San Diego 3700+ vs Venice 3200+

I'm fed up with the limitations + prices of AGP, and my slow processor, so I've decided to switch to a Skt 979 AMD.

I initially liked the look of the 3700+ SD, but then heard that the 3200+ Venice can produce the same performance (when both overclocked). Is this true?

Also, can anyone reccommend a good over-clockable PCI-E mobo (SLi not required)?

Thanks!

 

The San Diego core has a larger L2 cache. If I could have afforded a SD when I bought my processor, I would have gotten one. But as it was, I could only get a 3200+ Venice. I'm happy with it, but I'd much rather have a San Diego, if that means anything to ya.

 

There's really not much difference between the two cores except the the extra 512k cache on the San Diego. Here's something that may help in your decision,

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=219&num=3#

 

I had them both. I now use the Sandiego. The 1mb cache is cool and it oc's to 2.53 easy. I got mine at Neweggs for $200 on sale.
As per mobos I usually use Asus, my currant one is a8n-vm csm. Cause its micro
and fits my mini case. It has raid 2, 4 slots for memory and seems to work just fine.
I had good luck with Soltek too.(it had fan connecters at all four corners)
I got it for $50 (refurbished)

 

my sandiego is better than my mates venice. ha! seriously though, if you can afford it get the sandiego but the venice is also a great chip

 

The 3700+ is a great chip , well both are , but i would go for the sandi

My son has a 3500 venice and theres not a lot in it when overclocked

 

Running your everyday stuff you wont really notice a difference between the two cpu's.. But benchmarks will definitly be higher with the sandiego..

I'd say if you can afford it then go with the sandiego if not you wont be dissapointed with the venice..

As for mobo's.. Well im pretty much a DFI fan.. lol.. I cant help it ..

But I must say that if your not into learning how to tweak a mobo and dont have patience to take your time with it.. then get an Asus or something.. Because a DFI board can be a little much if your not really into tweaking and learing..


GL.. !!

 

I overclocked my Venice E3 3200+ up to 2.8GHz at 1.65v... In terms of Intel, thats around 4GHz. For my watercooling, my temperatures will be 6-10 degrees less than air cooling, but I got 24* during idle and 30* during load. It's a very cool, low voltage core.

I personally recommend the Venice if you do hardcore overclocking. However, the San Diego is also a great core and you can pull around 400MHz overclocked if you know your stuff. San Diego is the better choice if you have money and are squeamish to overclock.

 

i run my sandiego with a 600mhz overclock 24/7 with top temp under load 0f 39c. i have had considerably more from it but i may just have been lucky with this one. not exactly sqeamish. the extra cache is more noticable on a 64bit OS apparently

 

Yep same here, Running it at @ 2.8Ghz. Runs good, stable.

My temps are: idle 42 C load 51 C

Yea like pepl already said if you can afford 3700+ go for it, if not then Venice is way to go

 

A nod for the Sandy here also. Have mine at 2.915 on air - a great o/c'ing choice.

 

get the sandy if money is not an issue, it has a high muliplier an larger cache -better yet get an opteron.

 

I also recommend the san diego, mine is at 2.95ish GHz and runs about 40ºC under load (I need to get a zalman cooler and some Artic Silver, I know ).

 

CPU & Mobo

Any particular reason why you are stuck between the 3200+ Venice & the 3700+ SD cores?? Ever thought about the idea of the Opteron 148?? Only $25 more than the 3700+, and from what I have seen and read a better CPU that overclocks insanely. If I were to recommend one between the 2 you asked about, I'd agree with everyone else and get the SD core 3700+, I got my 3200+ for cash reasons and couldn't really spend the extra for the 3700+. But if I were you I'd go for the Opty148 and spend the extra $25. Just my opinion.

Opteron148: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103596

As far as a good motherboard, I'd recommend the A8N32-SLI Asus. A lot of people I have talked to who got this board are seeing benchmark increases just from upgrading to this board, why I'm not sure, but they are. I run the A8N-SLI Prem. which is so far a great high end overclocking mobo, so that's another possiblity for ya. If ya really don't care about having SLI, I'd say either the Asus A8N-E or the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum. Both excellent boards also. Good Luck.

A8N-E: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530

K8N Neo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130484

 

take a look at the msi k8n diamond, its a CRAZY board.

 

Serious overclocking i would say a DFI Lanparty ultra-d, but for average oc maybe a A8n-Sli deluxe or something. Ummm personally i like Venices cos im a OC junky, but if ur going for less tweaking more play then get a Sandiego. If it were up to me i would combo like this..

DFI Lanparty Ultra-D + 3200+ Venice

or

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe or Premium + 3700+ Sandeigo

 

The overclocking abilities of the A8N-SLI Premium are pretty damn good if ya don't mind me correcting you. I run my Venice Rev. E core at 2.5ghz and memory(DDR400) at 500mhz and it runs solid. FSB also runs solid at 2500mhz. If I had a choice I'd go for the A8N-SLI Prem. before I'd go with the DFI Ultra-D, no offense. And as I stated before, why go with the 3200+ or the Sandy and why not go with an Opteron 148 which is only a few bucks more than the 3700+ Sandy?? Would seem like a helluva lot better idea too me, and the Opterons have better memory controllers. Just my opinion.

 

And yes, even though I am a diehard Asus user, I have seen some pretty awesome **** about the MSI Diamond that's out now. I have actually thought about getting one. Atleast with the MSI board you have more PCI slots which is where Asus fudged up with the A8N32-SLI, once you use the 2 PCIe X16 slots, your PCI slots are useless, so I won't be getting and A8N32 anytime soon, but the MSI K8N Diamond looks and sounds pretty damn sweet. Just not familiar with MSI products.

 

if you want to stay on single-core, take the venice.

but the x2 3800+ should also be a good choice. the new ones from 06 clock like hell as far as i've seen it(i'll get mine from another forum next week. does 2,95ghz on 1,47v and 2,7ghz on 1,31v)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562

 

One word

OPTERON