AMD Athlon 64 Core differences?

soloz2 · May 17, 2005, 03:18 AM

I am looking at building a new computer, I would like to put together an AMD Athlon 64 system w/ an SLI motherboard. However, I am confused as to the differences between the different cores on the AMD processors. I will use the computer primarily for gaming/schoolwork. Which core is the newest/best?

Asmoday · May 17, 2005, 05:45 AM

The newest and presumable best cores are the "Venice" and "San Diego" cores, where the San Diego has the larger L2 1MB cache while the the venice has 512KB cache. They both seem to be very good overclockers if you are into that, and i believe they also have SSE3. The next best thing would be getting the slightley older "Winchester" core, that don't have the SSE3 but most are pretty decent overclockers.

Oh btw, welcome to Driverheaven!

bananaman · May 17, 2005, 02:41 PM

get the venice core it is only slightly more expensive (about £5) and has a better memory controller and as Asmoday stated they have SSE3 support.

if you are on a budget get a something like a 3200+ and maybe give it some overclocking or if you want to spend a bit more then look at a 3700+ - it is the same core as the FX line and will overclock nicely - like mine

check out the overclocking results here:

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=888001

nana

ps i am not on there

A1A9C1 · May 17, 2005, 03:42 PM

Read about the Dual Stress Liner technology in the Venice core here: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...64-venice.html
It speeds response between the transistors and does it with less heat!

soloz2 · May 17, 2005, 04:14 PM

I'm sorry, but I'm not familar with SSE3. This will be the first Athlon system I put together... so I'm kinda up on Intel but not Athlon. And I was thinking about the 3500+

bananaman · May 17, 2005, 04:22 PM

i cant rememeber exactly what it stands for - just means that if a program supports SSE3 it will run a little quicker - tbh i wouldn't worry about it, it is nivce to have but you will probably never see any difference unless you use a small number of specific programs.

are you going to overcvlock at all?

if not a 3500 is a good chip

if you are you mayaswell go for a 3200 and get better collling

nana

soloz2 · May 17, 2005, 04:57 PM

well, I would like to overclock, but I probably won't go too high. Anyway, the main reason I want to switch over to AMD is for better gaming performance and SLI. I don't expect to see too much gain over the system I have now.
P4 530
I gig DDR2 Ram @533 mhz
MSI 6600GT
Seagate 160 gig SATA hd
SB Audigy 2 ZS
Plextor 16x DVD burner

my parents need a new computer and I can either build them one, or I can build myself an SLI system and give them mine... I figure it won't be much more to build a SLI system for myself

May 17, 2005, 03:18 AM	#1
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	AMD Athlon 64 Core differences? I am looking at building a new computer, I would like to put together an AMD Athlon 64 system w/ an SLI motherboard. However, I am confused as to the differences between the different cores on the AMD processors. I will use the computer primarily for gaming/schoolwork. Which core is the newest/best?

May 17, 2005, 05:45 AM	#2
Asmoday Demonic Join Date: May 2002 Location: In the cold, dark north... Posts: 5,198 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	The newest and presumable best cores are the "Venice" and "San Diego" cores, where the San Diego has the larger L2 1MB cache while the the venice has 512KB cache. They both seem to be very good overclockers if you are into that, and i believe they also have SSE3. The next best thing would be getting the slightley older "Winchester" core, that don't have the SSE3 but most are pretty decent overclockers. Oh btw, welcome to Driverheaven! __________________ How You can help Hardwareheaven by using Digg Last edited by Asmoday; May 17, 2005 at 02:43 PM.

May 17, 2005, 02:41 PM	#3
bananaman banana muncher Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,254 Rep Power: 64	get the venice core it is only slightly more expensive (about £5) and has a better memory controller and as Asmoday stated they have SSE3 support. if you are on a budget get a something like a 3200+ and maybe give it some overclocking or if you want to spend a bit more then look at a 3700+ - it is the same core as the FX line and will overclock nicely - like mine check out the overclocking results here: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=888001 nana ps i am not on there __________________

May 17, 2005, 04:22 PM	#6
bananaman banana muncher Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,254 Rep Power: 64	i cant rememeber exactly what it stands for - just means that if a program supports SSE3 it will run a little quicker - tbh i wouldn't worry about it, it is nivce to have but you will probably never see any difference unless you use a small number of specific programs. are you going to overcvlock at all? if not a 3500 is a good chip if you are you mayaswell go for a 3200 and get better collling nana __________________

May 17, 2005, 03:42 PM	#4
A1A9C1 DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlotte Posts: 92 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Read about the Dual Stress Liner technology in the Venice core here: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...64-venice.html It speeds response between the transistors and does it with less heat!

May 17, 2005, 04:14 PM	Thread Starter #5
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	I'm sorry, but I'm not familar with SSE3. This will be the first Athlon system I put together... so I'm kinda up on Intel but not Athlon. And I was thinking about the 3500+

May 17, 2005, 04:57 PM	Thread Starter #7
soloz2 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 362 Rep Power: 0	well, I would like to overclock, but I probably won't go too high. Anyway, the main reason I want to switch over to AMD is for better gaming performance and SLI. I don't expect to see too much gain over the system I have now. P4 530 I gig DDR2 Ram @533 mhz MSI 6600GT Seagate 160 gig SATA hd SB Audigy 2 ZS Plextor 16x DVD burner my parents need a new computer and I can either build them one, or I can build myself an SLI system and give them mine... I figure it won't be much more to build a SLI system for myself