AMD Athlon 64 3800+ and FX-53: The First 939 CPUs
by Derek Wilson on June 1, 2004 12:30 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
DirectX 9 Performance
Aquamark 3
The frames per second score in Aquamark is very graphics card limited, but we do see the 939 parts performing where we would expect them to perform.
The Aquamark CPU score shows that the new platform does well help out behind the scenes with very high CPU performance, but those numbers just don't translate into big frames per second yet.
Gunmetal
Even though Gunmetal only incorporates VS2.0, that still puts it in the category of a DX9 benchmark. Everything here is graphics card limited even at 1024x768, but perhaps in the near future when we upgrade the video card we use in CPU and motherboard tests, we'll see some of the impact the rest of the system really has on these games. Of course, Even though the range is really tight on these benchmarks, the 939 pin CPUs manage to sweep top honors.
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Pumpkinierre - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
That earlier french review couldnt get 4 DS sticks to work at DDR400:http://www.x86-secret.com/articles/cpu/s939/s939-3...
Still, I'd sooner have the dual bank memory than the extra cache. But if it is $800 and $600 then the Skt754s become good buys.
intercollector - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
#6 - With memory prices where they're at now, the more dimms the better.For example, if you were to be building a system right now, you'd be hard pressed to justify getting anything more than 1GB (2X512). This fills up 2 slots already, thus only allowing 1 free slot for upgrade in the future. If you were to upgrade with another 512 stick, you'd have 1.5GB, but all your spots filled. If you want this system to last a while, that might just not do.
I say that 3 is definately the minimum you'd ever want, and wanting 4 is definately not out of the question.
Jeff7181 - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
#5 - Is running four unbuffered DIMMs really that necessary? I mean... I haven't ever had more than two DIMMs since my 486, which technically didn't have any DIMMs... but it had 4 one MB SIMMs.mechBgon - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
One potential benefit to the Socket939 platform is that it should open the door to running four unbuffered DDR400 DIMMs.JGF - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
Hmm, now Toms is reporting the $700US+ price of the 3800+ as well. This had better not be true. Roughly $50 seperating the FX line and the 'regular joe' A64 line?? Please AMD, tell me this isnt right...Jeff7181 - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
Well well well... looks like socket 939 isn't really worth waiting for, especially if it's priced a lot higher than socket 754. Socket 754, here I come :)JGF - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
Good read. Couple of disappointments (though not neccessarily wesley's fault):1. Pricing/availability - supplies of 939 parts are rumored to be VERY constrained and some quarters are even uttering the dreaded p-phrase (paper launch). Also early listings for the 3800+ are placing it at an astronomical $700US+ which is obviously bunk. SAtill we are without any official statement regarding price and availability.
2. No 3700+ scores or even a word with what is happening there. With the rumored constraints on 939 and the fact that PCI-E from VIA or nvidia wont be around until late summer, I'm actually seriously looking into a 3700+ 754 system. When will we get info?!?
dvinnen - Tuesday, June 1, 2004 - link
hmmm, 30 mins after the nda ended. Yall need to get on the ball.