI does. But smauler has a good point, cause if you wait youll have a monster system instead of what most of us have now.