Sempron appearance

[KH]

I'm about to build a computer. I have been shopping for a Sempron
processor chip. Some images of the processor show a rectangular circuit
board with mounted components and others show just a metal case. What
is the difference? What should I be looking for? Can I get a cooler
for each configuration?

Thanks,

Karl

 

[Derek Baker]

I'm about to build a computer. I have been shopping for a Sempron
processor chip. Some images of the processor show a rectangular circuit
board with mounted components and others show just a metal case. What is
the difference? What should I be looking for? Can I get a cooler for
each configuration?

Thanks,

Karl

I assume the first of those is the Athlon XP based Sempron, while the second
is based on the Athlon 64 - though without a 64bit mode. The 'metal case' is
the heat spreader.

 

[Derek Baker]

I assume the first of those is the Athlon XP based Sempron, while the
second is based on the Athlon 64 - though without a 64bit mode. The 'metal
case' is the heat spreader.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2139&p=2

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2139&p=3

 

[KH]

I assume the first of those is the Athlon XP based Sempron, while the second
is based on the Athlon 64 - though without a 64bit mode. The 'metal case' is
the heat spreader.

I guessed as much. Do these different formats use different sockets?

Karl

 

[Derek Baker]

I guessed as much. Do these different formats use different sockets?

Karl

Yes. Socket A and Socket 754.

 

[Wes Newell]

I'm about to build a computer. I have been shopping for a Sempron
processor chip. Some images of the processor show a rectangular circuit
board with mounted components and others show just a metal case. What
is the difference? What should I be looking for? Can I get a cooler
for each configuration?

Stop looking at Semprons. You don't want one. The 3100+ used to be a good
buy, but with the reduction in price of the A64 line, it no longer is. And
if you are talking about a socket A Semrpon, it was never a good buy. See
Sempron in link below.

 

[KH]

Stop looking at Semprons. You don't want one. The 3100+ used to be a good
buy, but with the reduction in price of the A64 line, it no longer is. And
if you are talking about a socket A Semrpon, it was never a good buy. See
Sempron in link below.

I feel I have hit a good source of motherboard/processor expertise here.
I want to upgrade my old desktop which is a Pentium 2 200 and 160MB
memory. I keep Win2K for an OS, keep my CDRW drive and one of my 4GB
drives and add a 60GB drive and 256MB memory. It is wirelessly networked
to 2 laptops and is being used primarily for a print server. The
wireless hub is also a DSL gateway. Beyond being a print server, I
intend to use the upgraded computer to manage and edit the images from
my digital camera using Adobe Photoshop Essentials. I was planning to
buy a motherboard with an AMD Sempron 2800 processor installed. No games
will be played here and I think overclocking is not an issue. However,
if $30 or so more will get me a computer with a greater technology life
expectancy, then I am for it. What might you suggest for a
motherboard/processor combination and a good source to buy them as a
package.

I know that this has been a little long winded, but I would like any
comments and advice.

Thanks,
Karl

 

[Wes Newell]

I feel I have hit a good source of motherboard/processor expertise here.
I want to upgrade my old desktop which is a Pentium 2 200 and 160MB
memory. I keep Win2K for an OS, keep my CDRW drive and one of my 4GB
drives and add a 60GB drive and 256MB memory. It is wirelessly networked
to 2 laptops and is being used primarily for a print server. The
wireless hub is also a DSL gateway. Beyond being a print server, I
intend to use the upgraded computer to manage and edit the images from
my digital camera using Adobe Photoshop Essentials. I was planning to
buy a motherboard with an AMD Sempron 2800 processor installed. No games
will be played here and I think overclocking is not an issue. However,
if $30 or so more will get me a computer with a greater technology life
expectancy, then I am for it. What might you suggest for a
motherboard/processor combination and a good source to buy them as a
package.

What's the maximum amount of money you want to spend for a MB, PSU, CPU,
and ram?

For about $200, you can get an A64 2800+ setup with 512Meg of ram. You
may have to upgrade your video card too if you don't have a 4x compatible
AGP card now.

 

[KH]

What's the maximum amount of money you want to spend for a MB, PSU, CPU,
and ram?

For about $200, you can get an A64 2800+ setup with 512Meg of ram. You
may have to upgrade your video card too if you don't have a 4x compatible
AGP card now.

I will use the old 300 watt PSU. Where would you buy these parts?

 

[Wes Newell]

I will use the old 300 watt PSU. Where would you buy these parts?

The old 300W PSU doesn't have enough power.

http://store.mrtechus.com/60ulapatxcop.html

The rest I'd probably get from newegg.com

 

[Strings]

I would not recommend anyone use a $19 power supply remember the old saying
" if you buy cheep you but twice" Poor cheep power supplies are the number
one cause of phantom problems, read the links below before picking a good
PS.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article28-page1.html
http://www.amdboard.com/psu.html
http://www4.tomshardware.com/column/20011012/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20041223/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040122/index.html

 

[leo]

The old 300W PSU doesn't have enough power.

http://store.mrtechus.com/60ulapatxcop.html

The rest I'd probably get from newegg.com

zipzoomfly.com I gathered almost all components from them to build a A64
3200, nForce4, 6600GT. most price listed include shipping. The only
thing I got from newegg.com was a case where the shipping was lower.