Which is better, Sempron 3300+ or Celeron D

[TurboRegal]

I'm looking for a new computer, have a whole bunch of parts I can use, I just need mobo, memory, processor, and a vid card (with DVI out, I'm using a HDTV as a monitor)

I'm looking at a few different bundles at TD, maybe if I could find anything at NCIX as well...

One bundle, with an intel mobo and celeron d 345:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1778746

Heres one with a sempron 3300+ and biostar, no memory though...
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1819091&sku=MBM-M7NCG4-3300

Which would you recommend? Any other deals. I'm not looking for anything spectacular, maybe used for a little bit of light gaming, Americas Army maybe... But I don't need settings cranked up to 1920x1080 at full specs, just something decent.
I'm thinking of using a cheap DVI card like:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1776106&CatId=933

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[borgschulze]

The Celeron.

Semprons on S462 aren't nearly as fast as their K8 parts.

[ynchu]

The Celeron,

or get a S754 Sempron!

[TurboRegal]

What would you guys recommend if I want to get a bundle with mobo, cpu, memory, and a cheap DVI vid card. I don't want to spend much, tops would be 300-350. I know that's low, but I don't have much to spend... Thanks for the help!

[TurboRegal]

An example:

CPU (DO I need this fast?) (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15657)

Mobo Choice 1 (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16664)
Mobo Choice 2 (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=14545)

Memory (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=9545)

Vid Card (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=16452&vpn=128-TC-2N23&manufacture=eVGA)

[TurboRegal]

Another Example From My Local Store:

CPU (http://toplogix.com/Products/details.asp?Number=CPU:Socket%20754:30143743000)

Mobo (They don't have any PCI-E mobo's) (http://toplogix.com/Products/details.asp?Number=Motherboard-AMD:Socket%20754:1083912952)

Memory (http://toplogix.com/Products/details.asp?Number=Memory:DDR:M512-400%20KVR)
Vid Card (http://toplogix.com/Products/details.asp?Number=Video%20Card-Nvidia:AGP:1982900543)

Whatever I would save in no shipping would probably be nullified by the PST though I would assume...

[ynchu]

Try Anitec:

CPU + Mobo (http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=5211&mcid=31)
Video (http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=4894&mcid=24)
RAM (http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=106)

Well within your budget. I don't know about it after shipping through.

[TurboRegal]

Will a sempron 2600 be a big downgrade from a 2800, 3000, 3200, ect ect...

Shipping is 20 bucks expedited...

[TurboRegal]

Or how bout the instaed using this...

http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=5211
http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=5142

How much of an upgrade will that actually be over what you gave me? Is a DDR2 vid card much faster? Is PCI-e faster with budget vid cards...

[ynchu]

Will a sempron 2600 be a big downgrade from a 2800, 3000, 3200, ect ect...

Shipping is 20 bucks expedited...

2600+ is a big downgrade? I don't think so.

Tell me, in reality, what would you feel? Would Windows boot 2 seconds faster? No. Would Word opens up 2 seconds faster? No. Would DVD encoding be couple seconds faster? Yes, but if you need a new machine for heavy calculation purpose, I'd suggest you get a much more powerful CPU.

Oh, as for X300, yes, you can buy it. Good luck finding a slot to put it in though, it's PCI-Express. The motherboard, according to description, has AGP only.

Besides, if you are only riding a 50cc scooter on a 4-lane freeway, v.s. someone with a 75cc scooter on a 8-lane freeway... how much faster do you think it'll be? ;)

[xwar]

2600+ is a big downgrade? I don't think so.

Tell me, in reality, what would you feel? Would Windows boot 2 seconds faster? No. Would Word opens up 2 seconds faster? No. Would DVD encoding be couple seconds faster? Yes, but if you need a new machine for heavy calculation purpose, I'd suggest you get a much more powerful CPU.

Oh, as for X300, yes, you can buy it. Good luck finding a slot to put it in though, it's PCI-Express. The motherboard, according to description, has AGP only.

Besides, if you are only riding a 50cc scooter on a 4-lane freeway, v.s. someone with a 75cc scooter on a 8-lane freeway... how much faster do you think it'll be? ;)

Agreed ... 2600+ will be good enough

[matkun]

Will a sempron 2600 be a big downgrade from a 2800, 3000, 3200, ect ect...

Keep in mind also that a Socket A Sempron 3300+ is actually probably slower then a Socket 754 Sempron 2600+.

[Cafe_333]

What would you guys recommend if I want to get a bundle with mobo, cpu, memory, and a cheap DVI vid card. I don't want to spend much, tops would be 300-350. I know that's low, but I don't have much to spend... Thanks for the help!AMD Sempron 2500+ $62 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007657&cid=CPU.183)
Gigabyte GA-K8U $62 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007570&cid=MB.259)
ATI Radeon 9550 $75 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005209&cid=999.821)
OCZ Premier 1GB $118 (http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=003982&cid=RAM.178)

Total: $317

Lots of room to play with that setup. You can downgrade the videocard to up the cpu. Or you can go with 512mb of ram and allocate the money to upgrade some of the other specs.

[TurboRegal]

Another quick question...

How are 64 bit cpus better. Will they be utilized more in the future, or do they already outperform non-64bits. Will I have to use windows 64 bit version? Sorry I'm so dumb...

[kcjchan]

Another quick question...

How are 64 bit cpus better. Will they be utilized more in the future, or do they already outperform non-64bits. Will I have to use windows 64 bit version? Sorry I'm so dumb...

They can process more with each cycle I believe. It's like using a small bucket to transfer water and a bigger one between Tank A and Tank B. The speed for the transfer might be the same for each bucket, but you transfer more with the bigger one on each transfer.

At the time being, only programs designed to take advantage of 64Bit CPUs will seem better. I've seen the reports that some programs might even run slower if they weren't design for the 64 bit architecture.

[ynchu]

I see the entire 64-bit thing as marketing scam.

Other than some UNIX / Linux programs, what x86 software really needs 64-bit of registers for operations?

The x86-64 at this stage, is just like MMX when Intel introduced it.

The only reason why AMD 64's are so fast, is all because the integrated memory controller. Have you seen the article on Tomshardware when A64 was released? The A64 die was exactly the same as Barton core, except with extra memory controller and 64 bit instructions. So in other words, you put that memory controller inside a Barton, add Cool'n'Quiet, reduce the pipeline by 10 - tada, you got A64 performance without 64-bit support!

[kcjchan]

I see the entire 64-bit thing as marketing scam.

Other than some UNIX / Linux programs, what x86 software really needs 64-bit of registers for operations?

The x86-64 at this stage, is just like MMX when Intel introduced it.

The only reason why AMD 64's are so fast, is all because the integrated memory controller. Have you seen the article on Tomshardware when A64 was released? The A64 die was exactly the same as Barton core, except with extra memory controller and 64 bit instructions. So in other words, you put that memory controller inside a Barton, add Cool'n'Quiet, reduce the pipeline by 10 - tada, you got A64 performance without 64-bit support!

OT:
It was just like SATA when it was initially introduced...... I guess it takes time for the tech to develop into something useful.

[ckang008]

Well, in the end it's faster than comparable Intel chips but I do agree on the 64 bit stuff as marketing gimmick for now.

However, it is going to help a bit when Vista comes out

[TurboRegal]

Ok, I guess this brings me to another question. Sorry for asking so many... Anyways, would a celeron be a better way to go for what I'm going for? How does sempron stand up to a celeron. I've never really owned any AMD, just intel, so I don't know tons about them. Thanks again for all your help!

[matkun]

Ok, I guess this brings me to another question. Sorry for asking so many... Anyways, would a celeron be a better way to go for what I'm going for? How does sempron stand up to a celeron. I've never really owned any AMD, just intel, so I don't know tons about them. Thanks again for all your help!

General guideline is any AMD chip will have a better performance/price ratio, but I haven't looked in detail at the prices recently. Search on the net, I'm sure you'll find plenty of Sempron vs Celeron comparisons. Just make sure and look closely at what they are comparing, since there are now many types of Celerons and atleast 2 types of Semprons.

[TurboRegal]

Well, found what seems to be another ok deal, and a little better cpu...

http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=106
http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=3561
http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=5008

And a cheap pci-e vid card...

Any better. Do I need more ram? Is it worth an extra 70-80 bucks to upgrade to a s939? Thanks!

[TurboRegal]

Sempron, but has pci-e, and 1 gb of ram...

http://www.cancomputer.com/index.php?sku=3394
http://www.cancomputer.com/index.php?sku=3899
http://www.cancomputer.com/index.php?sku=1233
http://www.cancomputer.com/index.php?sku=3326

I just picked a vid card to see what shipping would be, dont know if it is any good. Thanks!

[ynchu]

My philosophy for buying computer related stuff is to consider it as a one-time purchase only.

Buy what you need today, and do not worry about what happens in an year. In an year you'll most likely end up a semi-new one anyway.

It is in my opinion that a Sempron would suit your need. If you are a little bit heavier towards the gaming world, get a slightly higher video card. As for the Celeron, have fun putting the retail fan onto any motherboard without bending the board a little bit. Besides, the Sempron are a little bit cooler and a little bit quieter than the Celerons.

Oh, try to stay away from Cancomputers if you can. I have nothing against that place, except that they closed down for no reason for 6 months two years ago.

[InvisibleSoul]

I was actually contemplating all of this myself in the past couple days as I need to upgrade a couple older systems.

The Sempron 3100+ is a little cheaper than the Celeron D 345 3.06Ghz, but the 3100+ actually performs significantly better. The Sempron 3300+ is barely better than the 3100+.

But in the end, I got the Celeron D 345 bundle from Tigerdirect, because for $99 after rebate, it's a steal.

[TurboRegal]

Another quick question, will any of the prices on socket 754's be going down between now and summer, because I don;t really need a computer till I go to university... Will there be any signfigant price drops, or am I better off just buying one now so I can have a good computer, that actually runs properly... :lol:

Edit: And the problem with that celeron deal for me is that mobo has no agp slot, which I need for a DVI output. I don't have a monitor, just a smaller hdtv...

[matkun]

Edit: And the problem with that celeron deal for me is that mobo has no agp slot, which I need for a DVI output. I don't have a monitor, just a smaller hdtv...

Did you already buy a new video card? If so, there's no reason to not go with PCI-E, it's actually cheaper in most cases.

[Cafe_333]

Another quick question, will any of the prices on socket 754's be going down between now and summer, because I don;t really need a computer till I go to university... Will there be any signfigant price drops, or am I better off just buying one now so I can have a good computer, that actually runs properly... :lol:Yes the s754 will drop in price again by the summer when Socket AM2 is set to be launched. It will be completely phased out like Socket A did.

[TurboRegal]

Will it be anything signifigant, or just like 10 bucks off, because for 10 bucks, I'd rather buy one now...

And again with that celeron deal, there is no agp or pci-e slot, tahts why I don't really want it...

[matkun]

And again with that celeron deal, there is no agp or pci-e slot, tahts why I don't really want it...

Ah... Ew.

[TurboRegal]

Nothing better than onboard intel video...

[TurboRegal]

Well I just ordered through Tigerdirect... Hopefully I got a good deal...

I went with the celeron & mach speed mobo - 140 - 70 MIR = $70
Buff Select 1gb memory - $87
XFX Geforce 6200 256mb DDR2 - $88
HDMI to DVI Cable - $20

Comes out to under 300 after shipping and tax. Any other sempron deal I found, even with agp, seemed to be at least 50 bucks more with only a sempron 2600. Now, second question, if my paypal verified addy is somewhat different, will TD put it through still? My address on paypal only has a po box, so I just added a physical address in the 2nd line.

If this is a bad deal someone tell me quick!

Thanks!

[ynchu]

At $88, you could've fork out $12 more and get a nice 9800 PRO here in the BST. Beats your brand new 6200 in any game!

[TurboRegal]

What the heck is BST? And it was 78, 10 MIR, but I'll look into it...

Edit: Ahh buy,sell,trade... I'll try phoning TD in the morning...