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View Full Version : I was planning to buy the 4800 X2



Shiranai_Baka
08-24-2006, 12:31 AM
Until I found out that it doesn't support virtualization. What the hell is that?

Edit: I wiki'd virtualization and didn't really understand it.

Edit: Changed title and now want to know if there will be a big performance leap that I will notice.

Shiranai_Baka
08-25-2006, 04:33 AM
No one knows what it is?!

T0TAL-RECALL
08-25-2006, 07:06 AM
It means it wont be able to run a virtual OS within the standard OS...

What this means is you cant emulate say Windows 98 from within Windows XP you would have to use the route of split HDD and dual boot.

Nothing to worry about because I doubt you would even use it anyways and the hardware does not get used by anything other than virtualization software.

lynx
08-25-2006, 01:52 PM
Just installed mine.

I was pretty happy with the performance, but expected better. Then windows realised it had a dual core processor and updated its hardware. After a reboot it is really flying.

Make sure you upgrade the bios first if necessary, and get the x2 processor driver too.

Shiranai_Baka
08-25-2006, 08:57 PM
Oh lynx, would you think I'd see a good performance difference from what I have?
Also, I wasn't aware there were X2 processor drivers.

lynx
08-26-2006, 12:48 AM
AFAIK the 1P Opterons (which is what model 165 is) are effectively "golden sample" versions of the Athlon 64 chips, and consequently should run cooler. You can probably get quite a bit of overclocking out of it, which will probably be difficult with the X2 4800.

However, that's all supposition on my part since I've never had an Opteron, clocker is probably the one to give you a better answer.

As far as drivers and utilities are concerned, here they are. In order to install the new cpu driver you have to remove the old driver (assuming you've got it). http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13118,00.html
They are dual-core drivers not Athlon X2 drivers, so I think they will be the same ones for the Opteron dual-core processor. I'm not sure what they do, but if you haven't already got them it is probably worthwhile trying them first to see if you get a performance boost.

Shiranai_Baka
08-26-2006, 03:14 AM
Yeah I've googled the drivers and found them. I'll just wait for clocker's advice on the speed difference. Also, I can't overclock because the system freezes up (I think its the mobo but it might be the windows installation because it freezes up at the login screen.)

lynx
08-26-2006, 10:27 AM
There's all sorts of things that can prevent you from OCing the processor successfully.

The HT bus speed is locked to the base processor speed, but you can't really push it much so you often have to knock the multiplier back to 4. That gives you a HT rate of 800MHz at standard clocking but it rises as you OC and reaches 1GHz again if you get to 250MHz base.

Similarly you need to lock down the other bus speeds too rather than have them tied to the processor base speed, but I think that's done as default on your mobo.

Shiranai_Baka
08-28-2006, 02:22 AM
Oh Clocker, where might you be?!
Is he on vacation?

Formula1
08-29-2006, 10:48 PM
Accroding to what i read here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

This processor can support virtualization, but if you're on a low budget i dont think you'll afford it since a good motherbord for these processors cost around 140$ :-(

lynx
08-29-2006, 11:30 PM
:blink:

Shiranai_Baka
08-30-2006, 01:52 AM
Accroding to what i read here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

This processor can support virtualization, but if you're on a low budget i dont think you'll afford it since a good motherbord for these processors cost around 140$ :-(

Well, I was just wondering what virtualization is and from what I can read, it doesn't sound useful at all and I'd rather stick with the 4800 X2.

Formula1
08-30-2006, 01:52 AM
well, the conroe out performs the x2 in just about everything, including fx-62(e6600+). Better price/ratio ftw.

Shiranai_Baka
08-30-2006, 02:39 AM
That'd also mean I'd have to buy new RAM and that'd cost quite a bit too.

Shiranai_Baka
09-01-2006, 03:06 AM
Hey lynx, what processor did you have before you got the 4800? I want to see if I can figure out the performance jump from what you have.

lynx
09-01-2006, 07:56 AM
My previous processor was an OCed Athlon 64 3200 (Venice core), so I don't think the comparison will do much good.

I found this review
http://techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/athlon64-x2/index.x?pg=1
which shows that the Opteron 175 approximately matches the Athlon 64 X2 4200 in most things, and beats it in some areas. That is what I would expect since they are both dual core processors running at 2.2GHz, the difference being the cache size.

That being the case I would say that your Opteron 165 would perform about the same as an Athlon 64 X2 3800, since it has a slightly lower clock speed but has the advantage of 2x1MB cache.

clocker
09-01-2006, 01:27 PM
However, that's all supposition on my part since I've never had an Opteron, clocker is probably the one to give you a better answer.



Oh Clocker, where might you be?!
Is he on vacation?


:blink:
Hmmm...missed this completely.
Dunno what to say- my Opteron was a single core 148.
It clocked like a motherf*cker and was a total piece of cake to work with.
My new x2 4400 is much crankier but to be honest, I've spent very little time even trying.
These new CPUs are so capable and fast that most of the reason for overclocking has been obviated.
I was able to bump mine from 2.2 to 2.4GHz without changing a single setting save the HTT and basically just said "what's the point?" and stopped.
I like running at 1.3 vCore as cooling becomes a non-issue as well.

Shiranai_Baka
09-02-2006, 05:23 PM
So an upgrade to the 4800X2 is most definitely worth it since its 295 with free shipping now?

clocker
09-02-2006, 06:18 PM
I would.

Shiranai_Baka
09-02-2006, 07:16 PM
Alright! well, I'll tell you how the cpu runs when I get it because I might have to use this next paycheck for college books instead of the CPU. I'll keep you guys posted.. sort of.

Shiranai_Baka
09-06-2006, 11:53 PM
I've decided to save up for two more weeks and get this mobo along with the 4800 because it seems like my current one seems to be acting up a bit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123258