Amd Sempron Cpu's

[MtnPictures]

I'm helping out one of my friends by helping him build a computer. But need some suggestions from you guys. He is on a pretty tight budget ($500). He just needs the computer (CPU / Motherboard / Memory / Hard Drive / Video Card / Case / PSU). I suggested that he just get a Socket 754 computer and then later on down the road he could upgrade. But I need help deciding (If he does go with Socket 754) what CPU to get. I'm wondering what are your guys thoughts on the new AMD Sempron 64's? I was thinking maybe a AMD Sempron 64 3000+. He wants this computer for light gaming, but doesn't need it to run them on the highest settings or anything. Just enough to run them smootly. Thanks for reading of that and for the help.

[TheLetterK]

I'm helping out one of my friends by helping him build a computer.  But need some suggestions from you guys.  He is on a pretty tight budget ($500).  He just needs the computer (CPU / Motherboard / Memory / Hard Drive / Video Card / Case / PSU). I suggested that he just get a Socket 754 computer and then later on down the road he could upgrade.  But I need help deciding (If he does go with Socket 754) what CPU to get.  I'm wondering what are your guys thoughts on the new AMD Sempron 64's?  I was thinking maybe a AMD Sempron 64 3000+.  He wants this computer for light gaming, but doesn't need it to run them on the highest settings or anything.  Just enough to run them smootly.  Thanks for reading  of that and for the help.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll blasphemy and recommend a top-end Athlon XP.

[murtu52]

I second that, somewhat . I'd go for XP over Sempron, XP is a bit cheaper as well....Good luck, though, we're here if you need help for any of the other parts!

[Freidog]

For light gaming, the S754 semprons are a good choice.

Though I wouldn't go with the 3000+, 128K of L2 just isn't enough.

The 2800+/1.6ghz or 3100+/1.8ghz have 256K of L2 and perform pretty well in games compared to the AthlonXPs of the same PR ratings.

AthlonXP would be perferable if theres a decent amount of content creating (audio / video editing / creation) as the bigger cache and high clock speeds make a big difference.

But don't worry about getting a "Sempron 64." If it's the same price as the 'regular' sempron, OK. But don't pay for a feature your friend is unlikley to ever use and even if he does won't have a major performance impact.

[IEatHardDrives]

Get a Althon XP I seen a 3000+ Althon on newegg for $107.00 or spend a few more bucks and get a 2800+ althon 64 for $115.00.

[MtnPictures]

Anyone else have anything to say..

[lefty1953]

Sure check out PriceWatch.com for low prices.

[Schusterjo]

Sempron is a slower Athlon XP (the exception goes to the Sempron socket 754 versions, which are an Athlon 64 with less L2 memory cache; these models use socket 754 pinout, thus requiring motherboards originally developed to Athlon 64, having a greater performance then socket 462 models). Originally Sempron socket 754 didn't have the 64-bit extensions available on Athlon 64, but since July, 2005, AMD introduced the 64-bit instructions on these processors. So, the socket 754 Semprons listed below can be found with or without the 64-bit extensions.

The difference in performance between Sempron and Athlon XP occurs due to the numbering system used to designate the processor's speed, which is differente for each processor. A Sempron 3000+ isn't faster than an Athlon XP 2800+, even though it has a greater number. The processor numbers can only be used to compare CPUs in the same product line, i.e. you can only compare Sempron to Sempron and Athlon XP to Athlon XP.

To fully understand this issue, take a look on the tables below. As you can see, a Sempron 2800+ is slower than an Athlon XP 2600+ 333 and a Sempron 2600+ is slower than an Athlon XP 2500+. To make the comparison, you have to watch the internal clock, the external clock and the L2 memory cache size.

This naming scheme used by AMD is really confusing. As you can see there are three Athlon XP 2600+ models with completely different technical specs, even though they use the same name.

Processor Internal Clock /External Clock / L2 Memory Cache Socket

Sempron 2200+ 1.50 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 2300+ 1.58 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 2400+ 1.67 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 2500+ 1.70 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 2600+ 183 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 2800+ 2 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB 462

Sempron 3000+ 2 GHz 333 MHz 512 KB 462

Processor Internal Clock /HyperTransport / L2 Memory /Cache Soquete

Sempron 2600+ 1.60 GHz 800 MHz 128 KB 754

Sempron 2800+ 1.60 GHz 800 MHz 256 KB 754

Sempron 3000+ 1.80GHz 800 MHz 128 KB 754

Sempron 3100+ 1.80 GHz 800 MHz 256 KB 754

Sempron 3300+ 2 GHz 800 MHz 256 KB 754

Processor Internal Clock /External Clock / L2 Memory /Cache Core

Athlon XP 1500+ 1.33 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino

Athlon XP 1600+ 1.40 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 1700+ 1.46 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 1800+ 1.53 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 1900+ 1.60 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 2000+ 1.66 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 2100+ 1.73 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB Palomino or T-Bred

Athlon XP 2200+ 1.80 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2400+ 2 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2500+ 1.83 GHz 333 MHz 512 KB Barton

Athlon XP 2600+ 2.13 GHz 266 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2600+ 333 2.08 GHz333 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2600+ 1.90 GHz 333 MHz 512 KB Barton

Athlon XP 2700+ 2.16 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2800+ 2.25 GHz 333 MHz 256 KB T-Bred

Athlon XP 2800+ 2.08 GHz 333 MHz 512 KB Barton

Athlon XP 3000+ 2.16 GHz 333 MHz 512 KB Barton

Athlon XP 3000+ 400 2.10 GHz 400 MHz 512 KB Barton

Athlon XP 3200+ 2.20 GHz 400 MHz 512 KB Barton

[Honda_Boy]

take a look at some things on my sig and look them up and find what you need i started off with a case+psu, mouse, and mobo for xmas and a left over keyboard, video and sound card, speakers, and cd drives, then took 400 bucks and bought 512MB PC3200 RAM since upgraded to 1gb, bought an athlon xp3000+ 400MHz FSB version (warning in my experience the 400MHz FSB version tends to run hot i'm not sure why, sucky hsf i think, stay away from speeze and masscool) and i bought a new hard drive and OS.

This was my system's original specs.

Mobo= Same as sig

CPU= same

Memory= 512MB

VC= Jaton 3DForce2 64 (64MBDDR GeForce2 MX400 Upgraded to eVGA 5700 Ultra)

SC= Sounblaster Live 5.1!

CD1=LG 40x CD-ROM

CD2= same

harddrive= same

Keyboard=same

mouse= same

Monitor= 8year old 17" CTX VL700

speakers= Logitech Z-640 5.1 (actually just replaced them 3 days ago they died )

Edit* The Gigabyte GA-7N400-L is no longer made if you go for the closest thing it'll be the GA-7N400S-L basically the same just with added firewire and SATA